Oleander, Jacaranda: A Childhood Perceived (Penguin Modern Classics) - Softcover

Lively, Penelope

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0141188324 ISBN 13: 9780141188324

Publisher: Penguin Classics, 2006

Synopsis

This autobiography is about growing up in Egypt. It is also an investigation into childhood perception in which the author uses herself and her memories as an insight into how children see and know. It is a look at Eygpt up to, and including, World War II from a small girl's point of view, which is also, ultimately, a moving and rather sad picture of an isolated and lonely little girl.

About this title

Review:

So vividly evocative that you can smell the dust and dung, jacaranda and the oleander. It offers potent glimpses of British colonial life 50 years ago: the snake-charmer in the garden; the nine-year old Penelope spying on de Gaulle at Government House... The result is a wise, colourful and touching tale (The Times)

Lively uses the imaginative power of a mature novelist to evoke the sounds, sights and smells of Cairo which is not so much 'another country as another century'

(Independent)

About the Author:

Penelope Lively was born in Cairo in 1933. She has twice been shortlisted for the Booker Prize; once in 1977 for her first novel, The Road to Lichfield, and again in 1984 for According to Mark. She later won the 1987 Booker Prize for her highly acclaimed novel Moon Tiger. Her novels include Passing On, City of the Mind, Cleopatra's Sister and Heat Wave, many of which are published by Penguin.

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin Classics
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0141188324
• ISBN 13: 9780141188324
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 208