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A View Of The Harbour

A Virago Modern Classic
By Elizabeth Taylor
Series: VMC
0.0 (0 reviews)
3.88 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating. ( 1,922 ratings, 299 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In A View of the Harbour by Elizabeth Taylor, the quiet life of a small seaside town is intricately examined as the personal dramas of its residents unfold. Against a backdrop of post-war Britain, the interconnected lives of the townspeople reveal themes of love, longing, and the complexities of human emotion, all observed through the lens of a visitor to the community.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy character-driven narratives set in a quaint, post-war English seaside village. With subtle wit and keen observation, it intricately explores the intertwined lives, secrets, and emotions of a small community, offering an insightful look into human relationships and the complexities of everyday life.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

An unforgettable picture of love, loss and the keeping up of appearances. Published as part of a beautifully designed series to mark the 40th anniversary of the Virago Modern Classics.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

INTRODUCED BY SARAH WATERS

'Every one of her books is a treat and this is my favourite, because of its wonderful cast of characters, and because of the deftness with which Taylor's narrative moves between them ... A wonderful writer' SARAH WATERS

'Her stories remain with one, indelibly, as though they had been some turning-point in one's own experience' ELIZABETH BOWEN

In the faded coastal village of Newby, everyone looks out for - and in on - each other, and beneath the deceptively sleepy exterior, passions run high.

Beautiful divorcée Tory is painfully involved with her neighbour, Robert, while his wife Beth, Tory's best friend, is consumed by the worlds she creates in her novels, oblivious to the relationship developing next door. Their daughter Prudence is aware, however, and is appalled by the treachery she observes.

Mrs Bracey, an invalid whose grasp on life is slipping, forever peers from her window, constantly prodding her daughters for news of the outside world. And Lily Wilson, a lonely young widow, is frightened of her own home. Into their lives steps Bertram, a retired naval officer with the unfortunate capacity to inflict lasting damage while trying to do good.

Books included in the VMC 40th anniversary series include: Frost in May by Antonia White; The Collected Stories of Grace Paley; Fire from Heaven by Mary Renault; The Magic Toyshop by Angela Carter; The Weather in the Streets by Rosamond Lehmann; Deep Water by Patricia Highsmith; The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West; Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston; Heartburn by Nora Ephron; The Dud Avocado by Elaine Dundy; Memento Mori by Muriel Spark; A View of the Harbour by Elizabeth Taylor; and Faces in the Water by Janet Frame.

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

A View of the Harbour by Elizabeth Taylor has been praised for its engaging cast of characters and the seamless way the narrative flows between their stories. The novel is often compared to the works of Jane Austen and Barbara Pym, with its sharp observations and elegant prose. Critics highlight Taylor's ability to make even the mundane seem remarkable, showcasing her exceptional talent as a novelist.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780349010304

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 03 May 2018

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Virago Press Ltd

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Sarah Waters
  • Introduction by Sarah Waters
  • Introduction by Sarah Waters

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 21.0mm

Width: 198.0mm

Height: 130.0mm

Weight: 262g

Pages: 320

Collections

Elizabeth Taylor Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Series: VMC

About the Author

Elizabeth Taylor (1912-1975) is increasingly recognised as one of the best British writers of the twentieth century. She wrote her first book, At Mrs Lippincote's, during the war while her husband was in the Royal Air Force, and this was followed by eleven further novels and a children's book, Mossy Trotter. Her acclaimed short stories appeared in publications including Vogue, the New Yorker and Harper's Bazaar.

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