William Gerhardie's first comic novel tells the story of a young Englishman who returns to St Petersburg where he was raised and falls in love with the daughter of a highly eccentric and dysfunctional family - a relationship which is played out with the armies of the Russian Revolution marching outside the parlour window. Part British romantic comedy, part Russian social realism, with Gerhardie's trademark large cast of wonderfully realised and highly memorable characters, this funny and poignant novel is the tale of ...
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William Gerhardie's first comic novel tells the story of a young Englishman who returns to St Petersburg where he was raised and falls in love with the daughter of a highly eccentric and dysfunctional family - a relationship which is played out with the armies of the Russian Revolution marching outside the parlour window. Part British romantic comedy, part Russian social realism, with Gerhardie's trademark large cast of wonderfully realised and highly memorable characters, this funny and poignant novel is the tale of persistance in love and hope in the face of what should be insurmountably difficult circumstances.
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Seller's Description:
Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. This book is in good condition but will show signs of previous ownership. Please expect some creasing to the spine and/or minor damage to the cover.
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Seller's Description:
London. 1990. Robin Clark. Reprinted Paperback Edition. Very Good in Wrappers. 0860721124. 198 pages. paperback. Cover: Berthe Morisot-'Jeune Femme en Toilet de Bal (1897)'. keywords: Literature England. FROM THE PUBLISHER-This is the first novel by William Gerhardie, first published in 1922, and it was made famous by H. G. Wells, who described it as 'true, devastating-a wonderful book'. Based on Gerhardie's own experiences as a member of the British Military Mission to Siberia shortly after the October Revolution, Futility paints a picture of contemporary Russian society which deserves comparison with the writing of Chekhov. At the centre of the story is Nicolai Vasilievich, who trails across Russia in the wake of the British Mission in the perpetual and unrealistic hope of seeing his fortunes improve, even though they steadily deteriorate. In counterpoint to Nicolai's comic progression, Gerhardie tells the story of his narrator's hopeless love for Nina, the second of Nicolai's three bewitching adolescent daughters. 'William Gerhardie is one of our immortals. He is our Gogol's Overcoat. We all came out of him. ' Olivia Manning 'He is a comic writer of genius. but his art is profoundly serious. ' C. P. Snow. inventory #32693.