- Hardcover: 582 pages
- Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st edition edition (May 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0060179473
- ISBN-13: 978-0060179472
- Product Dimensions: 24.1 x 16 x 4.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,910,388 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Over many years and through many books Clive Barker has earned a reputation as the thinking person's horror writer. His novels have mixed fantasy, psychology and sheer creepiness in almost equal quantities, and while the gore quotient remains relatively low the tension always runs high. However, in Galilee Barker tones down the ghoulish in favour of the gothic. His novel (or as the author would have it, "romance") tells the tale of two warring families caught up in a disastrous web of corruption, illicit sexuality and star-crossed love, with a soupçon of the supernatural thrown in as well. On one side are the wealthy Gearys--a fictional stand-in for the Kennedys--and on the other are the Barbarossas, a mysterious black clan that has been around--quite literally--since the time of Adam. Galilee chronicles the twisted course of this centuries- old family feud which centres around the magical Barbarossa matriarch Cesaria and her son Galilee. Indeed, it's the latter figure--one part Heathcliff to one part Christ--whose relationship with the Geary women sets a match to the entire powder keg of hostility and resentment. Mixing standard clichés of romance with his own peculiarly deep-fried version of the Southern gothic, Baker has come up with an intelligent and shamelessly amusing potboiler.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Review
"A spellbinding treat..."Galilee" leaps through time and space to reveal an impressively majestic vision told in beautiful prose."-- "People" magazine"Sexier than King and more inventive than Rice...Full of intense emotions, enormous vitas, a...gusto for new beginnings, and a Californian flair for do-it-yourself theology."-- "Philadelphia Inquirer""A powerful work of fiction written by a master storyteller at the height of his skill."Galilee" reads like a James Michener saga with Barker characters and love scenes."-- "Rocky Mountain News""Part soap opera, part fantasy, part family saga, part historical novel, part secret history of America... "[Galilee]" reveals Barker as one of the most imaginative writers working today."-- "Newark Star-Ledger" "John O'hara, William Faulkner, and Barbara Cartland might have spent a lost weekend collaborating on this feverish tale."-- "Kirkus Reviews""Mesmerizing invention."-- "Publishers Weekly""[A] dazzling metaphysical epic-adventure...an astonishing feat of imagination...Barker's best yet." -- "Kirkus Reviews""Spellbinding."-- "Atlanta Journal""Barker's most ambitious work to date...Rapturously full of emotions."-- "L.A. Life""Rich in plot twists, byzantine intrigues and hidden secrets, "Imajica" is a Chinese puzzle box constructed on a universal scale...Barker has an unparalleled talent forenvisioning other worlds." -- "Washington Post Book World"
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
At the insistence of my stepmother Cesaria Barbarossa the house in which I presently sit was built so that it faces southeast. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
At the insistence of my stepmother Cesaria Barbarossa the house in which I presently sit was built so that it faces southeast. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Once again Clive Barker breaks away from the genre labelling tag of a `horror author' for which he has been undeservingly stamped with since his early work. With Galilee, Barker takes to a new path with a beautifully written story of love that dances with the celestial and magical throughout. Indeed, elements of his past work such as `Sacrament', `Imajica' and dare I say even the `Book of The Art' novels are clearly visible within this epic tale.
With an obvious dedication of passion and love to his lover David Armstrong, Barker has crafted a deeply emotional and poetic tale that delves the deepest Barker ever has to date, into the sheer importance of love, revenge, power and lust. Deliberately throwing added weight towards the emotional states of each character within the story, Barker brings out such full-bodied and life like characters that form the main crux of the tale.
Written by way of the hand of one of the books almost secondary characters, the story follows the lives of two powerful families, whose paths have intertwined throughout history. One of these families (the Barbarossa's) is more godlike than they are human. The other family (the Geary's) are extremely wealthy and powerful business men whose unsympathetic lives mirror that of many of the more dramatic circumstances that surround the storyline. One interlocking individual for the two families is the outcast by the name of Galilee. This character, to which the writer shows immense love for, was obviously based on Barker's lover David Armstrong.
The flow of the storyline, the intertwining subplots, the poetic use of words throughout, and the magnificent characterization, all form the main thrust to the novel. The developing storyline, with its carefully constructed delivery (by way of a historical account of the two families), is mere mortar to the stonework that is the passion of each character within the tale.
Barker clearly took great joy in creating and developing on each one of the characters, setting down detailed histories for each, setting their individual places within the families and indeed the tale itself.
For imagination alone, `Galilee' is a joyous novel to read, but with the carefully crafted and beautifully delivered love for each character, the novel as a whole is breathtaking. Indeed, this is not like any other piece of work by Barker, yet it still holds strange elements of many pieces of his work. Almost a contradiction in itself, but after reading the novel, I am sure that many of you will agree with that very statement.
The novel's ending is extremely open, paving the way for the sequel which has a preliminary publication date of December 2009. Having just read the novel for the second time after a good ten years, I have once again fallen in love with each one of the characters that draw you deep into this magical story of romance and revenge.
The novel runs for a total of 804 pages and was released back in 1998.
With an obvious dedication of passion and love to his lover David Armstrong, Barker has crafted a deeply emotional and poetic tale that delves the deepest Barker ever has to date, into the sheer importance of love, revenge, power and lust. Deliberately throwing added weight towards the emotional states of each character within the story, Barker brings out such full-bodied and life like characters that form the main crux of the tale.
Written by way of the hand of one of the books almost secondary characters, the story follows the lives of two powerful families, whose paths have intertwined throughout history. One of these families (the Barbarossa's) is more godlike than they are human. The other family (the Geary's) are extremely wealthy and powerful business men whose unsympathetic lives mirror that of many of the more dramatic circumstances that surround the storyline. One interlocking individual for the two families is the outcast by the name of Galilee. This character, to which the writer shows immense love for, was obviously based on Barker's lover David Armstrong.
The flow of the storyline, the intertwining subplots, the poetic use of words throughout, and the magnificent characterization, all form the main thrust to the novel. The developing storyline, with its carefully constructed delivery (by way of a historical account of the two families), is mere mortar to the stonework that is the passion of each character within the tale.
Barker clearly took great joy in creating and developing on each one of the characters, setting down detailed histories for each, setting their individual places within the families and indeed the tale itself.
For imagination alone, `Galilee' is a joyous novel to read, but with the carefully crafted and beautifully delivered love for each character, the novel as a whole is breathtaking. Indeed, this is not like any other piece of work by Barker, yet it still holds strange elements of many pieces of his work. Almost a contradiction in itself, but after reading the novel, I am sure that many of you will agree with that very statement.
The novel's ending is extremely open, paving the way for the sequel which has a preliminary publication date of December 2009. Having just read the novel for the second time after a good ten years, I have once again fallen in love with each one of the characters that draw you deep into this magical story of romance and revenge.
The novel runs for a total of 804 pages and was released back in 1998.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I loved this book. I bought it immediately it came out but kept putting it aside to read for a special occasion. I had it packed to take on holiday last year - but changed my mind, wishing to savour it a bit longer. Going on holiday last week I decided it had remained secreted away long enough. I loved everything about it and cannot wait for the sequel. It's just my type of book - the only problem being that whatever I read next will pale into insignificance in comparison. My only regret is that I savoured it for so long, thereby missing out on so much enjoyment.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Clive Barker has presented me with something of a dilemma here. I'm not entirely certain which foot to stand on. On the positive side this book is certainly written by a master of the english language. Clive Barker has the ability to express himself very powerfully by skilful and beautiful use of english. The story is intriguing and imaginative in true Barker-esqu style. But I can't make my mind up wether the he's controlling the story or it is controlling him. On the whole, the storyline of Galilee is a bit too haphazard for my liking, intentional or not. I'd still recommend it to any Clive Barker fan and will certainly look forward to a sequel (with an ending like that....sure there just has to be a sequel.)
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not the best
One reviewer remarks that this is a departure for Barker, yep, you're not kidding. His other works are fantastic in all senses. Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2008 by M. F
Different, but well worth your time
This book is a big departure for Barker, and not for those who go to his books hoping for another Damnation Game or Books of Blood. Read more
Published on 20 Nov 2006 by L. Niblock
Could be much better
I had picked up this book on the strength of two things: having read Imajica and the synopsis on the dust cover. Read more
Published on 13 Jun 2005 by Declan Mclaughlin
Yuck
I've enjoyed several of Clive Barker's novels, including Weave World, Imajima and Sacrament, so I had at least moderate expectations approaching this book, particularly in light of... Read more
Published on 1 Dec 2002 by Bruce Kendall
This ain't no costume drama
Two powerful families, rivals for well over a century, are drawn into closer conflict when a son of the Barbarossa clan, and daughter-in-law of the Gearys meet and fall in love. Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2002
Absolutely Beautiful
This book is bit of a departure for Barker. It is still fantasy and with a lot of romance. It sweeps you away into another world. Read more
Published on 8 Dec 2001 by vbenoit@auracom.com
Extremely Poor
What a complete disappointment this book was! Such a let down after reading the brilliant Imajica. Cardboard cut-outs for characters complete with usual stereotypes: beautiful... Read more
Published on 4 July 2001
A must read.
Basically a love story, this book throws together an array of characters set in both modern day and historic times. Read more
Published on 19 Jun 2001 by the.sheehys@virgin.net
The Geary women loved Galillee, I loved the book as much.
This was not what I expected, but I loved every word. The style in which it was written, the twists and turns, the characters, every last page. I couldn't put this down! Read more
Published on 6 Dec 2000 by "roaringlooney"
When Genres Collide...
I was very disappointed with this book. As a drama it lacked weight, as a romance it failed to stir and as a gothic novel it lacked suspense. Read more
Published on 4 Sep 2000 by diet_eam@yahoo.com
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