Angelica

by Arthur Phillips

Book Overview

From the bestselling author of The Egyptologist and Prague comes an even more accomplished and entirely surprising new novel. Angelica is a spellbinding Victorian ghost story, an intriguing literary... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1400062519
• ISBN13: 9781400062515
• Release Date: April 2007
• Publisher: Random House (NY)
• Length: 331 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Great Entertainment

I'm using "entertainment" in the way it would have been used in the world of the novel - applicable to high art as well as low. First and foremost, the book is a terrific read. Phillips holds his cards close for a while, but once you get a glimpse, you can't wait to see what else is in his hand. The writing achieves a pitch-perfect evocation of nineteenth-century novels, with moments of startling brilliance. Phillips is after more than a clever and compelling plot, however, engaging profound questions concerning the nature of perception, the dynamics of family, and the obstacles to self-knowledge. The book will unsettle you - in the way any ambitious work of art should.

An Exceptional Novel

It's rare that a contemporary writer can offer a compelling plot and such marvelous language skills that his reader is totally transported to another place and time. Phillips does exactly that with his latest novel, ANGELICA. I was drawn in with the opening sentence and completely fascinated until the last paragraph. It's a wonderful read, filled with insights - both historical and psychological - and will be perfect for my book club to discuss.

A thrilling book -- great for book clubs, too

I tried to read Arthur Phillip's last novel THE EGYPTOLOGIST but found the narrator and subject matter both daunting. I am so glad I did not give up on him because ANGELICA is one of the best novels I've read in a long long time. With his multiple narrators, Phillips demonstrates a rare ability to captures brilliantly the mind of both female and male characters but I was particularly moved by this ability to show the vulnerability of women in the Victorian era. It does not surprise me that reviewers have compared this novel not only with Henry James but with the haunting classic novel The Yellow Wallpaper by early feminist writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman. This is surely the first novel by Phillips that I would recommend whole heartedly to my book group (and we are fussy!!).

His best work yet

I've read all three of Arthur Phillips's books and liked each one more than the last. Any moments of uneveness evident in "Prague" had disappeared by the time he wrote "The Egyptologist." It is rare in this disposable era to watch a writer grow into his talent, but that is exactly what Phillips has done. "Angelica" is a stellar, completely assured work. Whether you like Victorian ghost stories or just strong writing, this is your book.

An Amazing Achievement

ANGELICA is a book I could not put down. I could have finished it in two days but saved the last thirty pages for the following day, because I didn't want it to end. Aside from the masterful storytelling that gave me all the suspense and excitement of a good read, this is a brilliant and thought-provoking book on several levels. It is a deeply important book that explores the nature of reality, memory, and identity. If you are a woman, it is a must-read. It addresses our deepest secrets and our worst fears in a most imaginative and insightful manner. I still can hardly believe a man wrote this book. He is clearly a tremendously compassionate person who has done a great service by writing this book. I could discusss ANGELICA for hours--which makes it a perfect book group choice.