Adultery and Other Diversions - Softcover

Parks, Tim

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1559705183 ISBN 13: 9781559705189

Publisher: Arcade Pub, 2000

Synopsis

A selection of essays reflect upon adultery, fidelity, Europe, ghosts, magic, destiny, and conformity

About this title

Review:

This is a collection of pieces which lie somewhere between essays and narratives. The first is called "Adultery". It tells the story of the author's friend and squash partner who, after nine years of marriage, has an affair. The man is transformed by the romance of this new encounter. The writer feels its reverberations in his own life: what would happen if he had an affair? How can a marriage possibly remain exciting? His friend is risking everything, and for what? This is the starting point for Parks' journey of enquiry which takes in, amongst other areas, "Fidelity", "Maturity", "Europe", "Glory" and "Charity". He takes his subjects, which can sound dry, and spins them into a series of fascinating expositions which draw on personal, philosophical and cultural examples. Though he has a massive frame of reference, he doesn't wield his knowledge with bombastic authority. He is not interested in knowledge but in understanding experience, and when he calls in Wittgenstein or Shakespeare, they provide useful connecting tissue only where relevant to the issues in his own life. He teaches without didacticism and entertains while revealing truth. The book is funny, unpretentious and compelling, and combines the gravitas of philosophy with the thrill of good gossip. --Hannah Griffiths

Review:

Frankly, the best British author working today. --Joseph Brodsky

His essays are a brilliant mixture of the selfish and the universal, the mundane and the profound. . . . This is a beautifully written book, profound, witty, and satisfying by turns.

Tim Parks's outstanding new collection is an elegant demonstration of the freedom and power of the essay form . . . [and] ranks among the most artful of seductions.

He is one of those writers who really does his best work when he lets his mind go wandering.

Tim Parks s outstanding new collection is an elegant demonstration of the freedom and power of the essay form . . . [and] ranks among the most artful of seductions.

About this edition

• Publisher: Arcade Pub
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 1559705183
• ISBN 13: 9781559705189
• Binding: Paperback