AngelA darkly witty classic about literary worth, ambition, and romantic idealism set in turn-of-the-century England, with an introduction from Hilary Mantel (Wolf Hall) “A delicious satire on the career of schoolgirl sensation Angelica Deverell. She's a truly magnificent comic creation: petulant, paranoid and frighteningly prolific." (The Guardian) Angelica Deverell lives above her diligent, drab mother’s grocery shop in a dreary turn-of-the-century English neighborhood, but spends her days dreaming of handsome Paradise House, where her aunt is enthroned as a maid. But in Angel’s imagination, she is the mistress of the house, a realm of lavish opulence, of evening gowns and peacocks. Then she begins to write popular novels, and this fantasy becomes her life. And now that she has tasted success, Angel has no intention of letting anyone stand in her way—except, perhaps, herself. Now back in print after 20 years, this under-recognized classic is (unlike Angel's own novels) self-aware, funny, and subtly layered. It both sharply satirizes its protagonist and acknowledges the intensity of her imagination and the rigor of her work, all the while seeing her as fully human, complicated, and even sympathetic. |
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afternoon Alderhurst Angel asked Angelica Aunt Lottie began Bessie called cats Clive colour dark dinner door dress ELIZABETH TAYLOR Esmé Esmé's eyes face feel felt garden GEORGES SIMENON Gilbright girl glanced gone GREGOR VON REZZORI hair hands head heard Hermione hope Howe-Nevinson imagine Irania IVY COMPTON-BURNETT J.G. FARRELL knew Lady Baines laugh leave LEONARDO SCIASCIA letter listened London looked Lord Norley Madam Marvell Miss Deverell mother never Nora Nora's novel once Paddington Station paint Paradise House PATRICK LEIGH FERMOR perhaps round seemed sister sitting smiled soon sound stairs stared STEFAN ZWEIG stories strange suddenly Sultan sure tell terrace Theo thing thought told took TOVE JANSSON trees turned VASILY GROSSMAN voice Volunteer Street waiting walked watching Willie Brace window wondered word writing