Alison Lurie’s 1984 novel ‘Foreign Affairs’ was the winner of the 1985 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, which I finished reading yesterday.
The book immediately grasped my attention which it held throughout 279 pages of this tale of donnish and less intellectual American temporary residents and tourists and their interwoven relationships with each other and with English natives.
Displaying an intimate knowledge of London in particular and the theatrical and academic milieus of her protagonists; blessed with a wide vocabulary, descriptive skills, and witty and insightful understanding of the minds and dialogue of her characters; and a knowledge of how those on either side of the Atlantic regard each other, Lurie weaves a complex story with delightful aplomb.
As usual I will not relate details of the tale, save to say that the final few chapters contain surprises to which the writer lays subtle unstated clues along the way.
Maybe readers will need to be of a certain age to know why I unsuccessfully searched Google for links between this book and Kathleen Harrison, a wonderful English character actress from the middle decades of the twentieth century.
I have no idea how I came by my copy, an Abacus paperback with browned pages, bearing this inscription and containing the owl bookmark. I have only ever known one Leonie, who was Director of the Phyllis Holman Richards Adoption Society to which I was a consultant from 1986 onwards. She returned to her native South Africa some years later. If you should happen to read this, I can’t imagine that I purloined your book Leonie.
Theatrical and academic milieus? Foreign Affairs is now on my reading list!
I’ve just requested “Foreign Affairs” through interlibrary loan.
I hope you enjoy it, Laurie. Thank you very much
The novel sounds vaguely familiar, and I wonder if I read it long ago. It certainly sounds worth re-reading.
30+ years is certainly long enough for me to forget whether or not I have read a book. Thanks very much, Merril
You’re welcome, Derrick. ?
Ha! I am currently (re)reading a book from the library that I have already read. I had no idea when I selected it (and it was WAY less than 30 years ago.)
I am capable of that, too, Jody – one reason why I leave bookmarks in.
Ah, clever!
Sounds intriguing with with it’s across the ponds references. Will try to find it.
Thank you very much, Pat
Goodness, she lived to be 94! What fun it must be to write when one is blessed “a wide vocabulary, descriptive skills, and witty and insightful understanding of the minds and dialogue” of one’s characters!
Thanks very much, Anne
This is why I never lend out my books
Yes, indeed.
Thanks a lot, Sheree.
I love Alison Lurie❤️
That is good to learn. This is the first of hers I’ve read. Thanks very much, Marina
Is it the paperback books of every country from the 70s and 80s which have gone brown, or are we especially lucky??
A good question, John. Thanks a lot
Sounds like you got THE bestest copy…with some treasures inside. 🙂 (I always like finding things like that in books I buy from thrift shops or yard sales.) Wouldn’t it be amazing if it WAS the Leonie you knew! 😮
Sounds like a book I’d enjoy reading…must find it!
Thanks for sharing this review, Derrick!
(((HUGS))) 🙂
Much appreciated, Carolyn X
Derrick, I am thinking you are a purloiner. lol
Thanks very much, oh faithless one, Jodie. X
LOL – That’s funny.
🙂
Is this the Kathleen Harrison you mentioned?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathleen_Harrison
The cryptic message in the book from Margaret to Leonie sounds like another good mystery. 🙂
Yes. We really don’t think it can be a coincidence (Jackie knew the actress in her last years)
Hi Derrick, I like your description of the setting for this book.
Thanks very much, Robbie
I also have books that I have no recollection of acquiring. Life’s Handicap is one such book with an inscription dated June 3rd 1892.
You are entitled to have forgotten that, Sue 🙂 Than you very much
ha ha!!
The male figure on the cover of this paperback makes me think of Benedict Cumberbatch.
I can see it, Crystal. Thank you very much
Sounds interesting! And the bookmark is very cute ?
Thank you very much, Ribana