A beautiful book, 20 Apr 2007
A tremendously moving and elegiac book that somehow manages to cover British colonial life in a way that does not sound insulting or racist in a post-colonial world. I read this on holiday along with a stack of books from more contemporary (and award winning) authors writing on similar themes and thought that in its subtle and gently amusing way it could give all of the young guns some lessons in how to write a book which covers both big themes and small affairs of the heart. The ending was almost unbearably sad. The only reason it's not a five-star rating is that like some of the other reviewers I got a bit impatient with some of the stream-of-consciousness sentences that were supposed to represent the characters when they were thinking - but otherwise this is a wonderful book.

Good, if you like the writing style, 05 Jan 2007
I didn't fall in love with this book, but this is largely due to personal preference to do with style. It's well written (which I can appreciate even if I don't particularly like the style) and the subject matter interesting. Covering a period of time that is already disappearing into the depths of history, there is a lot of interest in here about India, Britain, and a whole way of life that no longer exists. This was of particular interest to me as a younger reader.

The characters are three dimensional and well drawn, and the book is quite engrossing. There isn't a great deal of storyline, but it's one of those books where the fact that nothing much happens doesn't seem to matter.

My problem with the book was with the style. If you like 'stream of consciousness' type writing - long sentences, with rambling thoughts and lots of diversions from the main topic, and not much regard for punctuation, you will like this. There are plenty of incidences of it, though it does not compose the entire story. I personally do not like this, hence my reduced enjoyment of the book. If you like James Joyce or Salman Rushdie, you will probably like this book too. I also found all the jumping around in time a bit confusing.

On the whole, a good read, especially if you like the style, and I can understand why it won the Booker. Definitely a good book to read if you are interested in India, history or colonialism.

Simply one of the best books you will ever read., 23 Jun 2006
Amazing characterisation and atmosphere. I personally think this book is better than those of the Raj quartet.

A warm bittersweet tragedy that may move you to tears, 08 Feb 2002
This is a splendid and touching story of a couple of British colonists who 'stay on' after the Raj ends in India, and that country gains independence from Britain. Colonel 'Tusker' and his wife are both advanced in years and it made little sense for them to pull out. The book begins with Tusker's death. A stark opening. The timeline is then turned back and we are taken through the events which, in the end, culminate in Tusker's death. By the time he dies again, Paul Scott has endeared the blustery old man to his readers to such an extent that it is a devastating blow. The power and engagement of Scott's writing is such that the reader almost forgets that Tusker is already dead, and thus his passing comes as a great shock. This novel has the curious accolade of being the first to ever make me cry. More than simply a portrait of two inviduals who decide to ride out the turning tide of history, this is a delicate and warm tale of human dignity and pride. Tusker and his wife once enjoyed tea with the elite of Imperial administrators, the Raj leaders themselves, but now find themselves relegated to a small bungalow in conditions that are beneath them. Their stoic and almost heroic endurance of their fate is a touching encounter which is perhaps not only a story of two individuals, but representative of the empire as a whole. Tusker and his wife are spent forces, with no real control over their destiny, as much as they wish otherwise and act to try to hold on to some power over their lives. Despite this, their stand is not a depressing one, rather it is bursting with vitality, however futile. Staying On will appeal especially to the traditional British sympathy for the underdog, but is a tremendous work of literature that I would recommend to anyone.

'Staying On' - a heartwarming comedy yet conversely tragic., 21 Jun 1999
'Staying On' by Paul Scott presents a rich and colourful description of the life of a retired Sahib. Various perspectives are used by Scott to denote India's changing times, and the effect upon all members of society. The reader experiences extremes of emotions: from pathos to comedy, from a tragic sense of loss to a heartwarming elation. There is a comic division between the native Indian and the retired Colonialists, which results in the presentation of a society of instability. Hysterically humorous characters such as the Capitalist Mrs Bhoolabuoy and her naively weak husband add a bittersweetness to the tragedy of Tusker's death. On the more serious aspect of the novel, Tusker, the retired Army General, and his wife lead separate lives in the knowledge that in living together they are living apart. They are emotionally independent, but physically dependent upon the other's physical presence. The reader begins the novel knowing that Tusker is dead, and the plot backtracks to the past. Antidotes are related to us, and we experience a turbulent journey through a mundane yet emotionally charged environment. The comedy is sweet, the tragedy is bitter and the reader feels both emotions in the reading of this exquisite novel. This is a novel full of glorious comedy genius, but a heartfelt loss is surely felt by all who read it.

A beautiful book, 20 Apr 2007
A tremendously moving and elegiac book that somehow manages to cover British colonial life in a way that does not sound insulting or racist in a post-colonial world. I read this on holiday along with a stack of books from more contemporary (and award winning) authors writing on similar themes and thought that in its subtle and gently amusing way it could give all of the young guns some lessons in how to write a book which covers both big themes and small affairs of the heart. The ending was almost unbearably sad. The only reason it's not a five-star rating is that like some of the other reviewers I got a bit impatient with some of the stream-of-consciousness sentences that were supposed to represent the characters when they were thinking - but otherwise this is a wonderful book.

Good, if you like the writing style, 05 Jan 2007
I didn't fall in love with this book, but this is largely due to personal preference to do with style. It's well written (which I can appreciate even if I don't particularly like the style) and the subject matter interesting. Covering a period of time that is already disappearing into the depths of history, there is a lot of interest in here about India, Britain, and a whole way of life that no longer exists. This was of particular interest to me as a younger reader.

The characters are three dimensional and well drawn, and the book is quite engrossing. There isn't a great deal of storyline, but it's one of those books where the fact that nothing much happens doesn't seem to matter.

My problem with the book was with the style. If you like 'stream of consciousness' type writing - long sentences, with rambling thoughts and lots of diversions from the main topic, and not much regard for punctuation, you will like this. There are plenty of incidences of it, though it does not compose the entire story. I personally do not like this, hence my reduced enjoyment of the book. If you like James Joyce or Salman Rushdie, you will probably like this book too. I also found all the jumping around in time a bit confusing.

On the whole, a good read, especially if you like the style, and I can understand why it won the Booker. Definitely a good book to read if you are interested in India, history or colonialism.

Simply one of the best books you will ever read., 23 Jun 2006
Amazing characterisation and atmosphere. I personally think this book is better than those of the Raj quartet.

A warm bittersweet tragedy that may move you to tears, 08 Feb 2002
This is a splendid and touching story of a couple of British colonists who 'stay on' after the Raj ends in India, and that country gains independence from Britain. Colonel 'Tusker' and his wife are both advanced in years and it made little sense for them to pull out. The book begins with Tusker's death. A stark opening. The timeline is then turned back and we are taken through the events which, in the end, culminate in Tusker's death. By the time he dies again, Paul Scott has endeared the blustery old man to his readers to such an extent that it is a devastating blow. The power and engagement of Scott's writing is such that the reader almost forgets that Tusker is already dead, and thus his passing comes as a great shock. This novel has the curious accolade of being the first to ever make me cry. More than simply a portrait of two inviduals who decide to ride out the turning tide of history, this is a delicate and warm tale of human dignity and pride. Tusker and his wife once enjoyed tea with the elite of Imperial administrators, the Raj leaders themselves, but now find themselves relegated to a small bungalow in conditions that are beneath them. Their stoic and almost heroic endurance of their fate is a touching encounter which is perhaps not only a story of two individuals, but representative of the empire as a whole. Tusker and his wife are spent forces, with no real control over their destiny, as much as they wish otherwise and act to try to hold on to some power over their lives. Despite this, their stand is not a depressing one, rather it is bursting with vitality, however futile. Staying On will appeal especially to the traditional British sympathy for the underdog, but is a tremendous work of literature that I would recommend to anyone.

'Staying On' - a heartwarming comedy yet conversely tragic., 21 Jun 1999
'Staying On' by Paul Scott presents a rich and colourful description of the life of a retired Sahib. Various perspectives are used by Scott to denote India's changing times, and the effect upon all members of society. The reader experiences extremes of emotions: from pathos to comedy, from a tragic sense of loss to a heartwarming elation. There is a comic division between the native Indian and the retired Colonialists, which results in the presentation of a society of instability. Hysterically humorous characters such as the Capitalist Mrs Bhoolabuoy and her naively weak husband add a bittersweetness to the tragedy of Tusker's death. On the more serious aspect of the novel, Tusker, the retired Army General, and his wife lead separate lives in the knowledge that in living together they are living apart. They are emotionally independent, but physically dependent upon the other's physical presence. The reader begins the novel knowing that Tusker is dead, and the plot backtracks to the past. Antidotes are related to us, and we experience a turbulent journey through a mundane yet emotionally charged environment. The comedy is sweet, the tragedy is bitter and the reader feels both emotions in the reading of this exquisite novel. This is a novel full of glorious comedy genius, but a heartfelt loss is surely felt by all who read it.

An insult to Wall-E!, 12 Aug 2008
A week attempt to shoehorn the story into a few pages for little ones. Badly written, hideously illustrated. Don't bother with this. There's a gazillion and one Wall-E books and spin offs so just look elsewhere...

A beautiful book, 20 Apr 2007
A tremendously moving and elegiac book that somehow manages to cover British colonial life in a way that does not sound insulting or racist in a post-colonial world. I read this on holiday along with a stack of books from more contemporary (and award winning) authors writing on similar themes and thought that in its subtle and gently amusing way it could give all of the young guns some lessons in how to write a book which covers both big themes and small affairs of the heart. The ending was almost unbearably sad. The only reason it's not a five-star rating is that like some of the other reviewers I got a bit impatient with some of the stream-of-consciousness sentences that were supposed to represent the characters when they were thinking - but otherwise this is a wonderful book.

Good, if you like the writing style, 05 Jan 2007
I didn't fall in love with this book, but this is largely due to personal preference to do with style. It's well written (which I can appreciate even if I don't particularly like the style) and the subject matter interesting. Covering a period of time that is already disappearing into the depths of history, there is a lot of interest in here about India, Britain, and a whole way of life that no longer exists. This was of particular interest to me as a younger reader.

The characters are three dimensional and well drawn, and the book is quite engrossing. There isn't a great deal of storyline, but it's one of those books where the fact that nothing much happens doesn't seem to matter.

My problem with the book was with the style. If you like 'stream of consciousness' type writing - long sentences, with rambling thoughts and lots of diversions from the main topic, and not much regard for punctuation, you will like this. There are plenty of incidences of it, though it does not compose the entire story. I personally do not like this, hence my reduced enjoyment of the book. If you like James Joyce or Salman Rushdie, you will probably like this book too. I also found all the jumping around in time a bit confusing.

On the whole, a good read, especially if you like the style, and I can understand why it won the Booker. Definitely a good book to read if you are interested in India, history or colonialism.

Simply one of the best books you will ever read., 23 Jun 2006
Amazing characterisation and atmosphere. I personally think this book is better than those of the Raj quartet.

A warm bittersweet tragedy that may move you to tears, 08 Feb 2002
This is a splendid and touching story of a couple of British colonists who 'stay on' after the Raj ends in India, and that country gains independence from Britain. Colonel 'Tusker' and his wife are both advanced in years and it made little sense for them to pull out. The book begins with Tusker's death. A stark opening. The timeline is then turned back and we are taken through the events which, in the end, culminate in Tusker's death. By the time he dies again, Paul Scott has endeared the blustery old man to his readers to such an extent that it is a devastating blow. The power and engagement of Scott's writing is such that the reader almost forgets that Tusker is already dead, and thus his passing comes as a great shock. This novel has the curious accolade of being the first to ever make me cry. More than simply a portrait of two inviduals who decide to ride out the turning tide of history, this is a delicate and warm tale of human dignity and pride. Tusker and his wife once enjoyed tea with the elite of Imperial administrators, the Raj leaders themselves, but now find themselves relegated to a small bungalow in conditions that are beneath them. Their stoic and almost heroic endurance of their fate is a touching encounter which is perhaps not only a story of two individuals, but representative of the empire as a whole. Tusker and his wife are spent forces, with no real control over their destiny, as much as they wish otherwise and act to try to hold on to some power over their lives. Despite this, their stand is not a depressing one, rather it is bursting with vitality, however futile. Staying On will appeal especially to the traditional British sympathy for the underdog, but is a tremendous work of literature that I would recommend to anyone.

'Staying On' - a heartwarming comedy yet conversely tragic., 21 Jun 1999
'Staying On' by Paul Scott presents a rich and colourful description of the life of a retired Sahib. Various perspectives are used by Scott to denote India's changing times, and the effect upon all members of society. The reader experiences extremes of emotions: from pathos to comedy, from a tragic sense of loss to a heartwarming elation. There is a comic division between the native Indian and the retired Colonialists, which results in the presentation of a society of instability. Hysterically humorous characters such as the Capitalist Mrs Bhoolabuoy and her naively weak husband add a bittersweetness to the tragedy of Tusker's death. On the more serious aspect of the novel, Tusker, the retired Army General, and his wife lead separate lives in the knowledge that in living together they are living apart. They are emotionally independent, but physically dependent upon the other's physical presence. The reader begins the novel knowing that Tusker is dead, and the plot backtracks to the past. Antidotes are related to us, and we experience a turbulent journey through a mundane yet emotionally charged environment. The comedy is sweet, the tragedy is bitter and the reader feels both emotions in the reading of this exquisite novel. This is a novel full of glorious comedy genius, but a heartfelt loss is surely felt by all who read it.

An insult to Wall-E!, 12 Aug 2008
A week attempt to shoehorn the story into a few pages for little ones. Badly written, hideously illustrated. Don't bother with this. There's a gazillion and one Wall-E books and spin offs so just look elsewhere...

such a good idea, 19 Oct 2008
Although it starts off in a very traditional format, don't be fooled - this is a postmodern novel that jumps from here to there and everywhere, keeping you guessing as to its narrator and point of view. The idea is brilliant, but it's so, so, so slow in parts that while bits of it are brilliant, I found myself skipping through other parts. Nonetheless, I have the other 3 parts of the trilogy and will be reading them all.

The Jewel is the book itself, 18 Apr 2008
The first book in the "Raj" quartet, it is set in India during the second world war, at a time when Britain's colony was stirring itself towards independence. Persevere if you find this book slow at first, because you may find you will ultimately be drawn in by the sheer poetry of the writing. Like many classic novels, this is a book to savour, not one to be rushed. The contrast, the smells, colours, textures and tastes of India are all there, not just the visual appearance. It's like reading a piece of history, although it's characters are fictional, as it provides an insight into the issues and attitudes of the people of the time.

The central story concerns Daphne Manners, a young British woman raped during riots in the first stirrings towards Indian independence. She's in love with a young Indian, Hari Kumar, who was educated in Britain. He is one of a number of men falsely accused of her rape. The prejudice and the accepted etiquette of the time mean their romance is doomed to failure from the beginning, and their story is a microcosm of the larger picture of India that Scott uses as a backdrop, for Britain's colonial rule of India is also doomed. The story is split into parts, with each part told from the point of view of one of the characters involved. It builds slowly to the story of what actually happened that night. The style of telling, and the power with which the characters are drawn means it feels like non-fiction, and it's almost impossible to believe that these people didn't ever exist. It's not always the easiest or happiest book to read, but it's sheer emotional power makes it difficult to put down. By the end you are so involved you are all set to read the rest of the quartet.

The decline of the British Raj in India, 14 Mar 2007
In the India of 1942 two rapes take place at the same time - that of the English girl Daphne Manners in Mayapore and that of India by the British. In each physical violence, racial animosity and the domination of the weak by the strong all play their part, but playing a part too are love, affection, loyalty and recognition that the last division of all to be overcome is the colour of the skin. As the story unfolds the whole spectrum of Anglo-Indian relations is vividly evoked in a flurry of emotions, personal clashes and historical reasons which eventually prise India - the Jewel in the Imperial Crown - from its setting.
The two virtues of the novel are the colourful range of characters it skilfully portrays and its powerful evocation of the last days of British India, now quietly slipping away into history.
Sam Dastor's reading of the novel for BBC Audiobooks is truly spectacular with the many accents he manages to imitate to perfection.


So sad, 15 May 2005
I was so sad about ending. It's an excellent story though. I hoped in the end that the baby was Hari Kumar's baby. It's a shame Daphne and Hari had to suffer so much. But I must say I absolutely loved this book. I'm a desendent of an Anglo-Indian myself. I didn't know of this until recently. I thought I was all British, but I am in fact 1/8 bengali Indian. {English Great grandmother Bengali great grandfather} They were 16 when they had a little girl. Because of this I must say I felt a special connection to this story.Everyone thought it was odd that a 16 year-old girl would want to read a book the like the jewel in the crown, but I did and I recomend it to anyone who is interested in Anglo-Indian affairs.

A simply wonderful read, 18 Mar 2005
What a marvellous work! My copy has the words, "Dazzling" (Guardian), on the front cover, and on the back cover it is lauded by The Times and the New York Times; it would be impertinent to offer any other opinion. I did not watch the BBC dramatisation, and having now read the novel I cannot conceive how a television adaptation could convey more than a tiny part of its myriad strands. The central story is quite slight, but it is a metaphor for the larger picture, and what grips are the context and the backgrounds. The context, of course, is the burgeoning national consciousness that will lead to the independence of India; but along with that there is the slipping through the imperial fingers of the jewel itself, and the inevitability of the decline of all that was British, all that was Empire. Against this huge backdrop, with all its ramifications for global politics, is played out the drama of Daphne Manners and her rape. The balance is perfect: the subjugation and exploitation of a vast, impoverished country by a small, rich European one - and by the British Empire in all its self-deluding glory - versus the violation of one young Englishwoman by natives of that very country. The story itself is told from several perspectives - Edwina Crane, Lily Chatterjee, Brigadier Reid - each fleshed out in intricate, touching and perceptive detail. There are glorious descriptive touches, too: the magnificent description of the Macgregor House early on, for example, is simply beautiful. Read it like you would drink a premier cru: slowly, savouring the flavour, relaxing and wondering at the skill that has gone into making it.

A beautiful book, 20 Apr 2007
A tremendously moving and elegiac book that somehow manages to cover British colonial life in a way that does not sound insulting or racist in a post-colonial world. I read this on holiday along with a stack of books from more contemporary (and award winning) authors writing on similar themes and thought that in its subtle and gently amusing way it could give all of the young guns some lessons in how to write a book which covers both big themes and small affairs of the heart. The ending was almost unbearably sad. The only reason it's not a five-star rating is that like some of the other reviewers I got a bit impatient with some of the stream-of-consciousness sentences that were supposed to represent the characters when they were thinking - but otherwise this is a wonderful book.

Good, if you like the writing style, 05 Jan 2007
I didn't fall in love with this book, but this is largely due to personal preference to do with style. It's well written (which I can appreciate even if I don't particularly like the style) and the subject matter interesting. Covering a period of time that is already disappearing into the depths of history, there is a lot of interest in here about India, Britain, and a whole way of life that no longer exists. This was of particular interest to me as a younger reader.

The characters are three dimensional and well drawn, and the book is quite engrossing. There isn't a great deal of storyline, but it's one of those books where the fact that nothing much happens doesn't seem to matter.

My problem with the book was with the style. If you like 'stream of consciousness' type writing - long sentences, with rambling thoughts and lots of diversions from the main topic, and not much regard for punctuation, you will like this. There are plenty of incidences of it, though it does not compose the entire story. I personally do not like this, hence my reduced enjoyment of the book. If you like James Joyce or Salman Rushdie, you will probably like this book too. I also found all the jumping around in time a bit confusing.

On the whole, a good read, especially if you like the style, and I can understand why it won the Booker. Definitely a good book to read if you are interested in India, history or colonialism.

Simply one of the best books you will ever read., 23 Jun 2006
Amazing characterisation and atmosphere. I personally think this book is better than those of the Raj quartet.

A warm bittersweet tragedy that may move you to tears, 08 Feb 2002
This is a splendid and touching story of a couple of British colonists who 'stay on' after the Raj ends in India, and that country gains independence from Britain. Colonel 'Tusker' and his wife are both advanced in years and it made little sense for them to pull out. The book begins with Tusker's death. A stark opening. The timeline is then turned back and we are taken through the events which, in the end, culminate in Tusker's death. By the time he dies again, Paul Scott has endeared the blustery old man to his readers to such an extent that it is a devastating blow. The power and engagement of Scott's writing is such that the reader almost forgets that Tusker is already dead, and thus his passing comes as a great shock. This novel has the curious accolade of being the first to ever make me cry. More than simply a portrait of two inviduals who decide to ride out the turning tide of history, this is a delicate and warm tale of human dignity and pride. Tusker and his wife once enjoyed tea with the elite of Imperial administrators, the Raj leaders themselves, but now find themselves relegated to a small bungalow in conditions that are beneath them. Their stoic and almost heroic endurance of their fate is a touching encounter which is perhaps not only a story of two individuals, but representative of the empire as a whole. Tusker and his wife are spent forces, with no real control over their destiny, as much as they wish otherwise and act to try to hold on to some power over their lives. Despite this, their stand is not a depressing one, rather it is bursting with vitality, however futile. Staying On will appeal especially to the traditional British sympathy for the underdog, but is a tremendous work of literature that I would recommend to anyone.

'Staying On' - a heartwarming comedy yet conversely tragic., 21 Jun 1999
'Staying On' by Paul Scott presents a rich and colourful description of the life of a retired Sahib. Various perspectives are used by Scott to denote India's changing times, and the effect upon all members of society. The reader experiences extremes of emotions: from pathos to comedy, from a tragic sense of loss to a heartwarming elation. There is a comic division between the native Indian and the retired Colonialists, which results in the presentation of a society of instability. Hysterically humorous characters such as the Capitalist Mrs Bhoolabuoy and her naively weak husband add a bittersweetness to the tragedy of Tusker's death. On the more serious aspect of the novel, Tusker, the retired Army General, and his wife lead separate lives in the knowledge that in living together they are living apart. They are emotionally independent, but physically dependent upon the other's physical presence. The reader begins the novel knowing that Tusker is dead, and the plot backtracks to the past. Antidotes are related to us, and we experience a turbulent journey through a mundane yet emotionally charged environment. The comedy is sweet, the tragedy is bitter and the reader feels both emotions in the reading of this exquisite novel. This is a novel full of glorious comedy genius, but a heartfelt loss is surely felt by all who read it.

An insult to Wall-E!, 12 Aug 2008
A week attempt to shoehorn the story into a few pages for little ones. Badly written, hideously illustrated. Don't bother with this. There's a gazillion and one Wall-E books and spin offs so just look elsewhere...

such a good idea, 19 Oct 2008
Although it starts off in a very traditional format, don't be fooled - this is a postmodern novel that jumps from here to there and everywhere, keeping you guessing as to its narrator and point of view. The idea is brilliant, but it's so, so, so slow in parts that while bits of it are brilliant, I found myself skipping through other parts. Nonetheless, I have the other 3 parts of the trilogy and will be reading them all.

The Jewel is the book itself, 18 Apr 2008
The first book in the "Raj" quartet, it is set in India during the second world war, at a time when Britain's colony was stirring itself towards independence. Persevere if you find this book slow at first, because you may find you will ultimately be drawn in by the sheer poetry of the writing. Like many classic novels, this is a book to savour, not one to be rushed. The contrast, the smells, colours, textures and tastes of India are all there, not just the visual appearance. It's like reading a piece of history, although it's characters are fictional, as it provides an insight into the issues and attitudes of the people of the time.

The central story concerns Daphne Manners, a young British woman raped during riots in the first stirrings towards Indian independence. She's in love with a young Indian, Hari Kumar, who was educated in Britain. He is one of a number of men falsely accused of her rape. The prejudice and the accepted etiquette of the time mean their romance is doomed to failure from the beginning, and their story is a microcosm of the larger picture of India that Scott uses as a backdrop, for Britain's colonial rule of India is also doomed. The story is split into parts, with each part told from the point of view of one of the characters involved. It builds slowly to the story of what actually happened that night. The style of telling, and the power with which the characters are drawn means it feels like non-fiction, and it's almost impossible to believe that these people didn't ever exist. It's not always the easiest or happiest book to read, but it's sheer emotional power makes it difficult to put down. By the end you are so involved you are all set to read the rest of the quartet.

The decline of the British Raj in India, 14 Mar 2007
In the India of 1942 two rapes take place at the same time - that of the English girl Daphne Manners in Mayapore and that of India by the British. In each physical violence, racial animosity and the domination of the weak by the strong all play their part, but playing a part too are love, affection, loyalty and recognition that the last division of all to be overcome is the colour of the skin. As the story unfolds the whole spectrum of Anglo-Indian relations is vividly evoked in a flurry of emotions, personal clashes and historical reasons which eventually prise India - the Jewel in the Imperial Crown - from its setting.
The two virtues of the novel are the colourful range of characters it skilfully portrays and its powerful evocation of the last days of British India, now quietly slipping away into history.
Sam Dastor's reading of the novel for BBC Audiobooks is truly spectacular with the many accents he manages to imitate to perfection.


So sad, 15 May 2005
I was so sad about ending. It's an excellent story though. I hoped in the end that the baby was Hari Kumar's baby. It's a shame Daphne and Hari had to suffer so much. But I must say I absolutely loved this book. I'm a desendent of an Anglo-Indian myself. I didn't know of this until recently. I thought I was all British, but I am in fact 1/8 bengali Indian. {English Great grandmother Bengali great grandfather} They were 16 when they had a little girl. Because of this I must say I felt a special connection to this story.Everyone thought it was odd that a 16 year-old girl would want to read a book the like the jewel in the crown, but I did and I recomend it to anyone who is interested in Anglo-Indian affairs.

A simply wonderful read, 18 Mar 2005
What a marvellous work! My copy has the words, "Dazzling" (Guardian), on the front cover, and on the back cover it is lauded by The Times and the New York Times; it would be impertinent to offer any other opinion. I did not watch the BBC dramatisation, and having now read the novel I cannot conceive how a television adaptation could convey more than a tiny part of its myriad strands. The central story is quite slight, but it is a metaphor for the larger picture, and what grips are the context and the backgrounds. The context, of course, is the burgeoning national consciousness that will lead to the independence of India; but along with that there is the slipping through the imperial fingers of the jewel itself, and the inevitability of the decline of all that was British, all that was Empire. Against this huge backdrop, with all its ramifications for global politics, is played out the drama of Daphne Manners and her rape. The balance is perfect: the subjugation and exploitation of a vast, impoverished country by a small, rich European one - and by the British Empire in all its self-deluding glory - versus the violation of one young Englishwoman by natives of that very country. The story itself is told from several perspectives - Edwina Crane, Lily Chatterjee, Brigadier Reid - each fleshed out in intricate, touching and perceptive detail. There are glorious descriptive touches, too: the magnificent description of the Macgregor House early on, for example, is simply beautiful. Read it like you would drink a premier cru: slowly, savouring the flavour, relaxing and wondering at the skill that has gone into making it.

Age of Apocalypse is excellent, 06 Jul 2007
Cut out the gum-ball superheroes and enter a world where a hero will kill you as quickly as a villain. This imagining of a world where Xavier died is one of the most powerful visions of the X-Universe out there. The grit and doomed nature of the Age of Apocalypse comes through in every story, but you also have characters you care about and want to see escape what you know will happen eventually.

Only four out of five stars because some of the art isn't amazing. Dont let that disuade you from an excellent story that showcases characters regular X-book readers will know and not know all at once.

A beautiful book, 20 Apr 2007
A tremendously moving and elegiac book that somehow manages to cover British colonial life in a way that does not sound insulting or racist in a post-colonial world. I read this on holiday along with a stack of books from more contemporary (and award winning) authors writing on similar themes and thought that in its subtle and gently amusing way it could give all of the young guns some lessons in how to write a book which covers both big themes and small affairs of the heart. The ending was almost unbearably sad. The only reason it's not a five-star rating is that like some of the other reviewers I got a bit impatient with some of the stream-of-consciousness sentences that were supposed to represent the characters when they were thinking - but otherwise this is a wonderful book.

Good, if you like the writing style, 05 Jan 2007
I didn't fall in love with this book, but this is largely due to personal preference to do with style. It's well written (which I can appreciate even if I don't particularly like the style) and the subject matter interesting. Covering a period of time that is already disappearing into the depths of history, there is a lot of interest in here about India, Britain, and a whole way of life that no longer exists. This was of particular interest to me as a younger reader.

The characters are three dimensional and well drawn, and the book is quite engrossing. There isn't a great deal of storyline, but it's one of those books where the fact that nothing much happens doesn't seem to matter.

My problem with the book was with the style. If you like 'stream of consciousness' type writing - long sentences, with rambling thoughts and lots of diversions from the main topic, and not much regard for punctuation, you will like this. There are plenty of incidences of it, though it does not compose the entire story. I personally do not like this, hence my reduced enjoyment of the book. If you like James Joyce or Salman Rushdie, you will probably like this book too. I also found all the jumping around in time a bit confusing.

On the whole, a good read, especially if you like the style, and I can understand why it won the Booker. Definitely a good book to read if you are interested in India, history or colonialism.

Simply one of the best books you will ever read., 23 Jun 2006
Amazing characterisation and atmosphere. I personally think this book is better than those of the Raj quartet.

A warm bittersweet tragedy that may move you to tears, 08 Feb 2002
This is a splendid and touching story of a couple of British colonists who 'stay on' after the Raj ends in India, and that country gains independence from Britain. Colonel 'Tusker' and his wife are both advanced in years and it made little sense for them to pull out. The book begins with Tusker's death. A stark opening. The timeline is then turned back and we are taken through the events which, in the end, culminate in Tusker's death. By the time he dies again, Paul Scott has endeared the blustery old man to his readers to such an extent that it is a devastating blow. The power and engagement of Scott's writing is such that the reader almost forgets that Tusker is already dead, and thus his passing comes as a great shock. This novel has the curious accolade of being the first to ever make me cry. More than simply a portrait of two inviduals who decide to ride out the turning tide of history, this is a delicate and warm tale of human dignity and pride. Tusker and his wife once enjoyed tea with the elite of Imperial administrators, the Raj leaders themselves, but now find themselves relegated to a small bungalow in conditions that are beneath them. Their stoic and almost heroic endurance of their fate is a touching encounter which is perhaps not only a story of two individuals, but representative of the empire as a whole. Tusker and his wife are spent forces, with no real control over their destiny, as much as they wish otherwise and act to try to hold on to some power over their lives. Despite this, their stand is not a depressing one, rather it is bursting with vitality, however futile. Staying On will appeal especially to the traditional British sympathy for the underdog, but is a tremendous work of literature that I would recommend to anyone.

'Staying On' - a heartwarming comedy yet conversely tragic., 21 Jun 1999
'Staying On' by Paul Scott presents a rich and colourful description of the life of a retired Sahib. Various perspectives are used by Scott to denote India's changing times, and the effect upon all members of society. The reader experiences extremes of emotions: from pathos to comedy, from a tragic sense of loss to a heartwarming elation. There is a comic division between the native Indian and the retired Colonialists, which results in the presentation of a society of instability. Hysterically humorous characters such as the Capitalist Mrs Bhoolabuoy and her naively weak husband add a bittersweetness to the tragedy of Tusker's death. On the more serious aspect of the novel, Tusker, the retired Army General, and his wife lead separate lives in the knowledge that in living together they are living apart. They are emotionally independent, but physically dependent upon the other's physical presence. The reader begins the novel knowing that Tusker is dead, and the plot backtracks to the past. Antidotes are related to us, and we experience a turbulent journey through a mundane yet emotionally charged environment. The comedy is sweet, the tragedy is bitter and the reader feels both emotions in the reading of this exquisite novel. This is a novel full of glorious comedy genius, but a heartfelt loss is surely felt by all who read it.

An insult to Wall-E!, 12 Aug 2008
A week attempt to shoehorn the story into a few pages for little ones. Badly written, hideously illustrated. Don't bother with this. There's a gazillion and one Wall-E books and spin offs so just look elsewhere...

such a good idea, 19 Oct 2008
Although it starts off in a very traditional format, don't be fooled - this is a postmodern novel that jumps from here to there and everywhere, keeping you guessing as to its narrator and point of view. The idea is brilliant, but it's so, so, so slow in parts that while bits of it are brilliant, I found myself skipping through other parts. Nonetheless, I have the other 3 parts of the trilogy and will be reading them all.

The Jewel is the book itself, 18 Apr 2008
The first book in the "Raj" quartet, it is set in India during the second world war, at a time when Britain's colony was stirring itself towards independence. Persevere if you find this book slow at first, because you may find you will ultimately be drawn in by the sheer poetry of the writing. Like many classic novels, this is a book to savour, not one to be rushed. The contrast, the smells, colours, textures and tastes of India are all there, not just the visual appearance. It's like reading a piece of history, although it's characters are fictional, as it provides an insight into the issues and attitudes of the people of the time.

The central story concerns Daphne Manners, a young British woman raped during riots in the first stirrings towards Indian independence. She's in love with a young Indian, Hari Kumar, who was educated in Britain. He is one of a number of men falsely accused of her rape. The prejudice and the accepted etiquette of the time mean their romance is doomed to failure from the beginning, and their story is a microcosm of the larger picture of India that Scott uses as a backdrop, for Britain's colonial rule of India is also doomed. The story is split into parts, with each part told from the point of view of one of the characters involved. It builds slowly to the story of what actually happened that night. The style of telling, and the power with which the characters are drawn means it feels like non-fiction, and it's almost impossible to believe that these people didn't ever exist. It's not always the easiest or happiest book to read, but it's sheer emotional power makes it difficult to put down. By the end you are so involved you are all set to read the rest of the quartet.

The decline of the British Raj in India, 14 Mar 2007
In the India of 1942 two rapes take place at the same time - that of the English girl Daphne Manners in Mayapore and that of India by the British. In each physical violence, racial animosity and the domination of the weak by the strong all play their part, but playing a part too are love, affection, loyalty and recognition that the last division of all to be overcome is the colour of the skin. As the story unfolds the whole spectrum of Anglo-Indian relations is vividly evoked in a flurry of emotions, personal clashes and historical reasons which eventually prise India - the Jewel in the Imperial Crown - from its setting.
The two virtues of the novel are the colourful range of characters it skilfully portrays and its powerful evocation of the last days of British India, now quietly slipping away into history.
Sam Dastor's reading of the novel for BBC Audiobooks is truly spectacular with the many accents he manages to imitate to perfection.


So sad, 15 May 2005
I was so sad about ending. It's an excellent story though. I hoped in the end that the baby was Hari Kumar's baby. It's a shame Daphne and Hari had to suffer so much. But I must say I absolutely loved this book. I'm a desendent of an Anglo-Indian myself. I didn't know of this until recently. I thought I was all British, but I am in fact 1/8 bengali Indian. {English Great grandmother Bengali great grandfather} They were 16 when they had a little girl. Because of this I must say I felt a special connection to this story.Everyone thought it was odd that a 16 year-old girl would want to read a book the like the jewel in the crown, but I did and I recomend it to anyone who is interested in Anglo-Indian affairs.

A simply wonderful read, 18 Mar 2005
What a marvellous work! My copy has the words, "Dazzling" (Guardian), on the front cover, and on the back cover it is lauded by The Times and the New York Times; it would be impertinent to offer any other opinion. I did not watch the BBC dramatisation, and having now read the novel I cannot conceive how a television adaptation could convey more than a tiny part of its myriad strands. The central story is quite slight, but it is a metaphor for the larger picture, and what grips are the context and the backgrounds. The context, of course, is the burgeoning national consciousness that will lead to the independence of India; but along with that there is the slipping through the imperial fingers of the jewel itself, and the inevitability of the decline of all that was British, all that was Empire. Against this huge backdrop, with all its ramifications for global politics, is played out the drama of Daphne Manners and her rape. The balance is perfect: the subjugation and exploitation of a vast, impoverished country by a small, rich European one - and by the British Empire in all its self-deluding glory - versus the violation of one young Englishwoman by natives of that very country. The story itself is told from several perspectives - Edwina Crane, Lily Chatterjee, Brigadier Reid - each fleshed out in intricate, touching and perceptive detail. There are glorious descriptive touches, too: the magnificent description of the Macgregor House early on, for example, is simply beautiful. Read it like you would drink a premier cru: slowly, savouring the flavour, relaxing and wondering at the skill that has gone into making it.

Age of Apocalypse is excellent, 06 Jul 2007
Cut out the gum-ball superheroes and enter a world where a hero will kill you as quickly as a villain. This imagining of a world where Xavier died is one of the most powerful visions of the X-Universe out there. The grit and doomed nature of the Age of Apocalypse comes through in every story, but you also have characters you care about and want to see escape what you know will happen eventually.

Only four out of five stars because some of the art isn't amazing. Dont let that disuade you from an excellent story that showcases characters regular X-book readers will know and not know all at once.

Book 2 of the Raj Quartet, 21 Apr 1999
This book continues the story of the end of the British rule in India. The story is told through the eyes of old Indian hands who are acutely aware of the unrest that surrounds them but refuse to face the fact that their World, the only World they really know, is coming to an end.

The Raj Quartet is deservedly regarded as a classic of English literature

The theme of the dying Scorpion prevails throughout.., 06 May 1998
A scorpion, when death is imminent, will simply coil up into a ball, and succum to death; this is what the reader is led to believe in part two of the Raj Quartet. This prevailing theme appears and reappears throughout the entire series; sometimes subtly. Reader beware, however, as the real cause for the scorpions coil is revealed in "A Division of the Spoils."

Indians coil at English oppression as demonstrated by Hari Kumar's silence over the rape of the white woman he loves; Hindus coil at Muslim antagonism, and Susan, an English woman coils up again and again, in fear of life itself. Scott uses this theme to capture the essence of the strife between England and India, and between the Muslims and the Hindu's.

While part one of the Jewel in the crown puts the focus on Hindu culture, Scott leads the reader to understand the Muslim perspective in "The Day of the Scorpion." Perhaps Paul Scott, in the Raj Quartet, can bring the reader to more fully understand the dynamics of human nature, morality and culture better than any writer of this century. The thoughts and ideas that prevail throughout the series are applicable to many international situations. This truely makes "The Day of the Scorpion" a cross cultural work of art.

A beautiful book, 20 Apr 2007
A tremendously moving and elegiac book that somehow manages to cover British colonial life in a way that does not sound insulting or racist in a post-colonial world. I read this on holiday along with a stack of books from more contemporary (and award winning) authors writing on similar themes and thought that in its subtle and gently amusing way it could give all of the young guns some lessons in how to write a book which covers both big themes and small affairs of the heart. The ending was almost unbearably sad. The only reason it's not a five-star rating is that like some of the other reviewers I got a bit impatient with some of the stream-of-consciousness sentences that were supposed to represent the characters when they were thinking - but otherwise this is a wonderful book.

Good, if you like the writing style, 05 Jan 2007
I didn't fall in love with this book, but this is largely due to personal preference to do with style. It's well written (which I can appreciate even if I don't particularly like the style) and the subject matter interesting. Covering a period of time that is already disappearing into the depths of history, there is a lot of interest in here about India, Britain, and a whole way of life that no longer exists. This was of particular interest to me as a younger reader.

The characters are three dimensional and well drawn, and the book is quite engrossing. There isn't a great deal of storyline, but it's one of those books where the fact that nothing much happens doesn't seem to matter.

My problem with the book was with the style. If you like 'stream of consciousness' type writing - long sentences, with rambling thoughts and lots of diversions from the main topic, and not much regard for punctuation, you will like this. There are plenty of incidences of it, though it does not compose the entire story. I personally do not like this, hence my reduced enjoyment of the book. If you like James Joyce or Salman Rushdie, you will probably like this book too. I also found all the jumping around in time a bit confusing.

On the whole, a good read, especially if you like the style, and I can understand why it won the Booker. Definitely a good book to read if you are interested in India, history or colonialism.

Simply one of the best books you will ever read., 23 Jun 2006
Amazing characterisation and atmosphere. I personally think this book is better than those of the Raj quartet.

A warm bittersweet tragedy that may move you to tears, 08 Feb 2002
This is a splendid and touching story of a couple of British colonists who 'stay on' after the Raj ends in India, and that country gains independence from Britain. Colonel 'Tusker' and his wife are both advanced in years and it made little sense for them to pull out. The book begins with Tusker's death. A stark opening. The timeline is then turned back and we are taken through the events which, in the end, culminate in Tusker's death. By the time he dies again, Paul Scott has endeared the blustery old man to his readers to such an extent that it is a devastating blow. The power and engagement of Scott's writing is such that the reader almost forgets that Tusker is already dead, and thus his passing comes as a great shock. This novel has the curious accolade of being the first to ever make me cry. More than simply a portrait of two inviduals who decide to ride out the turning tide of history, this is a delicate and warm tale of human dignity and pride. Tusker and his wife once enjoyed tea with the elite of Imperial administrators, the Raj leaders themselves, but now find themselves relegated to a small bungalow in conditions that are beneath them. Their stoic and almost heroic endurance of their fate is a touching encounter which is perhaps not only a story of two individuals, but representative of the empire as a whole. Tusker and his wife are spent forces, with no real control over their destiny, as much as they wish otherwise and act to try to hold on to some power over their lives. Despite this, their stand is not a depressing one, rather it is bursting with vitality, however futile. Staying On will appeal especially to the traditional British sympathy for the underdog, but is a tremendous work of literature that I would recommend to anyone.

'Staying On' - a heartwarming comedy yet conversely tragic., 21 Jun 1999
'Staying On' by Paul Scott presents a rich and colourful description of the life of a retired Sahib. Various perspectives are used by Scott to denote India's changing times, and the effect upon all members of society. The reader experiences extremes of emotions: from pathos to comedy, from a tragic sense of loss to a heartwarming elation. There is a comic division between the native Indian and the retired Colonialists, which results in the presentation of a society of instability. Hysterically humorous characters such as the Capitalist Mrs Bhoolabuoy and her naively weak husband add a bittersweetness to the tragedy of Tusker's death. On the more serious aspect of the novel, Tusker, the retired Army General, and his wife lead separate lives in the knowledge that in living together they are living apart. They are emotionally independent, but physically dependent upon the other's physical presence. The reader begins the novel knowing that Tusker is dead, and the plot backtracks to the past. Antidotes are related to us, and we experience a turbulent journey through a mundane yet emotionally charged environment. The comedy is sweet, the tragedy is bitter and the reader feels both emotions in the reading of this exquisite novel. This is a novel full of glorious comedy genius, but a heartfelt loss is surely felt by all who read it.

An insult to Wall-E!, 12 Aug 2008
A week attempt to shoehorn the story into a few pages for little ones. Badly written, hideously illustrated. Don't bother with this. There's a gazillion and one Wall-E books and spin offs so just look elsewhere...

such a good idea, 19 Oct 2008
Although it starts off in a very traditional format, don't be fooled - this is a postmodern novel that jumps from here to there and everywhere, keeping you guessing as to its narrator and point of view. The idea is brilliant, but it's so, so, so slow in parts that while bits of it are brilliant, I found myself skipping through other parts. Nonetheless, I have the other 3 parts of the trilogy and will be reading them all.

The Jewel is the book itself, 18 Apr 2008
The first book in the "Raj" quartet, it is set in India during the second world war, at a time when Britain's colony was stirring itself towards independence. Persevere if you find this book slow at first, because you may find you will ultimately be drawn in by the sheer poetry of the writing. Like many classic novels, this is a book to savour, not one to be rushed. The contrast, the smells, colours, textures and tastes of India are all there, not just the visual appearance. It's like reading a piece of history, although it's characters are fictional, as it provides an insight into the issues and attitudes of the people of the time.

The central story concerns Daphne Manners, a young British woman raped during riots in the first stirrings towards Indian independence. She's in love with a young Indian, Hari Kumar, who was educated in Britain. He is one of a number of men falsely accused of her rape. The prejudice and the accepted etiquette of the time mean their romance is doomed to failure from the beginning, and their story is a microcosm of the larger picture of India that Scott uses as a backdrop, for Britain's colonial rule of India is also doomed. The story is split into parts, with each part told from the point of view of one of the characters involved. It builds slowly to the story of what actually happened that night. The style of telling, and the power with which the characters are drawn means it feels like non-fiction, and it's almost impossible to believe that these people didn't ever exist. It's not always the easiest or happiest book to read, but it's sheer emotional power makes it difficult to put down. By the end you are so involved you are all set to read the rest of the quartet.

The decline of the British Raj in India, 14 Mar 2007
In the India of 1942 two rapes take place at the same time - that of the English girl Daphne Manners in Mayapore and that of India by the British. In each physical violence, racial animosity and the domination of the weak by the strong all play their part, but playing a part too are love, affection, loyalty and recognition that the last division of all to be overcome is the colour of the skin. As the story unfolds the whole spectrum of Anglo-Indian relations is vividly evoked in a flurry of emotions, personal clashes and historical reasons which eventually prise India - the Jewel in the Imperial Crown - from its setting.
The two virtues of the novel are the colourful range of characters it skilfully portrays and its powerful evocation of the last days of British India, now quietly slipping away into history.
Sam Dastor's reading of the novel for BBC Audiobooks is truly spectacular with the many accents he manages to imitate to perfection.


So sad, 15 May 2005
I was so sad about ending. It's an excellent story though. I hoped in the end that the baby was Hari Kumar's baby. It's a shame Daphne and Hari had to suffer so much. But I must say I absolutely loved this book. I'm a desendent of an Anglo-Indian myself. I didn't know of this until recently. I thought I was all British, but I am in fact 1/8 bengali Indian. {English Great grandmother Bengali great grandfather} They were 16 when they had a little girl. Because of this I must say I felt a special connection to this story.Everyone thought it was odd that a 16 year-old girl would want to read a book the like the jewel in the crown, but I did and I recomend it to anyone who is interested in Anglo-Indian affairs.

A simply wonderful read, 18 Mar 2005
What a marvellous work! My copy has the words, "Dazzling" (Guardian), on the front cover, and on the back cover it is lauded by The Times and the New York Times; it would be impertinent to offer any other opinion. I did not watch the BBC dramatisation, and having now read the novel I cannot conceive how a television adaptation could convey more than a tiny part of its myriad strands. The central story is quite slight, but it is a metaphor for the larger picture, and what grips are the context and the backgrounds. The context, of course, is the burgeoning national consciousness that will lead to the independence of India; but along with that there is the slipping through the imperial fingers of the jewel itself, and the inevitability of the decline of all that was British, all that was Empire. Against this huge backdrop, with all its ramifications for global politics, is played out the drama of Daphne Manners and her rape. The balance is perfect: the subjugation and exploitation of a vast, impoverished country by a small, rich European one - and by the British Empire in all its self-deluding glory - versus the violation of one young Englishwoman by natives of that very country. The story itself is told from several perspectives - Edwina Crane, Lily Chatterjee, Brigadier Reid - each fleshed out in intricate, touching and perceptive detail. There are glorious descriptive touches, too: the magnificent description of the Macgregor House early on, for example, is simply beautiful. Read it like you would drink a premier cru: slowly, savouring the flavour, relaxing and wondering at the skill that has gone into making it.

Age of Apocalypse is excellent, 06 Jul 2007
Cut out the gum-ball superheroes and enter a world where a hero will kill you as quickly as a villain. This imagining of a world where Xavier died is one of the most powerful visions of the X-Universe out there. The grit and doomed nature of the Age of Apocalypse comes through in every story, but you also have characters you care about and want to see escape what you know will happen eventually.

Only four out of five stars because some of the art isn't amazing. Dont let that disuade you from an excellent story that showcases characters regular X-book readers will know and not know all at once.

Book 2 of the Raj Quartet, 21 Apr 1999
This book continues the story of the end of the British rule in India. The story is told through the eyes of old Indian hands who are acutely aware of the unrest that surrounds them but refuse to face the fact that their World, the only World they really know, is coming to an end.

The Raj Quartet is deservedly regarded as a classic of English literature

The theme of the dying Scorpion prevails throughout.., 06 May 1998
A scorpion, when death is imminent, will simply coil up into a ball, and succum to death; this is what the reader is led to believe in part two of the Raj Quartet. This prevailing theme appears and reappears throughout the entire series; sometimes subtly. Reader beware, however, as the real cause for the scorpions coil is revealed in "A Division of the Spoils."

Indians coil at English oppression as demonstrated by Hari Kumar's silence over the rape of the white woman he loves; Hindus coil at Muslim antagonism, and Susan, an English woman coils up again and again, in fear of life itself. Scott uses this theme to capture the essence of the strife between England and India, and between the Muslims and the Hindu's.

While part one of the Jewel in the crown puts the focus on Hindu culture, Scott leads the reader to understand the Muslim perspective in "The Day of the Scorpion." Perhaps Paul Scott, in the Raj Quartet, can bring the reader to more fully understand the dynamics of human nature, morality and culture better than any writer of this century. The thoughts and ideas that prevail throughout the series are applicable to many international situations. This truely makes "The Day of the Scorpion" a cross cultural work of art.

Wonderful insight into a writer's mind, 30 Nov 1999
I picked up this book secondhand a couple of years ago and have been waiting ever since for a paperback edition. I can't recommend it too highly: as a portrait of a great writer at work, as a record of human courage in the face of adversity (Scott goes bankrupt soon after the Journal opens, and his wife dies), as a picture of life in the early 19th century, and as a record of Scott's contemporaries (he describes his meetings with people like the Duke of Wellington).

The editor of this definitive edition, W E K Anderson (better known as Eric Anderson, former headmaster of Eton - and, incidentally, a former teacher of one A C L Blair) is a model of clarity and scholarship.

You don't have to enjoy Scott's novels to enjoy his diary. As John Buchan said: 'The greatest figure he ever drew is in the Journal, and it is the man Walter Scott.'

See Economist magazine Jan 9/15 1999, 09 Jan 1999
I haven't read the book but the Economist review (P93) is so positive an complimentary that I'm ordering for myself and an extra copy for a friend. Summary of review: 'delightful and moving'/ 'revealing recoird of a wrier tso influential he had become almost an uncrowned monarch'.... it goes on. I'll risk a tenner on that.