The Sleep of Reason

by C.P. Snow

Book Overview

The penultimate novel in the "Strangers and Brothers" series takes Goya s theme of monsters that appear in our sleep. The sleep of reason here is embodied in the ghastly murders of children that... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140031901
• ISBN13: 9780140031904
• Release Date: January 1970
• Publisher: PENGUIN BOOKS LTD
• Length: 439 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.

Customer Reviews

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The title is taken from the Spanish painter, Goya - "The sleep of reason brings forth monsters". In this 10th novel in Snow's 11 novel series "Strangers and Brothers", the time is now 1963, and the story takes place chiefly in Eliot's home town, and in London, where he now lives. The novel is bookended with Eliot's father, who lives alone in the provencial town, and is now in his late 80s. Eliot also relates his relationship with his now 16-year-old son, Charles, his involvement with a local university, its chancellor and his daughter, Vickie, who is in love with Eliot's nephew, something of a scoundrel. But at the heart of this novel is a trial that involves George Passant's niece and her lover, Kitty Pateman. They have tortured and killed an 8-year-old boy. Eliot gets somewhat involved because of his sympathy for and old friendship with George. The trial account is very riveting even though there is never any doubt that the two parties are guilty. Great questions are tackled in this book - responsibility - freedom - free choice. Exactly how free are we for our actions? Just how responsiblile are we for our decisions? This was one of the better books in the series.