My House in Umbria [Paperback]

William Trevor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2003

Mrs. Emily Delahunty-a mysterious and not entirely trustworthy former madam-quietly runs a pensione in the Italian countryside and writes romance novels while she muses on her checkered past. Then one day her world is changed forever as the train she is riding in is blown up by terrorists. Taken to a local hospital to recuperate, she befriends the other survivors-an elderly English general, an American child, and a German boy-and takes them all to convalesce at her villa, with unforeseen results.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[My House in Umbria] reminds you what good reading is all about." (Anne Tyler, Chicago Sun-Times)

"Trevor's is among the most subtle and sophisticated fiction being written today." (John Banville, The New York Times Book Review)

About the Author

Sir William Trevor is the author of twenty-nine books and has received numerous literary awards, including the Whitbread Award, the Hawthornden Prize, and the Lannan Literary Award for Fiction.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142003654
• ISBN-13: 978-0142003657
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #882,962 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

William Trevor was born in Mitchelstown, County Cork. He has written many novels, and has won many prizes including the Hawthornden Prize, the Yorkshire Post Book of the Year Award, and the Whitbread Book of the Year Award. His most recent novel Love and Summer was longlisted for the Booker Prize. He is also a renowned short-story writer, and his two-volume Collected Stories was published by Viking Penguin in 2009. In 1999 William Trevor received the prestigious David Cohen Literature Prize in recognition of a lifetime's literary achievement, and in 2002 he was knighted for his services to literature. He now lives in Devon.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nothing much "happens" in Jane Austen either..., July 8, 2005

By 

Michael Anson Wright (Rackerby, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My House in Umbria (Paperback)

but we love to read her novels for her understanding of social psychology, and the graceful penetrating voice in which she tells her stories. William Trevor's focus is on modern English and Irish folk, typically working or middle class, but his understanding of their psychology is as masterful as Austen (or Henry James, for that matter); and his style is perfectly shaded to reveal their lives. I've read most of his novels and stories and always valued his prodigious talent. This book, in my opinion, rises to genius. The characterization of Emily Delahunty is superb. The understanding, and rendering, of how we live our lives by telling our stories is brilliant.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another wonderful story from one of the world's best writers, November 29, 2003

By 

jasperg55 (SALEM, OR United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My House in Umbria (Paperback)

A fascinating tale from one of my favorite authors; Mr Trevor has an incredible gift for transporting the reader into the worlds he creates on paper!
I have nothing to add to the good initial Amazon description, (certainly would not want to give away to much)only can say this is a well written story with a fascinating cast of characters,in a wonderful setting.
A first class read, certainly not boring as the idiot looking for a travel/ tour guide book would have one believe!
A pretty good film with Maggie Smith (whose face appears on this editions cover) as well!

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars playing the bad guy, April 5, 2005

By 

Bradley Rowe (Yerington, NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My House in Umbria (Paperback)

I have to say that although a previous reviewer has been blasted, I have to agree at least in part with their sentiment. This book really isn't very exciting. I can appreciate the writing and style presented, but all-in-all, upon finishing a book, appreciation never wins out over enjoyment for me, and this story seems as if it could have been presented in 25-35 pages, as opposed to its 150, and had the same characterization and probably more impact.