The Seven Sisters (Penguin Modern Classics)
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Product Description
About the Author
Margaret Drabble was born in 1939 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, the daughter of barrister and novelist John F. Drabble, and sister of novelist A.S. Byatt. She is the author of seventeen novels and eight works of non-fiction, including biographies of Arnold Bennett and Angus Wilson. In 1980, Margaret Drabble was made a CBE and in 2008 she was made DBE. She is married to the biographer Michael Holroyd, and lives in London and Somerset.
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First Sentence
I have just got back from my Health Club. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
I have just got back from my Health Club. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
37 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Margaret Drabble - from her first book - charted the progress of the English family life in the welfare state. Her keen eye for detail makes readers nostalgic for years less influenced by television. Her protagonists were energetic, larky intelligent women. Candida Wilton - the diarist of "Seven Sisters" is the older version of those amazing characters and so, a bit slower. When the book opens, Candida has been living alone for a couple of years since being supplanted by a younger woman. Her headmaster ex-husband and her daughters having reduced her to invisible wife-work - they don't appear to notice she has gone. By now, she has come to terms with solitude, managing a small budget and coping. It sounds depressing but domesticated wives are watchers, and slowly her wry, crafty humour emerges into the diary. The spirited young woman she must have been, made her choose a flat in a mixed area of West London - very unlike the Georgian house in Sussex she left behind. Candida's life started to change when the building where she took evening classes was redeveloped into a health club, and she was encouraged to join. The flattening of her personality from a long boring marriage, begins to open out - she suggests the old classmates meet to continue their study. They discuss travelling to the Mediterranean to follow in the footsteps of Virgil's story. Then an unexpected windfall encourages her to organise the trip - six assorted intelligent women - and an exotic tour operator who drives their vehicle - makes seven. The grey of Ladbroke Grove explodes into brilliant colour and they start their great adventure. The atmosphere of symbolism & legend is beautifully maintained - a kind of tranquility produced by supportive companions on a pilgimage together. Then a minor drama from the inquisitive husband, temporarily brings her family nearer - but by this time - she is complete on her own. Candida is a beautiful character - a witty grumpy, complex and intelligent woman. I read every page slowly with pleasure - it's a marvellous book.
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the first Drabble book I have read and I enjoyed the first three quarters (probably a little more) very much indeed. Undoubtedly women of a certain age and trauma (myself included) will have a lot in common with the storyline - but the humour and characters in the book stop this being "typical". At a time when I was finding it hard to read, this book really did draw me into the narrative very quickly and I very much liked the motley collection of characters the book draws together. Whilst the end is not all it could be the majority of the book is well worth that disappointment (which you see coming anyway). This is one I shall be giving out as birthday presents this coming year with no problems whatsoever.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'm a newcomer to the work of Margaret Drabble and from what I can tell she isn't someone that writes books that I would normally gravitate towards but, I must say I really enjoyed "The Seven Sisters." It's a mature work with mature characters - and I found myself savoring the language and quality of Ms. Drabble's talent.
This story of "starting over" was rich with tone and intelligence. It's literature in the true sense of the word and I really enjoyed stretching myself and trying something new.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
the seven sisters
This book wasn't for me,it didn't hold any interest for me at all.I just couldn't get into it.Didn't like it at all. perhaps it's for a younger reader.
Published 1 month ago by lucy
Not sure what to say on this book
, the beginning was slow but interesting and as the life of Candida opened up it became more of a read but the ending was a bit fluffy. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Susie N.
Different
I hadn't heard of Margaret Drabble when I selected the book from the shelf, and I'm uncertain what attracted me, as it certainly doesn't have the content I would usually go for. Read more
Published 18 months ago by meltow
A flawed jewel
This is the second Margaret Drabble book I've read and it won't be the last. Rarely have I enjoyed the first half of a book so much. Read more
Published on 22 Feb 2010 by Nice Irma
Entertaining
I have not read Margaret Drabble's entire extensive list of novels, but I have always enjoyed them from as far back as I can recall. Read more
Published on 11 Nov 2008 by LindyLouMac
One for the Saga louts
Margaret Drabble writes in a conventional style just on the literary side of populist, much less dense than the quasi-academic novels of her sister, A. S. Byatt. Read more
Published on 1 Aug 2007 by Trevor Coote
Not one of her best
I usually devour Margaret Drabble's books in a couple of days but, weeks later, I am still struggling with this one. Read more
Published on 8 Jan 2006
Pretty good
I really enjoy Margaret Drabble's books and this one is pretty good. However I do not rate it as highly as some of her others.
Published on 21 May 2004
For Drabble and Virgil fans only.
You will probably enjoy this novel if you are, as I am, a woman of similar age to the author and already a Drabble fan. Otherwise, I would not recommend it. Read more
Published on 16 Jun 2003 by J. M. Gopaul
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