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Review
`a touching story of human frailty' ----Leslie McDowell, The Independent on Sunday
Book Description
A masterfully atmospheric book of hidden lives and family secrets from the celebrated biographer
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a curious book with a mixture of new and familiar material and seemingly written for both public and persaonl reasons. It left me with a feeling of melancholy engendered by the way lives, houses, possessions, and ultimately relationships, can seem trivial and arbitrary when someone tries to give them more meaning than they are able to carry. The use of a beautiful house as a narrative thread also added a tinge of sadness, especially when the author seemed to be only semi-welcome there. It reminded me how satisfying it is in 'Rebecca' when the house burns down - and how sad when Daphne du Maurier in reality had to leave her own beloved Menabilly. The image of the 'book' of messages carried around by Eve Fairfax as her life fades around her, is one that will stay with me. As someone who sat for Rodin, she seemed to typify a woman who only exists when she's looked at by others.
The book is beautifully written, which carries the reader along. I read the whole thing, even though the lengthy Vita-Violet stuff is familiar. Now no longer so scandalous, their behaviour struck me as childish and indulgent and it was puzzling that the author spent so many pages on it. It did though prompt me to find out more about Violet Trefusis as a writer.
I kept hoping to understand what is at the heart of the book but was left with a fugitive sense of a story not fully told, that there's something more and more personal behind all this that's only been hinted at.
The book is beautifully written, which carries the reader along. I read the whole thing, even though the lengthy Vita-Violet stuff is familiar. Now no longer so scandalous, their behaviour struck me as childish and indulgent and it was puzzling that the author spent so many pages on it. It did though prompt me to find out more about Violet Trefusis as a writer.
I kept hoping to understand what is at the heart of the book but was left with a fugitive sense of a story not fully told, that there's something more and more personal behind all this that's only been hinted at.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Although I already knew the facts, I ordered the book in the hope of learning something new. It's a very interesting story and relevant today because of the Camilla connection, however, I do not very much like Holroyde's style. Clearly many do, so that's just personal.
It is an interesting tale and one I only learned about in the last couple of years, despite knowing the area since the '70s - so enjoyed it. Since I am writing my own book about Amalfi, it served as confirmation of the true story and in that way was very helpful.
It is an interesting tale and one I only learned about in the last couple of years, despite knowing the area since the '70s - so enjoyed it. Since I am writing my own book about Amalfi, it served as confirmation of the true story and in that way was very helpful.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I visited Ravello and the Villa Cimbrone a couple of times and was delighted about the mansion plus park around the villa. A splendid place to be at and a spot that lured me to return. I was delighted to learn that there is a biography about the famous people that stayed there in the past, e.g. Greta Garbo. Unfortunately, Holroyd does not deal with these famous people but with daughters of famous poets, politicians, etc. that are of no interest to me. The house itself plays a completely minor role in the descriptions. There is no atmosphere of Italian splendour and art of living. Of course, the disappointment is partly my fault since I did not read the title of the book correctly, i.e. I left out the latter part reading "illegitimate daughters, absent fathers". The book is well written as always with Holroyd, so if readers do not look for refreshment of the memory of this beautiful spot they might be satisfied.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Ravello
Fascinating history: Ravello, Leeds (Yorkshire), Knole (Kent). The coincidences are stunning. Strongly recommend the book, visiting Ravello - Villa Cimbrone and the Yorkshire... Read more
Published 8 months ago by John Shires
review
Wonderful, pure distilled Michael Holroyd, please let it not be true that this is the last book, I shall feel like an orphan if it is.
Published 9 months ago by Hilary
Not an easy book to read
This book is not everyone's cup of tea but I enjoyed it because I am interested in some of the characters. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Jill
Patchy
Parts of this book were good, but not enough to persude me to read the whole thing.
Some parts were clearly invention by the author, and some parts were clearly gleaned... Read more
Some parts were clearly invention by the author, and some parts were clearly gleaned... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Ransen Owen
Make-believe?
The distinguished biographer Michael Holroyd demeans himself by stooping to the level of society newspaper columnist with this salacious biography of a series of relatively obscure... Read more
Published 19 months ago by abiographer
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