A beautifully controlled and powerful story of love and conscience, will and desire which begins when a mysterious young girl arrives to take up the post at the seedy Hotel du Lion D'Or in a small French town in the mid-1930s. (19950206)
Girl At The Lion d'Or
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"This moving and profound novel is perfectly constructed, and admirable in its configurations of place and period" (Times )
"He has reaffirmed the importance of character in the novel; his Anna and Hartmann are as real, as moving and convincing as Anna Karenina and Vronsky or Colette's Cheri and Lea. It is a novel to cherish and delight in" (Scotsman )
"I would urge those who appreciated John Fowles's The French Lieutenant's Woman to try this one; they will not be disappointed. They might well think it superior" (Sunday Telegraph )
"[A] story of restrained emotions played out in a period setting among picturesque locations... Faulks gives every sign of being a real novelist, who thinks and feels through the written word" (Guardian )
"An unusual and moving novel in which courage and abnegation are pitted against illicit but total love...a poised and well-judged work" (Financial Times )
"He has reaffirmed the importance of character in the novel; his Anna and Hartmann are as real, as moving and convincing as Anna Karenina and Vronsky or Colette's Cheri and Lea. It is a novel to cherish and delight in" (Scotsman )
"I would urge those who appreciated John Fowles's The French Lieutenant's Woman to try this one; they will not be disappointed. They might well think it superior" (Sunday Telegraph )
"[A] story of restrained emotions played out in a period setting among picturesque locations... Faulks gives every sign of being a real novelist, who thinks and feels through the written word" (Guardian )
"An unusual and moving novel in which courage and abnegation are pitted against illicit but total love...a poised and well-judged work" (Financial Times )
Book Description
A beautiful and moving novel about love and loss in France in the early twentieth century.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
94 of 96 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Having read and enjoyed Birdsong and Charlotte Gray already, I for some reason wasn't expecting a great deal from The Girl at the Lion D'Or. I'm unsure why I thought this may be the case, but was pleased to realise my pre-conceptions were wrong.
The main characters, Anne and Hartmann are so convincing, I instantly became engrossed in this wonderful tale of desire, love and life itself. As always, SF sets a great emphasis on the political and historical context in which this story is set - France in the late 1930's.
I felt truly disappointed when I had to put the book down, and found it to be better than Charlotte Gray and almost as good as Birdsong - if you have enjoyed either of these, read it - if you have not read any other SF books, read it - it's now one of my favourite books and I am sure to read it again!
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Contrary to what some people seem to think, Birdsong was not a first novel. This book provides occasional flashes of what was to come in the Novel Faulks may spend his life trying to shake off.
It is a beautiful story, ably written by an author still working towards his best. Some of the 'set pieces' are sublime, some of the emotions are still with me two years after reading the book.
One thing I have always faulted Faulks for is his inability to end novels. 'Birdsong' ends weakly, and this literally just STOPS.
It is like being told the story by an old man in a cafe in provence who dies of a heart attack just as he is about to finish.
At least 'A Fool's Alphabet' had a natural ending at 'Z', but he can't only write on subjects that come with a ready made ending.
Overall The Girl at the Lion d'Or is probably the next best Faulks book for lovers of Birdsong. Worth while reading.
33 of 35 people found the following review helpful
By "seamill77"
Format:Paperback
Having read all of Sebastian Faulk's books now I can safely say I enjoyed none more that this one. Songbird and Charlotte Gray ooze Faulk's charming narrative style while delivering a harrowing and touching look at the arcane terror of wartime. In the girl from the Lion d'Or the reader is treated once more to this sophistocated plot scheme and character development. Faulk's treatment of love and sexual desire is again eye-opening , mixing the power of the soul with the weakness of the flesh. The story is developed at a faster rate than Charlotte Gray and the main characters Ann and Hartmann are presented to the reader in a way that every nuance of theirs is understood. The plot may seem a little thin to those used to the flowing themes of Birdsong but perseverance leads to a rewarding read topped of with a heart-tugging ending.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
I enjoyed this.
Not as good as "Birdsong" but good nevertheless. Difficult for the author to follow with as excellent an historical novel as "Birdsong". That was an inspiration!
Published 8 days ago by Jane Howard
5.0 out of 5 stars
A beautifully crafted book
Faulks studied the French authors , Flaubert and Maupassant, under an inspirational teacher at school. Read more
Published 1 month ago by timothy j fisher
5.0 out of 5 stars
Girl at The Lion d'Or
Thank you for the swift delivery of my book - it came today 3rd April and I began reading a couple of chapters. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Ruth Robinson
3.0 out of 5 stars
It's OK
Not as good as Birdsong. xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx xx x x x x this is irritating, having to put more words in than I want to
Published 2 months ago by MR KEITH F A ADAMS
3.0 out of 5 stars
TV drama..
This is a well-written page-turner and, as you would expect from Faulks, it shines brightest when detailing elements of the war. Read more
Published 3 months ago by jimidimi
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very different to Birdsong and Charlotte Gray
Like other readers I wanted to read this book to complete the trilogy of French novels by Faulks. I didn't really have a clue what it was going to be about having downloaded it... Read more
Published 3 months ago by JennieBee
3.0 out of 5 stars
Exceptional story but I found my attention wandered at times.
Exceptional story, brilliantly written book, but some passages are just too long which meant my attention wandered somewhat, this somewhat spoiled the enjoyment of the read.
Published 4 months ago by Lili
2.0 out of 5 stars
The girl at the Lion d'Or
I am sorry to say that I found this book to be pretty tedious which is a shame as I have really enjoyed other books by Sebastian Faulks. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mary
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not his best
Having read Birdsong which I loved I purchased this but for me it was a bit of a disappointment. A wonderful writer but I was never fully convinced by the characters and the... Read more
Published 5 months ago by doddles
2.0 out of 5 stars
Girl at the Lion d'Or
I have not enjoyed this book at all. The writing is beautiful but the plot is so slow and so predictable.
Published 6 months ago by Isabella N.
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