Elizabeth Jane Howard
A Dangerous Innocence
Format:Paperback
Publisher:John Murray Press
Published:6th Apr '17
Should be back in stock very soon
This biography chronicles the life of Elizabeth Jane Howard, revealing her struggles with love and her literary accomplishments, including the acclaimed Cazalet Chronicle series.
The authorized biography of Elizabeth Jane Howard offers an insightful exploration of the life and works of a remarkable author. Born in 1923, Howard's journey was marked by a deep yearning for love and connection, yet her personal relationships often fell short of her hopes. Despite her struggles, she channeled her experiences into her writing, producing a series of brilliant novels that examine the complexities of love and human emotion. Her debut novel, The Beautiful Visit, garnered critical acclaim, and she continued to captivate readers with her later works, particularly the beloved Cazalet Chronicle series.
Throughout her life, Howard navigated a series of tumultuous relationships, including high-profile affairs with literary figures such as Cecil Day-Lewis and Kingsley Amis. These experiences shaped her understanding of love and companionship, often revealing a contrast between her sophisticated public persona and her romantic innocence. The biography delves into her emotional landscape, illustrating how her personal struggles informed her literary output. Howard's later years in Suffolk were marked by both creativity and further romantic turmoil, culminating in a relationship with a conman that would inspire her powerful novel, Falling.
Artemis Cooper's thorough research, including interviews with Howard and her close associates, provides a comprehensive view of the author's life. This biography not only chronicles Howard's literary achievements but also offers a poignant portrait of a woman striving to find her place in both the literary world and her own heart. Through Elizabeth Jane Howard, readers gain a deeper appreciation for the woman behind the words and the complexities of her journey.
Hugely absorbing * Guardian *
A careful and accurate portrait * Daily Telegraph *
Cooper has assiduously gathered material from everyone involved, and the details and perspectives are tantalizingly fresh * The Times *
Looks set to be the literary biography of the autumn * Good Housekeeping *
In this fascinating biography, Artemis Cooper paints a picture of a complex and tricky woman * Sunday Express *
A careful portrait of a fascinating woman * Sunday Telegraph *
Compelling * Sunday Times *
An unexpected treasure . . . It is as compelling and unified as a novel, while recounting a full, messy, complex human story . . . Cooper is respectful but never sycophantic, clear-eyed but never mocking. Familiar stories are retold but also reconsidered, and set in context. And the book pays the literary biography's ultimate compliment - it will send even those most familiar with the novels back to their bookshelves to revisit them * Financial Times *
Elegant, sympathetic but clear-sighted * Mail on Sunday *
I inhaled every blissful word. A sad, revelatory, brilliantly written account of one remarkable woman's life in writing, cooking, and having sex. An unexpected triumph -- Rachel Johnson * Daily Mail *
Artemis Cooper's biography of Howard asserts the importance of Howard the writer, but also paints a painful portrait of a woman whose emotional life was often determined by the approval and attention of men * Guardian Review *
Cooper's biography is a careful portrait of a woman bursting with every talent except the capacity to inspire enduring love * Daily Telegraph *
ISBN: 9781848549265
Dimensions: 197mm x 128mm x 24mm
Weight: 292g
384 pages