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Stone Virgin (Paperback)

by Barry Unsworth (Author) "He brings me writing materials without asking for money but he does not speak, I cannot be sure what his motives are, whether he has..." (more)
3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
RRP: £7.99
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Product details

  • Paperback: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin; New Ed edition (6 Jul 2000)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0140088245
  • ISBN-13: 978-0140088243
  • Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 12.8 x 2.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 207,526 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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    #10 in  Books > Fiction > Authors, A-Z > U > Unsworth, Barry

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Product Description

Product Description
Passionate, erotic and haunting, this is a brilliant novel by one of Britain's most important novelists. Simon Rakes - a conservation expert - is restoring the Stone Virgin, a statue that cost the life of its creator in the 14th century. The statue is of great beauty but its past is soaked with a history of violence, sexual passion and human greed. As Simon's work continues and he meets Chiara, the enigmatic and beautiful wife of another sculptor, the past spills uncontrollably into the present.

About the Author
Barry Unsworth jointly won the 1992 Booker Prize with SACRED HUNGER and has been shortlisted for PASCALI'S ISLAND and MORALITY PLAY. He is authorof many other acclaimed novels. Originally from Durham, he now lives in Italy.
Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
He brings me writing materials without asking for money but he does not speak, I cannot be sure what his motives are, whether he has seen my worth and wishes sincerely to help me or whether he is merely acting on orders from his superiors or it is possible he has believed my promises to reward him when I get out of this hole but whatever the truth of it I take this chance of reaching you, noble lord, I beg you to find out who are my enemies and speak for me, I mean those behind my accusers. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews

3 Reviews
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 (1)
4 star:
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Average Customer Review
3.7 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A richly constructed novel based on an unusual idea. Great!, 29 Jun 2001
By A Customer
The Stone Virgin is set in Venice and the surrounding islands and covers themes of history, death, beauty, love, lust, tragedy and mystery. It is difficult to think of a theme that wasn't covered in this book on some way. The story revolves around three different time periods which together chart the story of the Stone Virgin from her construction to restoration. The focus of the book is the men and women whose lives have been interwined with and significantly affected by her presence. Unsworth successfully presents both the facade that Venice presents to visitors and the lives that go on behind the scenes as a dramatic backdrop. If you have ever been to Venice you can see, in your mind's eye, this story taking place in front of you. If you haven't you will want to go there. The story keep you turning the pages as the main character tries to piece together the mystery of the Stone Virgin. As the book progresses Unsworth creates a rich story around an unusual subject which operates at many levels but is brought together in a readable way - challenging but not over complex. The story continues to develop right to the last page. The construction reminds me of Zadie Smith's White Teeth - another hugely enjoyable book. After reading the Stone Virgin the next book I read will definitely be a Barry Unsworth!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Spanning the Centuries, 18 Aug 2008
Please don't be put off by the review which says that this book is misogynistic: it isn't. Unsworth presents a very enjoyable romp which takes place over different centuries, is set in a beautiful and mysterious city, and allows feisty women characters to get the better of some pompous, conceited men.

At a time when men dominated and exploited women, Donna Francesca was sold into marriage to a rich old man - as payment for debts owed by her brothers. She uses the desire of a self-deceiving young prig to free her from a life as the old man's domestic prisoner. She is not demur and accepting of her fate just because she is a woman and she refuses to be cast as the young man's conquest, but that does not make her "evil". I think that the reviewer has lost the plotline.

The "lustful" male characters act as they do when stimulated by the statue which is somehow endowed with the timeless spirit of Venice. Raikes is affected when restoring the Madonna. You might think this a somewhat improbable conceit, but the device was attractive enough for Sally Vickers to use it later in the popular Miss Garnet's Angel. And in any case, the Raikes character is drawn as a man who led a relatively dull, largely celibate existence before coming into contact with the statue. That very contrast between his life previously and after starting work on the Madonna is rather the point. No, the bit I found hard to swallow was that such a vital woman as Chiara would ever have been so responsive to such a gauche wimp as Raikes. In any case, it seems to me that when giving a review it is a mistake to jump from the perceived characteristics of one or two characters to a claim that some big issue such as misogyny underpins a book.

What makes this novel such a good read is the story, the linking theme of the statue pulling together episodes separated by centuries, and wonderful Venice. I wouldn't agree, though, that the descriptions of modern Venice work well. I think that Unsworth is at his best when setting his chapters in earlier centuries. There his convincing style and use of meticulous research is similar to the writing of Sebastian Faulks in Birdsong and Jo Hawk in The Man Who Thought He Was Hitler. In the historical passages Unsworth is as good as Faulks and Hawk, but where he differs from those authors is that he seems to use a somewhat outmoded style when presenting scenes set in the present. Consequently, I find his present-day descriptions over-written and the dialogue there wooden and unconvincing.

However, others may have different ideas about which passages work and which do not. Indeed, a critic I know has a theory that Unsworth's layer of research overwhelms the narrative in his historical sections, particularly in Stone Virgin and Losing Nelson, and that the chapters set in the present are the most successful. Nevertheless, no one is entitled to review a book which they have not read to the end, or to pan a book without evidence, or on a complete misreading. For me, Stone Virgin is one of Unsworth's best.

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4 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Misogynistic rubbish, 22 Jun 2006
This review is from: Stone Virgin (Hardcover)
I don't think I've read such a misogynistic book in ages. It starts out assuredly enough, with an engaging style and very good descriptions of Venice (I agree with the other reviewer; it will make you want to visit or re-visit Venice) but by about two-thirds through the plot and characterisation just kind of fall apart in a really disappointing way, and by the end the 'women are evil, men their helpless lust-crazed victims' theme really becomes offensive. Avoid, avoid, avoid.
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