A Perfect Explanation - Hardcover
Finalist for the Desmond Elliott Prize
A “superb debut”* novel—based on the story of the author’s grandmother—following an aristocratic woman who abandons her family and her money in search of a life she can claim as her own. (*The Guardian)
Enid Campbell, granddaughter of a duke, grew up surrounded by servants, wanting for nothing except love. But when her brother died in the First World War, a new heir was needed, and it was up to Enid to provide it.
A troubled marriage and three children soon followed. Broken by postpartum depression, overwhelmed by motherhood and a loveless marriage, Enid made the shocking decision to abandon her family, thereby starting a chain of events—a kidnap, a court case, and selling her son to her sister for £500—that reverberated through the generations.
Interweaving one significant day in 1964, when it seems the family will reunite for one last time, with a decade during the interwar period, A Perfect Explanation explores the perils of aristocratic privilege, where inheritance is everything and happiness is hard won.
*The Guardian
A “superb debut”* novel—based on the story of the author’s grandmother—following an aristocratic woman who abandons her family and her money in search of a life she can claim as her own. (*The Guardian)
Enid Campbell, granddaughter of a duke, grew up surrounded by servants, wanting for nothing except love. But when her brother died in the First World War, a new heir was needed, and it was up to Enid to provide it.
A troubled marriage and three children soon followed. Broken by postpartum depression, overwhelmed by motherhood and a loveless marriage, Enid made the shocking decision to abandon her family, thereby starting a chain of events—a kidnap, a court case, and selling her son to her sister for £500—that reverberated through the generations.
Interweaving one significant day in 1964, when it seems the family will reunite for one last time, with a decade during the interwar period, A Perfect Explanation explores the perils of aristocratic privilege, where inheritance is everything and happiness is hard won.
*The Guardian
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author:
Eleanor Anstruther was born in London, educated at Westminster School, and read History of Art at Manchester University. She lives on a farm in Surrey with her twin boys. A Perfect Explanation is her debut novel.
Review:
“[A] superb debut.” —Guardian
"Superbly structured and told with such conviction and in such a direct, honest, and engaging voice, this first novel is full of splendid surprises taking us into the privileged world and inner life of a woman who is both so familiar and so wonderfully strange." —Sheila Kohler, author of Becoming Jane Eyre
“Haunting . . . Eleanor Anstruther never met [her grandmother], but she recreates her with empathy and compassion in this novel. . . Elegant and intelligent.” —The Times
“Impressive...[Anstruther] has used her imagination to bring her family vividly back to life through a novel that is both beautifully written and transfixing.” –Country Life
“An extraordinary literary debut novel...Gripping, insightful and written with a breathtaking elegance and eloquence that makes this first novel doubly impressive, Anstruther’s beautifully crafted story sets out to examine and understand how the intolerable weight of expectation and responsibility can damage and destroy lives... An exquisite and powerful portrait of a broken family.” –Lancashire Post
"Superbly structured and told with such conviction and in such a direct, honest, and engaging voice, this first novel is full of splendid surprises taking us into the privileged world and inner life of a woman who is both so familiar and so wonderfully strange." —Sheila Kohler, author of Becoming Jane Eyre
“Haunting . . . Eleanor Anstruther never met [her grandmother], but she recreates her with empathy and compassion in this novel. . . Elegant and intelligent.” —The Times
“Impressive...[Anstruther] has used her imagination to bring her family vividly back to life through a novel that is both beautifully written and transfixing.” –Country Life
“An extraordinary literary debut novel...Gripping, insightful and written with a breathtaking elegance and eloquence that makes this first novel doubly impressive, Anstruther’s beautifully crafted story sets out to examine and understand how the intolerable weight of expectation and responsibility can damage and destroy lives... An exquisite and powerful portrait of a broken family.” –Lancashire Post
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherEcco
- Publication date2020
- ISBN 10 0358120853
- ISBN 13 9780358120858
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages320
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A Perfect Explanation by Anstruther, Eleanor [Hardcover ]
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. Hardcover. Finalist for the Desmond Elliott Prize A "superb debut"* novel--based on the story of the author's grandmother--following an aristocratic woman who abandons her family and her money in search of a life she can claim as her own. (*The Guardian) Enid Campbell, granddaughter of a duke, grew up surrounded by servants, wanting for nothing except love. But when her brother died in the First World War, a new heir was needed, and it was up to Enid to provide it. A troubled marriage and three children soon followed. Broken by postpartum depression, overwhelmed by motherhood and a loveless marriage, Enid made the shocking decision to abandon her family, thereby starting a chain of events--a kidnap, a court case, and selling her son to her sister for 500--that reverberated through the generations. Interweaving one significant day in 1964, when it seems the family will reunite for one last time, with a decade during the interwar period, A Perfect Explanation explores the perils of aristocratic privilege, where inheritance is everything and happiness is hard won. A "superb debut"* novel--based on the story of the author's grandmother--following an aristocratic woman who abandons her family and her money in search of a life she can claim as her own. (*The Guardian) Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780358120858
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