Sunday, February 6, 2011

To the North by Elizabeth Bowen

'Cecelia Summers, a young widow returning to London, was among the first to board the express.  She had neglected to book a place and must be certain of comfort.  She dropped her fur coat into a corner seat, watched the porter heave her dressing case into the rack, sighed, got out again and for a few minutes more paced the platform.'

This stunning piece of work by Bowen had me utterly and completely enthralled.  So much so that I swore when I had read the last line, how very unladylike!  It is brilliant and beyond me as to why it seems to be flying under a literary radar these days. 

Cecelia makes the acquaintance of Mark Linkwater on her train back to London.  He is of dubious character but the young widow has a way of attracting men during her travels.  Her sister-in-law, Emmeline, runs a travel office and is quite the entrepreneur despite being pressured to take things easy and look towards settling down. 

The two ladies share a flat together, supporting one another through the loss of their brother and husband.  Things get complicated when the very tall and immaculate, Julian Tower, becomes involved with Cecelia.  Emmeline forms an attachment of her own and in her modern way, steps over the bounds of propriety.  At what cost the heart doesn't even begin to describe where this story takes the reader. 

Having read only one of Bowen's short stories before I didn't quite know what to expect.  To say the least, I was blown away by her writing and examination of the human psyche.  I found myself reading certain passages twice, sometimes due to complexity and sometimes for their sheer beauty.  Oh, and the ending was beyond compelling, the best I've read since Little Boy Lost by Marghanita Laski.  Are you sold yet?

20 comments:

  1. I'm sold. I've read several other novels by her, but not this one.

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  2. I'm sold, too. I plan on reading Little Boy Lost for Persephone Reading Weekend at the end of the month. I've heard so many good things about that, too, and it's nice to know it's high on your list.

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  3. I've read about 4 pages of The Last September and after reading this review want to get straight back to it.

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  4. Definitely sold. I like Bowen, but haven't read this one yet. Something to look forward to!

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  5. I'm sold too! I have a volume of her Collected Stories and also another one called The Shelbourne, which is about the famous Dublin landmark The Shelbourne Hotel. I have yet to read either of them, but after reading your post, I think they have just moved quite a few rungs up on the TBR pile..... ;)
    By the way, just saw your new book shelf pics in one of your earlier posts, and just have to tell you how lovely they look! A fitting home indeed, to your beautiful books :)

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  6. I think I;m sold - I've read a couple of her novels but not this one. Don't seem to see her books around much actually.

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  7. Yes, you've sold me, too! The only Bowen I've read is The House in Paris, but now I'll start looking around for this one.

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  8. mary, Add it to your list!

    Bellezza, Oh you're in for a treat! I put off reading that book for ages because I heard it made people cry. You will never forget it, I promise you.

    Anbolyn, Is that your first book by Bowen?

    makedoandread, Oh Kate, it's a good one so don't put it off too long!

    Kristina, Good!

    michelle, I've done my job then and glad you like my new shelves! We really lucked out the day we spied that deal.

    verity, Bowen seems to be an author that people don't immediately gravitate towards, I know I didn't and I can't really say why. But oh, this was a fantastic introduction!

    JoAnn, You really enjoyed Woolf last year so I can well imagine that at least some of Bowen's books would be right up your street. Definitely keep this one in mind!

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  9. I'm sold! I've been reading a lot about Bowen lately, but have never read anything of hers. Perhaps this is the one to start with...

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  10. I have an unread copy of this - but not the beautiful edition you have. You've made me want to read it now so it's going to the top of the tbr pile. Glad to see that Bowen is being recognised by us book bloggers!

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  11. I'm sold too! I am disappointed in myself for not picking up the dozens of second hand copies of her books I've found over the years. As soon as I get back to England I'm going to have a Bowen fest. She sounds absolutely right up my street!

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  12. motheretc, Everything else is going to have to match up to this one so yes, I'd say it's a good one to start with!

    Vintage Reading, Hooray! No pressure but I'll be watching for your review, hope you like it!

    bookssnob, We have to leave some authors to get excited about down the road I suppose. You would have a lot to say about To the North, Rachel, so I hope you get to it one day!

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  13. Oh my goodness - the best since LBL? I'm sold!!

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  14. I tried Elizabeth Bowen years ago but I'm afraid I didn't take to her. It may just have been the wrong moment, because you make this sound wonderful. And certainly a book with an ending that bears comparison to Little Boy Lost must be given the benefit of the doubt.

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  15. skirmishofwit, It's unforgettable, Miranda. The range of emotions you will feel as you read the last couple of pages is just so dramatic...I am going to stop right there!

    fleurfisher, That first attempt at an author can really make or break things can't it...but do try this one, Jane. It's a stellar reading experience!

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  16. What a compelling review. I've enjoyed Bowen's short stories & I've read The Heat of the Day but this sounds fantastic. I've added it to my wishlist at Book Depository as I'm not buying books at the moment.

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  17. Yes, I am! I think I have this one at home...may go dig it out later. I read a couple of Bowen's other novels--you might like The Last September which was also made into a movie.

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  18. Hear Hear Danielle - I love The Last September, it really seems to capture and place and time, and the sense of being a teenager and not-quite-comfy in your own skin as well as a knowing elegiac thing. I've read it several times and would recommend to anyone.

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  19. I agree completely with your wording "blown away." I had the similar reaction when I finished the book. The book takes you in very slowly and casually, but towards the end, you are helplessly crashing into the world this author has created.

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