Product Description
Gwen, a bold and spirited young English artist, defies convention and sets out to study in Paris, where she has a tumultuous affair with the inspiring, controlling sculptor Rodin. But as the relationship cools, Gwen feels lonely and adrift as she awaits the ever more infrequent visits from her lover. Attempting to restore her artistic vision and recapture her true self, Gwen pours out her soul onto a canvas, creating an intimate painting of a quiet corner of her attic room.

Lost, found, stolen, sold, and fought over, the painting enchants all who possess it. First it falls into the hands of Charlotte, a dreamy intellectual with artistic leanings–though little talent. In turn the work finds its way to the lovely, bright Stella; the destitute but willful Lucasta; self-sufficient Ailsa; and, finally, young, curious Gillian. All of whom long for a tranquil golden place such as the one depicted in the painting, a haven where they can “keep the world away.”

Praise for Keeping the World Away:

“Evocative . . . an apparently simple yet potent work of art.”
–The New York Times Book Review

“Highly recommended . . . One small painting, a still life of a corner of an attic room, is the thread that ties this moving novel together.”
–Library Journal (starred review)

“It is the painting’s power to evoke tranquility that Forster so effectively celebrates.”
–Richmond Times-Dispatch

“Haunting . . . revealing . . . exquisitely drawn.”
–The Washington Post Book World

“An intimate, subtly crafted, satisfying read.”
–Kirkus Reviews ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Wondrous escapist reading... grace yourself
"As to being happy, don't you know, that when a picture is done, whatever it is, it might as well be as far as the artist is concerned-and in all the time he has taken to do it, it has only given him a second's pleasure..."~Gwen John, March 1902
Gwen John served as the great sculptor Rodin's muse, lover, and model. After his interest in her waned she created a small painting of a quiet attic room. As the torrid affair with Rodin sputtered out, the diminutive glimpse into a peaceful world gave Gwen "a second's pleasure", renewing her artistic spirit and regaining her confidence.
Margaret Forster casts the painting as her central character in Keeping the World Away, a semi-fictional saga that opens in days of Rodin and Gwen John's love affair.Capturing the essence of the artist, the painting showcases a simple scene--an attic room, a lace curtain, a jar of primroses on a table, a wicker chair with a parasol leaning against it, and a coat thrown over the woven back of the chair. The soulful creation brings more than a second's pleasure to Forster's additional characters as it literally shapes their destinies.
Effectively covering the span of the 20th century, Forster tracks the life of the painting as it delights Charlotte, an affected follower of the arts with a good eye but minimal talent. Found in a valise at Victoria Station, it spurs Charlotte to become a fringe participant in the art scene in Paris. Forster captures the essence of Charlotte's privileged pre-WWI life, and contrasts in handily in the succeeding chapters.
Stolen from Charlotte's family home, the painting finds its way to Stella, living with a wounded soldier from the Great War along the cliffs of Cornwall. Once amidst her possessions, the inanimate but vivid canvas fosters courage in Stella to move on and recapture her life as a nurse -- but more importantly a painter.
Handed off to a neighbor, the canvas graces the walls of a cottage as V-E day dawns in 1945, where Lucasta, the half-Gypsy, half-Cornish daughter of the neighbor prepares to go off to art school, having gazed at the attic scene for her entire life.
In the post-war years of Europe, the painting touches the lives of three more women.
After Lucasta's Bohemian post-war adventures in Paris, it lands in the shattered world of Ailsa, the wife of Lucasta's lover.Ailsa flees to Scotland, taking the canvas with her, and upon her return, it again creates turmoil in her life. Conversely, the simple portrait captivates Mme. Verlon, a latent artist, who buys it along with Ailsa's home.
In her twilight years, Madame meets another young struggling artist in Paris in the present day.Bequeathing the cherished painting to the young Gillian in her will, Madame recognizes in the last line of the novel, "The artist would think it was enough. She had painted it to keep the world away. If it helped others to do the same, her purpose was fulfilled."
Forster's novel also keeps the world away -her novel allows an escape, a retreat into lives where light and color reign supreme in the artistic souls ofeight different women, all seeking the same thing.


Julia Brantley, author of A Score Of Intervals

Captivating read
When most of us look at a painting, we will probably first notice the quality, possibly the depth, or even the emotion behind the brush strokes. We might like it (or not) and might even wonder what the artist was feeling at the time it was painted. What we likely won't consider is the impact the piece of art had on those who've had it in their possession.

In the fictional tale of a true-to-life work of art, _A Corner of the Artist's Room in Paris_by Gwen John, author Margaret Forster weaves a story of several women whose lives were changed subtly, or not so, while the painting was in their possession. First, the story of the artist who carried great passion but was ever encouraged by her lover to be tranquil, and for a moment, at least, she might have captured it on canvas. And then by gift, theft, sale and inheritance many more women follow, each life touched by the picture of a little attic, a wickerwork chair, and a vase full of primroses.

I can't honestly say what I thought of this book as a whole. I was captivated by the story of Gwen John and still so by Charlotte, whose tale follows, but after those two, the women began to blend into one. Most of the characters are basically disappointed in men and most of humanity. If they weren't before they saw the painting, they were after. They seemed to retreat into themselves and solitude. Which is, I guess, the point with a title like Keeping the World Away. There was virtually no dialog and even when there was, it may only be a single line. I suppose you could say that it is enthralling to be so much within a mind, but the secluded minds began to lose any sort of "voice." If I put the book down for more than a moment, I would come back and not know who I was reading about without looking back again to see.

This is a captivating, yet lonely, tale.

Armchair Interviews says: A unique use of a painting to several people's stories

A worthwhile read
Bestselling memoirist, biographer and historical novelist Margaret Forster hasn't published anything in the U.S. (she lives in London) in quite some time. KEEPING THE WORLD AWAY is her first work for an American audience in 15 years --- and you wonder why. Although her writing can sometimes seem slow or unnecessarily drawn out, it is only because Forster has taken the time to construct a quietly resonant story --- one that allows for a stroll, a silent meditation, a well-needed nap between chapters. This isn't the type of book you can sit down and digest in one sitting, but one that requires thinking beyond what is written in its pages in order to grasp its multi-layered meaning.

In the prologue, a young girl named Gillian (the same Gillian, readers will notice, who is the subject of the book's final section, although at an older age) is on a field trip to the Tate Gallery with her class. After looking at the paintings and being captivated by their presence, she finds herself wondering about the lives of the paintings themselves. "I was wondering where it had been, who had owned it, who had looked at it," she says. "I mean, what effect did it have on the people who have looked at it? What has it meant to them, how have they looked at it, did they feel the same as I did, did they see what I saw...?" These are the questions that shape the remainder of the novel.

Although KEEPING THE WORLD AWAY takes a while to dive into, readers will soon get the hang of the plot's formula, and with each subsequent chapter, the book's intentions will unfold on an increasingly deeper level. The first section focuses on Gwen John, a lonely, often destitute painter (both in the story and in real life) and the sister of the more famous artist, Augustus John. In these chapters, Forster paints a vivid portrait of Gwen's reclusive character, her passion for painting and her illicit affair with the sculptor Rodin. Forster also vaguely describes Gwen's thoughts and feelings during the time she created the painting of her room, although she takes great care in not spelling anything out for her readers so that they can form their own conclusions. It's this painting that then becomes the subject of the following five sections, named after each of the women who comes into contact with the painting: Charlotte, Stella, Lucasta, Ailsa and Gillian.

As the painting is passed on from woman to woman, and from generation to generation, it affects each lady (and the people she loves or is involved with) in both similar and disparate ways. For many of the characters, the simple but expressive painting represents a longing for something different, a door to another life. For both Charlotte and Stella, the painting initially made them want the life of an artist, one that would enable them to squire away their worries in favor of putting paint on a canvas. For Ailsa, the painting initially represented everything she had given up for her marriage --- a marriage that suffered through much unhappiness and many affairs before her husband's death. No matter what the circumstances are, readers will relish in learning each woman's thoughts on where the painting came from, who painted it and what it was supposed to "mean." These observations offer great insight into each of the character's personalities, her hopes and her dreams.

By anchoring the story around an inanimate yet incredibly powerful object, Forster raises timeless questions about the nature of art. What makes art art? Why are the lives of starving artists who are most often poor, depressed and discontent seen as glamorous and therefore paths that should be envied? What makes a work of art meaningful? Does meaning stem from the artist's intention or what the beholder takes away from it? Can an artist live a well-balanced life (practice monogamy, raise a family, have other interests) or must he/she devote his/her complete self to his/her art? While each of the characters attempts to answer these questions, they stumble often, proving that there is no right or wrong answer, which is what makes art --- and its creation --- so alluring and the book a worthwhile read.

After finishing KEEPING THE WORLD AWAY, readers may not feel bowled over...but that's not the type of book this is. Instead, many will probably feel grateful for the opportunity to take a break from the day-to-day to ponder the mysteries of art and to read a story about an actual painting --- and how it changed the lives of its owners --- that is still hanging in the city of Sheffield's art gallery to this day.

--- Reviewed by Alexis Burling

An imaginative riff on Gwen John's legacy
British author Forster's latest novel centers around a small, unsigned Gwen John painting and the women who own it over the next century. Forster's posits an earlier version of the actual painting, "The Corner of the Artist's Room in Paris," and imagines its genesis.

Gwen John (1876 - 1939) rarely showed her work and was best known as the sister of Augustus John until well after her death. The painting Forster has chosen was one of a series. The artist kept the final painting and never exhibited it.

The book begins with the death of Gwen's mother when she and Augustus are children. Forster perfectly captures a child's intense, bewildered grief, full of energy and fear. "Gwen longed to be outside, anywhere. Inside the walls pressed in on her and the ceilings lowered toward her and the doors came to meet her. She felt she would burst....'Gwendoline has not wept a single tear,' she heard Aunt Lily say to their father."

After a lonely childhood with her chilly and remote father, Gwen goes off to s study painting, first in London, then in Paris. Aloof, determined and ambitious, she hides a mind racing "with millions of violent and spectacular thoughts and ideas, and in the center of herself she stored a passion which might terrify people if they suspected it."

This dormant passion is unleashed, finally, in Paris, in a torrid love affair with the very much married sculptor, Rodin.But Rodin finds Gwen's towering passion and impulsiveness exhausting. He counsels tranquility and discipline, but as he withdraws from her she becomes more desperate and demanding.

She begins work on a small painting of the corner of her room, a table and chair, a small bunch of primroses. "She wanted to record how things might have been and so nearly were. Contentment, peace, a life lived sweetly and quietly. No mess, no trouble, no agonizing. The person who lived in this room was in perfect control of her emotions." This is how Rodin wishes her to be and how she wishes to present herself to him.

But Rodin does not come and the painting does not quite succeed. She starts another and gives the first to a friend. Who packs it in a valise, which goes astray, never to be returned.

But when young, ungainly Charlotte Falconer sets eyes on the painting - found in a valise left at Victoria Station - she must have it. The valise is not claimed and Charlotte hangs it in her little room, imagining herself an artist in a garret, rather than a wealthy young lady whose fashionable mother despairs of her.

And as the years pass, leading to World War I then World War II and up to the present day, the painting - stolen, sold, given away - makes its way through a succession of women. Many people, particularly men, see little in it. Regarding it as pretty or insignificant, even lonely and depressing, these people are mystified at the feeling it arouses in others.

The women who own it, most of them with artistic yearnings, find inspiration and comfort. Some view it and feel their own inadequacy as artists; embarking on new paths in life. Others are inspired to work harder and define their own artistic voices.

Forster makes serendipitous connections between the painting's owners so the reader follows, glancingly, the turns their lives have taken after the painting has passed on. While fashions change, people fall in love, suffer, find peace and die, the painting arouses feelings that connect each generation to the one before and on back to the artist.

The writing is painterly and immediate, immersing the reader in each woman's life and circumstances and her place at that moment in history and that stage of her life. Some of the owners are youthful and full of ambition, others are wives, mothers, widows, grandmothers, carrying the baggage of a lifetime and girding themselves for change.

The novel, like the painting that inspired it, has an understated timelessness, which encompasses the moments of energy and emotion and subsumes them into a larger lyric of life.

A Fine and Thoughtful Novel
Keeping the World Away is a well written novel which explores art--the image, the artist and the observers, caretakers and lovers of the image.Also explored is human intimacy, love, fear and courage. Nothing is simple in this book; intimacy is complex, as is the drive to create.Swirling around the various stories of women struggling to be quiet with themselves, their art,their love, is the theme of synchronicity in life and success.

Because this is a complex book, I recommend it to all independent readers, especially those interested in art and love..... There are no right answers or denouement in this book, and so, I believe, it will make a great Book Club read.It has consistent 5 stars in AmazonUK and 4 in AmazonCa.Please read it and pass the word on. ... Read more

Product Description
“Fascinating . . . The reader is treated to a revealing account of the passionate romance between Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning through the eyes of an intimate observer.”
–Booklist

Young and timid but full of sturdy good sense and awakening sophistication, Lily Wilson arrives in London in 1844, becoming a lady’s maid to the fragile, housebound Elizabeth Barrett. Lily is quickly drawn to her mistress’s gaiety and sharp intelligence, the power of her poetry, and her deep emotional need. It is a strange intimacy that will last sixteen years.

It is Lily who smuggles Miss Barrett out of the gloomy Wimpole Street house, witnesses her secret wedding to Robert Browning in an empty church, and flees with them to threadbare lodgings and the heat, light, and colors of Italy. As housekeeper, nursemaid, companion, and confidante, Lily is with Elizabeth in every crisis–birth, bereavement, travel, literary triumph. As her devotion turns almost to obsession, Lily forgets her own fleeting loneliness. But when Lily’s own affairs take a dramatic turn, she comes to expect the loyalty from Elizabeth that she herself has always given. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Life of a servant
Lady's Maid is the fictional life story of Lily Wilson, Elizabeth Barrett Browning's maid. Since all I knew about either of the Browning poets before starting this book was the little bit I remember from high school English, I wasn't sure if this was the book for me; fortunately, it really is the story of Wilson (as she is called throughout the book), and background knowledge about her employers is not essential. In fact, being famous poets, I expected to see them romanticized, but they're not; this is an unflinching tale of the conditions of 19th century servitude, including low wages and the impossibility of starting a family and retaining work as a maid. Parts of the book are likely to leave the reader angry with the Brownings, which may be disappointing for fans of their work.

The book is narrated in the 3rd person and almost entirely from Wilson's perspective, but peppered with letters she writes to friends and family, long enough that at times it feels as if the book is jumping back and forth between 1st and 3rd person. The beginning positively drags, but the pace picks up slightly as the book goes on and Wilson travels with the Brownings and courts several different men. I found this to be an engaging book and well worth reading if you're interested in seeing life from the servant's perspective; somehow all those books where the main characters are served fail to portray the difficulty a servant faces if she dares to want a life of her own. And Lady's Maid is also an interesting study in co-dependency in its portrayal of Wilson's relationship with her mistress. At 550 pages, the book at times feels overlong, although I understand the difficulty in trying to cover 17 years of a woman's life while including enough concrete scenes that we still feel connected to her.

Overall, I would recommend this book if you have the patience to see it through and still think it worth your time. If nothing else, it's an honest look at relationships that transcends any specific time period.

A Good Read
I rather enjoyed the first half of this book, where it was focused partly on Elizabeth Barrett as a recluse. The writing style is extremely good. However, I was slightly disappointed with the main character and her life. If you're looking for a romance, this is not the book for you. If you're looking for an interesting plot where things don't always turn out "peachy" for the characters, this IS the book for you.

Dragged a bit
In 1844, Lily Wilson becomes lady's maid to Elizabeth Barrett, invalid daughter of a wealthy, overbearing London merchant. Elizabeth became a recluse, corresponding and eventually meeting the poet Robert Browning. Because her father disapproved of his children marrying, Elizabeth eloped with Robert to Italy.

The story is half about Elizabeth Barrett Browning and half about Lily. I found the details of EBB's life to be much more interesting than that of Wilson's, and I wish there was more about her in this novel. I got the feeling that Wilson never really had a life of her own--everything she did was connected in some way with her mistress. However, I'd like to think that this was characteristic of the period--good servants didn't really have lives of their own. Nonetheless, Wilson seemed to get herself into a lot of romantic entanglements that made me wonder what the point of it was. The writing style of the book is very dense, and it took me a long time to get through--much longer than it normally takes me to read a 550-page book. I also thought that about 200 pages could have been cut from the novel--it just seemed to drag on a bit.

Nevertheless, there were a couple of things I enjoyed about this book, not the least of which was the setting--Victorian England and Italy never fail to interest me. I also liked the author's message about choice--Wilson could have learned a thing or two from her mistress.

Engrossing
This book was engrossing although I did not understand the obsessive love the maid, Elizabeth (Lily) Wilson, had for Elizabeth Barrett Browning.The way the relationship was laid out in the book between Wilson and Barrett Browning did not merit the reciprocation of love that Wilson gave to her employer.Perhaps that is the impetus that spurred the author to write the book, i.e., the strangeness of the obsessive love Wilson had for Barrett Browning.It certainly gives one much to ponder at the end of the book, such as how much about Wilson's character is true and how much fiction.There is also much to ponder about other relationships in Wilson's life and her treatment of them but I don't want to give anything away so I won't mention them.

I also felt the book was, in some places, too long.The author went on a bit too much when she could have shortened an episode of storytelling; especially toward the end.I wanted her to get to the ultimate point but she went on and on for pages with inconsequential day to day trivia before she finally did.Was she just trying to keep me purposely in suspense?I don't mind some suspense, in fact it is welcome but too much becomes tedious.

Overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend it.

Very well written overall
Forster does a good job of pulling us into the plight of Wilson, the maid.She effectively demonstrates the selfishness of employers and the desperation of servants in that era.The book is long and sometimes slow and seems to repeat itself in certain points, and I wish Wilson had come to her realization of self-sufficiency earlier on, but overall I liked it and wanted to see how it ended, however sad. ... Read more

Product Description
Margaret Forster's grandmother died in 1936, taking many secrets to her grave. Where had she spent the first 23 years of her life? Who was the woman in black who paid her a mysterious visit shortly before her death? How had she borne living so close to an illegitimate daughter without acknowledging her? The search for answers took Margaret on a journey into her family's past, examining not only her grandmother's life, but also her mother's and her own. The result is both a moving, evocative memoir and a fascinating commentary on how women's lives have changed over the past century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Mystery
this is an excellent and riveting tale of the depressing lives of the author's mother and grandparents. But, at the end it is akin to turning the last page of an Agatha Christie and reading "and thus the identity of the murderer remains a mystery".The fundamental questions raised in the first pages are never resolved.

a wonderful piece on social history
I really enjoyed this book. It moved me to think about all the people in my life and all the people before me. Margaret Forster writes with so much feeling and depth. She guides you through the people and the eventssurrounding these characters and it seems you too may have family relativesjust like hers somewhere. Margaret Forster isa highly skilled writer. Thestrength of this memoir I felt was in is the detail and the socialcommentary. It is also a great tribute to women and their work and theirmany roles in life.

I've read it 3 times and still can't put it down.
Hidden Lives is the story of four generations of women in Forster's ownfamily. She uses her brilliance as a novelist to create a fascinating andemotionally compelling history. Without going into dry statistics she givesus a picture of the lives of working class women in Carlisle, England fromthe late 1800s to her own successful life today. It tells social historythrough the ordinary details of everyday lives, but on another level, thebook is just a great read and highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
A young woman leaves a sealed memory box for her baby daughter before she dies. Years later, as a young woman herself, Catherine finds her mother's box full of unexplained, even weird objects. Finding out what the objects represent is her only chance to find out about the mother she never knew... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Disappointing
This is my least favorite of all the Margaret Forster books I have read.I found it very difficult to stay interested in the whole novel and felt that the storyline really didn't go anywhere.

I
I came across this book through "the reading group, by Elizabeth Noble". She has a great list of books to read.

The first review
Margaret Forster takes us on a wonderful journey through Catherine'sdiscovery of her dead mother.The 'memory box' her mother leaves herdaughter as she dies, when the child is only six months old, reminds us ofthe importance of personal history and the sense that it gives us all ofour grounding in life. The journey that Catherine undertakes leads her toquestion her own lifestyle and the relationships with her father,stepmother and Tony her boyfriend.To the very end she reconciles herfeelings for the mother she tried to ignore and discovers unexpected truthsabout herself. The box for thirty years enclosed and contained within theattic of her family home, once opened like Pandoras Box, couldnt be closedagain.An engaging story which will make you question your history. ... Read more

Product Description
A definitive exploration of the life of the author of Rebecca reveals many secrets about her turbulent, intensely private life, reviewing her troubled childhood, unfortunate marriage, and sexual ambiguity. 25,000 first printing. $25,000 ad/promo. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Comprehensive and sensitive portrayal of Daphne du Maurier
Margaret Forster's well-researched biography comprehensively and sensitively attempts to portray the enigma of author Daphne du Maurier.

The daughter of a renowned actor and theatre-manager and grand-daughter of a famous illustrator and novelist, Daphne inherits her forebears artistic talents but not their sociable nature. From an early age she prefers living on her own in a remote corner of Cornwell rather than partying with the debutantes of her day.

Her first novel was inspired as much by finances as artistic talent - although her parents would always provide her with an allowance, her own income allowed her to live how and where she wanted. Yet she never defined herself a feminist.

A passionate, prickly and troubled soul, Daphne spent her life confused by her bisexual feelings and need for solitude. Nonetheless she married and had a family but sadly continued her forebears' tradition of favouring her son over her two daughters. Her talent and generosity, however, were renowned and she contributed almost as much to the preservation of her corner of Cornwell as to English literature.

In Depth Look at Fascinating Author
This extremely well researched book was fun to read and gave a lot of insight into Daphne's life and work. Daphne's real character is illuminated and sensitively portrayed. Especially interesting for those interested in gender and transgender issues and fans of Daphne. Made me want to read and study more of Daphne's work and to visit Cornwall!

portrait of an artist
Daphne du Maurier was a consummate artist and Forster's excellent biography portrays her sympathetically, yet realistically.To begin to understand du Maurier one must understand that she considered fantasy more exciting than the real world.A child of privilege, Daphne grew up in a highly social and colorful artist's family, yet she greatly valued being alone. Her work was very lucrative, yet she spent much more money to help family and friends than on herself.Her writing is part of college curriculum and extremely popular.She was accepted into the Order of Knighthood for her contribution to the arts.Forster's apparently well-researched biography is written in a casual style, often humorous. Many people have something to say about Daphne and I found her own quotes the most interesting, yet, chameleon-like, she eludes the reader and remains mysterious. ... Read more

Product Description
In Margaret Forster’s characteristically compelling and clear-eyed style, her latest work is a humane and heartbreaking novel about a taboo subject, and about what it feels like to be a survivor.

What do Mrs H, Rachel, Edwina, Ida, Sarah, Dot and Chrissie have in common? They’re all women — fat, thin, old, young, professional, incompetent — and appear as diverse as human nature can be. But they are all survivors. This compelling novel follows the ripples that go out into ordinary lives, women’s lives in particular, that have been scarred by a shared experienced, all connected by the same hospital clinic. It is a novel about living in the shadow of disease and with its scars, whether mental or physical, looking back over one’s shoulder while trying to go forward.

At its heart is a strong, difficult, but finally, vulnerable old woman, Mrs. H, who is generous and helpful to a fault, and who lives alone with a secret that she tells no one, but which, finally, explains everything. Her niece is a young doctor who can’t take the strain. Alongside them are the other walking wounded, getting on with their lives: Ida, once beautiful and now hiding her scars under layers of fat; tiny Dot who is stronger than she seems; Edwina, a mother who lives vicariously through others; Rachel who finds out almost too late what it’s like to soar above the crowd; and of course the men in their lives.

From the marvelous ambivalence of the title question, Is There Anything You Want? leaves us with a whole lot to consider about life and its infinite variety. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Thought provoking
When I first realised that this book was centered on a group of women connected to a cancer clinic, in a hospital in a small town, my first reaction was one of dismay, thinking that it was going to be a totally depressing read, and wondering whether or not to continue. I'm so glad that I did as it's nothing like that at all. The women concerned are recovering patients, a doctor, a "Friend", one of the volunteers who help patients in a hospital, and their families. They are fairly normal, ordinary people who, on the surface, appear to be leading ordinary lives, but, beneath the surface of their facade, are seething, roiling hotbeds of fear, anger and frustration, just just awaiting release. It's a well written, thought provoking book which deserves to be read by anyone with a friend or relative who has been touched by serious illness, even if it appears that they are coping well, and isn't a bit depressing or maudlin. ... Read more

Product Description
Margaret Forster writes fiction that is convincingly, disturbingly real, rooted in the experiences of ordinary lives. As in Carol Shields’s Unless, this novel takes a heartbreaking look at a mother’s anguish.

Over is a novel about what happens after a tragedy in a family. Not the tragedy itself but its aftermath; what’s left when the tide recedes and it’s over. A daughter has died, suddenly, shockingly, and the different ways in which her parents respond to the tragedy, and how this affects the other siblings, is at the heart of things. The sad story is narrated by the mother, Louise, who is trying to hold herself together and get on with life, trying to understand not “what happened,” but what has happened to them all in the wake of the accident. Only gradually do we learn some of the details of the tragedy — a storm blew up, a yacht capsized, but the body was never found. Louise’s husband cannot come to terms with the lack of knowledge and uncertainty and becomes obsessive in his quest for a reason and someone to blame. His wife just wants to come to terms with it. She moves out of the home and goes back to work. Their other children can’t deal with the way their parents are tearing the family and each other apart.

With characteristic subtlety, Forster holds back the essential truth till the end, when we realize that Louise is not as reliable as her matter-of-fact narration suggests. Her determination to deal with grief in her own way, and her refusal to be defined by tragedy has its dangers and this is where the real tragedy lies.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Disturbing
I found this book to be a rather melancholy read, although superbly written and undoubtedly right on the mark. It's the diary of Louise, an infant school teacher and mother of three, one of whom, Miranda, drowned in a boating accident, three years previously. Louise's husband Don would never accept the possibility that the accident may havebeen solely Miranda's fault and descended into a kind of madness, an obsession with discovering the truth by questioning the boat builders, non stop, for three years. During this period, he lived like a zombie, ignoring the pain and suffering of the remainder of the family and generally acting as though he were the only one to feel the anguish of losing a child and sister. The story is of how Louise copes with this tragedy and how she tries to make herself realise that her feelings for Don have undergone a change, even while feeling pity for him. It's an emotional read and it would probably be best not to read it if feeling a bit fragile. ... Read more

Product Description
The curiously named Isamay, a would-be academic, is trying to write a coherent thesis about grandmothers in history - from Sarah Bernhardt and George Sand to the matriarchal Queen Victoria and other influential grannies -- while constantly ambushed by the secrets her own family has been keeping. An only child, she is named after her grandmothers, Isa and May, who were there at her birth and who have formed and influenced her in very different ways. Jealous of each other, they both want to be first in their granddaughter's affections. Isa has an edge, in that young Isamay looks like her, but Isa's reserved and elegant exterior hides startling surprises that could undermine her granddaughter's certainties. May, on the other hand, is plump, indomitable and opinionated, and it's from her that
Isamay inherits her stubborn determination. Isamay, almost thirty, has never wanted children, but suddenly considers changing her mind. Her live-in lover, Ian (always mysterious about his own family history) is sure that he does not want a child.

Engrossing, set in the present but with hooks into the past, this is an unusual story about grandmothers and their potentially powerful role in family life, about nature vs nurture, bloodlines and bridges across generations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Beautiful tale about grandmothers and granddaughters!
While Isamay is working on her dissertation about the importance of grandmothers in history, she can't help thinking about her own grandmothers and the role these two amazing women have played in her own life so far. Named after her grandmothers, Isa and May, who were present at her birth, Isamay shares more than just her name with these two unlikely women. She has inherited May's stubbornness and determination and she looks just like elegant and sophisticated Isa.

As Isamay devotes herself to her interesting thesis, she examines famous grandmothers such as Queen Victoria, George Sand and Elizabeth Fry, and she attempts to find out in what way these grandmothers have influenced and shaped their grandchildren and what effect they had on their grandchildren. Although she is caught up in her work and is concentrating more on the past than the present, Isamay never forgets to visit her grandmothers or to think about them. Isa and May couldn't be more different and they are jealous of each other and always fight for Isamay's attention. They have high expectations regarding their granddaughter and therefore, Isamay is always trying to please both of them. However, her grandmothers are not the only important people in Isamay's life. There's also Ian, her secretive boyfriend, who never wants to talk about his past or his family, even though Isamay is eager to find out everything about him. Nonetheless, they seem to get along well, until Isamay changes her mind concerning a serious matter. Almost thirty, Isamay has never wanted children, but she suddenly considers this possibility. But Ian seems so sure of the fact that he doesn't want any children that Isamay begins to wonder if his decision might have something to do with his mysterious past. As the would-be academic is caught up between the past and the present, she learns a great deal about history's most influential grandmothers, but she also reveals and uncovers the dark secrets of her own family.

One could say that Isa & May is a powerful book about grandmothers and their important role in family life, but this novel is so much more than that! In my opinion, Isa & May is a tribute to every grandmother out there and I think that everyone should read this novel, as it narrates such a heart-warming story that will linger in your mind for a long time! After I have finished reading this book, I thought about it the entire day and I couldn't help thinking about my own grandmother and how she has influenced me and guided me my whole life. I just loved Isa & May and I could really identify with Isamay in regard to her relationship with her grandmothers. I really liked the protagonist and I enjoyed reading about her dissertation work, as I found it fascinating to learn about these famous grandmothers. I loved all these glimpses into the past and I couldn't get enough of Margaret Forster's beautiful writing! I can't believe that this was my first book by this talented writer! I think that Margaret Forster might become one of my favorite writers and I am looking forward to reading her other books in the near future!

What I loved about Isa & May was the fact that it dealt so much with the past. If you follow my blog, then you certainly know that I tend to read books that are set in the past, preferably in the Victorian Period. Thus, when I first heard about this book, I didn't really know if I wanted to read it, because it is set in the present. But I still wanted to give it a try and I am so glad that I did, because it's now one of my favorite books! Even though Isa & May is set in the present, it deals more with the past than with the present and that's why I loved this book so much! I loved reading about Isamay's relationship with her grandmothers and sometimes, I had to smile and laugh when I read about May, because she is such a great character and I grew really fond of her! I am very enthusiastic about this novel and I think it will appeal to everyone out there! Whether you have lost a grandmother, or if you still have one, and especially if you are a grandmother - Isa & May will make you smile and you will find this novel delightful! This book was perfect for me as I was lost in Margaret Forster's beautiful writing and I think that the author has a real gift for storytelling! I was really impressed by Isa & May and I hope you will share my feelings if you decide to read this wonderful book!

Here are a few passages that I liked:

Page 97-98:

"It struck me today, as I was walking across Hyde Park, that I don't really fully live in my own times. I often don't see what is actually there. I see the trees, I see the grass, I see the Serpentine - I don't mean that I'm not seeing my surroundings. But I don't seem to see the real people. I wipe away all their reality. Instead, I fill the park with women in long dresses and men in frock coats, and other nonsense. I see children with hoops. Only the horses and dogs stay the same, because they never change. I love the past and live in it too much."

And:

"I am comfortable in past times. The people are so familiar to me...The past is so secure, all over and done with, all ready to be explored. The future was always exciting, but it also worries me now. I am no longer in a hurry to get to it. When my grandmothers talk about the past, it all makes sense to me, doesn't bore me in the least. I encourage them, I always want more detail, and I go with them all the way."

I think I like these lines because I also sometimes find myself living in the past and therefore, I can fully identify with Isamay!

A Cracking Read
Forster has written an entertaining and clever narrative. The main character, Isamay (whose name is a contraction of both her grandmothers' names) is likeable, with a bright and breezy tone in her narrative. The reader follows the main character on several journeys of discovery, which run concurrently and intersect in unexpected ways at severals keypoints during the story:
The journey of research into historically significant grandmothers and their influence on their grandchildren, the journey of discovery regarding her relationship with her own grandmothers, a journey of development in her romantic relationship and finally the journey to finding herself and some of her direction in life in an unexpected niche.
Likes:
I really like the way the historical events in the novel draw parallels with what is happening in the narrator's life, it worked well and I also learnt quite a lot in the process.
Another strength was the way the idea of secrets in families was presented and how Forster stresses that every family has secrets, which nearly always reveal themselves in some way in the end.
The contrast between Isamay and her partner in their outlook on life and relationship added another nuance.
Dislikes:
Some of the subplots in the story don't come to fruition as fully as I would have liked. Perhaps a little more tinkering would have fixed that.
Overall, a cracking read.
Read in hardback, no kindle yet, but not available in hardback on amazon.com ... Read more

Product Description
Daphne du Maurier's celebrated biography of her father, Gerald du Maurier, last of the great actor-managers.

Sir Gerald du Maurier was the preeminent actor-manager of his day, knighted in 1922 for his services to the theater. Published within six months of her father's death, Daphne du Maurier's frank portrait was considered shocking by many of his admirers—but it was a huge success, winning her critical acclaim and launching her career. Here, du Maurier captures the spirit and charm of the charismatic actor who played the original Captain Hook, amusingly recounting his eccentricities, his humor, as well as his darker side. ... Read more

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What do men run away from? Not war, not physical hardship, but the day-to-day emotional demands of impossible domestic situations. That's women's work. This is a story of female courage, where black comedy turns to disturbing pathos revolving around the rights of an indomitable woman. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great book!
Prompt delivery all the way from England to US.Out of print book practically free!Thank you.

A 5 star rated book!
Have the men had enough is one of the best books I have ever read...it made me laugh and cry and I felt it depicted the nightmare of dementia within a family briliantly. Margaret Forster is a very astute woman.

Why not 5 stars?
This book is funny, touching and very realistically written - and well written too! Grandma in Had the Men had Enough reminds me very much of old people with senile dementia I knew in real life - all those extremelycomical situations mixed with tragedy and insights into the personality theaged used to be. A must for anybody with old family members (who not?). Itmakes you look at old age in a new and (emotionally) better informed way, amore pensive way maybe. Given the subject the book is not at all heavyreading, it is rather light and straightforward. The only drawback to melies in the construction of the novel (one star off for that is a lot, Iknow). The story is told by a mother (Grandma's daughter-in-law) and herdaughter (Grandma's grandchild) alternatively. They give a kind of diaryaccount of everything that happens with Grandma - but almost no word aboutthe rest of their lives. A very lively way to tell a story, but it has alsoits unnatural aspects one perceives only after a while or after havingfinished the book. Nevertheless, Had the Men had Enough is very much worthreading.

A great read
I thought that Have the Men had enough was a very funny and emotional book. It was well written . Although the book does not have the same action and compelling drama as some, it does keep you laughing and cryingthe whole way through.

Would be a decent read if it was 100 pages shorter
To put it bluntly, the content of this book is too depressing. This is the story of an 80-something year old lady suffering senile dementia, and her family's struggle to provide loving care for her. I think the main problemwith this book is that from the beginning, we can see exactly where thestory is heading and how it will end, yet we are subjected to 200-odd pagesin the middle which really need to be compelling and gripping but are not.The purpose of the middle of this book is to give us an insight into theold lady's family and the way they struggle to provide adequate care forher as her condition declines (too slowly for my liking). It becomes toorepetitive as we see the same problems arising for the family over and overagain, which may well be how it would happen in real life but it hardlymakes for compelling reading. I just kept finding myself wishing the oldlady would die already, to provide a new angle for the story. Now if thebook was 100 pages shorter, I doubt I would have lost interest the way Idid. But essentially it all comes down to the fact that the story isdepressing and unenjoyable. I mean who really wants to read a book whichmakes an issue out of changing the underwear of a doubly-incontinent 80year old woman. Not me. ... Read more

Product Description
Significant Sisters, a brilliant new study of the roots of feminism, portrays eight women's rights advocates of the 19th and early 20th centuries: Caroline Norton, Elizabeth Blackwell, Florence Nightingale, Emily Davies, Josephine Butler, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Margaret Sanger, and Emma Goldman.Determined, foresightful leaders, the pioneers of contemporary feminism, these women fought unprecedented battles for women's rights in eight separate spheres of activity--law, the professions, employment, education, sexual morality, politics, birth control, and ideology.
Margaret Forster's portraits bring these women vividly to life.Drawing on letters, diaries, unpublished papers, and autobiograpies, Forster describes the life circumstances, radicalizing experiences, and activities of these feminist forebears, and notes the many parallels in their lives.
In the process, she tells us much about the feminism of the 19th century, which was not so much a movement as a phenomenon that occurred simultaneously in many different fields.These nineteenth-century leaders, many of them avowedly non-feminist, reacted not to an ideology but to their own experiences of prejudice or limited opportunity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Precious Lives
Makes a good case for euthanasia.A very honest reflection on the author's relationship with family/friends.But beyond that, the reader can't help but become subjective.

Unsentimental Journey
In this excellent memoir, Margaret Forster has succeeded in writing about death and dying without the usual cliches or overwrought sentiments.She tells two stories of people she loves; her fifty-six year old sister-in-lawdying of cancer and her ninety-six year-old father dying of old age. Toldwith honesty and humor, we can admire her father's tenacity anddetermination to maintain his identity without having to believe that hehas suddenly acquired great wisdom.We can also grieve for the youngerperson as she endures her cancer treatments without being asked to see heras a soldier losing a battle.Ms Forster is equally forthright indescribing her own conflicted feelings of loving compassion mixed with thedesire to see the end of her loved ones suffering as they struggle throughthe last days of their precious lives.The reader will find no angels orgreat epiphanies in this absorbing book but just might find it all the moreinspiring for it's unsentimental look at the human spirit. ... Read more