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Description edit
An exhilarating novel of wit and romance, an intellectual mystery, and a triumphant love story. This tale of a pair of young scholars researching the lives of two Victorian poets became a huge bookseller favorite, and then on to national bestellerdom.
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters/People edit
- Maud Bailey: A beautiful but socially awkward woman who is an academic specializing in Christabel LaMotte's work
- Roland Michell: A scholar in the London Library of Randolph Henry Ash's works
- Randolph Henry Ash: Victorian poet, Roland Mitchell's object of study
- Christabel LaMotte: Ash's pen friend, also a poet
- James Blackadder: Roland's professor for whom he does research
- Mortimer Cropper: Blackadder's academic rival, American, wealthy
- Leonara Stern: An American feminist academic and a friend of Maud Bailey's
- Val: Roland's lover
- Sabine de Kerkoz: Christabel LaMotte's cousin, chatelaine of the Manoir de Kernemet in Bretagne. A budding writer.
Quotes edit
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“Literary critics make natural detectives.”
Maud -
“"What's wrong? What is it?""Ah, how can we bear it?""Bear what?""This. For so short a time. How can we sleep this time away?""We can be quiet together, and pretend, since it is only the beginning, that we have all the time in the world.""And every day we shall have less. And then none.""Would you rather, therefore, have had nothing at all?""No. This is where I have been coming to, since my time began. And when I go away from it, this will be the mid-point, to which everything ran, before, and from which, everything will run. But now my love, we are here, we are now, and all those other times are running elsewhere."”
Setting & Locations edit
First Sentence edit
The book was thick and black and covered with dust.
Series & Lists edit
This is book 129 of 200 in BBC 'Big Read' Top 200 Novels, 2003. (authoritative list)
This book is in TIME Magazine Top 100 English-Language Novels. (community list)
This is book 37 of 97 in Waterstone's Top 100 Books of the 20th Century. (authoritative list)
This is book 80 of 95 in Telegraph Top 100 Books, 2008. (authoritative list)
This is book 254 of 1286 in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. (authoritative list)
This book is in Endicott's Adult Fairy Tales Reading List. (community list)
This is book 5 of 11 in The Bibliophile Club - Selected Reads of 2010. (community list)
This is book 201006 of 31 in The Bibliophile Club - Monthly Selected Reads. (community list)
This is book 1990 of 47 in Booker Prize Winners. (authoritative list)
This book is in Guardian 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read. (authoritative list)
This is book 98 of 213 in Best English-Language Fiction of the 20th Century. (authoritative list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- A. S. Byatt (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Chatto & Windus
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Date: 1990
ISBN: 978-0679735908
Page Count: 511
Publisher: Chatto & Windus
Country: United Kingdom
Publication Date: 1990
ISBN: 978-0679735908
Page Count: 511
Awards edit
- Man Booker Prize (1990)
- Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best Book (1991: South Asia and Europe)
- BBC's Big Read (April 2003, #129)
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 823.914
Subjects edit
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Links to Supplemental Material edit
- Possession: the movie based on the book
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