Customer Reviews

C.P. Snow: Strangers and Brothers : The Masters, the New Men, Homecomings, the Affair (Hudson River Editions)

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I have never relished a series of novels (or a long novel) as I have Strangers and Brothers. In these serious works begin an unsparing examination of character in trying situations, of love and power, of obsession, of reason and unreason, of society and politics. I have read the series numerous times. Whenever I sought to interrupt my reading with something else, I grew frustrated at the other author's dullness of perception, the bluntness of his insight. It is a haunting series, to which any reader will return again and again. I should speak of the downsides: there is very little humor, and until one has read about 150 pages, the novels are not very interesting. However, if one gets that far, the next 2000 pages have a grip like no other. The series is a knowing, sophisticated, unsentimental examination of intelligent and usually well-meaning people in conflict. It is perhaps the most underrated series of books that have been written in this century. It is compelling, and you will always remember it, and return to it.

Love, politics, alienation, change. CP Snow tackled the "big topics". These books begin an eleven novel cycle, using as a focal point a provincial Englishman of humble origin who works his way up the rungs of law, into academia, and finally into government. These novels trace the narrator, Lewis Elliot, from his early small town days through his first entry into academia. Snow's style is easy, deliberate, and narrative--these books are not "experimental" in any sense, but instead are a "good read" in the best old-fashioned sense. Have you ever wished for books with both good plots and artistic merit? Then you must begin here. Snow understood a lot about us--that sometimes the most brilliant personalities are not the most successful, that the politics of small groups and the politics of large groups are entirely different, and that both faith and love have odd play with those whom they possess from time to time, and in Strangers and Brothers he spins his themes out well....I highly recommend.

This book, THE LIGHT AND THE DARK, (this series, STRANGERS AND BROTHERS, for that matter), contains absolutely first-rate psychology. Indeed, one could say that psychological observation is C.P. Snow's forte. Roy Calvert is about five years younger than Lewis Eliot. Through chance they have college rooms in the same entry.

Some believed that Roy Calvert would be the Orientalist of his generation. He had a special melancholy belonging to some chosen natures. He wanted to be elected a fellow of the college, but things were proceeding slowly. Arthur Brown was working on the election. It would be a close thing. Lewis was too new to the institution to be of much use. His friend, Francis Getliffe, a scientist, was waiting to be convinced that Roy Calvert was first-rate in his field. Roy Calvert was experiencing a darkness of mind. All through the period of melancholy his intelligence was as lucid as ever.

Ultimately Roy Calvert was elected a fellow after a hiatus during the spring and the summer to gather votes. Since his election brought joy to others, he pretended joy, but the melancholy had taken hold. Lewis was placed in a precarious position. What does one do when one senses a friend is wildly out of control. An older man tells Lewis that young men do silly things. To be successful a scholar needs obsessive devotion to the subject and a touch of supreme confidence. It was believed that Calvert had those traits.

Having undergone two bouts of bipolar disorder, Roy told Lewis that Lewis believed in predestination but he did not. He would still fight his condition. He would not consider it a given. It had come to the point where Lewis's presence deprived him of peace of mind.

Roy sought knowledge of God. He knew that his acts of faith were hollow. Then he learned a clergyman friend was self-absorbed. His sadness was returning. By age twenty eight Roy was spending dark nights. He spent time in Germany on scholarly tasks. A report was received that he was in too close contact with some of the Nazi officials. He did not consider matters of self-preservation as most people do.

Upon his return from Berlin he went through another dark period. He reacted with bitter anger to criticism of a now deceased collaborator. In his worst hours he had a sort of desperate charity. Roy had an elaborate dinner for his friends.

Both Roy and Lewis were distressed over the war. They held war-related jobs. Then Roy went into training to be a pilot. He married. He participated in bombing raids and went missing. It is understood he sought danger purposely.

The writing is elegant and fine. One is transported to Oxbridge in the thirties and forties, to stately houses, to government offices, to foreign cities. Snow's portrayal of the main characters is done with economy and precision.

Im not gonna waste to many words about this, but I should start by saying that I only read the "the light and dark". So it is fear to say that my knowledge about the series is limited but...the best thing about the book was when I finnished it! FINALLY! For me the book was so superficial and shallow. The book is about a guy in some sort of crises that never is really explained and it is written in such a way that it doesnt give you a possibility to suggest what is going in this guys head. A very passive writing, like describing a landscape! Im sure the auther has some indebt knowledge of human and there behaviour but he sure has trouble sharing it! I did manage to get through the book though and that is fine. I know now that I will never read a book by mister C.P.Snow again. If you are thinking of reading something by him you should read the first 50 pages. If you like it, fine go on, if not stop. The rest is excactly the same. Just another party or visit or what ever...nothing juicy! Regards, Arni