If Compton Mackenzie is known at all now, it is as the author of entertainments like "Whisky Galore" and "Monarch of the Glen". These are successful in their own right, but give no clue as to his prodigious talents as a young novelist in the early part of the twentieth-century. To realize why he was so highly regarded then you need to read "Sinister Street". Owing to its length it was originally published in two parts, in 1913 and 1914. As a bildsungroman it can bear comparison with Dickens' "David Copperfield". That ...
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If Compton Mackenzie is known at all now, it is as the author of entertainments like "Whisky Galore" and "Monarch of the Glen". These are successful in their own right, but give no clue as to his prodigious talents as a young novelist in the early part of the twentieth-century. To realize why he was so highly regarded then you need to read "Sinister Street". Owing to its length it was originally published in two parts, in 1913 and 1914. As a bildsungroman it can bear comparison with Dickens' "David Copperfield". That perceptive critic of the Georgian literary scene, Frank Swinnerton, described it as thus. 'It is the picture of the development of a very precocious boy into a sophisticated young man of the nineteen-tens, and the picture is painted with a detail and wealth of reference unattempted by other authors of Mackenzie's experience. It illustrates most of its author's gifts, and all his faults. It is lavish, it contains rodomontade, it is literary, sentimental and florid. But it has no timidities; it is large and confident; it is a picture of something more than a single life. It is a record of a departed generation.' More succinctly, John Betjeman said of it, 'This has always seemed to me one of the best novels of the best period in English novel writing.' In short, it shows abundantly why Henry James thought it to be the most remarkable book written by a young author in his lifetime. It a classic waiting to be rediscovered.
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Seller's Description:
Volume 2. This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has hardback covers. In fair condition, suitable as a study copy. No dust jacket. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 650grams, ISBN:
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Seller's Description:
Good. Considerable foxing and/or discoloration around edges. Shows minimal wear such as frayed or folded edges, minor rips and tears, and/or slightly worn binding. May have stickers and/or contain inscription on title page. No observed missing pages.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good in Good dust jacket. 5x8" VERY GOOD CONDITION IN GOOD UNCLIPT(10/6 net...) DUST JACKET...ep has small bookplate "ex libris Anthony Comerford". & "A Comeerford 1949 69077" else clean, solid, bright horange hardcovers. barely Good dj has 1" chips to spine ends & base front cover 2" edgetear dj.....book itself is quite nice..; Black spine titles on orange cloth hard covers....WOULD LOOK BETTER UNDER A CLEAR VINYL PROTECTOR (ASK)...; 328ps pages; , A novel laid out by 8 seasons in 2 years with an Epigraph.