"Literary critics make natural detectives", says Maud Bailey, heroine of a mystery where the clues lurk in university libraries, old letters and dusty journals. Together with Roland Michell, a fellow academic and accidental sleuth, Maud discovers a love affair between the two Victorian writers the pair has dedicated their lives to studying: Randolph Ash, a literary great long assumed to be a devoted and faithful husband, and Christabel La Motte, a lesser- known "fairy poetess" and chaste spinster. At first, Roland and Maud's discovery threatens only to alter the direction of their research, but as they unearth the truth about the long- forgotten romance, their involvement becomes increasingly urgent and personal. Desperately concealing their purpose from competing researchers, they embark on a journey that pulls each of them from solitude and loneliness, challenges the most basic assumptions they hold about themselves, and uncovers their unique entitlement to the secret of Ash and La Motte's passion.

Winner of the 1990 Booker Prize, Possession is a gripping and compulsively readable novel. A.S. Byatt exquisitely renders a setting rich in detail and texture. Her lush imagery weaves together the dual worlds that appear throughout the novel--the worlds of the mind and the senses, of male and female, of darkness and light, of truth and imagination--into an enchanted and unforgettable tale of love and intrigue. --Lisa Whipple

a true classic, 23 Sep 2008
Oh I love this book!!!
I bought it when it was first published and read it in one go. When I finished I started back at page 1 straight away. Over the years I have reread it a a few more times and I know I will read it again. My copy is all worn and a few friends have read it as well and loved it. It is just one of the most moving and beautiful love stories ever written and I adore its thoroughness and perfect pace - lingering and going in depth and at times racing on and almost taking the form of a crime story. The final chapter has me in tears every time.
The language and prose in this book demands attention and focus so it is not a book to read a few pages of before drifting off to bed. But do read it! It is worth the extra effort!


Expected more, 12 Aug 2008
No doubt the author has a talent for words. The problem is the story didn't manage to really engage me into the story until much later (second half). There were quite long, boring sections I had a hard time getting through.
Sorry, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Bored to tears..., 31 Jul 2008
To be fair to the author, I did only get about 200 pages into this book, but I found it dull dull DULL - so tedious and long-winded, pretentious and unauthentic. Can't see why it won all those awards - it's really not worth putting yourself through the pain.

A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, 22 Oct 2007
POSSESSION: A ROMANCE has been on my shelf since 1991. I read it because it won the 1990 Booker Prize, and once under its spell, I've never wanted to let it go. A.S. Byatt -- sister of award winning novelist Margaret Drabble -- tells a complex story within a story, moving back and forth between modern-day scholars Roland Michell and Maud Bailey, and the fictional Victorian poets who are the subjects of their research.

Victorian literature can seem like a dry and rocky road, but Byatt foreshadows and advances her story with the poetry, letters and journals of the Victorian pair, whose love affair is revealed as the research progresses. From simple lyric poems ("They say that women change: 'tis so: but you / Are ever-constant in your changefulness ...") to complex narrative poems and stories, they are well integrated with the story, though sometimes lengthy. The Victorian scene comes to life most successfully, and it's astonishing how fluently Byatt moves not just from present to past, but among the many different literary forms of the two Victorians.

The story within a story, or more specifically the unraveling of a mystery from the past, is a popular device. It's been used in Josephine Tey's DAUGHTER OF TIME, THE MOONSTONE by Wilkie Collins, THE NAME OF THE ROSE by Umberto Eco; and more recently, THE DANTE CLUB and THE POE SHADOW by Matthew Pearl, THE RULE OF FOUR by Caldwell and Thomason, even Dan Brown's blockbuster THE DA VINCI CODE. Byatt weaves her two stories together beautifully: POSSESSION may be the standard by which to judge this type of book, as both stories are richly developed and rooted in the idiom of their time. The Victorian imagery reveals the love affair between the poets, and eventually between Roland and Maud, with its typical mix of emotion and restraint. The modern story satirizes the British academic scene.

POSSESSION: A ROMANCE may not be the easiest book I ever read, but it's among the most rewarding. If you haven't read it in the many years since it was first published, then I recommend it to you.

Forgotten passion, 12 Jun 2007
"Possession" is far above and beyond the kind of books usually labelled "romance." It's lushly written, with exquisite characters, great poetry and interweavings of legend and myth. It's almost chastely erotic, mysterious and dripping over with Victorian-era romance. It's hard not to be drawn in.

A young scholar, Roland, stumbles accidently on an old letter from acclaimed poet Randolph Ash. He soon has reason to believe that the letter was to Christabel La Monte, a lesser-known "fairy" poet -- except Ash was happily married, and La Monte was single all her life. Roland and the chilly fellow scholar Maud investigate caches of hidden letters, poems, and diaries by the lovers, wife, friends and relatives.

In the past, the cordial letters of Christabel and Randolph blossomed into love and passion. They vanished for a short, blissful time together. But what happened to Christabel and Randolph's love, and why did Christabel leave England, while her companion Blanche committed suicide? And how do these events somehow involve Roland and Maude's own growing attachment?

They say the pen is mightier than the sword, and in "Possession" it's a valuable historical tool. When words are hidden or read, it can change perceptions and even lives. Byatt's own words are wonderfully lush, dreamy and vivid. Given the rather formal language and writing, it almost seems like a nineteenth-century novel, as if Byatt got so swept up in the characters that she started writing like them.

Byatt has an excellent eye for the language of the era. The letters, poetry and fiction of Christabel and Randolph have a very authentic feel. Especially since Byatt manages to change tones for different people's writing (Christabel's poetry was a bit reminiscent of Emily Dickenson's). The only problem is when the book veers into long tangents; Byatt seems to get a little off-track there. But most of the time, the richness of Breton legend adds depth and mystery to an already beautiful novel. The sunken city of Is, the legend of Melusina, and many others are here.

Byatt gives us an amazing look at the ill-fated lovers, Christabel and Randolph; you can feel their passion and love. They aren't just attracted to each other, but drawn together in the mind and spirit. The supporting characters, such as the artist Blanche and devoted, wistful Ellen Ash, are equally well-drawn; you can't dislike any of them. Roland and Maud seem a little anemic by comparison, but they are still compelling characters, caught up in a love affair from over a hundred years ago.

After taking the recommendation of a good friend, I found that "Possession" is the kind of genuine, heartwrenching romance that you don't see much of -- meetings of minds, genuine passion and love. It's a beautiful thing, and something to be deeply treasured.

a true classic, 23 Sep 2008
Oh I love this book!!!
I bought it when it was first published and read it in one go. When I finished I started back at page 1 straight away. Over the years I have reread it a a few more times and I know I will read it again. My copy is all worn and a few friends have read it as well and loved it. It is just one of the most moving and beautiful love stories ever written and I adore its thoroughness and perfect pace - lingering and going in depth and at times racing on and almost taking the form of a crime story. The final chapter has me in tears every time.
The language and prose in this book demands attention and focus so it is not a book to read a few pages of before drifting off to bed. But do read it! It is worth the extra effort!


Expected more, 12 Aug 2008
No doubt the author has a talent for words. The problem is the story didn't manage to really engage me into the story until much later (second half). There were quite long, boring sections I had a hard time getting through.
Sorry, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Bored to tears..., 31 Jul 2008
To be fair to the author, I did only get about 200 pages into this book, but I found it dull dull DULL - so tedious and long-winded, pretentious and unauthentic. Can't see why it won all those awards - it's really not worth putting yourself through the pain.

A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, 22 Oct 2007
POSSESSION: A ROMANCE has been on my shelf since 1991. I read it because it won the 1990 Booker Prize, and once under its spell, I've never wanted to let it go. A.S. Byatt -- sister of award winning novelist Margaret Drabble -- tells a complex story within a story, moving back and forth between modern-day scholars Roland Michell and Maud Bailey, and the fictional Victorian poets who are the subjects of their research.

Victorian literature can seem like a dry and rocky road, but Byatt foreshadows and advances her story with the poetry, letters and journals of the Victorian pair, whose love affair is revealed as the research progresses. From simple lyric poems ("They say that women change: 'tis so: but you / Are ever-constant in your changefulness ...") to complex narrative poems and stories, they are well integrated with the story, though sometimes lengthy. The Victorian scene comes to life most successfully, and it's astonishing how fluently Byatt moves not just from present to past, but among the many different literary forms of the two Victorians.

The story within a story, or more specifically the unraveling of a mystery from the past, is a popular device. It's been used in Josephine Tey's DAUGHTER OF TIME, THE MOONSTONE by Wilkie Collins, THE NAME OF THE ROSE by Umberto Eco; and more recently, THE DANTE CLUB and THE POE SHADOW by Matthew Pearl, THE RULE OF FOUR by Caldwell and Thomason, even Dan Brown's blockbuster THE DA VINCI CODE. Byatt weaves her two stories together beautifully: POSSESSION may be the standard by which to judge this type of book, as both stories are richly developed and rooted in the idiom of their time. The Victorian imagery reveals the love affair between the poets, and eventually between Roland and Maud, with its typical mix of emotion and restraint. The modern story satirizes the British academic scene.

POSSESSION: A ROMANCE may not be the easiest book I ever read, but it's among the most rewarding. If you haven't read it in the many years since it was first published, then I recommend it to you.

Forgotten passion, 12 Jun 2007
"Possession" is far above and beyond the kind of books usually labelled "romance." It's lushly written, with exquisite characters, great poetry and interweavings of legend and myth. It's almost chastely erotic, mysterious and dripping over with Victorian-era romance. It's hard not to be drawn in.

A young scholar, Roland, stumbles accidently on an old letter from acclaimed poet Randolph Ash. He soon has reason to believe that the letter was to Christabel La Monte, a lesser-known "fairy" poet -- except Ash was happily married, and La Monte was single all her life. Roland and the chilly fellow scholar Maud investigate caches of hidden letters, poems, and diaries by the lovers, wife, friends and relatives.

In the past, the cordial letters of Christabel and Randolph blossomed into love and passion. They vanished for a short, blissful time together. But what happened to Christabel and Randolph's love, and why did Christabel leave England, while her companion Blanche committed suicide? And how do these events somehow involve Roland and Maude's own growing attachment?

They say the pen is mightier than the sword, and in "Possession" it's a valuable historical tool. When words are hidden or read, it can change perceptions and even lives. Byatt's own words are wonderfully lush, dreamy and vivid. Given the rather formal language and writing, it almost seems like a nineteenth-century novel, as if Byatt got so swept up in the characters that she started writing like them.

Byatt has an excellent eye for the language of the era. The letters, poetry and fiction of Christabel and Randolph have a very authentic feel. Especially since Byatt manages to change tones for different people's writing (Christabel's poetry was a bit reminiscent of Emily Dickenson's). The only problem is when the book veers into long tangents; Byatt seems to get a little off-track there. But most of the time, the richness of Breton legend adds depth and mystery to an already beautiful novel. The sunken city of Is, the legend of Melusina, and many others are here.

Byatt gives us an amazing look at the ill-fated lovers, Christabel and Randolph; you can feel their passion and love. They aren't just attracted to each other, but drawn together in the mind and spirit. The supporting characters, such as the artist Blanche and devoted, wistful Ellen Ash, are equally well-drawn; you can't dislike any of them. Roland and Maud seem a little anemic by comparison, but they are still compelling characters, caught up in a love affair from over a hundred years ago.

After taking the recommendation of a good friend, I found that "Possession" is the kind of genuine, heartwrenching romance that you don't see much of -- meetings of minds, genuine passion and love. It's a beautiful thing, and something to be deeply treasured.

The most brilliant collection of short stories ever, 29 Apr 2000
This book is amongst the most entertaining books I have ever read. It contains a wide range of subjects and styles ranging from P. G. Wodehouse's "The Reverent Wooing Of Archibald" to "A Widow's Quilt" by Sylvia Townsend Warner. The book alows the reader to choose his or her story according to mood or prefernence and thus makes for a very good thing. It is the wide range of storie and authors in the book that really make it so great. A. S. Byatt has selected the choicest morcels of litterary brilliance and added them all into this great collection. Thoughly worth a read or two.

a true classic, 23 Sep 2008
Oh I love this book!!!
I bought it when it was first published and read it in one go. When I finished I started back at page 1 straight away. Over the years I have reread it a a few more times and I know I will read it again. My copy is all worn and a few friends have read it as well and loved it. It is just one of the most moving and beautiful love stories ever written and I adore its thoroughness and perfect pace - lingering and going in depth and at times racing on and almost taking the form of a crime story. The final chapter has me in tears every time.
The language and prose in this book demands attention and focus so it is not a book to read a few pages of before drifting off to bed. But do read it! It is worth the extra effort!


Expected more, 12 Aug 2008
No doubt the author has a talent for words. The problem is the story didn't manage to really engage me into the story until much later (second half). There were quite long, boring sections I had a hard time getting through.
Sorry, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Bored to tears..., 31 Jul 2008
To be fair to the author, I did only get about 200 pages into this book, but I found it dull dull DULL - so tedious and long-winded, pretentious and unauthentic. Can't see why it won all those awards - it's really not worth putting yourself through the pain.

A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, 22 Oct 2007
POSSESSION: A ROMANCE has been on my shelf since 1991. I read it because it won the 1990 Booker Prize, and once under its spell, I've never wanted to let it go. A.S. Byatt -- sister of award winning novelist Margaret Drabble -- tells a complex story within a story, moving back and forth between modern-day scholars Roland Michell and Maud Bailey, and the fictional Victorian poets who are the subjects of their research.

Victorian literature can seem like a dry and rocky road, but Byatt foreshadows and advances her story with the poetry, letters and journals of the Victorian pair, whose love affair is revealed as the research progresses. From simple lyric poems ("They say that women change: 'tis so: but you / Are ever-constant in your changefulness ...") to complex narrative poems and stories, they are well integrated with the story, though sometimes lengthy. The Victorian scene comes to life most successfully, and it's astonishing how fluently Byatt moves not just from present to past, but among the many different literary forms of the two Victorians.

The story within a story, or more specifically the unraveling of a mystery from the past, is a popular device. It's been used in Josephine Tey's DAUGHTER OF TIME, THE MOONSTONE by Wilkie Collins, THE NAME OF THE ROSE by Umberto Eco; and more recently, THE DANTE CLUB and THE POE SHADOW by Matthew Pearl, THE RULE OF FOUR by Caldwell and Thomason, even Dan Brown's blockbuster THE DA VINCI CODE. Byatt weaves her two stories together beautifully: POSSESSION may be the standard by which to judge this type of book, as both stories are richly developed and rooted in the idiom of their time. The Victorian imagery reveals the love affair between the poets, and eventually between Roland and Maud, with its typical mix of emotion and restraint. The modern story satirizes the British academic scene.

POSSESSION: A ROMANCE may not be the easiest book I ever read, but it's among the most rewarding. If you haven't read it in the many years since it was first published, then I recommend it to you.

Forgotten passion, 12 Jun 2007
"Possession" is far above and beyond the kind of books usually labelled "romance." It's lushly written, with exquisite characters, great poetry and interweavings of legend and myth. It's almost chastely erotic, mysterious and dripping over with Victorian-era romance. It's hard not to be drawn in.

A young scholar, Roland, stumbles accidently on an old letter from acclaimed poet Randolph Ash. He soon has reason to believe that the letter was to Christabel La Monte, a lesser-known "fairy" poet -- except Ash was happily married, and La Monte was single all her life. Roland and the chilly fellow scholar Maud investigate caches of hidden letters, poems, and diaries by the lovers, wife, friends and relatives.

In the past, the cordial letters of Christabel and Randolph blossomed into love and passion. They vanished for a short, blissful time together. But what happened to Christabel and Randolph's love, and why did Christabel leave England, while her companion Blanche committed suicide? And how do these events somehow involve Roland and Maude's own growing attachment?

They say the pen is mightier than the sword, and in "Possession" it's a valuable historical tool. When words are hidden or read, it can change perceptions and even lives. Byatt's own words are wonderfully lush, dreamy and vivid. Given the rather formal language and writing, it almost seems like a nineteenth-century novel, as if Byatt got so swept up in the characters that she started writing like them.

Byatt has an excellent eye for the language of the era. The letters, poetry and fiction of Christabel and Randolph have a very authentic feel. Especially since Byatt manages to change tones for different people's writing (Christabel's poetry was a bit reminiscent of Emily Dickenson's). The only problem is when the book veers into long tangents; Byatt seems to get a little off-track there. But most of the time, the richness of Breton legend adds depth and mystery to an already beautiful novel. The sunken city of Is, the legend of Melusina, and many others are here.

Byatt gives us an amazing look at the ill-fated lovers, Christabel and Randolph; you can feel their passion and love. They aren't just attracted to each other, but drawn together in the mind and spirit. The supporting characters, such as the artist Blanche and devoted, wistful Ellen Ash, are equally well-drawn; you can't dislike any of them. Roland and Maud seem a little anemic by comparison, but they are still compelling characters, caught up in a love affair from over a hundred years ago.

After taking the recommendation of a good friend, I found that "Possession" is the kind of genuine, heartwrenching romance that you don't see much of -- meetings of minds, genuine passion and love. It's a beautiful thing, and something to be deeply treasured.

The most brilliant collection of short stories ever, 29 Apr 2000
This book is amongst the most entertaining books I have ever read. It contains a wide range of subjects and styles ranging from P. G. Wodehouse's "The Reverent Wooing Of Archibald" to "A Widow's Quilt" by Sylvia Townsend Warner. The book alows the reader to choose his or her story according to mood or prefernence and thus makes for a very good thing. It is the wide range of storie and authors in the book that really make it so great. A. S. Byatt has selected the choicest morcels of litterary brilliance and added them all into this great collection. Thoughly worth a read or two.

Eliot is superb as always! I'd give it 10 stars if I could, 02 Oct 2007
This is Eliot's somewhat autobiographical novel, and tells the story of Maggie Tulliver and her brother Tom. The story takes place in the village of St. Ogg, and at the Mill on The Floss that's been in the Tulliver family for generations. I thoroughly enjoyed the way Eliot depicted the sibling relationship between Maggie and Tom with all of those ups and downs that we all have experienced with our siblings, and culminating in the final finish of the story that thoroughly blew me away. I think I just sat for a good ten minutes just saying Oh Wow over and over again, and then felt the need to seek out my brothers and give them both a big hug.

The joy of reading this novel or any other by Eliot is her gorgeous prose and brilliant characterizations, even with the minor characters. Just be warned, this is not an action packed, sit on the edge of your seat, can't put it down until it's finished type of novel. This is a story to savor and enjoy the multi-faceted characters and the author's glorious prose like a fine red wine or a box of chocolates (or both). If you are looking for high action and adventure, this is not the book for you. Highly recommended for any lover of 19th century English literature, not as dark and brooding as Hardy can be, but the prose is just as lovely, if not better.

Wonderful novel on emotions and sentiments, 15 Aug 2006
This novel is class apart from Elliot's collections, well narrated and for sure will hold the readers interest till the last page of the novel, the author has portrayed the sibling relationship in a very powerful manner. Worthwhile reading.....

Wish I could give seven stars, 21 Aug 2005
RUN, do not walk, to bookshop or library and soak yourself in this glorious treat. Eliot is both bracing and ineffably comforting. All of humanity is here, beautifully observed, but best of all are the meticulous and kind descriptions of Maggie Tulliver's childhood, her rebellions and reactions, and the staring incomprehension of the much duller adults by whom she's surrounded. No-one conveys childhood boredom and bewilderment so well as Eliot does here. As the jaws of society close on Maggie, there's a dullish Dickensian plot abotu family ruin and suitors, but it hardly matters - what matters is the dazzling characterisation, the rolling Miltonic majesty of the prose. This is a nice edition with a good clear typeface.

a true classic, 23 Sep 2008
Oh I love this book!!!
I bought it when it was first published and read it in one go. When I finished I started back at page 1 straight away. Over the years I have reread it a a few more times and I know I will read it again. My copy is all worn and a few friends have read it as well and loved it. It is just one of the most moving and beautiful love stories ever written and I adore its thoroughness and perfect pace - lingering and going in depth and at times racing on and almost taking the form of a crime story. The final chapter has me in tears every time.
The language and prose in this book demands attention and focus so it is not a book to read a few pages of before drifting off to bed. But do read it! It is worth the extra effort!


Expected more, 12 Aug 2008
No doubt the author has a talent for words. The problem is the story didn't manage to really engage me into the story until much later (second half). There were quite long, boring sections I had a hard time getting through.
Sorry, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Bored to tears..., 31 Jul 2008
To be fair to the author, I did only get about 200 pages into this book, but I found it dull dull DULL - so tedious and long-winded, pretentious and unauthentic. Can't see why it won all those awards - it's really not worth putting yourself through the pain.

A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, 22 Oct 2007
POSSESSION: A ROMANCE has been on my shelf since 1991. I read it because it won the 1990 Booker Prize, and once under its spell, I've never wanted to let it go. A.S. Byatt -- sister of award winning novelist Margaret Drabble -- tells a complex story within a story, moving back and forth between modern-day scholars Roland Michell and Maud Bailey, and the fictional Victorian poets who are the subjects of their research.

Victorian literature can seem like a dry and rocky road, but Byatt foreshadows and advances her story with the poetry, letters and journals of the Victorian pair, whose love affair is revealed as the research progresses. From simple lyric poems ("They say that women change: 'tis so: but you / Are ever-constant in your changefulness ...") to complex narrative poems and stories, they are well integrated with the story, though sometimes lengthy. The Victorian scene comes to life most successfully, and it's astonishing how fluently Byatt moves not just from present to past, but among the many different literary forms of the two Victorians.

The story within a story, or more specifically the unraveling of a mystery from the past, is a popular device. It's been used in Josephine Tey's DAUGHTER OF TIME, THE MOONSTONE by Wilkie Collins, THE NAME OF THE ROSE by Umberto Eco; and more recently, THE DANTE CLUB and THE POE SHADOW by Matthew Pearl, THE RULE OF FOUR by Caldwell and Thomason, even Dan Brown's blockbuster THE DA VINCI CODE. Byatt weaves her two stories together beautifully: POSSESSION may be the standard by which to judge this type of book, as both stories are richly developed and rooted in the idiom of their time. The Victorian imagery reveals the love affair between the poets, and eventually between Roland and Maud, with its typical mix of emotion and restraint. The modern story satirizes the British academic scene.

POSSESSION: A ROMANCE may not be the easiest book I ever read, but it's among the most rewarding. If you haven't read it in the many years since it was first published, then I recommend it to you.

Forgotten passion, 12 Jun 2007
"Possession" is far above and beyond the kind of books usually labelled "romance." It's lushly written, with exquisite characters, great poetry and interweavings of legend and myth. It's almost chastely erotic, mysterious and dripping over with Victorian-era romance. It's hard not to be drawn in.

A young scholar, Roland, stumbles accidently on an old letter from acclaimed poet Randolph Ash. He soon has reason to believe that the letter was to Christabel La Monte, a lesser-known "fairy" poet -- except Ash was happily married, and La Monte was single all her life. Roland and the chilly fellow scholar Maud investigate caches of hidden letters, poems, and diaries by the lovers, wife, friends and relatives.

In the past, the cordial letters of Christabel and Randolph blossomed into love and passion. They vanished for a short, blissful time together. But what happened to Christabel and Randolph's love, and why did Christabel leave England, while her companion Blanche committed suicide? And how do these events somehow involve Roland and Maude's own growing attachment?

They say the pen is mightier than the sword, and in "Possession" it's a valuable historical tool. When words are hidden or read, it can change perceptions and even lives. Byatt's own words are wonderfully lush, dreamy and vivid. Given the rather formal language and writing, it almost seems like a nineteenth-century novel, as if Byatt got so swept up in the characters that she started writing like them.

Byatt has an excellent eye for the language of the era. The letters, poetry and fiction of Christabel and Randolph have a very authentic feel. Especially since Byatt manages to change tones for different people's writing (Christabel's poetry was a bit reminiscent of Emily Dickenson's). The only problem is when the book veers into long tangents; Byatt seems to get a little off-track there. But most of the time, the richness of Breton legend adds depth and mystery to an already beautiful novel. The sunken city of Is, the legend of Melusina, and many others are here.

Byatt gives us an amazing look at the ill-fated lovers, Christabel and Randolph; you can feel their passion and love. They aren't just attracted to each other, but drawn together in the mind and spirit. The supporting characters, such as the artist Blanche and devoted, wistful Ellen Ash, are equally well-drawn; you can't dislike any of them. Roland and Maud seem a little anemic by comparison, but they are still compelling characters, caught up in a love affair from over a hundred years ago.

After taking the recommendation of a good friend, I found that "Possession" is the kind of genuine, heartwrenching romance that you don't see much of -- meetings of minds, genuine passion and love. It's a beautiful thing, and something to be deeply treasured.

The most brilliant collection of short stories ever, 29 Apr 2000
This book is amongst the most entertaining books I have ever read. It contains a wide range of subjects and styles ranging from P. G. Wodehouse's "The Reverent Wooing Of Archibald" to "A Widow's Quilt" by Sylvia Townsend Warner. The book alows the reader to choose his or her story according to mood or prefernence and thus makes for a very good thing. It is the wide range of storie and authors in the book that really make it so great. A. S. Byatt has selected the choicest morcels of litterary brilliance and added them all into this great collection. Thoughly worth a read or two.

Eliot is superb as always! I'd give it 10 stars if I could, 02 Oct 2007
This is Eliot's somewhat autobiographical novel, and tells the story of Maggie Tulliver and her brother Tom. The story takes place in the village of St. Ogg, and at the Mill on The Floss that's been in the Tulliver family for generations. I thoroughly enjoyed the way Eliot depicted the sibling relationship between Maggie and Tom with all of those ups and downs that we all have experienced with our siblings, and culminating in the final finish of the story that thoroughly blew me away. I think I just sat for a good ten minutes just saying Oh Wow over and over again, and then felt the need to seek out my brothers and give them both a big hug.

The joy of reading this novel or any other by Eliot is her gorgeous prose and brilliant characterizations, even with the minor characters. Just be warned, this is not an action packed, sit on the edge of your seat, can't put it down until it's finished type of novel. This is a story to savor and enjoy the multi-faceted characters and the author's glorious prose like a fine red wine or a box of chocolates (or both). If you are looking for high action and adventure, this is not the book for you. Highly recommended for any lover of 19th century English literature, not as dark and brooding as Hardy can be, but the prose is just as lovely, if not better.

Wonderful novel on emotions and sentiments, 15 Aug 2006
This novel is class apart from Elliot's collections, well narrated and for sure will hold the readers interest till the last page of the novel, the author has portrayed the sibling relationship in a very powerful manner. Worthwhile reading.....

Wish I could give seven stars, 21 Aug 2005
RUN, do not walk, to bookshop or library and soak yourself in this glorious treat. Eliot is both bracing and ineffably comforting. All of humanity is here, beautifully observed, but best of all are the meticulous and kind descriptions of Maggie Tulliver's childhood, her rebellions and reactions, and the staring incomprehension of the much duller adults by whom she's surrounded. No-one conveys childhood boredom and bewilderment so well as Eliot does here. As the jaws of society close on Maggie, there's a dullish Dickensian plot abotu family ruin and suitors, but it hardly matters - what matters is the dazzling characterisation, the rolling Miltonic majesty of the prose. This is a nice edition with a good clear typeface.

Now for the next three books in the Quartet!, 04 Mar 2008
This is the huge first part of The Frederica Quartet. It is set in 1950s and cleverly evokes life in suburban northern England. The Potters are a fairly horrific family - bullying father, subservient mother, obnoxious Frederica and troubled Marcus. Only Stephanie, the older sister, comes over as sympathetic. Most other characters are also flawed and tending to be vain, predatory, selfish - or just plain mad.

It doesn't sound like a recipe for a great reading experience but we are soon pulled into the narrative. Will Alexander's pageant be a success or a dramatic disaster? Surely Stephanie the atheist won't marry Daniel (the somewhat dull church minister)? And to whom will the precocious and dislikeable Frederica lose her virginity?

The Virgin in the Garden is a challenging read in parts with many references to classical mythology. She writes with a terrifying mix of comic and cringe-worthy episodes - such as the descent into madness of Lucas and the attempted seduction of Frederica by Ed the travelling salesman.

A tough read in parts but it is worth the effort and I look forward to reading the next three books.


One to return to time and time again, 05 Sep 2005
This is my favourite work of A.S. Byatt to date, probably due to the subject matter and the period in which it is set, respectively, human relations and the post-war period into which I was born. However, wherever you chose to start, A.S. Byatt will astound with her mastery of English, her scholarship and her skill as a teller of tales.

With a combination like this, there is always a tension. Do you whip through to find out what happens? Or do you control yourself and give the book, as art, as philosophy, as psychology, the attention it deserves? A friend, who normally has no time for Eng Lit, solved this by skipping all the poetry in "Possession" and promising herself a revisit - not a bad compromise. I've read "The Virgin" twice, slowly, listened to at least two radio adaptations and will be going back for more later.

"The Virgin" is the first of the "Frederica Quartet", the rest being "Still Life", "Babel Tower" and "A Whistling Woman". I wouldn't term Frederica a heroine, indeed, the characters are all so true to life, such a mixture of good and bad, that the notion of heroism is inappropriate, but at seventeen she is certainly purposeful. She is desperate to loose her virginity, play a leading role in a verse drama written by the man she's besotted with and do well in her A-levels. She is also tough, able to withstand her mercurial father and her unpopularity at school, fierce and full of energy.

As a somewhat androgynous redhead, she is partner to that other virgin, Elizabeth 1, who is the subject of the verse drama, which is to be performed in the gardens of a local country house as part of the celebration of the coronation of the second Elizabeth.

In a brilliant evocation of the time, neighbours without television sets are invited in to watch this national event by one of the circle with one. A measure of the post-war austerity is apparent in the glimpses we get of Frederica's brick box of a family home, it being cluttered downstairs and spare upstairs with a small untidy garden. When she marries, Frederica's elder sister, Stephanie, moves into a much meaner sounding council flat with walls so thin there is a constant cacophony of neighbours' canned stuff. Outside, wire fences enclose rutted mud, with one surviving thorn tree. There are also excellent reminders of the coffee bar, the departmental store and the cinema, complete with indoor fountain and plush dining room.

The characters in this book abound with contradictions. Stephanie, brought up as an atheist, is full of a Christian kindness and marries an unlikely curate, Daniel. At the end of the book we are left wondering how she'll manage with a new baby as well as her brother, who's had a breakdown, and her infirm mother-in-law, all in a small cottage. Daniel has heroic qualities. Huge and energetic, he's the one in an emergency. He's also up to a spat with the Bishop and seethes with rage on many other occasions, just like his father-in-law, Bill, whose explosions have crushed his wife and youngest child, Marcus.

Where most novels have bad bits, a Byatt novel has challenging ones. In "The Virgin" my difficult bits comprised Marcus's way of seeing. Although in the book Marcus is subject to circumstances which cause a nervous breakdown, it's obvious that he has other difficulties. Like Frederica he's friendless, unlike her he's limp. His ability and affliction is to see geometry in the landscape and to physically see light as waves, also to be obsessed with and fearful of staircases and water going down the plughole. Perhaps we'll get a diagnosis for him in one of the sequels. Does he suffer from something in the autistic spectrum, or obsessive compulsive disorder? Anyway, I found parts of the Marcus chapters heavy-going.

Each of the main characters has chapters in which his or her thoughts, actions and outlook predominate and, although this is a novel written in the third person, there is certainly a sense of multiple narration. This is great in that the characters are themselves, and even when their circumstances are described, as it were, from the outside, there is no judgement. In other words, there is ample room for you, the reader.

Unfortunately, people tend to be scared of A.S. Byatt. My argument is that they shouldn't be, you shouldn't be. My main credential for this assertion is that I find reading difficult. Unless I work hard, words come out in the wrong order. I also failed Eng Lit at O-level and tend to prefer well-written popular science to fiction. For me reading is hard and writing has, therefore, to be good to make it worth the effort. Antonia Byatt's intelligent and acutely observed writing is excellent, a treat. I am now halfway through "Still Life", the second Frederica novel and thoroughly enjoying that too.

Not really such a weighty tome!, 10 Feb 2004
Okay, so you've probably read "Possession", "Angels & Insects", maybe some of her short stories ... what next? The Frederica Quartet is supposed to be good - but this first volume is already a 500-odd page tome; and there's three more after that. The Vintage paperback has a rather stony-faced Queen Bess on the front; and the publisher's blurb doesn't entirely help either: the comment "... it is massively THERE" didn't have me scurrying to start reading.

Don't be put off, though: this is a great read; often funny, occasionally shockingly dark, and featuring a main character who is very much a heroine to cheer for (all the more so since Byatt goes out of her way to make her seem obnoxious). Frederica Potter is a marvellous creation: freakishly intelligent and hardened to unpopularity at school, she combines an overwhelming confidence in her own abilities with late adolescent gawkiness - a very winning combination for the reader, if not for the other characters ("that awful girl"). The main plot strand concerns Frederica's often comic attempts to lose her virginity while starring in a verse drama about the Virgin Queen, which is being put on for the coronation of the second Elizabeth. Set against this is the (terrifying) mental breakdown and folie a deux of Frederica's brother Marcus and his biology teacher; and their sister Stephanie's choice of marriage and domesticity over an academic career.

All of Byatt's usual themes are here: ways of "seeing" (Marcus' visionary experiences are frightening glimpses into another universe, terrifically well written); the dangers (particularly for women) of "not being seen"; the hazards of family life. The backdrop of the Fifties is beautifully conjured, and the characters are complex and fascinating. Not always an easy read; but it turns out to be something of a page-turner having got over that difficult first step of actually opening it and starting it. Highly recommended.

A wonderful start to the Frederica Potter quartet of novels., 17 Dec 2003
I once heard someone say that this book should have been called "Virgin on the Ridiculous" ... I have to say I don't agree! A wonderful, ambitious novel, which brings the author to the level of a George Eliot - precise historical placing and context, wonderfully plotted, erudite, and with a narrative style that taxes and rewards. A wonderful start to this quartet of novels.

a true classic, 23 Sep 2008
Oh I love this book!!!
I bought it when it was first published and read it in one go. When I finished I started back at page 1 straight away. Over the years I have reread it a a few more times and I know I will read it again. My copy is all worn and a few friends have read it as well and loved it. It is just one of the most moving and beautiful love stories ever written and I adore its thoroughness and perfect pace - lingering and going in depth and at times racing on and almost taking the form of a crime story. The final chapter has me in tears every time.
The language and prose in this book demands attention and focus so it is not a book to read a few pages of before drifting off to bed. But do read it! It is worth the extra effort!


Expected more, 12 Aug 2008
No doubt the author has a talent for words. The problem is the story didn't manage to really engage me into the story until much later (second half). There were quite long, boring sections I had a hard time getting through.
Sorry, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Bored to tears..., 31 Jul 2008
To be fair to the author, I did only get about 200 pages into this book, but I found it dull dull DULL - so tedious and long-winded, pretentious and unauthentic. Can't see why it won all those awards - it's really not worth putting yourself through the pain.

A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, 22 Oct 2007
POSSESSION: A ROMANCE has been on my shelf since 1991. I read it because it won the 1990 Booker Prize, and once under its spell, I've never wanted to let it go. A.S. Byatt -- sister of award winning novelist Margaret Drabble -- tells a complex story within a story, moving back and forth between modern-day scholars Roland Michell and Maud Bailey, and the fictional Victorian poets who are the subjects of their research.

Victorian literature can seem like a dry and rocky road, but Byatt foreshadows and advances her story with the poetry, letters and journals of the Victorian pair, whose love affair is revealed as the research progresses. From simple lyric poems ("They say that women change: 'tis so: but you / Are ever-constant in your changefulness ...") to complex narrative poems and stories, they are well integrated with the story, though sometimes lengthy. The Victorian scene comes to life most successfully, and it's astonishing how fluently Byatt moves not just from present to past, but among the many different literary forms of the two Victorians.

The story within a story, or more specifically the unraveling of a mystery from the past, is a popular device. It's been used in Josephine Tey's DAUGHTER OF TIME, THE MOONSTONE by Wilkie Collins, THE NAME OF THE ROSE by Umberto Eco; and more recently, THE DANTE CLUB and THE POE SHADOW by Matthew Pearl, THE RULE OF FOUR by Caldwell and Thomason, even Dan Brown's blockbuster THE DA VINCI CODE. Byatt weaves her two stories together beautifully: POSSESSION may be the standard by which to judge this type of book, as both stories are richly developed and rooted in the idiom of their time. The Victorian imagery reveals the love affair between the poets, and eventually between Roland and Maud, with its typical mix of emotion and restraint. The modern story satirizes the British academic scene.

POSSESSION: A ROMANCE may not be the easiest book I ever read, but it's among the most rewarding. If you haven't read it in the many years since it was first published, then I recommend it to you.

Forgotten passion, 12 Jun 2007
"Possession" is far above and beyond the kind of books usually labelled "romance." It's lushly written, with exquisite characters, great poetry and interweavings of legend and myth. It's almost chastely erotic, mysterious and dripping over with Victorian-era romance. It's hard not to be drawn in.

A young scholar, Roland, stumbles accidently on an old letter from acclaimed poet Randolph Ash. He soon has reason to believe that the letter was to Christabel La Monte, a lesser-known "fairy" poet -- except Ash was happily married, and La Monte was single all her life. Roland and the chilly fellow scholar Maud investigate caches of hidden letters, poems, and diaries by the lovers, wife, friends and relatives.

In the past, the cordial letters of Christabel and Randolph blossomed into love and passion. They vanished for a short, blissful time together. But what happened to Christabel and Randolph's love, and why did Christabel leave England, while her companion Blanche committed suicide? And how do these events somehow involve Roland and Maude's own growing attachment?

They say the pen is mightier than the sword, and in "Possession" it's a valuable historical tool. When words are hidden or read, it can change perceptions and even lives. Byatt's own words are wonderfully lush, dreamy and vivid. Given the rather formal language and writing, it almost seems like a nineteenth-century novel, as if Byatt got so swept up in the characters that she started writing like them.

Byatt has an excellent eye for the language of the era. The letters, poetry and fiction of Christabel and Randolph have a very authentic feel. Especially since Byatt manages to change tones for different people's writing (Christabel's poetry was a bit reminiscent of Emily Dickenson's). The only problem is when the book veers into long tangents; Byatt seems to get a little off-track there. But most of the time, the richness of Breton legend adds depth and mystery to an already beautiful novel. The sunken city of Is, the legend of Melusina, and many others are here.

Byatt gives us an amazing look at the ill-fated lovers, Christabel and Randolph; you can feel their passion and love. They aren't just attracted to each other, but drawn together in the mind and spirit. The supporting characters, such as the artist Blanche and devoted, wistful Ellen Ash, are equally well-drawn; you can't dislike any of them. Roland and Maud seem a little anemic by comparison, but they are still compelling characters, caught up in a love affair from over a hundred years ago.

After taking the recommendation of a good friend, I found that "Possession" is the kind of genuine, heartwrenching romance that you don't see much of -- meetings of minds, genuine passion and love. It's a beautiful thing, and something to be deeply treasured.

The most brilliant collection of short stories ever, 29 Apr 2000
This book is amongst the most entertaining books I have ever read. It contains a wide range of subjects and styles ranging from P. G. Wodehouse's "The Reverent Wooing Of Archibald" to "A Widow's Quilt" by Sylvia Townsend Warner. The book alows the reader to choose his or her story according to mood or prefernence and thus makes for a very good thing. It is the wide range of storie and authors in the book that really make it so great. A. S. Byatt has selected the choicest morcels of litterary brilliance and added them all into this great collection. Thoughly worth a read or two.

Eliot is superb as always! I'd give it 10 stars if I could, 02 Oct 2007
This is Eliot's somewhat autobiographical novel, and tells the story of Maggie Tulliver and her brother Tom. The story takes place in the village of St. Ogg, and at the Mill on The Floss that's been in the Tulliver family for generations. I thoroughly enjoyed the way Eliot depicted the sibling relationship between Maggie and Tom with all of those ups and downs that we all have experienced with our siblings, and culminating in the final finish of the story that thoroughly blew me away. I think I just sat for a good ten minutes just saying Oh Wow over and over again, and then felt the need to seek out my brothers and give them both a big hug.

The joy of reading this novel or any other by Eliot is her gorgeous prose and brilliant characterizations, even with the minor characters. Just be warned, this is not an action packed, sit on the edge of your seat, can't put it down until it's finished type of novel. This is a story to savor and enjoy the multi-faceted characters and the author's glorious prose like a fine red wine or a box of chocolates (or both). If you are looking for high action and adventure, this is not the book for you. Highly recommended for any lover of 19th century English literature, not as dark and brooding as Hardy can be, but the prose is just as lovely, if not better.

Wonderful novel on emotions and sentiments, 15 Aug 2006
This novel is class apart from Elliot's collections, well narrated and for sure will hold the readers interest till the last page of the novel, the author has portrayed the sibling relationship in a very powerful manner. Worthwhile reading.....

Wish I could give seven stars, 21 Aug 2005
RUN, do not walk, to bookshop or library and soak yourself in this glorious treat. Eliot is both bracing and ineffably comforting. All of humanity is here, beautifully observed, but best of all are the meticulous and kind descriptions of Maggie Tulliver's childhood, her rebellions and reactions, and the staring incomprehension of the much duller adults by whom she's surrounded. No-one conveys childhood boredom and bewilderment so well as Eliot does here. As the jaws of society close on Maggie, there's a dullish Dickensian plot abotu family ruin and suitors, but it hardly matters - what matters is the dazzling characterisation, the rolling Miltonic majesty of the prose. This is a nice edition with a good clear typeface.

Now for the next three books in the Quartet!, 04 Mar 2008
This is the huge first part of The Frederica Quartet. It is set in 1950s and cleverly evokes life in suburban northern England. The Potters are a fairly horrific family - bullying father, subservient mother, obnoxious Frederica and troubled Marcus. Only Stephanie, the older sister, comes over as sympathetic. Most other characters are also flawed and tending to be vain, predatory, selfish - or just plain mad.

It doesn't sound like a recipe for a great reading experience but we are soon pulled into the narrative. Will Alexander's pageant be a success or a dramatic disaster? Surely Stephanie the atheist won't marry Daniel (the somewhat dull church minister)? And to whom will the precocious and dislikeable Frederica lose her virginity?

The Virgin in the Garden is a challenging read in parts with many references to classical mythology. She writes with a terrifying mix of comic and cringe-worthy episodes - such as the descent into madness of Lucas and the attempted seduction of Frederica by Ed the travelling salesman.

A tough read in parts but it is worth the effort and I look forward to reading the next three books.


One to return to time and time again, 05 Sep 2005
This is my favourite work of A.S. Byatt to date, probably due to the subject matter and the period in which it is set, respectively, human relations and the post-war period into which I was born. However, wherever you chose to start, A.S. Byatt will astound with her mastery of English, her scholarship and her skill as a teller of tales.

With a combination like this, there is always a tension. Do you whip through to find out what happens? Or do you control yourself and give the book, as art, as philosophy, as psychology, the attention it deserves? A friend, who normally has no time for Eng Lit, solved this by skipping all the poetry in "Possession" and promising herself a revisit - not a bad compromise. I've read "The Virgin" twice, slowly, listened to at least two radio adaptations and will be going back for more later.

"The Virgin" is the first of the "Frederica Quartet", the rest being "Still Life", "Babel Tower" and "A Whistling Woman". I wouldn't term Frederica a heroine, indeed, the characters are all so true to life, such a mixture of good and bad, that the notion of heroism is inappropriate, but at seventeen she is certainly purposeful. She is desperate to loose her virginity, play a leading role in a verse drama written by the man she's besotted with and do well in her A-levels. She is also tough, able to withstand her mercurial father and her unpopularity at school, fierce and full of energy.

As a somewhat androgynous redhead, she is partner to that other virgin, Elizabeth 1, who is the subject of the verse drama, which is to be performed in the gardens of a local country house as part of the celebration of the coronation of the second Elizabeth.

In a brilliant evocation of the time, neighbours without television sets are invited in to watch this national event by one of the circle with one. A measure of the post-war austerity is apparent in the glimpses we get of Frederica's brick box of a family home, it being cluttered downstairs and spare upstairs with a small untidy garden. When she marries, Frederica's elder sister, Stephanie, moves into a much meaner sounding council flat with walls so thin there is a constant cacophony of neighbours' canned stuff. Outside, wire fences enclose rutted mud, with one surviving thorn tree. There are also excellent reminders of the coffee bar, the departmental store and the cinema, complete with indoor fountain and plush dining room.

The characters in this book abound with contradictions. Stephanie, brought up as an atheist, is full of a Christian kindness and marries an unlikely curate, Daniel. At the end of the book we are left wondering how she'll manage with a new baby as well as her brother, who's had a breakdown, and her infirm mother-in-law, all in a small cottage. Daniel has heroic qualities. Huge and energetic, he's the one in an emergency. He's also up to a spat with the Bishop and seethes with rage on many other occasions, just like his father-in-law, Bill, whose explosions have crushed his wife and youngest child, Marcus.

Where most novels have bad bits, a Byatt novel has challenging ones. In "The Virgin" my difficult bits comprised Marcus's way of seeing. Although in the book Marcus is subject to circumstances which cause a nervous breakdown, it's obvious that he has other difficulties. Like Frederica he's friendless, unlike her he's limp. His ability and affliction is to see geometry in the landscape and to physically see light as waves, also to be obsessed with and fearful of staircases and water going down the plughole. Perhaps we'll get a diagnosis for him in one of the sequels. Does he suffer from something in the autistic spectrum, or obsessive compulsive disorder? Anyway, I found parts of the Marcus chapters heavy-going.

Each of the main characters has chapters in which his or her thoughts, actions and outlook predominate and, although this is a novel written in the third person, there is certainly a sense of multiple narration. This is great in that the characters are themselves, and even when their circumstances are described, as it were, from the outside, there is no judgement. In other words, there is ample room for you, the reader.

Unfortunately, people tend to be scared of A.S. Byatt. My argument is that they shouldn't be, you shouldn't be. My main credential for this assertion is that I find reading difficult. Unless I work hard, words come out in the wrong order. I also failed Eng Lit at O-level and tend to prefer well-written popular science to fiction. For me reading is hard and writing has, therefore, to be good to make it worth the effort. Antonia Byatt's intelligent and acutely observed writing is excellent, a treat. I am now halfway through "Still Life", the second Frederica novel and thoroughly enjoying that too.

Not really such a weighty tome!, 10 Feb 2004
Okay, so you've probably read "Possession", "Angels & Insects", maybe some of her short stories ... what next? The Frederica Quartet is supposed to be good - but this first volume is already a 500-odd page tome; and there's three more after that. The Vintage paperback has a rather stony-faced Queen Bess on the front; and the publisher's blurb doesn't entirely help either: the comment "... it is massively THERE" didn't have me scurrying to start reading.

Don't be put off, though: this is a great read; often funny, occasionally shockingly dark, and featuring a main character who is very much a heroine to cheer for (all the more so since Byatt goes out of her way to make her seem obnoxious). Frederica Potter is a marvellous creation: freakishly intelligent and hardened to unpopularity at school, she combines an overwhelming confidence in her own abilities with late adolescent gawkiness - a very winning combination for the reader, if not for the other characters ("that awful girl"). The main plot strand concerns Frederica's often comic attempts to lose her virginity while starring in a verse drama about the Virgin Queen, which is being put on for the coronation of the second Elizabeth. Set against this is the (terrifying) mental breakdown and folie a deux of Frederica's brother Marcus and his biology teacher; and their sister Stephanie's choice of marriage and domesticity over an academic career.

All of Byatt's usual themes are here: ways of "seeing" (Marcus' visionary experiences are frightening glimpses into another universe, terrifically well written); the dangers (particularly for women) of "not being seen"; the hazards of family life. The backdrop of the Fifties is beautifully conjured, and the characters are complex and fascinating. Not always an easy read; but it turns out to be something of a page-turner having got over that difficult first step of actually opening it and starting it. Highly recommended.

A wonderful start to the Frederica Potter quartet of novels., 17 Dec 2003
I once heard someone say that this book should have been called "Virgin on the Ridiculous" ... I have to say I don't agree! A wonderful, ambitious novel, which brings the author to the level of a George Eliot - precise historical placing and context, wonderfully plotted, erudite, and with a narrative style that taxes and rewards. A wonderful start to this quartet of novels.

Lose yourself in Byatt's imagery, 08 Aug 2005
Of the stories in this book, the best, in my opinion, is the Stone Woman. It is an odd, captivating story. Byatt's meticulous, evocative descriptions of the properties of different stones turns the disquieting image of the woman's transformation into something beautiful and strangely natural. This tale feels almost like folklore or a fairy tale by the end.

The other stories in this collection not as enchanting, although I would have happily bought this for the Stone Woman alone.

Fantastic!, 11 Mar 2004
In these five short stories Byatt once again displays her talent for making the magical out of the mundane. Byatt takes a simple cloth and embroiders it until she has a tale woven richly with mythology and allegory, and strung with references classical and modern, literary and popular. Her well-structured stories are deceptively simple. You close the book feeling satisfied but something draws you back. When you look again, the focus of the stories seem to have shifted slightly and the different facets become apparent.

In The Thing in the Forest we discover that when something terrible happens to us at a young age it can become both more real and less real than anything else in our lives. The memory of the thing begins to mould the person we become and continues to shape our actions as an adult until, for better or worse, it leads us back to the source of our terror. " 'Sometimes I think that thing finished me off,' said Penny to Primrose".

Body Art takes us to that crossroads where modern art meets the base realities of the human body and science has to contend with human emotion.

A Stone Woman is about grief and transformation: a beautifully crafted fairytale, vibrant with colour and texture, with a setting that moves from the landscape of the flesh to the landscape of Norse mythology.

"There was fresh blood on the forget-me-nots and primroses in the carpet. It was not nice." Raw Material is about words. Why do we consider some subjects more worthy of our creative attention than others? Should creative writing be therapeutic? And what precisely is 'Real writing'? Set (as is much of Byatt's work) in a literary environment, where a lacklustre lecturer discusses these issues with the unmemorable members of his creative writing class, this story winds its way to a surprising end.

The Pink Ribbon takes us into the world of poor mad Mado and her suffering husband and carer James. When one day a beautiful young woman knocks on their door begging for sanctuary, James begins to feel that she knows a little too much about them both...

"Literary critics make natural detectives", says Maud Bailey, heroine of a mystery where the clues lurk in university libraries, old letters and dusty journals. Together with Roland Michell, a fellow academic and accidental sleuth, Maud discovers a love affair between the two Victorian writers the pair has dedicated their lives to studying: Randolph Ash, a literary great long assumed to be a devoted and faithful husband, and Christabel La Motte, a lesser- known "fairy poetess" and chaste spinster. At first, Roland and Maud's discovery threatens only to alter the direction of their research, but as they unearth the truth about the long- forgotten romance, their involvement becomes increasingly urgent and personal. Desperately concealing their purpose from competing researchers, they embark on a journey that pulls each of them from solitude and loneliness, challenges the most basic assumptions they hold about themselves, and uncovers their unique entitlement to the secret of Ash and La Motte's passion.

Winner of the 1990 Booker Prize, Possession is a gripping and compulsively readable novel. A.S. Byatt exquisitely renders a setting rich in detail and texture. Her lush imagery weaves together the dual worlds that appear throughout the novel--the worlds of the mind and the senses, of male and female, of darkness and light, of truth and imagination--into an enchanted and unforgettable tale of love and intrigue. --Lisa Whipple

a true classic, 23 Sep 2008
Oh I love this book!!!
I bought it when it was first published and read it in one go. When I finished I started back at page 1 straight away. Over the years I have reread it a a few more times and I know I will read it again. My copy is all worn and a few friends have read it as well and loved it. It is just one of the most moving and beautiful love stories ever written and I adore its thoroughness and perfect pace - lingering and going in depth and at times racing on and almost taking the form of a crime story. The final chapter has me in tears every time.
The language and prose in this book demands attention and focus so it is not a book to read a few pages of before drifting off to bed. But do read it! It is worth the extra effort!


Expected more, 12 Aug 2008
No doubt the author has a talent for words. The problem is the story didn't manage to really engage me into the story until much later (second half). There were quite long, boring sections I had a hard time getting through.
Sorry, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Bored to tears..., 31 Jul 2008
To be fair to the author, I did only get about 200 pages into this book, but I found it dull dull DULL - so tedious and long-winded, pretentious and unauthentic. Can't see why it won all those awards - it's really not worth putting yourself through the pain.

A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, 22 Oct 2007
POSSESSION: A ROMANCE has been on my shelf since 1991. I read it because it won the 1990 Booker Prize, and once under its spell, I've never wanted to let it go. A.S. Byatt -- sister of award winning novelist Margaret Drabble -- tells a complex story within a story, moving back and forth between modern-day scholars Roland Michell and Maud Bailey, and the fictional Victorian poets who are the subjects of their research.

Victorian literature can seem like a dry and rocky road, but Byatt foreshadows and advances her story with the poetry, letters and journals of the Victorian pair, whose love affair is revealed as the research progresses. From simple lyric poems ("They say that women change: 'tis so: but you / Are ever-constant in your changefulness ...") to complex narrative poems and stories, they are well integrated with the story, though sometimes lengthy. The Victorian scene comes to life most successfully, and it's astonishing how fluently Byatt moves not just from present to past, but among the many different literary forms of the two Victorians.

The story within a story, or more specifically the unraveling of a mystery from the past, is a popular device. It's been used in Josephine Tey's DAUGHTER OF TIME, THE MOONSTONE by Wilkie Collins, THE NAME OF THE ROSE by Umberto Eco; and more recently, THE DANTE CLUB and THE POE SHADOW by Matthew Pearl, THE RULE OF FOUR by Caldwell and Thomason, even Dan Brown's blockbuster THE DA VINCI CODE. Byatt weaves her two stories together beautifully: POSSESSION may be the standard by which to judge this type of book, as both stories are richly developed and rooted in the idiom of their time. The Victorian imagery reveals the love affair between the poets, and eventually between Roland and Maud, with its typical mix of emotion and restraint. The modern story satirizes the British academic scene.

POSSESSION: A ROMANCE may not be the easiest book I ever read, but it's among the most rewarding. If you haven't read it in the many years since it was first published, then I recommend it to you.

Forgotten passion, 12 Jun 2007
"Possession" is far above and beyond the kind of books usually labelled "romance." It's lushly written, with exquisite characters, great poetry and interweavings of legend and myth. It's almost chastely erotic, mysterious and dripping over with Victorian-era romance. It's hard not to be drawn in.

A young scholar, Roland, stumbles accidently on an old letter from acclaimed poet Randolph Ash. He soon has reason to believe that the letter was to Christabel La Monte, a lesser-known "fairy" poet -- except Ash was happily married, and La Monte was single all her life. Roland and the chilly fellow scholar Maud investigate caches of hidden letters, poems, and diaries by the lovers, wife, friends and relatives.

In the past, the cordial letters of Christabel and Randolph blossomed into love and passion. They vanished for a short, blissful time together. But what happened to Christabel and Randolph's love, and why did Christabel leave England, while her companion Blanche committed suicide? And how do these events somehow involve Roland and Maude's own growing attachment?

They say the pen is mightier than the sword, and in "Possession" it's a valuable historical tool. When words are hidden or read, it can change perceptions and even lives. Byatt's own words are wonderfully lush, dreamy and vivid. Given the rather formal language and writing, it almost seems like a nineteenth-century novel, as if Byatt got so swept up in the characters that she started writing like them.

Byatt has an excellent eye for the language of the era. The letters, poetry and fiction of Christabel and Randolph have a very authentic feel. Especially since Byatt manages to change tones for different people's writing (Christabel's poetry was a bit reminiscent of Emily Dickenson's). The only problem is when the book veers into long tangents; Byatt seems to get a little off-track there. But most of the time, the richness of Breton legend adds depth and mystery to an already beautiful novel. The sunken city of Is, the legend of Melusina, and many others are here.

Byatt gives us an amazing look at the ill-fated lovers, Christabel and Randolph; you can feel their passion and love. They aren't just attracted to each other, but drawn together in the mind and spirit. The supporting characters, such as the artist Blanche and devoted, wistful Ellen Ash, are equally well-drawn; you can't dislike any of them. Roland and Maud seem a little anemic by comparison, but they are still compelling characters, caught up in a love affair from over a hundred years ago.

After taking the recommendation of a good friend, I found that "Possession" is the kind of genuine, heartwrenching romance that you don't see much of -- meetings of minds, genuine passion and love. It's a beautiful thing, and something to be deeply treasured.

The most brilliant collection of short stories ever, 29 Apr 2000
This book is amongst the most entertaining books I have ever read. It contains a wide range of subjects and styles ranging from P. G. Wodehouse's "The Reverent Wooing Of Archibald" to "A Widow's Quilt" by Sylvia Townsend Warner. The book alows the reader to choose his or her story according to mood or prefernence and thus makes for a very good thing. It is the wide range of storie and authors in the book that really make it so great. A. S. Byatt has selected the choicest morcels of litterary brilliance and added them all into this great collection. Thoughly worth a read or two.

Eliot is superb as always! I'd give it 10 stars if I could, 02 Oct 2007
This is Eliot's somewhat autobiographical novel, and tells the story of Maggie Tulliver and her brother Tom. The story takes place in the village of St. Ogg, and at the Mill on The Floss that's been in the Tulliver family for generations. I thoroughly enjoyed the way Eliot depicted the sibling relationship between Maggie and Tom with all of those ups and downs that we all have experienced with our siblings, and culminating in the final finish of the story that thoroughly blew me away. I think I just sat for a good ten minutes just saying Oh Wow over and over again, and then felt the need to seek out my brothers and give them both a big hug.

The joy of reading this novel or any other by Eliot is her gorgeous prose and brilliant characterizations, even with the minor characters. Just be warned, this is not an action packed, sit on the edge of your seat, can't put it down until it's finished type of novel. This is a story to savor and enjoy the multi-faceted characters and the author's glorious prose like a fine red wine or a box of chocolates (or both). If you are looking for high action and adventure, this is not the book for you. Highly recommended for any lover of 19th century English literature, not as dark and brooding as Hardy can be, but the prose is just as lovely, if not better.

Wonderful novel on emotions and sentiments, 15 Aug 2006
This novel is class apart from Elliot's collections, well narrated and for sure will hold the readers interest till the last page of the novel, the author has portrayed the sibling relationship in a very powerful manner. Worthwhile reading.....

Wish I could give seven stars, 21 Aug 2005
RUN, do not walk, to bookshop or library and soak yourself in this glorious treat. Eliot is both bracing and ineffably comforting. All of humanity is here, beautifully observed, but best of all are the meticulous and kind descriptions of Maggie Tulliver's childhood, her rebellions and reactions, and the staring incomprehension of the much duller adults by whom she's surrounded. No-one conveys childhood boredom and bewilderment so well as Eliot does here. As the jaws of society close on Maggie, there's a dullish Dickensian plot abotu family ruin and suitors, but it hardly matters - what matters is the dazzling characterisation, the rolling Miltonic majesty of the prose. This is a nice edition with a good clear typeface.

Now for the next three books in the Quartet!, 04 Mar 2008
This is the huge first part of The Frederica Quartet. It is set in 1950s and cleverly evokes life in suburban northern England. The Potters are a fairly horrific family - bullying father, subservient mother, obnoxious Frederica and troubled Marcus. Only Stephanie, the older sister, comes over as sympathetic. Most other characters are also flawed and tending to be vain, predatory, selfish - or just plain mad.

It doesn't sound like a recipe for a great reading experience but we are soon pulled into the narrative. Will Alexander's pageant be a success or a dramatic disaster? Surely Stephanie the atheist won't marry Daniel (the somewhat dull church minister)? And to whom will the precocious and dislikeable Frederica lose her virginity?

The Virgin in the Garden is a challenging read in parts with many references to classical mythology. She writes with a terrifying mix of comic and cringe-worthy episodes - such as the descent into madness of Lucas and the attempted seduction of Frederica by Ed the travelling salesman.

A tough read in parts but it is worth the effort and I look forward to reading the next three books.


One to return to time and time again, 05 Sep 2005
This is my favourite work of A.S. Byatt to date, probably due to the subject matter and the period in which it is set, respectively, human relations and the post-war period into which I was born. However, wherever you chose to start, A.S. Byatt will astound with her mastery of English, her scholarship and her skill as a teller of tales.

With a combination like this, there is always a tension. Do you whip through to find out what happens? Or do you control yourself and give the book, as art, as philosophy, as psychology, the attention it deserves? A friend, who normally has no time for Eng Lit, solved this by skipping all the poetry in "Possession" and promising herself a revisit - not a bad compromise. I've read "The Virgin" twice, slowly, listened to at least two radio adaptations and will be going back for more later.

"The Virgin" is the first of the "Frederica Quartet", the rest being "Still Life", "Babel Tower" and "A Whistling Woman". I wouldn't term Frederica a heroine, indeed, the characters are all so true to life, such a mixture of good and bad, that the notion of heroism is inappropriate, but at seventeen she is certainly purposeful. She is desperate to loose her virginity, play a leading role in a verse drama written by the man she's besotted with and do well in her A-levels. She is also tough, able to withstand her mercurial father and her unpopularity at school, fierce and full of energy.

As a somewhat androgynous redhead, she is partner to that other virgin, Elizabeth 1, who is the subject of the verse drama, which is to be performed in the gardens of a local country house as part of the celebration of the coronation of the second Elizabeth.

In a brilliant evocation of the time, neighbours without television sets are invited in to watch this national event by one of the circle with one. A measure of the post-war austerity is apparent in the glimpses we get of Frederica's brick box of a family home, it being cluttered downstairs and spare upstairs with a small untidy garden. When she marries, Frederica's elder sister, Stephanie, moves into a much meaner sounding council flat with walls so thin there is a constant cacophony of neighbours' canned stuff. Outside, wire fences enclose rutted mud, with one surviving thorn tree. There are also excellent reminders of the coffee bar, the departmental store and the cinema, complete with indoor fountain and plush dining room.

The characters in this book abound with contradictions. Stephanie, brought up as an atheist, is full of a Christian kindness and marries an unlikely curate, Daniel. At the end of the book we are left wondering how she'll manage with a new baby as well as her brother, who's had a breakdown, and her infirm mother-in-law, all in a small cottage. Daniel has heroic qualities. Huge and energetic, he's the one in an emergency. He's also up to a spat with the Bishop and seethes with rage on many other occasions, just like his father-in-law, Bill, whose explosions have crushed his wife and youngest child, Marcus.

Where most novels have bad bits, a Byatt novel has challenging ones. In "The Virgin" my difficult bits comprised Marcus's way of seeing. Although in the book Marcus is subject to circumstances which cause a nervous breakdown, it's obvious that he has other difficulties. Like Frederica he's friendless, unlike her he's limp. His ability and affliction is to see geometry in the landscape and to physically see light as waves, also to be obsessed with and fearful of staircases and water going down the plughole. Perhaps we'll get a diagnosis for him in one of the sequels. Does he suffer from something in the autistic spectrum, or obsessive compulsive disorder? Anyway, I found parts of the Marcus chapters heavy-going.

Each of the main characters has chapters in which his or her thoughts, actions and outlook predominate and, although this is a novel written in the third person, there is certainly a sense of multiple narration. This is great in that the characters are themselves, and even when their circumstances are described, as it were, from the outside, there is no judgement. In other words, there is ample room for you, the reader.

Unfortunately, people tend to be scared of A.S. Byatt. My argument is that they shouldn't be, you shouldn't be. My main credential for this assertion is that I find reading difficult. Unless I work hard, words come out in the wrong order. I also failed Eng Lit at O-level and tend to prefer well-written popular science to fiction. For me reading is hard and writing has, therefore, to be good to make it worth the effort. Antonia Byatt's intelligent and acutely observed writing is excellent, a treat. I am now halfway through "Still Life", the second Frederica novel and thoroughly enjoying that too.

Not really such a weighty tome!, 10 Feb 2004
Okay, so you've probably read "Possession", "Angels & Insects", maybe some of her short stories ... what next? The Frederica Quartet is supposed to be good - but this first volume is already a 500-odd page tome; and there's three more after that. The Vintage paperback has a rather stony-faced Queen Bess on the front; and the publisher's blurb doesn't entirely help either: the comment "... it is massively THERE" didn't have me scurrying to start reading.

Don't be put off, though: this is a great read; often funny, occasionally shockingly dark, and featuring a main character who is very much a heroine to cheer for (all the more so since Byatt goes out of her way to make her seem obnoxious). Frederica Potter is a marvellous creation: freakishly intelligent and hardened to unpopularity at school, she combines an overwhelming confidence in her own abilities with late adolescent gawkiness - a very winning combination for the reader, if not for the other characters ("that awful girl"). The main plot strand concerns Frederica's often comic attempts to lose her virginity while starring in a verse drama about the Virgin Queen, which is being put on for the coronation of the second Elizabeth. Set against this is the (terrifying) mental breakdown and folie a deux of Frederica's brother Marcus and his biology teacher; and their sister Stephanie's choice of marriage and domesticity over an academic career.

All of Byatt's usual themes are here: ways of "seeing" (Marcus' visionary experiences are frightening glimpses into another universe, terrifically well written); the dangers (particularly for women) of "not being seen"; the hazards of family life. The backdrop of the Fifties is beautifully conjured, and the characters are complex and fascinating. Not always an easy read; but it turns out to be something of a page-turner having got over that difficult first step of actually opening it and starting it. Highly recommended.

A wonderful start to the Frederica Potter quartet of novels., 17 Dec 2003
I once heard someone say that this book should have been called "Virgin on the Ridiculous" ... I have to say I don't agree! A wonderful, ambitious novel, which brings the author to the level of a George Eliot - precise historical placing and context, wonderfully plotted, erudite, and with a narrative style that taxes and rewards. A wonderful start to this quartet of novels.

Lose yourself in Byatt's imagery, 08 Aug 2005
Of the stories in this book, the best, in my opinion, is the Stone Woman. It is an odd, captivating story. Byatt's meticulous, evocative descriptions of the properties of different stones turns the disquieting image of the woman's transformation into something beautiful and strangely natural. This tale feels almost like folklore or a fairy tale by the end.

The other stories in this collection not as enchanting, although I would have happily bought this for the Stone Woman alone.

Fantastic!, 11 Mar 2004
In these five short stories Byatt once again displays her talent for making the magical out of the mundane. Byatt takes a simple cloth and embroiders it until she has a tale woven richly with mythology and allegory, and strung with references classical and modern, literary and popular. Her well-structured stories are deceptively simple. You close the book feeling satisfied but something draws you back. When you look again, the focus of the stories seem to have shifted slightly and the different facets become apparent.

In The Thing in the Forest we discover that when something terrible happens to us at a young age it can become both more real and less real than anything else in our lives. The memory of the thing begins to mould the person we become and continues to shape our actions as an adult until, for better or worse, it leads us back to the source of our terror. " 'Sometimes I think that thing finished me off,' said Penny to Primrose".

Body Art takes us to that crossroads where modern art meets the base realities of the human body and science has to contend with human emotion.

A Stone Woman is about grief and transformation: a beautifully crafted fairytale, vibrant with colour and texture, with a setting that moves from the landscape of the flesh to the landscape of Norse mythology.

"There was fresh blood on the forget-me-nots and primroses in the carpet. It was not nice." Raw Material is about words. Why do we consider some subjects more worthy of our creative attention than others? Should creative writing be therapeutic? And what precisely is 'Real writing'? Set (as is much of Byatt's work) in a literary environment, where a lacklustre lecturer discusses these issues with the unmemorable members of his creative writing class, this story winds its way to a surprising end.

The Pink Ribbon takes us into the world of poor mad Mado and her suffering husband and carer James. When one day a beautiful young woman knocks on their door begging for sanctuary, James begins to feel that she knows a little too much about them both...

a true classic, 23 Sep 2008
Oh I love this book!!!
I bought it when it was first published and read it in one go. When I finished I started back at page 1 straight away. Over the years I have reread it a a few more times and I know I will read it again. My copy is all worn and a few friends have read it as well and loved it. It is just one of the most moving and beautiful love stories ever written and I adore its thoroughness and perfect pace - lingering and going in depth and at times racing on and almost taking the form of a crime story. The final chapter has me in tears every time.
The language and prose in this book demands attention and focus so it is not a book to read a few pages of before drifting off to bed. But do read it! It is worth the extra effort!


Expected more, 12 Aug 2008
No doubt the author has a talent for words. The problem is the story didn't manage to really engage me into the story until much later (second half). There were quite long, boring sections I had a hard time getting through.
Sorry, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Bored to tears..., 31 Jul 2008
To be fair to the author, I did only get about 200 pages into this book, but I found it dull dull DULL - so tedious and long-winded, pretentious and unauthentic. Can't see why it won all those awards - it's really not worth putting yourself through the pain.

A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, 22 Oct 2007
POSSESSION: A ROMANCE has been on my shelf since 1991. I read it because it won the 1990 Booker Prize, and once under its spell, I've never wanted to let it go. A.S. Byatt -- sister of award winning novelist Margaret Drabble -- tells a complex story within a story, moving back and forth between modern-day scholars Roland Michell and Maud Bailey, and the fictional Victorian poets who are the subjects of their research.

Victorian literature can seem like a dry and rocky road, but Byatt foreshadows and advances her story with the poetry, letters and journals of the Victorian pair, whose love affair is revealed as the research progresses. From simple lyric poems ("They say that women change: 'tis so: but you / Are ever-constant in your changefulness ...") to complex narrative poems and stories, they are well integrated with the story, though sometimes lengthy. The Victorian scene comes to life most successfully, and it's astonishing how fluently Byatt moves not just from present to past, but among the many different literary forms of the two Victorians.

The story within a story, or more specifically the unraveling of a mystery from the past, is a popular device. It's been used in Josephine Tey's DAUGHTER OF TIME, THE MOONSTONE by Wilkie Collins, THE NAME OF THE ROSE by Umberto Eco; and more recently, THE DANTE CLUB and THE POE SHADOW by Matthew Pearl, THE RULE OF FOUR by Caldwell and Thomason, even Dan Brown's blockbuster THE DA VINCI CODE. Byatt weaves her two stories together beautifully: POSSESSION may be the standard by which to judge this type of book, as both stories are richly developed and rooted in the idiom of their time. The Victorian imagery reveals the love affair between the poets, and eventually between Roland and Maud, with its typical mix of emotion and restraint. The modern story satirizes the British academic scene.

POSSESSION: A ROMANCE may not be the easiest book I ever read, but it's among the most rewarding. If you haven't read it in the many years since it was first published, then I recommend it to you.

Forgotten passion, 12 Jun 2007
"Possession" is far above and beyond the kind of books usually labelled "romance." It's lushly written, with exquisite characters, great poetry and interweavings of legend and myth. It's almost chastely erotic, mysterious and dripping over with Victorian-era romance. It's hard not to be drawn in.

A young scholar, Roland, stumbles accidently on an old letter from acclaimed poet Randolph Ash. He soon has reason to believe that the letter was to Christabel La Monte, a lesser-known "fairy" poet -- except Ash was happily married, and La Monte was single all her life. Roland and the chilly fellow scholar Maud investigate caches of hidden letters, poems, and diaries by the lovers, wife, friends and relatives.

In the past, the cordial letters of Christabel and Randolph blossomed into love and passion. They vanished for a short, blissful time together. But what happened to Christabel and Randolph's love, and why did Christabel leave England, while her companion Blanche committed suicide? And how do these events somehow involve Roland and Maude's own growing attachment?

They say the pen is mightier than the sword, and in "Possession" it's a valuable historical tool. When words are hidden or read, it can change perceptions and even lives. Byatt's own words are wonderfully lush, dreamy and vivid. Given the rather formal language and writing, it almost seems like a nineteenth-century novel, as if Byatt got so swept up in the characters that she started writing like them.

Byatt has an excellent eye for the language of the era. The letters, poetry and fiction of Christabel and Randolph have a very authentic feel. Especially since Byatt manages to change tones for different people's writing (Christabel's poetry was a bit reminiscent of Emily Dickenson's). The only problem is when the book veers into long tangents; Byatt seems to get a little off-track there. But most of the time, the richness of Breton legend adds depth and mystery to an already beautiful novel. The sunken city of Is, the legend of Melusina, and many others are here.

Byatt gives us an amazing look at the ill-fated lovers, Christabel and Randolph; you can feel their passion and love. They aren't just attracted to each other, but drawn together in the mind and spirit. The supporting characters, such as the artist Blanche and devoted, wistful Ellen Ash, are equally well-drawn; you can't dislike any of them. Roland and Maud seem a little anemic by comparison, but they are still compelling characters, caught up in a love affair from over a hundred years ago.

After taking the recommendation of a good friend, I found that "Possession" is the kind of genuine, heartwrenching romance that you don't see much of -- meetings of minds, genuine passion and love. It's a beautiful thing, and something to be deeply treasured.

a true classic, 23 Sep 2008
Oh I love this book!!!
I bought it when it was first published and read it in one go. When I finished I started back at page 1 straight away. Over the years I have reread it a a few more times and I know I will read it again. My copy is all worn and a few friends have read it as well and loved it. It is just one of the most moving and beautiful love stories ever written and I adore its thoroughness and perfect pace - lingering and going in depth and at times racing on and almost taking the form of a crime story. The final chapter has me in tears every time.
The language and prose in this book demands attention and focus so it is not a book to read a few pages of before drifting off to bed. But do read it! It is worth the extra effort!


Expected more, 12 Aug 2008
No doubt the author has a talent for words. The problem is the story didn't manage to really engage me into the story until much later (second half). There were quite long, boring sections I had a hard time getting through.
Sorry, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Bored to tears..., 31 Jul 2008
To be fair to the author, I did only get about 200 pages into this book, but I found it dull dull DULL - so tedious and long-winded, pretentious and unauthentic. Can't see why it won all those awards - it's really not worth putting yourself through the pain.

A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma, 22 Oct 2007
POSSESSION: A ROMANCE has been on my shelf since 1991. I read it because it won the 1990 Booker Prize, and once under its spell, I've never wanted to let it go. A.S. Byatt -- sister of award winning novelist Margaret Drabble -- tells a complex story within a story, moving back and forth between modern-day scholars Roland Michell and Maud Bailey, and the fictional Victorian poets who are the subjects of their research.

Victorian literature can seem like a dry and rocky road, but Byatt foreshadows and advances her story with the poetry, letters and journals of the Victorian pair, whose love affair is revealed as the research progresses. From simple lyric poems ("They say that women change: 'tis so: but you / Are ever-constant in your changefulness ...") to complex narrative poems and stories, they are well integrated with the story, though sometimes lengthy. The Victorian scene comes to life most successfully, and it's astonishing how fluently Byatt moves not just from present to past, but among the many different literary forms of the two Victorians.

The story within a story, or more specifically the unraveling of a mystery from the past, is a popular device. It's been used in Josephine Tey's DAUGHTER OF TIME, THE MOONSTONE by Wilkie Collins, THE NAME OF THE ROSE by Umberto Eco; and more recently, THE DANTE CLUB and THE POE SHADOW by Matthew Pearl, THE RULE OF FOUR by Caldwell and Thomason, even Dan Brown's blockbuster THE DA VINCI CODE. Byatt weaves her two stories together beautifully: POSSESSION may be the standard by which to judge this type of book, as both stories are richly developed and r