Customer Reviews

Late Breakfasters

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Robert Aickman was the 20th century's finest writer of "strange stories".

If you haven't read Aickman, I urge you to track down "Painted Devils", "Cold Hand in Mine", and "The Wine-Dark Sea".

I wish so much that someone would re-print his 1964 novel "The Late Breakfasters", probably the hardest-to-find of all his books.

To be honest, I can't really rate this title since I've only read a plot description: lesbianism, ghosts and a haunted mansion -- what more can you ask for? -- and a detailed review that includes some brief excerpts of Aickman's always excellent writing.

But I figure that if this book is even only half as good as his other stories -- 90 percent of which I have been lucky enough to read -- than a 5-star rating would not be unwarranted. So if anyone out there in the publishing world is reading this, please re-print "The Late Breakfasters" by Robert Aickman.

Having obtained a copy of The Late Breakfasters through interlibrary loan (recommended way to find a copy of a rarity before buying it), I can recommend this book as a quirky yet winning coming of age novel. The author draws the reader into the world of upper class British society in the early post-World War II era and, in so doing, makes me realize just what a loss we have suffered by losing the grounding in classical education. Truly, the past is a different country.

This would definitely be worth reprinting. I used to work as a small independent book publisher. If someone were to pick this up and republish it, that would do much to revive Aickman's reputation, it might even go so far as to become a movie. There are many scenes that beg being put on the screen. The feminist heroine is especially endearing in how she resolves -- or fails to resolve -- her romantic and career dilemma.

Worth reading and re-reading!