The Alexandria Quartet [NOOK Book]

( 2 )

Overview

Lawrence Durrell’s complete Alexandria Quartet—a story of passion and betrayal that stands as one of the most acclaimed and beloved works of twentieth-century fiction
The Alexandria Quartetis a striking and sensuous masterpiece, breathing vivid life into each of its unforgettable characters and the dusty Mediterranean city in which they live. Set in Alexandria, Egypt, in the years before, during, and after World War II, the books follow the lives of a circle of friends and ...
See more details below
The Alexandria Quartet

Available on NOOK devices and apps  
  • Nook Devices
  • NOOK HD/HD+ Tablet
  • NOOK
  • NOOK Color
  • NOOK Tablet
  • Tablet/Phone
  • NOOK for Windows 8 Tablet
  • NOOK for iOS
  • NOOK for Android
  • NOOK Kids for iPad
  • PC/Mac
  • NOOK for Windows 8
  • NOOK for PC
  • NOOK for Mac
  • NOOK Study
  • NOOK for Web

Want a NOOK? Explore Now

NOOK Book (eBook)
$13.74
BN.com price
(Save 45%)$24.99 List Price

More About This Book

Overview

Lawrence Durrell’s complete Alexandria Quartet—a story of passion and betrayal that stands as one of the most acclaimed and beloved works of twentieth-century fiction
The Alexandria Quartetis a striking and sensuous masterpiece, breathing vivid life into each of its unforgettable characters and the dusty Mediterranean city in which they live. Set in Alexandria, Egypt, in the years before, during, and after World War II, the books follow the lives of a circle of friends and lovers, including sensitive Darley, passionate Justine, philosophical Balthazar, and elegant Clea. Written in Durrell’s trademark evocative prose, these four novels explore the central theme of modern love, building into a remarkable whole that the New York Times hailedas “one of the most important works of our time.” This ebook features a new introduction by Jan Morris.
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781453262092
  • Publisher: Open Road Publishing
  • Publication date: 6/12/2012
  • Sold by: Barnes & Noble
  • Format: eBook
  • Pages: 884
  • Sales rank: 80,390
  • File size: 2 MB

Meet the Author

Born in Jalandhar, British India, in 1912 to Indian-born British colonials, Lawrence Durrell was a critically hailed and beloved novelist, poet, humorist, and travel writer best known for the Alexandria Quartet novels, which were ranked by the Modern Library as among the greatest works of English literature in the twentieth century. A passionate and dedicated writer from an early age, Durrell’s prolific career also included the groundbreaking Avignon Quintet, whose first novel, Monsieur (1974), won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, and whose third novel, Constance (1982), was nominated for the Booker Prize. He also penned the celebrated travel memoir Bitter Lemons of Cyprus (1957), which won the Duff Cooper Prize. Durrell corresponded with author Henry Miller for forty-five years, and Miller influenced much of his early work, including a provocative and controversial novel, The Black Book (1938). Durrell died in France in 1990.  
Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 2 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(2)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
Sort by: Showing all of 2 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted July 5, 2005

    Literary Spacetime

    Durrell himself writes in the introduction to Balthazar that the four novels are part of one great interlinear which takes its theme from modern physics: the first three are the dimensions of space and the last is the dimension of time. Only Clea, the fourth book, can be called a sequel yet nonetheless, as with the books before it, it gives each character new depth. Justine presents what mathematicians call a first-order approximation to the lives of these characters in a remarkably well-described portrait of Alexandria. Balthazar creates an interlinear, breaking the assumptions of the first novel quite swiftly, and setting up the next two books, Mountolive and Clea, to refine the story. This tetrology is not four books rather, it is one volume with four dimensions, each building upon the previous. Durrell shows spectacular afflatus in his marriage of science and literature and the Sartrean romantic ideals of an ancient and storied city.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted May 28, 2004

    Superb descriptive writing

    Durrell's ability to paint visual images with words is unsurpassed, even by the likes of John Updike. But in addition, the story line, set in Egypt after WW I and leading up and into WW II, allows Durrell to capture the mysterious and misty aura of the times, during which the American ex-patriate movement was strong, philosophy and discourse dominated the cafes in Europe, Asia Minor and the cities of the westernized middle east. Think Casablanca, think Sartre discussing the essence of being with Henry Miller or Gertrude Stein, think Anais Nin meeting you for a deep, dark cup of tea in a secluded back alley bistro!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Sort by: Showing all of 2 Customer Reviews
If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
Why is this product inappropriate?
Comments (optional)