T he year 2012 was the centenary of the birth of lawrence george durrell, and the event was celebrated with the guardians online reading group of the alexandria quartet 195760, the publication by faber of a new edition of the quartet with a specially commissioned intro by jan morris and an important conference in london sponsored by the. Lawrence durrell, the british novelist and poet whose sensuous and exotic fiction, especially in the alexandria quartet novels, made him a sort. The alexandria quartet book series by lawrence durrell includes books justine, balthazar, mountolive, and several more. 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. The book is in the tradition, too, of norman douglass south wind, a book about how not alexandria, but capri, makes its characters lose their moral bearings, and how losing their morality is. Justine, as part of the books final extended scene. In trying to work out my form i adopted, as a rough analogy, the relativity proposition. Consisting of justine, balthazar, mountolive and clea, the alexandria quartet explores the sexual and political intrigues of a group of expatriates in egypt before and after the second world war. October 10, 1982, sunday, late city final edition section 7. Full text of the alexandria quartet see other formats.
Lawrence durrell, in full lawrence george durrell, born feb. A critical and commercial success, the first three books present three perspectives on a single set of events and characters in alexandria, before and during the second world war. The alexandria quartet, lawrence durrells celebrated tetralogy from. Durrells experimental form presents the narrative from different viewpoints, allowing the story to unfold gradually. Lawrence durrell justine balthazar mountolive clea preface this group of four novels is intended to be read as a single work under the collective title of the alexandria quartet. The reputations of writers and their books inevitably rise and fall with literary fashions. The life and death of the library of alexandria literary hub. The alexandria quartet by lawrence durrell alibris. Revisiting lawrence durrells the alexandria quartet. I wondered about this when i saw that lawrence durrell has a new novel, constance, coming out. It was an early passion of mine and one i revisit for the blowsy. Mar 29, 2012 t he conversation about the alexandria quartet has been so fascinating this month that im reluctant to bring it to a close. Some years and one world war was after his bizarre liaisons with melissa and justine, the irish migr darley becomes e.
The opening novel of lawrence durrells alexandria quartetone of. The alexandria quartet ebook by lawrence durrell author. Buy a cheap copy of the alexandria quartet book by lawrence durrell. In fact, i was still at school in the mid 1960s when i first read it. The lush and sensuous series consists of justine 1957 balthazar 1958. The alexandria quartet wikimili, the free encyclopedia. Ive read all of his books but the alexandria quartet is unquestionably his. 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.
Free download or read online the alexandria quartet pdf epub book. The main characters of this fiction, classics story are. T he conversation about the alexandria quartet has been so fascinating this month that im reluctant to bring it to a close. The first edition of the novel was published in 1960, and was written by lawrence durrell. To mark the event, culture trips uk literary editor simon leser revisits this investigation of modern love as the author described it, a rich evocation of the egyptian city and a masterclass of virtuosic. Hi guys, this is the fourth and last part of my project alexandria quartet. The tetralogy s final novel clea completes durrell s stated design of modeling the series on the. The events of each lush and sensuous novel are seen through the eyes of the central character l. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 884 pages and is available in paperback format. Nov 09, 1990 lawrence durrell, the british novelist and poet whose sensuous and exotic fiction, especially in the alexandria quartet novels, made him a sort of prophet of the sexual revolution of the 1960s.
The alexandria quartet is the story of the life and loves of a young british man, darley, who lives in egypt during world war ii. Here is an excerpt regarding the first volume and character, justine 1957. Three of the books are written in the first person, mountolive. Described by its author as an investigation of modern love, it was set in the egyptian city of alexandria before and during the second world war, and was largely based on durrells own experiences during his time there as a press attache. Lawrence durrell, 78, author, is dead the new york times.
Youve probably heard enough from me, but theres far more to discuss. In terms of style it could be said to be a little mannered. Lawrence durrells series of four novels set in alexandria, egypt during the 1940s. The alexandria quartet has 4 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. The alexandria quartet lawrence durrell the des lewis. The alexandria quartet is a ghost story in many ways, come to think of it. Remembering lawrence durrell, master of the alexandria quartet. 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. To mark the event, culture trips uk literary editor simon leser revisits this investigation of modern love as the author described it, a rich evocation of. The alexandria quartet is a tetralogy of novels by british writer lawrence durrell, published between 1957 and 1960. Lawrence durrells alexandria quartet and the critics. I really dont want to say much about the final book because it blew me away so much and i think. This book is the first of four books about the same group of people so perhaps some of those people will become more important in other books. The alexandria quartet by lawrence durrell librarything.
But i do understand my old admiration, in a way i dont understand my later grumpiness, which set in towards the end of the 1960s, when i found nothing but fakery in the quartet and the later novels, as if durrell had written not books but simulations of books, long, allusive evocations of acts of writing not quite taking place. Full text of the alexandria quartet internet archive. The opening novel of lawrence durrells alexandria quartetone of the most celebrated and original works of fiction to have come out of postwar europeturned 60 last month. 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. The alexandria quartetexcerpt spads literary potpourri. I am embarrassed to enjoy lawrence durrells alexandria quartet so much. See the complete alexandria quartet series book list in order, box sets or omnibus editions, and companion titles. Pdf the alexandria quartet book by lawrence durrell free. Many years ago, on a wintry evening, in a towering pile of books at home i found a copy of justine the first of the four books that form the alexandria quartet 19571960. The alexandria quartet by lawrence durrell, first edition. The alexandria quartet half price books marketplace.
Open library is an initiative of the internet archive, a 501c3 nonprofit, building a digital library of internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Mar, 2017 in 1960, four novels by the wellknown english writer lawrence durrell were brought together in one volume and published as the alexandria quartet. The alexandria quartet by lawrence durrell goodreads. It is richly compelling, especially in this quietly powerful reading. A link to the summary of the alexandria quartet and other information can be found at the enotes link below. Jan 01, 2009 but i do understand my old admiration, in a way i dont understand my later grumpiness, which set in towards the end of the 1960s, when i found nothing but fakery in the quartet and the later novels, as if durrell had written not books but simulations of books, long, allusive evocations of acts of writing not quite taking place. The alexandria quartet by lawrence durrell, first edition abebooks.
Darley attempts to reconcile himself to the recent end of his affair with the dark, passionate, multifaceted justine hosnani. Revisiting lawrence durrells the alexandria quartet paul. There are many writers on this site whose reputations were much higher that they are. The alexandria quartet is a striking and sensuous masterpiece, breathing vivid life into each of its unforgettable characters and the dusty mediterranean city in which they live. The first three volumes describe, from different viewpoints, a series of events in. A critical and commercial success, the books present four perspectives on a single set of events and characters in alexandria, egypt, before and during world war ii. The fourth book is a partial retrospective on the events of the first three books, set in wartime six years later. 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. Set in alexandria and greece throughout the 1930s and 1940s, the quartet is the story of an impoverished british writer, darley, and his love for the married, ambiguous justine.
While i was reading les trois mousquetaires last week, i wondered a couple of times if it had served as partial inspiration for the alexandria quartet. Clea alexandria quartet by durrell, lawrence and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Balthazar, is the second volume of durrells the alexandria quartet, set in alexandria, egypt, during the 1940s. One of the cleverest things about the dumas novel is the way he reinterprets early 17th century french history as really being about the romantic lives of anne of austria, on the large scene, and dartagnan, on the small one a sort of sherlock. I dont think i am sufficiently interested in them to read the other books of the quartet. In 1960, four novels by the wellknown english writer lawrence durrell were brought together in one volume and published as the alexandria quartet. Three of the books are written in the first person, mountolive in the third. Few books have been awaited as eagerly as clea, the sensuous and electrically suspenseful novel that resolves the enigmas of the alexandria quartet.
Dec 16, 2009 lawrence durrell justine balthazar mountolive clea preface this group of four novels is intended to be read as a single work under the collective title of the alexandria quartet. The characters who spiral around this pair are all of them fascinating, multifaceted, and hopelessly lost. It was an early passion of mine and one i revisit for the blowsy comfort it provides and for the disconcerting peelingoff. Set in egypt before and during world war ii, each of the first three books narrates the same sequence of events from a new perspective. I found parts of balthazar to be wonderful as well, especially the premise behind the book, although parts of it were tedious. The the alexandria quartet community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and. While i was reading les trois mousquetaires last week, i wondered a couple of. The book is in the tradition, too, of norman douglass south wind, a book about how not alexandria, but capri, makes its characters lose their moral bearings, and how losing their morality is actually the best thing that could happen to the characters. 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.
Over the last three years, much of what the guardian holds dear has. In fact, i was still at school in the mid 1960s when i fir. The magnificent final volume of one of the most widely acclaimed fictional masterpieces of the postwar era. Alexandria revisited is the alexandria quartet as good as we all thought it was when we first read it more than 20 years ago. The alexandria quartet, series of four novels by lawrence durrell. The first one volume edition of the alexandria quartet. The alexandria quartet is a tetralogy of novels by british writer lawrence durrell, published.
Some years and one world war was after his bizarre liaisons with melissa and justine, the irish migr darley becomes e the magnificent final volume of one of the most widely acclaimed fictional. In 1957, he published justine, the first novel of what was to become his most famous work, the alexandria quartet. When novelist lawrence durrell was up for consideration for the 1962 nobel prize in literature for his fournovel series, the alexandria quartet, a curious thing happened. The last ten pages which deal more especially with the alexandria quartet. The alexandria quartet is a sequence of four novels published between 1957 and 1960 by british writer lawrence durrell. 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.
1496 1176 771 1018 1159 1507 849 1313 497 393 895 1180 998 320 551 952 1566 1380 715 1486 1286 494 132 8 612 860 1122 1481 531 695 51 1025