Ronald Blythe has written poetry, short stories, history and literary criticism, much of it reflecting his East Anglian background. He is the author of A Treasonable Growth, The Age of Illusion and The View in Winter and the editor of The Penguin Book of Diaries. His work has been translated and has received a number of literary awards.
A hundred years from now, anyone wanting to know how things were on
the land will turn more profitably to Akenfield than to a sheaf of
anaemically professional social surveys. * the Guardian *
Blythe lovingly opens the curtains of legend and landscape,
revealing the inner, almost clandestine, spirit of the village
behind. His book consists of direct-speech monologues, delivered by
49 Suffolk residents, and interpretatively linked by the author.
The effect is one of astonishing immediacy: it is as if those
country people have looked up for a moment from their plow,
lawnmower or kitchen sink, and are talking directly (and
disturbingly frankly) to the reader -- Jan Morris * The New York
Times *
Exquisite -- John Updike
|
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
