The Man Who Loved Children - Softcover

Stead, Christina

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0006546862 ISBN 13: 9780006546863

Publisher: Flamingo, 1993

Synopsis

This novel is a study of the savage warfare between Henrietta and her husband Sam, an impractical idealist who has nearly brought his family to ruin. It also tells the story of the children who, growing up in an increasingly bizarre household, try to escape damage.

About this title

Review:

"This crazy, gorgeous family novel is one of the great literary achievements of the twentieth century. I carry it in my head the way I carry childhood memories; the scenes are of such precise horror and comedy that I feel I didn't read the book so much as live it."--Jonathan Franzen, author of" The Corrections"
"A story of life, faithfully plotted, clearly told, largely peopled with real souls, genuine problems; it is realistically set, its intention and drive are openly and fully revealed; it is also a work of absolute originality."--Elizabeth Hardwick
"It must be a classic, for there are very few novels in English that are as large and as beautifully written."--Robert Lowell
"One of the best novels of this century."--Walter Clemons, " Newsweek"

This crazy, gorgeous family novel is one of the great literary achievements of the twentieth century. I carry it in my head the way I carry childhood memories; the scenes are of such precise horror and comedy that I feel I didn't read the book so much as live it. "Jonathan Franzen, author of The Corrections"

A story of life, faithfully plotted, clearly told, largely peopled with real souls, genuine problems; it is realistically set, its intention and drive are openly and fully revealed; it is also a work of absolute originality. "Elizabeth Hardwick"

It must be a classic, for there are very few novels in English that are as large and as beautifully written. "Robert Lowell"

One of the best novels of this century. "Walter Clemons, Newsweek""

This crazy, gorgeous family novel is one of the great literary achievements of the twentieth century. I carry it in my head the way I carry childhood memories; the scenes are of such precise horror and comedy that I feel I didn't read the book so much as live it. Jonathan Franzen, author of The Corrections

A story of life, faithfully plotted, clearly told, largely peopled with real souls, genuine problems; it is realistically set, its intention and drive are openly and fully revealed; it is also a work of absolute originality. Elizabeth Hardwick

It must be a classic, for there are very few novels in English that are as large and as beautifully written. Robert Lowell

One of the best novels of this century. Walter Clemons, Newsweek

"

"This crazy, gorgeous family novel is one of the great literary achievements of the twentieth century. I carry it in my head the way I carry childhood memories; the scenes are of such precise horror and comedy that I feel I didn't read the book so much as live it." --Jonathan Franzen, author of The Corrections

"A story of life, faithfully plotted, clearly told, largely peopled with real souls, genuine problems; it is realistically set, its intention and drive are openly and fully revealed; it is also a work of absolute originality." --Elizabeth Hardwick

"It must be a classic, for there are very few novels in English that are as large and as beautifully written." --Robert Lowell

"One of the best novels of this century." --Walter Clemons, Newsweek

From the Back Cover:

Christina Stead’s finest and most famous novel, 'The Man Who Loved Children', is the story of the savage warfare between Henrietta, ‘a raging wreck of a woman, driven by horror, passion and contempt,’ and her husband Sam, whose impractical idealism has brought his family to near-ruin. At sea in the world of adults, Sam is a genius in the eyes of each of his five children – except for Louie, his gauche and brilliant elder daughter. Wise and all-seeing, Louie is forced to take drastic steps to save herself and her siblings from lasting tragedy...

At once an immediate and rhapsodic study of the intricacies and joys of family life and a dark and intense study of domestic terror, 'The Man Who Loved Children' is one of the century’s great originals.

“To open any book by Christina Stead is to be at once aware that one is in the presence of greatness. A profoundly serious, deeply accomplished and magically illuminating novelist, she restores to us the entire world in its infinite complexity and inexorable bitterness.”
ANGELA CARTER.

“'The Man Who Loved Children' is Stead’s finest and most finely balanced novel. A dark star among novelists, her work is of a verdigris brilliance, of a very fine perception and always of uncalculating honesty.”
'TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT.'

“The art of Christina Stead is individual, idiosyncratic, constantly challenging, emotionally and intellectually rewarding.”
'LISTENER.'

“Christina Stead is a formidable and entirely individual writer.”
'NEW STATESMAN.'

About this edition

• Publisher: Flamingo
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 0006546862
• ISBN 13: 9780006546863
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 560