The Good Soldier (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)

Two Couples, Multiple Mind Games

This arch narrative, covering the subtle, adult betrayals of four members of a pair of couples visiting spas and various grand estates in the early part of the 20th century, conveys as much tragedy as any play by O'Neill and tells you as much about England as any work of Shakespeare. Published in 1915, THE GOOD SOLDIER conveys a sense of Britain's decline not usually detailed in British literature until the 1930s. It seems extraordinarily modern. In some ways, it seems less naive than something written today. Its prose is Jamesian, but these characters are decadent to the core. James never quite describes decadence. It is, also, somehow, a very funny book. HAMLET can be funny, too, of course, so, beware: This is a dark tale indeed.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

'The best French novel written in the English language'

'The best French novel in the English language' lives up to its description (I forget by whom). I was lucky to find (and abscond with) it in my uncle's old book closet. It is a fascinating read; the characters slowly develop and morph as the book continues, and the reader has the pleasure of watching the narrator's own perception of the incidents morph upon extended reflection. I agree with the previous review: once you've finished it, you'll find it just begs to be read a second time.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Tale of Passion

¿If for nine years I have possessed a goodly apple that is rotten at the core and discover its rotteness only in nine years and six months less four days, isn¿t it true to say that for nine years I possessed a goodly apple?¿ Amazing. Is ignorance bliss? This book is a classic case of the 'unreliable narrator.' Don't trust what Dowell says- draw your own conclusions. Therein lies the brilliance of the story. Read it again and you'll only discover more...

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Boring

There was just nothing interesting in this book. Though it was very short, it felt like it was 1000 pages. There were a few nice metaphors and hidden meanings but the storyline just seemed to go nowhere. Perhaps my expectations were high, but reading some of the reviews I expected that this would be a book about a person's struggle with reality but it was just a story about some friends of the narrator and his wife that could have been summed up in about 5 pages.

0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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