- Softcover
- Used
Seller: WeBuyBooks, Rossendale, LANCS, United KingdomWeBuyBooks
AbeBooks seller since November 14, 2005
Condition: Used - As new
£ 6.61
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. An apparently unread copy in perfect condition. Dust cover is intact with no nicks or tears. Spine has no signs of creasing. Pages are clean and not marred by notes or folds of any kind.
Seller Inventory # rev4607248399
- Title
- The New House
- Author
- Cooper, Lettice
- Publisher
- Persephone Books Ltd
- Publication year
- 2004
- Condition
- Like New
- Binding
- paperback
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 1903155371
- ISBN 13
- 9781903155370
- Item weight
- 430 grams
The New House reminds me of my favourite author Chekhov, who so influenced Lettices generation of writers. Like him, she had perfect social pitch and could draw an arriviste developer as convincingly as a steely Southern social butterfly. Like him she seldom judged her characters and found humour and pathos in every situation. Part of her genius as a writer is to realise that humans are never consistent, that "hard people will suddenly be tender and gentle people hurt you." Every time the reader becomes outraged at the monstrous egotism of a character, the kaleidoscope shifts and they do something spontaneously, unexpectedly kind. "I never meant to be a selfish woman," cries Natalie in a rare and touching moment of self-knowledge, but an adoring husband had made it so easy. "I wish hed shaken me and told me not to be a little fool."
Like Chekhov, Lettice is also wonderful on lost love. Both the heroine Rhoda and her maiden Aunt Ellen turn down men whom they love and who love them because they put duty first and are not prepared to abandon their dominating mothers. But before either of them can adjust their haloes, Lettice (or Rhoda) points out: "You lived to be good not happy It was better to forego your own wishes and enjoy the rarefied happiness from being on the side of the angels."
Jealousy is also brilliantly depicted. Thus we see Rhoda frantic to escape her mothers clutches yet unable to hide her resentment that maiden Aunt Ellen, during the move, is suddenly better at calming and looking after Natalie than Rhoda is. While Natalie, having totally enslaved Rhoda, is unable to hide her jealousy that an old school friend, who writes to wish Rhoda luck on the morning of the move, may be loved by Rhoda more than herself.
The New House does not date, and reads as freshly today because above all it is about the shifting balance of power within any family. In our twenty-first century, the grand old house would probably be saved as a listed building and the NIMBYs would be out protesting against anything being built in its place. Unlike them, but like Rhoda, Lettice was a true socialist, who although sad to leave a large, beautiful home, felt her conscience eased because it seemed right that such places should be knocked down to make way for lots of little houses for the poor.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Product Description
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
WeBuyBooks
Rossendale, LANCS, United Kingdom
AbeBooks seller since November 14, 2005
Shipping rates from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
| Item | 5 to 10 business days | 5 to 10 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 6.33 | £ 6.33 |
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General Secondhand BooksSeller's business information
Revival Books Ltd
Unit 11 Hugh Business Park, Bacup Road, Waterfoot
Rossendale, United Kingdom BB4 7BT
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WeBuyBooks
Hall Carr Mill
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