Publication
Picador (1999), Edition: New Ed, 112 pages
Original publication date
1982
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Subjects
Description
A historian, trying to finish a long-overdue book on Isaac Newton, rent a cottage not far by train from Dublin for the summer. All he need, he thinks, is a few weeks of concentrated work. Why, he must unravel, did Newton break down in 1693? What possessed him to write that strange letter to his friend John Locke? But in the long seeping summer days, old sloth and present reality take over.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Osbaldistone
Don't read this book if you want to learn about Newton's letter - the two letter's by Newton referred to in this book, one historical, one fantasy, are seen only out of the corner of the eye, never in full view, and, for much of the book, forgotten all together. The main character in this brief
Os.
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novella- the narrator with no name - spends a few months in a rented cottage to finish his book about Newton, but gets wrapped up in the goings on at the main house. Although his mis-conceptions about this family become apparent as the story approaches the end, much is left unknown, or at least unspoken. No tidy package at the end. Banville's prose sets the mood well, with a strong sense of place. However, neither the place nor any of the people that populate this story seem very likeable, including the narrator. Thus, it's tough to get drawn into the story. It may be realism, but the ending is unsatisfying. Still, it's worth the short time to read it, especially as part of Banville's impressive body of work.Os.
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LibraryThing member devenish
A historian and writer rents a small cottage in Ireland. He sets out to write a book about Newton and the madness that came upon him late in life. This particular theme is however undeveloped and unresolved by the end of the book. Instead the reader is taken to the second strand of the story in
I found several parallels here with the works of H.E. Bates,in particular his short story 'The Mill'. Although this is far from Banville's best work, it is nevertheless well worth reading,and as as always with this author,he has important things to say.
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which the writer becomes unhealthily fixated upon Charlotte Lawless and her niece,Ottilie. This fixation ends up almost destroying him. I found several parallels here with the works of H.E. Bates,in particular his short story 'The Mill'. Although this is far from Banville's best work, it is nevertheless well worth reading,and as as always with this author,he has important things to say.
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LibraryThing member aliciamay
So a historian is writing on Newton and decides he should rent a cottage in the Irish country side to concentrate on writing and answering the question of what led to Newton’s break down in 1693 and his writing such a strange letter to his friend John Locke. Instead of writing he becomes obsessed
To call this a novel is generous, my edition weighed in at 81 pages, and I don’t think very good use was made of these scant pages. In a book where nothing much happens I always think that the characters need to make up the difference. Yet the author fixated on the superficial details of an unlikeable narrator instead of providing background or relationships that would make the story or characters interesting. The narrator is too wrapped up in trying to answer a pointless question about a man long dead, that he doesn’t even take the time to look at the lives of the people he is closest to.
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with the family he rents the cottage from; the niece he sleeps with, the aunt holding the family together that he feels he is in love with, the friendly drunk uncle, and a young boy who doesn’t seem to belong to anyone. Instead of getting to know the family more than superficially, the unnamed narrator is content to judge their character and presume their story. To call this a novel is generous, my edition weighed in at 81 pages, and I don’t think very good use was made of these scant pages. In a book where nothing much happens I always think that the characters need to make up the difference. Yet the author fixated on the superficial details of an unlikeable narrator instead of providing background or relationships that would make the story or characters interesting. The narrator is too wrapped up in trying to answer a pointless question about a man long dead, that he doesn’t even take the time to look at the lives of the people he is closest to.
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LibraryThing member cameling
An author rents a cottage on an estate in Ireland to finish writing his book on Isaac Newton, and instead becomes obsessed with a family living in the big house. His obsession leads him to imagine lives for the members of the family that are a far cry from the truth.
It's a beautifully written
It's a beautifully written
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narrative of a man's thoughts and the motivation that propels his actions and inaction. There were moments when I could not like the man, and moments when I sympathized with him. The ending was disquieting and I wonder if the author meant for the reader to come to their own conclusions. Show Less
LibraryThing member booklover3258
Meh. Only made it to page 12. Boring and not the story for me. It's about a man going to Isaac Newton's final house to finish writing his book.
LibraryThing member jklugman
A science historian writing a biography of Isaac Newton goes on a retreat to muse about his subject's breakdown and abandonment of science. The historian starts acting in ways he cannot explain in letters to presumably a lover where he discloses his affair with one woman (whom he treats badly) and
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his falling in love with another woman. He muses on how he can't really know these women parallels Newton's frustration that much of reality is a great mystery to him. I liked how the narrator documented his inner turmoil as his personal life crumbles, and he is really unable to explain himself, which is probably a more truthful reflection of human narratives than most other literature. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
ISBN
0330372351 / 9780330372350
Physical description
112 p.; 5.12 inches
Pages
112