- Hardcover: 338 pages
- Publisher: Chatto & Windus; First edition (3 Sep 1981)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0701125721
- ISBN-13: 978-0701125721
- Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 13.2 x 2.8 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,058,832 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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3 reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
End of an era
27 April 2006
Format:Paperback
I must confess to not having finished Dirk Bogarde's autobiographical books as I found them to be just too depressing but, to my great surprise, found this to be a delightful, sophisticated gem and a joy to read. Sir Charles Peverell and his wife Cuckoo live in a magnificent villa on Cap Ferrat in France, a place they have owned since the thirties when they were part of the young set which included F.Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda, Cole Porter and all the luminaries of that golden age. Except for their friend Principessa Minerva, they are the sole survivors of that era and are feeling like anachronisms in the present day world. Cuckoo has been diagnosed with incurable leukemia and, in a fit of total depression, attempts to drown herself. A gorgeous looking young man,Marcus, rescues her and agrees to back up her story that she simply slipped on the rocks. Cuckoo and Charles persuade Marcus to stay with them for a few days and to ask his girlfirend, Leni, to join them. The young couple soak up the luxurious surroundings very happily and its not until the arrival of a huge yacht bearing an Italian film producer and his entourage, including Principessa Minerva, anchors nearby, that the happy fantasy life begins to sour. It's a beautifully written book with perfect descriptions of all elements of luxury and beauty set down with a wonderful sense of elegance.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
The only thing light about this book is its weight
2 April 2002
Format:Hardcover
Light? Entertaining? Maybe on the surface, but this book is as dark and cynical as they come. When we first meet one of the main characters, Cuckoo, she is having a mid-life crisis, so she boozes it up and tries to drown herself. Fortunately she is rescued by Marcus, the object of every man's lust- and every women's, too! He even gets raped later on. Oh yes, how light & entertaining.
We also meet a miserable tyrant of a film director who speechifies on actors being clay, and him being the potter. This is a man who would stop at nothing for art. I won't say what he does but you'll see what I mean. At least Marcus puts him in his place. I was like "Yeah!~ You go boy!" Sure, all this is ample material for spoofing, but underneath there are some heavy issues being dealt with.
The same dark pattern can be seen in many of the other characters, such as the narcissistic, historically obsessed Archie, or Leni, whose guilt over her German heritage leads her to an odd kind of atonement for the sins of the fathers. Oh yeah, the ending is so positive and cheery... lots of hope there(note the sarcasm). An alright book, but certainly not one with a joyful message.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Light, entertaining read
19 Mar 1999
Format:Hardcover
I read this book years ago, and again recently for the book club I belong to. It is light and entertaining. Some of the descriptions are most evocative and one can almost FEEL the warmth of the sun in the garden, and the luxury of the life style. Clearly Mr. Bogarde has experienced the type of life he writes about. Occasionally it gets a little preachy. Some of the conversations are unreal. People rarely talk in lengthy paragraphs, but more in short exchanges. Overall though it is a good read, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for light escapism at the cottage, or on vacation, or even tucked up in front of the fire.
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