- Paperback: 368 pages
- Publisher: Virago Press Ltd; 1st Edition edition (6 May 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1860496911
- ISBN-13: 978-1860496912
- Product Dimensions: 21.3 x 13.7 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (76 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 730,872 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Affinity
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Affinity is a tale of power and possession that Henry James himself might admire. In her first novel, Tipping the Velvet, Sarah Waters explored secrets and longing--capping off this lesbian romp with a utopian-socialist vision. Her intricate follow-up is just as sensual but infinitely darker, its moral more difficult to descry. Its stylistic and psychological rewards, however, are visible at every turn, the author's persuasive imagination matched by her gift for storytelling.
In late September 1874, Margaret Prior makes her way through the pentagons of London's Millbank Prison, a place of fearful symmetry and endless corridors. This plain woman on the verge of 30 has come to comfort those behind bars, several of whom Waters brings to instant, sad life. And our lady visitor plans to take her role seriously, having recovered from two years of nervous indolence in her family's Chelsea house. One person, however, makes her job a passion. Opening an inspection slit (or "eye" as these devices are known), Margaret hears "a perfect sigh, like a sigh in a story". Peering inward, she's confronted by the most erotic of visions--a woman turned towards the sun, caressing her cheek with a forbidden violet: "As I watched her, she put the flower to her lips, and breathed upon it, and the purple of the petals gave a quiver and seemed to glow..."
The medium Selina Dawes may indeed have the face of a Crivelli angel, but she is in prison for fraud and assault. Suffice to say that the first full encounter between these two very different women is enthralling. "You think spiritualism a kind of fancy," Selina riddles. "Doesn't it seem to you, now that you are here, that anything might be real, since Millbank is?" And soon enough Margaret receives several viable signs of the supernatural: a locket disappears from her room, flowers mysteriously appear and her dazzling friend knows everything about her. Strangest of all, Selina seems to love her.
As Margaret records her weekly forays, her own past comes into focus, notably her plans to travel to Italy with her first love (who is now her sister-in-law). But her current journal, she convinces herself, is to be very different from her last one, which "took as long to burn as human hearts, they say, do take". Meanwhile, Waters offers a narrative two-for-one, placing Margaret's diary cheek by jowl with Selina's chronicle of her pre-Millbank existence. This dispassionate, staccato record initially suggests that we can separate truth from desire. Or can we? What Waters' haunting creation leaves us with is a more painful reality--that knowledge and belief are entirely different things. --Kerry Fried, Amazon.com
A N WILSON, DAILY MAIL
'Indeed, this is such a brilliant writer that her readers would believe anything she told them'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Having read "Tipping the Velvet" I was expecting a lot of colour, frivolity and fun from "Affinity". Even though I'd read it was set in a prison I awaited a Victorian "Bad Girls". However it was far from any of these - it was dark, it was psychological and so different from the previous novel. Subtle and discreet the reader is slowly drawn into Affinity and the world of Millbank, just as Margaret is drawn to Selina and however hard you try to resist this pull - you end up not just "wanting" to believe in the "magic" but like Miss Prior "NEEDING TO". I recommend this novel even though a lot of people prefer "Tipping the Velvet" I loved the repression and wanting in "Affinity" - Sara Waters explores that human need to believe in someone or something and she does this superbly!
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought this book after having finished 'Fingersmith', which I rate inside my top 25 book; I found Water's writing extremely gripping and reminiscent of old Victorian novels. I expected something equally exciting when I began to read 'Affinity'.
How wrong I was....at the beginning.
At first, I found the book quite tedious, as it moved at a rather slow pace, with too many descriptions of the prison and Margaret's house in Cheyne Walk.
After the first 150 pages, however it began to draw me in, with the exciting occurences. The descriptions did not come as often and I did not feel tired or compelled to shut the book to start a new one. The characters became more enticing; instead of skimming blankly over passages illustrating their feelings read them closely and felt for said characters. I was drawn into the story and the plot, that I almost believed everything (well, maybe not everything)said.Indeed the end was extremely surprising and shocking.
After the first half, a very enticing and well written book. Expect great things from Ms Waters - even better than 'Fingersmith' - in the future.
24 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I brought "Affinity" after reading "Tipping the Velvet" (also an astounding read). The book describes a two year time frame of events--one that occurs in the present and the other describing the events that led to the present.
It is set in the late 1800's, in London, England. Sarah Water's takes you on a fascinating journey of intrigue, devotion, deception, passion, etc., etc.--it's all here. It is written in a marvelously descriptive text that lures you in in such a manner that you simply cannot put the book down. Water's slowly drops hints along the way, and never allows the reader to guess at any outcome of events.
I was slightly disappointed by (what seemed like) the sudden ending of the book. But only disappointed because I was so utterly convinced of the inevitable outcome (I felt as bewildered as Miss Prior). I have not been surprised by a plot/book/author for a very long time.
I highly recommend "Tipping the Velvet" and "Affinity." I assure you, in reading these books, you will be in skilled hands.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Intriguing
Not finished this book yet, but Sarah writes so beautifully & creatively leaves you craving more and gets your imagination going
Published 16 days ago by Bear
Stark and Unforgiving
I am still gasping for breath from the last pages to Sarah Waters brilliant Victorian Gothic Thriller. Read more
Published 26 days ago by Yoshay
A stunning story, beautifully told
Sarah Waters is able to move the reader back to a different time effortlessly. This intricate tale completely gripped me and I did not see the fantastic twist towards the end... Read more
Published 28 days ago by DebbieB
Victorian prison drama
This book is set in the real Victorian Millbank Prison. The story is about Selina Dawes a spiritualist who is imprisoned for murder and Margaret, an upper class prison visitor. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Swirlygirly30
Boring and depressing
I found this book to be very dull and tedious and I couldn't warm to anyone in it. Especially the main character who was i thought was very gullable and annoying. Read more
Published 3 months ago by TurvyAxe
Heavy going: a book to appreciate rather than enjoy?
While I was reading this book it felt like a a millstone round my neck: the dark, gloomy tone was relentlessly depressing, but I found I couldn't put it down until I got to the... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Bookwoman
Well written Victorian melodrama
This is a story of a love which develops between a lady visitor to Millbank prison and a prisoner who is a medium, mostly told in the form of a diary written by the lady. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Janie U
Glued to my shelf
There are some books which you find and NEVER part with. This is one - you are glued to the story from page one and swept away in it. WHAT A PIECE OF WRITING! Read more
Published 10 months ago by P. A. Barge
"Why do gentlemen's voices carry so clearly, when women's are so...
"Affinity" was Sarah Waters' second novel, following "Tipping the Velvet" and preceding "Fingersmith" (2002), which was the first of three of her books, along with "The Night... Read more
Published 13 months ago by jfp2006
My Thoughts About .... 'Affinity' by Sarah Waters
I have never read any work by Sarah Waters before and have had no recommendations about her work to set any expectations by. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Yvonne
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