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Lives of the Novelists: A History of Fiction in 294 Lives

Lives of the Novelists: A History of Fiction in 294 Lives

by JohnSutherland (Author)

  • Used

    Paperback 2013

    $7.58
Synopsis

Arranged in chronological order, the novelist's lives are opinionated, informative, frequently funny and often shocking. Professor Sutherland's authors come from all over the world; their writings illustrate every kind of fiction from gothic, penny dreadfuls and pornography to fantasy, romance and high literature. The book shows the changing forms of the genre, and how the aspirations of authors to divert and sometimes to educate their readers, has in some respects radically changed over the centuries, and in others - such as their interest in sex and relationships - remained remarkably constant.

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More Information

Format: Paperback
 Pages: 812
 Publisher: Profile Books
Published: 22 Aug 2013
ISBN 10: 184668160X
ISBN 13: 9781846681608
Book Overview: This is the most complete history of fiction in English ever published - now in paperback.

Media Reviews
The funniest book I've read all year ... it's a riot ... Novelists in Professor Sutherland's hands are, above all, lively company * Evening Standard *
FT Books of the Year: The fruit of decades of reading and research... A witty, and enjoyably wide-ranging book. -- Carl Wilkinson * FT *
Sutherland is perfect for this job - all pith and wit... He has made a tricky job look easy * The Dubliner *
A bumper treat for fiction fanatics... drawn with incision and wit to make (for) exhilarating reading -- Peter Lewis * Daily Mail *
Witty and humane... a wonderful book that it makes you want to slink off and ransack a well-stocked library. -- Henry Hitchings * FT *
Pithy quotes and witty moments -- Jonathan Bate * Sunday Telegraph *
Sutherland is good value: provocative, polymathic and well practised in the art of literary criticism. -- Iain Finlayson * Times *
A modern take on a reassuringly ancient format... neatly interweaves stories of the lives of writers with quirky insights into their work... highly readable -- Anne McElvoy * New Statesman *
Hugely enjoyable... For those modern women of today whose preferred drug is fiction, I heartily endorse the prescriptions of Professor Sutherland. -- Caroline Moore * Spectator *
Delightful for dipping and discovery. -- Lisa Hilton * Independent on Sunday *
A great work of scholarship that rarely feels like it. It's just for pleasure. -- James Medd * Word *
Enjoyable... It is a pleasure to watch Sutherland at work and to leaf through the pages is to circumnavigate the archives of English literature in the company of its most distinguished librarian; erudite, perspicacious and warm-hearted. -- Jonathan Barnes * TLS *
Illuminating and entertaining -- Peter Washington * Literary Review *
A collection of wise, witty biographical essays... healthily, sanely irreverent -- Chris Moss * Time Out *
A starting point for many hours of literary discussions. * Daily Beast *
Tremendously exhilarating... it reads like one of those unputdownable blockbusters you take to the beach. -- Michael Dirda * Washington Post *
erudite and entertaining, informative and provoking. * Wall Street Journal *
Engaging * Booklist *
Sutherland's writing is just plain delightful. * LA Times *
A big hearted book -- Christopher Benfey * International Herald Tribune *
Warmly readable ... the best of the pieces - and there are plenty - are both satisfyingly acute and nicely rounded, like the most waspish of obituaries. -- Tim Adams * Observer *
Author Bio
John Sutherland is Emeritus Lord Northcliffe Professor of English Literature at University College London. Twice on the Booker committee, in 2005 as chairman, he is a regular columnist and critic on radio and television. His books include How to Read a Novel (Profile) [9781861979865], a bestselling trilogy on literary mysteries, and the moving memoir Last Drink to LA.