The Present and the Past by Ivy Compton-Burnett
Ivy Compton-Burnett is one of the most original, artful, and elegant writers of our century. -- Hilary Mantel When Cassius Clare and his first wife divorced, he insisted upon retaining custody of their two sons; he then remarried and fathered three more children. Now the first Mrs. Clare has returned after nine years' absence, begging to be allowed to visit the children. Cassius takes a malicious pleasure in granting her request, certain that she and the second Mrs. Clare will provide him with an amusing sideshow. Instead, the two women strike up a warm friendship that leaves him out in the cold -- and contemplating an attention-getting suicide attempt.Compton-Burnett was known as a writer's writer: Joyce Carol Oates called her work Aeschylus and Sophocles funnily reinvented by Oscar Wilde; John Waters described her books as dark, hilarious, evil little novels; and V. S. Pritchett, in 1955, noted she was the most original novelist now writing in English. Discover for yourself why Compton-Burnett is treasured by such a wide range of authors. Precise, poised, studied, epigrammatic artistry. -- Kirkus Anyone who picks up a Compton-Burnett finds it very hard not to put it down. -- Ivy Compton-Burnett A rich story, told with far deeper insight and a bolder, more sure-footed appreciation of subtleties, than I think any of Compton-Burnet's contemporaries could achieve. -- The Spectator (U.K.)
Ivy Compton-Burnett (1884-1969) graduated from Holloway College, University of London, with a degree in classics. She established an unusual approach in which her seemingly everyday dialogue ultimately provides insights into behavior and human nature realities. She is the author of more than 20 novels.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780140033472 |
| ISBN 10 | 0140033475 |
| Title | The Present and the Past |
| Author | Ivy Compton-Burnett |
| Series | Modern Classics |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Penguin Books Ltd |
| Year published | 1972-01-27 |
| Number of pages | 176 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |