The Long Afternoon by Giles Waterfield
Henry and Helen Williamson arrive on the French Riviera looking for a house. Barely thirty, Henry has been forced to retire from the Indian Civil Service due to ill health. The dream-like Villa Lou Paradou enchants them. Carefully they build a life of comfort, with Helen creating a beautiful garden and Henry enjoying the pleasures of the tennis club, the drama society and the company of wounded English officers - the shadow over them is not only Henry's health, but the European conflict. As the story unfolds we see a portrait of a marriage freighted with the seeds of its own destruction as the gifted husband is ensnared by his wife's neuroses, and the paradise they have created for themselves is eaten away from within.
A witty and beautifully written period piece - Tatler Bliss.. all the places rose up like visions, and I walked through the house as though I had lived there myself - Margaret ForsterUnique and subtle... More poignant than E. F. Benson, more believable than Anita Brookner, rivalling the best of William Plomer, this captivating novel speaks with a humane and civilised voice, suffused with a kind of irony. I would like to hear more from it - Country Life
Giles Waterfield was brought up in Paris and Geneva. Having worked at the Royal Pavilion in Brighton and for sixteen years as Director of Dulwich Picture Gallery in London, in 1996 he abandoned arts administration in order to write, teach and curate exhibitions. This is his first novel.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780747272359 |
| ISBN 10 | 0747272352 |
| Title | The Long Afternoon |
| Author | Giles Waterfield |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Headline Publishing Group |
| Year published | 2000-08-03 |
| Number of pages | 256 |
| Prizes | Winner of McKitterick Prize 2001 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |