Looking Back

by Shusha Guppy

Book Overview

Gives ten portraits of the grandes dames of British letters, some of the finest novelists, essayists and biographers of the 20th century - women like Rosamond Lehmann, Juliette Huxley, Lady Diana Cooper and Molly Keane. These discussions are drawn from the interview series of The Paris Review.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 094516730X
• ISBN13: 9780945167303
• Release Date: January 1991
• Publisher: British American Publishing
• Length: 308 Pages
• Weight: 0.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.9" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

Walking into the Water

Warning: Do not read this book if you don't want your heart wrenched, your brain scrambled and your teeth rattled. It's powerful and painful. Do read it if you want in inside view of what it's like to be an alcoholic, or the child of one. This one will transport you.

The real thing---GREAT READ!

Wow. If anyone out there liked "White Oleander" by Janet Fitch, read this book! It will absolutely change your life, and make you contemplete such surreal questions as, "What if I killed someone and no-one ever found out?" Hmmm. I bought this book years ago and can honestly say it is the best book I've ever read. It changed my whole perspective on everything...really! This is the real deal and my God, you'll get a pang of familiarity out of this no matter WHO you are!

A Tremendous First Novel

I am surprised this book is out of print. I found it at a used book sale and decided to give it a try. I am so glad I did. Lorian Hemingway's words are written so well, the scenes are so vividly described, whether they be touching or grittily disturbing, that you feel as if you are there with the narrator at all times.Eva starts out bad and gets worse. The main character of a book filled with many unsavory characters, she doesn't seem to fare much better. But you can't help rooting for her and hoping that everything turns out well in the end. She is born to an alcoholic, submissive, weak, and sometimes completely insane woman named Rita, who more often than not prefers having sex with her abusive husband than actually caring for her child. Rita leaves Eva's father, a crazy man in his own right who enjoys dressing up in women's clothes, early on and takes up with John Earl, who supplies her with illegal liquor and frequent beatings. Eva must learn to survive on her own, and it's a long road to happiness.At times, the novel is weighed down with turmoil, so much you can't ever see it getting any better. A sort of salvation lies with Eva's strange aunt Freda, who cares for her when no one else will, and shows her how to be strong. She is the most powerful, positive character in the book.I was hoping to find more fiction by Lorian Hemingway after this wonderful debut, but have only found a memior. I hope to read more of her work in the future, because this was quite an enjoyable read. I recommend it highly to anyone who is looking for a challenging, engaging story.