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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Delightful Tragicomedy Of A Modern Day Fairy Tale!, 17 Feb 2005
Fay Weldon gives new meaning to irony in "The Hearts And Lives Of Men." This is a satiric love story, peopled with some of the most original characters I have met in years. Weldon gets right to the guts of the love-hate contradiction, that exists in all of us, and turns it into grand comedy, and sometimes, grand guignol. She also parodies the art world, and the lives of the rich, famous, and talented, as well as a few plain ordinary folks back in the 1960s, "when everybody wanted everything, and thought they could have it, and what's more had a right to it!" It was a time when it was possible to have, "Sex without babies. Revolution without poverty. Careers without selfishness. Art without effort." Her writing is elegant, and her wit, delightfully malicious. "This is the story of Clifford, Helen and little Nell." We are, once upon a time, in London, in the glorious mid-1960s. Clifford is a wealthy, up and coming art aficionado, who is soon to give Sotheby's a run for their money with his establishment. Helen is the much younger, lovely daughter of an eccentric, impoverished artist. The two fall in love at first sight. They gaze across a crowded room into each other's eyes, (just like in the song), and immediately know that fate has touched them. Nell is conceived that night. And, as with most fairy tales, and sadly with life also, all is not happily ever after. Clifford and Helen fight as passionately as they love. He is too often busy at work, buying, appraising, and selling art to spend much time with his new wife and daughter. "Telling the good from the bad is what the Art World is all about, and a sizable chunk of the world's resources is devoted to just this end." Clifford really wants part of that chunk. A very wicked witch enters the picture, at about this time. Actually she was there from the beginning, in the person of Angie, Clifford's super wealthy, scheming, ex-fiancee. The new husband was just too busy to pay much attention to Angie's vicious mischief-making before. And mischief-make she does. The consequences of Angie's fun and games are appalling. The formerly happy couple's lives are turned downside-up. And little Nell disappears in the process. Nell, miraculously manages to survive a kidnapping, plane crash, various foster parents and many harrowing adventures. Her parents grieve, blame each other for their loss, and move on with their lives. They must live many years, and learn much in that time - enough to deserve an opportunity to see their daughter again. In this adult fable, true love will finally triumph over hate, lust and greed. Good will ultimately prevail. It is the process of reaching the story's finale that makes this tale so fascinating and funny. The characters will change, grow and mature. And those few who do not will find their just reward. A hilarious read! You'll want to applaud at the novel's end.
JANA
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by Barbara Kingsolver
by Fay Weldon
by Fay Weldon
by Fay Weldon
by Fay Weldon
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