21 Comments

Thank you for this wonderfully illuminating review. I have read the Cazalets so recognized the technique you describe w the file that she does to such great impact in those

human, honest novels.

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Thank you for reading, and for the comment. I love the structural ingenuity of the two EJH novels I've read, so that's so interesting re. the Cazalets. One day soon I will settle down and start reading them!

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Covid killed my appetite for fiction. I found it near impossible to read and during that time, tried and failed with this very book. My failure is no reflection on Elizabeth Jane Howard whose work I adore. Must make a second attempt.

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I understand. Covid killed a lot. Do! The craft!

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Samuel, this is to thank you for your kind recommendation! My daughter’s girlfriend loved the Janet Malcolm Chekhov book!! She’s a young playwright and was thrilled opening it. Thank you!!

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Oh good!

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Oooh!! Thank you very much!!!

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Another brilliant reminder of a favourite writer. I have my mother's copy of The Beautiful Visit (1950) and my own of another six or so. Her story Mr Wrong is one of the scariest things I've read and I must return to After Julius with your insights. Thank you.

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Sorry about the delay replying, Lyn. Lovely to hear from you, as always. I have Mr Wrong to read. How lovely to have your mother’s The Beautiful Visit. I’ve been quite overwhelmed by the two novels of Howard’s I’ve read this year. x

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Have. :) Thank you for this post.

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She’s such a talent and under-valued. I became minority obsessed and hunted down and listened to her achingly honest Island Discs interview, which resulted in an unhappy love affair for her, which she later wrote about.

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Ah! Well now I must do the same. If you haven't read it (though it sounds as if you probably have!) then Hilary Mantel's piece on her is worth reading: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/jan/30/hilary-mantel-elizabeth-jane-howard-novelist

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Lovely review of a book I now want to read! :)

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Do! When the time presents itself. :) She's a wonderful craftswoman.

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I adore Howard and all her novels. Thank you for reminding me of the power of her writing - I'm going to get it back down off the shelf over Xmas

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I'm not surprised by that! I'm just at the beginning of my Howard journey (still haven't read The Cazalets ...) and I suspect I'm very lucky.

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indeed, I wish I was only just finding the Cazalets. I loved it when my daughter got the bug and devoured them all, she kept messaging me about the plot!

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That’s lovely.

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Samuel, just slightly off topic, but could you provide any guidance/ideas for a gift to my daughter’s girlfriend who is a playwright and actor? Her favorite play wrights: Will Arbery, Annie Baker, Tennessee Williams, and Chekhov. Any ideas greatly appreciated!!

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Perhaps a biography of Chekhov? The best is Donald Rayfield's, though there's also a very good old one by Ernest J. Simmons. And V.S. Pritchett's is worth looking at, it's elegantly written and easy to read. The book READING CHEKHOV: A CRITICAL JOURNEY by Janet Malcolm is lovely.

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Minorly obsessed

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