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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
"Her most atmospheric book . . . very eerie and richly descriptive." -"Daily Telegraph" (London)
"Bowen has flashes of the authentic Jamesian subtlety . . . [and] her own disturbing, searching presentation of complex human relationships. . . . Strikingly terse and original." -"The Christian Science Monitor
""A compelling story, inspired with a deep insight into human nature." -"Times Literary Supplement" (London)
"Bowen has flashes of the authentic Jamesian subtlety . . . [and] her own disturbing, searching presentation of complex human relationships. . . . Strikingly terse and original." -"The Christian Science Monitor
""A compelling story, inspired with a deep insight into human nature." -"Times Literary Supplement" (London)
Book Description
A timeless masterpiece of nuance and atmosphere that represents the very best of Bowen's work.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is regarded as Elizabeth Bowen's best work. It is exceptional for its multi-facted portrayal of childhood, coming of age and old age. It illustrates how each generation regards the basic facets of human identity: birth, love and death. Bowen's special ability is to convey her characters' emotions through external aspects: descriptions of places; the house in Paris, the cherry garden, Boulonge; and also weather conditions and nature.
Time is fractured in this novel: from the present we switch to the past and then back to the present. This timeframe can be exasperating and the story is revealed in a gradual way. Rather irritating is Bowen's dismissal of important events: e.g Max's death in relatively few words compared to the inordinate trangessions she makes when describing seemingly more trivial matters e.g. Karen's meeting with the girl in the yellow dress. But I guess most of life consists of gradual development of character as opposed to dramatic, life-shattering events.
This book has so many intriguing strands, memorable characters and beautiful images that it is a truly rewarding experience. Bowen has been compared to Henry James but I was most reminded of Ford Madox Ford's 'The Good Soldier'. Like Ford's book, Bowen's can be difficult but it is like viewing a picture up close - it s only when you have read the book, step back and see the author's entire canvass that the power of the work takes effect.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Bowen is one of those writers in whose books I could happily spend the rest of my life; there is something incredibly luxurious about her work. I still can't decide whether or not The House in Paris is my favourite of hers, but that is not to its detriment.
The premise is simple enough: two children spend a day together in a house, unsurprisingly in Paris, and as they begin to interact Bowen begins to slowly unravel their reasons for being in the house.
Though the plot at first glance seems basic, Bowen fills her novel with so many larger ideas. Namely that of age and understanding; her portrayal of the two children in the novel appears stunning in it's honesty. Rather than going down the route of giving us two precocious children, via which she can explore a wealth of themes, she presents us with two children on the cusp of understanding the adult world to which they both belong, yet children who still find wonder in the trivial and are often inclined to get lost in their own imagination.
One of the things I particularly enjoyed about the novel was the constant struggle between the characters and their nationalities. The way in which Bowen unravels the idea of what it actually means to be English/French/Italian etc, and what happens when you take someone out of their 'home' is truly fascinating. The subtle interplay between place and self has perhaps never been so deftly handled as it is here, and Bowen's evocation of Paris and England are flawless.
There is a particularly exquisite moment in the novel in which Bowen discusses the act of conversing in a group and our sense of self in such a situation. It cannot be more than 3 or 4 lines long, but for such a short, simple passage so much is conveyed, and not one word is wasted. Bowen is a terrific writer, and a completely brilliant story teller, both of which The House in Paris serves as testament to.
The premise is simple enough: two children spend a day together in a house, unsurprisingly in Paris, and as they begin to interact Bowen begins to slowly unravel their reasons for being in the house.
Though the plot at first glance seems basic, Bowen fills her novel with so many larger ideas. Namely that of age and understanding; her portrayal of the two children in the novel appears stunning in it's honesty. Rather than going down the route of giving us two precocious children, via which she can explore a wealth of themes, she presents us with two children on the cusp of understanding the adult world to which they both belong, yet children who still find wonder in the trivial and are often inclined to get lost in their own imagination.
One of the things I particularly enjoyed about the novel was the constant struggle between the characters and their nationalities. The way in which Bowen unravels the idea of what it actually means to be English/French/Italian etc, and what happens when you take someone out of their 'home' is truly fascinating. The subtle interplay between place and self has perhaps never been so deftly handled as it is here, and Bowen's evocation of Paris and England are flawless.
There is a particularly exquisite moment in the novel in which Bowen discusses the act of conversing in a group and our sense of self in such a situation. It cannot be more than 3 or 4 lines long, but for such a short, simple passage so much is conveyed, and not one word is wasted. Bowen is a terrific writer, and a completely brilliant story teller, both of which The House in Paris serves as testament to.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Beautifully written with a fantastic atmosphere. She is a subtle writer and leaves much to the imagination. Previously had read her short stories which are also brilliant but this book and Eva Trout (her last book, I think) are unforgettable.
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