Born in 1912 in india to british colonial parents, he was sent to school in england and later moved to corfu with his family a period which his brother gerald fictional. Here he deals with mountolive, the young british diplomat coming into contact with egypt, and with alexandria an experience central to his life. Feb 24, 2012 lawrence durrell, born 100 years ago, is best known for the alexandria quartet, a study of modern love with a plot full of surprises there are shocks around every dusty corner, writes jan morris. Here he deals with mountolive, the young british diplomat coming into contact with egypt, and with alexandria an. Durrells wartime sojourn in egypt led to his masterpiece, the alexandria quartet. Mountolive is the third volume of lawrence durrells the alexandria quartet. Buy a cheap copy of the alexandria quartet book by lawrence durrell. Set amid the corrupt glamour and multiplying intrigues of alexandria, egypt, in the 1930s and 1940s, the novels of durrells alexandria quartet of which this is.
Lawrence durrell claimed that in the alexandria quartet only the city is real. Lawrence durrell, in full lawrence george durrell, born feb. The city of alexandria, egypt, in the years between the first and second world wars is hauntingly evoked in justine, the first novel in lawrence durrell s alexandria quartet. In mountolive the third volume in durrells alexandria quartet, the events surrounding the interwoven community of nessim, justine, narouz. I went into the book expecting crisp prose and tight, spare plot, that would then be reexamined through the other books. Gerald durrell describes a collecting expedition to the cameroons where, with the assistance of a pack of african enthusiasts and mongrel dogs, he captured. Read the alexandria quartet justine, balthazar, mountolive, and clea by lawrence durrell available from rakuten kobo.
Durrell s experimental form presents the narrative from different viewpoints, allowing the story to unfold gradually. The alexandria quartet by lawrence durrell the 452nd. Essays include reminiscences by durrell s only living child, penelope durrell hope, and friends, such as greek poet nanos valaoritis, h. Mountolive is the third novel in the alexandria quartet by lawrence durrell. Born in 1912 in india to british colonial parents, he was sent to school in england and later moved to corfu with his family a period. Mountolive by lawrence durrell audiobook download christian. Durrells experimental form presents the narrative from different viewpoints, allowing the story to unfold gradually. The first edition of the novel was published in 1960, and was written by lawrence durrell. Books by lawrence durrell author of the alexandria quartet. With the open sesame of language ready to hand, he suddenly began to find himself really penetrating a foreign country in mountolive the third volume in durrell s alexandria quartet, the events surrounding the interwoven community of nessim, justine, narouz, pursewarden and the other major characters are given a very different perspective. The lush and sensuous series consists of justine 1957 balthazar 1958. Home england lawrence durrell the alexandria quartet.
Pdf the alexandria quartet book by lawrence durrell free. His first collection of poems, a private country, was published in 1943, followed by the three island books. In mountolive the third volume in durrells alexandria quartet, the events surrounding the interwoven community of nessim, justine, narouz, pursewarden and the other major characters are given a very. He was the oldest brother of naturalist and writer gerald durrell.
There are many writers on this site whose reputations were much higher that they are today. The alexandria quartet by lawrence durrell, first edition. Born in jalandhar, british india, in 1912 to indianborn british colonials, lawrence durrell was a critically hailed and beloved novelist, poet, humorist, and travel writer best known for the. This book is the 452nd greatest fiction book of all time as determined by. Review of lawrence durrells justine volume i of the. The reputations of writers and their books inevitably rise and fall with literary fashions. Within this polyglot setting of richly idiosyncratic characters is justine, wild and intense, wife to the wealthy business man nessim, a mari complaisant. Born in jalandhar, british india, in 1912 to indianborn british colonials, lawrence durrell was a critically hailed and beloved novelist, poet, humorist, and travel writer best known for the alexandria quartet. Born in india to british colonial parents, he was sent to england at the age of eleven for his education.
The intrigues and complex relationships are seen through the political prism of a world plunging towards war. He attended the jesuit college at darjeeling and st edmunds school, canterbury. The alexandria quartet, series of four novels by lawrence durrell. Justine, balthazar, mountolive, clea new ed by durrell, lawrence isbn. This page contains details about the fiction book the alexandria quartet by lawrence durrell published in 1957. Lawrence durrell was a british novelist, poet, dramatist, and travel writer. Oct 25, 2012 scenes and social life from the cosmopolitan era of alexandria. In the first novel, justine 1957 the narrator darley, an irish expatriate living and teaching in alexandria, sets the stage for the innovative four volume work by describing his fascination with the ancient egyptian city and his immersion into the complex social life. Lawrence durrell s series of four novels set in alexandria, egypt during the 1940s. This atmospheric, poetic quartet of novels, undoubtedly one of the great english works of the postsecond world war period, is set in wartime alexandria, with its politics, passions, corruption and vice. Ive read all of his books but the alexandria quartet is unquestionably his most brilliant work in the period just before the second world war in alexandria. Justine, balthazar and mountolive use varied viewpoints to relate a series of events in alexandria before world war ii. The alexandria quartet by durrell, lawrence and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
The essays in this volume represent multiple perspectives on lawrence durrells sojourn in the hellenic diaspora and his arts connection to the greek world. His first literary work, the black book, appeared in paris in 1958. It was an early passion of mine and one i revisit for the blowsy comfort it provides and for the disconcerting peelingoff. Books in the quartet include justine, balthazar, mountolive and clea. I first read the whole of the alexandria quartet in about 1970. In mountolive the third volume in durrells alexandria quartet, the events surrounding the interwoven community of nessim, justine, narouz, pursewarden and the other major characters are given a very different perspective. The city of alexandria, egypt, in the years between the first and second world wars is hauntingly evoked in justine, the first novel in lawrence durrells alexandria quartet. 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. That said it remains a work that evokes an alexandria that has since been pretty comprehensively trampled in to the dust by a billion tourists feet. I am embarrassed to enjoy lawrence durrell s alexandria quartet so much. A fourpart story of passion and betrayal in the mediterraneanvoted one of the modern librarys 100 best novels of the. Born in jalandhar, british india, in 1912 to indianborn 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.
Her emotional and sexual wildness fuels a highlycharged atmosphere which. Jun 12, 2012 born in jalandhar, british india, in 1912 to indianborn 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. The alexandria quartet ebook by lawrence durrell author. Lawrence durrells alexandria in pictures books the. In terms of style it could be said to be a little mannered. Free download or read online the alexandria quartet pdf epub book. Three of the books are written in the first person, mountolive. Ive read all of his books but the alexandria quartet is unquestionably his most brilliant work in the period just. Lawrence durrell, to me, has to be the most celebrated english novelist of the 20th century. A fourpart story of passion and betrayal in the mediterraneanvoted. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
The lush and sensuous tetralogy, which consists of justine 1957, balthazar 1958, mountolive 1958, and clea 1960, is set in alexandria, egypt, during the 1940s. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 884 pages and is available in paperback format. In fact, it might be more accurate to describe alexandria as a central character in justine rather than as a setting. Scenes and social life from the cosmopolitan era of alexandria. Oct 28, 2017 today we are diving into the immersive and lush series, the alexandria quartet by lawrence durrell. The alexandria quartet is a tetralogy of novels by british writer lawrence durrell, published between 1957 and 1960. Lawrence durrell audio books, best sellers, author bio. The reputations of writers and their books inevitably rise and fall. Within this polyglot setting of richly idiosyncratic characters is justine, wild and intense, wife to the wealthy business man nessim. Durrell himself noted that he saw the four books as simply visions of the same complex web of events and people filtered through different perceptions. Lawrence durrells series of four novels set in alexandria, egypt during the 1940s. Mar 22, 2012 lawrence durrell claimed that in the alexandria quartet only the city is real.
Get 50% off this audiobook at the audiobooksnow online audio book store and download or stream it right to your computer, smartphone or tablet. The alexandria quartet and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Today we are diving into the immersive and lush series, the alexandria quartet by lawrence durrell. Set amid the corrupt glamour and multiplying intrigues of alexandria, egypt, in the 1930s and 1940s, the novels of durrells alexandria quartet of which this is the first follow the shifting alliances sexual, cultural, and political of a group of q. With the open sesame of language ready to hand, he suddenly began to find himself really penetrating a foreign country in mountolive the third volume in durrells alexandria quartet, the events surrounding. Mountolive by lawrence durrell audio book simply audiobooks. Personal library 02 lawrence durrell, the alexandria quartet.
Characters from the two earlier novels nessim, justine, narouz, pursewarden, melissa are pr. A critical and commercial success, the first three books present three perspectives on a single set of events and characters in alexandria, egypt, before and during the second world war. He undoubtedly read this when he was in high schoolcollege in the early1960s, when durrell and the alexandria quartet were at the peak of the notoriety. The lush and sensuous series consists of justine 1957 balthazar 1958 mountolive 1958 clea 1960. Yet after the suez crisis, and under nassers nationalist rule, the cosmopolitan city he described had vanished. I am embarrassed to enjoy lawrence durrells alexandria quartet so much.
The lush and sensuous tetralogy, which consists of justine 1957, balthazar 1958, mountolive 1958, and clea 1960, is set in alexandria. Justine is the first volume in the alexandria quartet, four interlinked novels set in the sensuous, hot environment of alexandria just before the second world war. It is richly compelling, especially in this quietly powerful reading. Those who require a book or series of books to have a strong, alwaysmovingforwards, plot are understandably frustrated by the alexandria quartet. Justine is the first volume in the alexandria quartet, four interlinked novels set in the sensuous, hot environment of alexandria just. Lawrence durrell, born 100 years ago, is best known for the alexandria quartet, a study of modern love with a plot full of surprises there are shocks around every dusty corner, writes jan morris.
331 303 1224 1510 261 743 253 38 1562 64 177 597 949 255 1679 840 829 129 800 1488 1477 1164 922 181 1257 1462 1021 1465 10 388 1566 1288 704 1343 1493 730 478 1028 1426 377 372