Author:C. K. Stead
A chance meeting has New Zealand writer Laszlo Winter thinking back to his time in London in the late 1950s. The Empire might be in a state of collapse, but for young 'colonials', England remains a mythical place that draws them from the farthest corners of the globe.
There was Australian Samantha Conlan, clever, desirable, hopelessly in love with married Jewish New Zealander Freddy Goldstein, who carried with him a dark history. Rajiv, an earnest young Indian at work on a study of Yeats and the Indian mind. The enigmatic Margot, whose bond with her athletic brother Mark troubled Laszlo in ways he didn't quite understand. Heather, the call girl with whom Laszlo exchanged lessons on Shakespeare for lessons in love.
The great writers of the time, and the details of their lives are recorded by Samantha in her idiosyncratic research project that she named her Secret History of Modernism. There was all of that and more, and then there was Laszlo, knocking blindly about among them, despairing at his academic prospects, and gradually realising that he was, would only ever be, a storyteller. Now, years later, from the other side of the world, the people seem to spring to life again, in this beguiling work by one of New Zealand's foremost writers.
Stead's writing is meticulous and elegant... The Secret History of Modernism is packed with interesting ideas and insights
—— Daily TelegraphThe Secret History of Modernism is as subtle as Jane Austen and as fatalistic as Thomas Hardy. There is a profound sense of understanding and many truths... Readers must reach for this book with both hands
—— Eileen Battersby , Irish TimesIf this is not the best novel I've read this year, it has banished the memory of anything that came close... It reads like a dream
—— New Zealand HeraldA poignant, cubistic portrait...It is not essential, however, that one know anything of Boyhood, Youth, or his other works to appreciate its rich offerings as an imaginatively distorted and distorting portrait of the artist as outsider
—— TLSCompelling, funny, moving and full of life
—— ObserverRich and brilliant ... Fiona Mountain is an extraordinary talent, an impressive writer and an exceptional storyteller
—— Paul Blezard , The LadyFiona Mountain has written a powerful and sexually charged novel set in the shadow of the English Civil War. Lady of the Butterflies is a fascinating historical novel capturing the life of Eleanor Glanville, a woman of terrific scientific discipline and worldly passion. Eleanor's life is one of personal upheaval and her story is set in the Somerset Marshlands that face social and agricultural revolution. Mountain's novel describes Eleanor's discovery of the Glanville Fritillary, a rare butterfly that reflects Eleanor's immense strength, beauty and frailty. It's a brilliant historical novel filled with fascinating detail and stunning imagery
—— Patrick Neale , The BooksellerWell written, beautifully descriptive and completely engrossing, it's a must for all who enjoy historical fiction
—— Choice MagazineThe author of this wonderful book has done impeccable research and through her skilful writing we feel all of Eleanor's passions and dilemmas ... Whenever I see a butterfly, I shall think of this book
—— Bill Spence , Yorkshire Gazette and HeraldThis story of science and witchcraft is just the sort of thing reading groups love.
—— Jonathan Ruppin , BooksellerAn unashamedly romantic and sweeping historical romp
—— Daily MailMixing historical research with the imagination of a true novelist, Mountain brings this fascinating story to life
—— BestMisery memoirs may no longer be the flavour of the month, but according to Susan Hill's new novel, their consequences can be far reaching. In search of a quick buck, middle-aged journalist Frank Prime pens a bestseller detailing his childhood on a remote North Country farm.
—— Emma Hagestadt , The IndependentNot a word is wasted in this chilling novella
—— Natalie Sanderson , The TimesA thought-provoking story
—— Katie Owen , Sunday TelegraphThis novel is short, beautifully crafted and gripping
—— The Sunday Times MagazineA work of great creepiness and subtle power. It will linger 'orribly in the mind.
—— Nicholas Lezard , The GuardianExpertly structured, her beautifully written prose as haunting as the best ghost story
—— Sophie Missing , ObserverFrom ghost stories to crime thrillers to children's novels, Susan Hill is a writer of striking versatility. 'The Beacon' is a literary novel - done to spectacular effect
—— Catherine Humble , The Telegraph ReviewA marvellous book
—— Winnipeg Free PressA perfectly pitched novel that captures its characters and their dilemmas.
—— Woman and Home
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