A Legacy: A Novel (Paperback)

~ Sybille Bedford (Author) "I SPENT the first nine years of my life in Germany, bundled to and fro between two houses..." (more)
Key Phrases: Count Bernin, Voss Strasse, Father Hauser (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

"A book of entirely delicious quality...Everything is new, cool, witty, elegant."-Evelyn Waugh.

The Kaiser's Germany is the setting of Sybille Bedford's first and best-known novel, in which two families-one from solid, upholstered Jewish Berlin, the other from the somnolent, agrarian Catholic South -become comically, tragically, irrevocably intertwined. "Each family," writes the author, "stood confident of being able to go on with what was theirs, while in fact they were playthings, often victims, of the now united Germany and what was brewing therein." Did the monstrous thing that followed have its foundation in families such as these? "Writing about them made me think so. Hence the title."

About the Author

Born in Charlottenburg and educated privately in England, Italy and France, Sybille Bedford is also the author of A FAVOURITE OF THE GODS, JIGSAW and A COMPASS ERROR. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and Vice-President of PEN. She was awarded the OBE in 1981 and a C.Lit in 1994. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Counterpoint (May 8, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582431426
• ISBN-13: 978-1582431420
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #165,983 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Lost World, May 29, 2002

By	J. Marren "jtm497" (Glen Ridge, NJ USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

The story takes place in the waning days of the Kaiser's rule, pre-WWI, in a society that seems to be desperately trying to avoid the instability in central Europe that finally led to the First World War. Two German families linked by an ill-fated marriage live a life that seems unimaginable to us in modern times. One Jewish, one Catholic, both wealthy, insular and largely idle, the characters spend their days moving from place to place--France, Spain, Germany, collecting art and antiques, taking air during daily carriage rides, eating what seem to be endless meals, and expecting the world to go on as it has forever. A relatively minor event--the decison to send a child to a military prep school, results in personal tragedy but also national crisis--which could only have happened in a society about to fall apart. I found this book a compelling look at a world and a society I know little about--and Bedford's prose is wonderful.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A neglected masterpiece, May 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Legacy (Paperback)

Trough the life and times of two German families at the beginning of the last century, Sybille Bedford recreates an European world lost to globalization. It was a world where each country, -each region in fact- had a particular way of seeing life, and an authentic life style. Bedford's elegant and personal prose is really original, but this book shares the spirit of Margerite Yourcenar's memories of her own ancestors. Such a beautiful and clever book!

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, November 3, 2002

By	Frederick D. Friedman (Santa Monica, Ca USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I had read about Sybille Bedford and her writings.I know that of late there has been a revival of interest in her work. I was prepared to like this book. But I was disappointed. I will assume the problem is with me, not the book. That said, while some aspects of the place and time are well-sketched, I do not think any of the characters was well-developed. We see Jules, Clara, Sarah etc. in a number of different settings/situations over a period of several years but I did not feel that I came to know them nor did they interest me greatly. I should add that the significance of some of the main plot points completely eluded me. Without spoiling the book for those who haven't read it, I will just cite as an example a letter that is not delivered to its intended recipient. I could tell that this was intended to be one of the cruxes of the plot. However, why the character entrusted with the letter didn't deliver it and what would have happened had he done so--points I am sure the author wanted to be apparent to the reader--I could not fathom. The place and time--Germany before World War One--are of great interest to me. The situation of the Jews in the Germany of that time--a family of wealthy, totally assimilated Jews is depicted in some detail in the book--also interests me. But the novel failed to involve me emotionally--it left me cold. Nevertheless, I admire the author--she is intelligent and her prose is elegant.