The Book of Ebenezer Le Page (New York Review Books Classics) (Paperback)

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Review
"Recently reprinted by New York Review Books, G.B. Edwards' novel tells the story of a Guernsey man who lived through the Nazi occupation of Britain's Channel Islands into garrulous old age. His reminiscence is couched in a musical Guernsey English that follows circular paths through past and present to delve into island secrets and sagas. Great stuff." --"Seattle Times"
"There is a rare wholeness about "The Book of Ebenezer Le Page," You get the entire man, in a way that isn't usually within the gift of literature to procure... I have read few books of such wide and delightful appeal.... [it] is vast fun and vast life, a "Kulturgeschichte,."."" "-Michael Hofmann," London Review of Books"
.,."a near-forgotten classic of post-colonial fiction...yet it comes, not from some far tropical shore, but from an old man writing in the 1970s about his native Guernsey .... All honour to the New York Review imprint for restoring him to his obstreperous glory." -"The Independent "(UK)
"A masterpiece... one of the best novels of our time...I know of no description of happiness in modern literature equal to the one that ends this novel." --"The New York Times" (Guy Davenport)
"Quaint. Fascinating. Unique. Queer...The Book of Ebenezer Le Page is a eulogy for a way of life." --"The Los Angeles Times" (Valerie Miner)
"It reads like Beethoven's Ninth...Coated with sea salt, its crannies spilling wildflowers, Edwards's book still roars like some huge shell held, cutting, against your ear." --"The Atlantic"
"An extraordinary book!...Splendid! To read it is not like reading but living." --"William Golding"
"Imagine a weekend spent in deep conversation with a superb old man, acrusty, intelligent, passionate and individualistic character at the peak of his powers as a raconteur, and you will have a very good idea of the impact of The Book of Ebenezer Le Page...It amuses, it entertains, it moves us... Ebenezer's voice presides over all and its creation is a tremendous achievement." --"The Washington Post" (Doug Lang)
"[A] rare find...it is unique-a first novel that resists all categories-and it overflows with the sense of life...It's chief virtues are a story rich in human connection and a marvelously seductive language...For those who cherish style, it is also good to hear a fresh novelist's voice telling the old story of the passions, generosities, and greeds that battle in us all." --"Chicago Tribune" (Lynne Sharon Schwartz)
"G.B. Edwards, who died an unknown in 1976, constructed his novel out of the patterns of daily life-countless teas, lovers' quarrels, accounts of friendships and the signs of change as Guernsey reluctantly assumes the characteristics of progress. The results are enchanting." --"The Washington Post" (New In Paperbacks)
"A remarkable achievement!...The book's voice and its methods are so unusual that it belongs nowhere on our conventional literary maps." --John Fowles
"[A] knowing and beguiling chronicle of life on the English Channel isle of Guernsey...This deceptively plain-spoken story of a man's years passing in review before him struck me, when I first read it in 1981, as a beautifully crafted job of writing. Upon rereading it recently, I redoubled my liking and admiration for both Ebenezer and Edwards." --Ivan Doig, "Christian Science Monitor"
"The Book of Ebenezer Le Page, by G. B. Edwards, is an inexhaustiblebook I never tire of giving. It is literally one of a kind, a work with no precedent, sponsorship, or pedigree. A true epic, as sexy as it is hilarious, it seems drenched with the harsh tidal beauties of its setting, the isle of Guernsey...For every person nearing retirement, every latent writer who hopes to leave his island and find the literary mainland, its author-quiet, self-sufficient, tidy Homeric-remains a patron saint." --Allan Gurganus, "O Magazine"
"The Book of Ebenezer Le Page," "by G. B. Edwards, is an oddity and a great literary wonder, written in the beautiful French patios of Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands...[Edwards] feels intensely about everything and everyone in this deliciously rich novel of longing and love." --"Archipelago"
"Here is an islander; an island man, solitary, unmarried, alienated, who describes the modern denaturing of our world. Granite quarries and tomatoes and early potatoes; but then come tourists, international companies, tax evaders, occupation by Germans, etcetera." --"The New York Review of Books"
"Books: Forced to choose, we'd pick The Book of Ebenezer Le Page by G. B. Edwards as our favorite novel of all time. The recollections of a cranky old man on the island of Guernsey, Guy Davenport of the Times wrote, when the book was first published here in 1981: 'A masterpiece...One of the best novels of our time...I know of no description of happiness in modern literature equal to the one that ends this novel.' Hard for us to imagine a more pleasurable weekend than one spent with Ebenezer Le Page."-Manhattan User's Guide

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5 Reviews 5 star:  (5) 4 star:    (0) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 5.0 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   20 of 20 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A unique and remarkable book., 12 Dec 1998 By A Customer This review is from: The Book of Ebenezer Le Page (Paperback) Ebenezer's book is the fictional autobiography of a stubborn Guernseyman, his friends and family and his compulsive love for his tormentor, the enigmatic Liza Queripel. Driven to find a worthy recipient for his hoarded legacy of a cache of golden crowns, his story take us vividly to Guernsey and its people over the century, including the effects of occupation in WW2. Fluctuating from tragic to comic, despairing to joyful, it is always enthralling with its attention to the detail that breathes life into the characters and make us feel for this strange yet principled man, his loyalties and yearning for the past and the eventual unlikely relationship which finally fulfils him and gives him hope for the future. The story meanders, often in an uncoordinated random way, picking up threads from long ago, weaving them minutely for a while and gently dropping them back down again, utterly captivating from beginning to end. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   8 of 8 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars ebenezer le page:- a life in the reading, 7 Jul 2002 By  Dr. M. Andrew (uk) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This review is from: Book of Ebenezer Le Page (Hardcover) This is an unusual, gentle yet powerful novel about an eccentic individual who is uncompromising and true to his Guernsey heritage It is one of the most beautifully understated and interesting novels that I have enjoyed in recent years. Rather than just reading his life story one finds oneself living the life of ebenezer from his birth to his old age and understanding his development of wisdom about people, his island, the occupation of the island during World War Two and also love. One finishes with a deep sense of fulfilment, yet bitter-sweet sadness which I found profoundly moving. It is a wonder that nobody I know has heard of this post-humously published book but it is one of the gems of twentieth century english novels as far as this reviewer is concerned and I recommend it strongly to those who are looking for an enjoyable tale to alter their perception of life and living Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   6 of 6 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A rare and wonderful book, 19 Oct 2007 By  C. Shaw (London) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    I can't recommend this book highly enough. It is a real treaure - one of the best books I have ever read. It deserves to be widely known and hailed as a classic of 20th century. The premise is, on the surface, not specially promising: an 80-year old man looks back on his life, which he has spent entirely on the island of Guernsey. But Ebenezer's story takes us to the very root of what it is to be human, what it is to love, suffer, enjoy simple pleasures, endure disappointments and loss, and all the while, retain the utmost dignity and humanity. Ebenezer chronicles his life through the 2 world wars, the German occupation of Guernsey, and beyond. He watches, half amused, half sad, but without any self-pity, as the world around him changes, never for the better. His voice is utterly compelling, wickedly funny and truthful as he describes all the pretensions and absurdities of the people and situations he sees around him, and all the tragedies and the joys of life. I urge you to read this book -it is heartbreakingly beautiful and you will never forget it. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 5 customer reviews...		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for all visitors to Guernsey This novel tells the story of an ancient Guernseyman who has lived on the island from before the Boer War until the 1960s. Read more Published 1 month ago by Stephen M. Whitaker 5.0 out of 5 stars Baise mon tchou! Ebenezer Le Page is a Guernsey man, a donkey, as the Jersey islanders would call him and as stubborn as that animal in many ways. Read more Published 14 months ago by William Rycroft Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews › See all 5 customer reviews...

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