- Paperback: 352 pages
- Publisher: Grafton; New edition edition (8 Oct 1992)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0586210997
- ISBN-13: 978-0586210994
- Product Dimensions: 17.4 x 11.5 x 2.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 792,410 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
‘Quite as extraordinary an achievement as “Empire of the Sun” … A dazzling construction, a sequence of chapters almost every one a tour de force in its own right. He has put together the pieces of a fractured life here with honesty, humility and real brilliance’ Guardian
‘This is autobiography taken to the highest reaches of fiction, another wonderful novel of scorching power, shot through with honesty and lyricism’ Observer
‘Ballard is the most modern of writers; his art engages with the artefacts and obsessions of the second half of this century in a manner and with an intensity unmatched by any other writer. The book is full of mesmerising writing, classic examples of Ballard style, paragraphs and pages that disturb and enthral. The blend is very potent and highly intoxicating’ William Boyd
‘Brilliant…Ballard at his best’ Independent on Sunday
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.Product Description
The sequel to "Empire of the Sun", this story follows the travels of Jim, as he leaves Shanghai after the war and tries to settle firstly in England and then Canada. Shattered by personal tragedy, he throws himself into the maelstrom of the 1960s, searching for peace of mind.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have read most of what Ballard has written; and I can't understand why this novel is so neglected, compared to The Atrocity Exhibition or Crash. To me this is the best thing he has written in the long form. Some of his short stories may be a bit better; but this is an absolute masterpiece, and it's probably the book I'd first give a friend to allow him or her to discover the Ballard World. It's a complex and astounding mix of facts and fiction, of visionary imagination and down-to-earth realism. The parts about the death of the protagonist's wife, the end of the war, the making of the movie Empire of the Sun in Shepperton should be in anthologies of English literature. His prose is dazzling, and this is probably the only long book by ballard where we don't meet his stereotypical characters only, but a wide variety of persons. All in all, a must-read for those who think Ballard is only Empire of the Sun and Crash.
17 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Ballard shows his mastery of narrative by giving us glimpses of the turning points in his life. Rather than opting for a straight chronological narration, he illustrates the defining role the women of his life have played, and the impact they've had on both his personal life, and his creativity as an author. At times hilarious, at times unsettling, the novel never fails to spark the senses and leaves the reader with a sense of an irresistable lust for life. Eminently readable on its own, but also a great companion read to Empire of the Sun.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book fills in around "Empire of the Sun" and goes a long way to explaining the perversities of "The Atrocity Exhibition" and "Crash". Compulsive reading for almost anyone. The story of Ballards life (more or less). I can only say read it. Then read it again and give it to someone.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Fannies He Has Known - in detail
Started off well, describing his life as a boy living in wartime Shanghai, captured by the Japanese and kept in a camp. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Florence
Cheated!!
The reason that I have only given this book 2 stars, is that it tells the story, albeit in brief of The Empire of The Sun, which I feel is 4*. Read more
Published on 17 Jan 2008 by Lisa
Great book
This is a great book, full of good ideas as well as the usual Ballard themes (emasculated accountants, TV cameras, acts of violence, cars and planes). Read more
Published on 3 Dec 2003 by R. B. Jones
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