To hesitate on the edge of life or to plunge in and risk change -this is the dilemma explored in THE LIVING AND THE DEAD. Patrick White's second novel is set in thirties London and portrays the complex ebb and flow of relationships within the Standish family. Mrs Standish, ageing but still beautiful, is drawn into secret liaisons, while her daughter Eden experiments openly and impulsively with left-wing politics and love affairs. Only the son, Elyot, remains an aloof and scholarly observer - until dramatic events shock him into sudden self-knowledge. (19960828)
The Living And The Dead
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Scene after scene is worked out with exactness and subtlety which no second-string novelist can scent, far less nail to paper (Daily Telegraph )
An unmistably major writer who commands a scope, power and sheer technical skill which put other more ambitious novelists into the shade (A. Alvarez )
Brilliant and masterful (Nation )
An unmistably major writer who commands a scope, power and sheer technical skill which put other more ambitious novelists into the shade (A. Alvarez )
Brilliant and masterful (Nation )
From the Back Cover
Set in thirties London, The Living and the Dead portrays the complex ebb and flow of relationships within the Standish family. Mrs Standish, ageing but still beautiful, is drawn into secret liaisons, while her daughter Eden experiments openly with left-wing politics and love affairs. Only the son, Elyot, remains an aloof and scholarly observer - until dramatic events shock him into sudden self-knowledge.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Patrick White's novels are always, to say the least, enigmatic. This early work, set in pre-war London is no exception at all. The story revolves around the romantic dalliances of a young girl, Eden Standish and her tired, ageing mother. Psychology takes precedence over narrative here. Throughout he sustains an atmosphere of mystery while offering an almost Joycean tour inside the heads of his main characters. The delight is in the sensuousness and exquisite sense of irony that is maintained throughout. White is precise and often disturbing in his insights, though never patronising. His characters are not fashionable people, and they live their lives in an atmosphere of utter dreariness. This comes through in an early observation that the city is "emotionally commonplace........very little to distinguish the individual feature in the flow of faces......in the confused sea that was anybody's London." Out of this greyness emerge the most extraordinary individuals, indistinguishable to the naked eye, but glimpsed through the author's microscope. Like Carver, White created near-myths from the daily dramas of Everyman and Everywoman.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.0 out of 5 stars
2 reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Grim, but brilliant
14 April 2011
By Harry
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Fascinating. Extraordinary. Patrick White exploring with style, early in his illustrious career. Delves deep into the darkest, saddest and most forlorn corners of the characters. A grim, grim book - reflective of the dangerous times in which it was written (1941 London). Be sure and re-read chapter one on completion of the book, for some sense of hope or redemption. Not suitable for the eternal optimists or those looking for an easy read.
7 of 35 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
What was this author thinking!?!
23 Dec 1998
By jclifft@ix.netcom.com
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
Quite possibly the worst book I have ever read. The characters are annoying and bland and the writing itself is superfluous and confusing. I felt that I had to force myself to finish it and then was angry that I didnt put it down halfway through. This book has nothing to say and is annoyingly terrible.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
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