A Note in Music [Paperback]

Rosamond Lehmann (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2004

1930. Lehmann's life was as romantic and harrowing as that of any of her fictional heroines. Her dramatic life, work and relationships crisscrossed the cultural, literary and political landscape of England in that era. A Note in Music begins: She was dressing for dinner. Next door, she heard Tom splashing in his bath, and singing over and over again the refrain of one of his three tunes: Oh, lucky Jim, How...wi...en-vy-him. Each time she heard the mournful bellow, the same memory cut across her exasperation. She remembered August, and her home, hundreds of years ago; and the garden fete on the sunny lawn. She saw the Parish Ladies sitting on the imported cane Parish Room chairs, and sinking too far into the grass, for it had been a wet summer.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'A novelist in the grand tradition... the first writer to filter her stories through a woman's feelings and perceptions' Anita Brookner 'She makes a mood, an atmosphere, which is only hers and is never forgotten ... the inner voice of women talking to themselves about their love affairs, knowing that it's hopeless, having to go ahead anyway, expecting the end as soon as it begins' SUNDAY TIMES 'Well worth discovering' OBSERVER 'She is immensely readable, acute, passionate, funny and original' Elizabeth Jane Howard --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Rosamond Lehmann (1901-1990) was born at Bourne End, Bucks. She wrote her first novel, DUSTY ANSWER aged 26 & established her reputation with A NOTE IN MUSIC. One of the most distinguished novelists of the twentieth century, she was created a CBE in 1982. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: Kessinger Publishing (July 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1417940034
• ISBN-13: 978-1417940035
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, best book I've read all year, July 11, 2008

By 

Kate Smart "Private" (Private) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Note in Music (Virago Modern Classics) (Paperback)

I am currently discovering a group of female British novelists whose works have been incredibly underrated - namely, Elizabeth Taylor and Rosamond Lehmann. Had Lehmann been a man, no doubt she would have been hailed as one of the greatest writers of the 20th century; she is every bit as good as E.M. Forrster, D.H. Lawrence, or Somerset Maugham - all of whom I consider among my favourite authors. And yet, even my librarian had never heard of Rosamund Lehmann and had to pull her books out of storage. It is absolutely appalling that the literary world has consistently overlooked brilliant female writers.

Anyway, this book is a story about a depressed, unhappily married woman who becomes enchanted by a young man who is hired to work with her husband. It is incredibly well-written, at times very funny, always intelligent, and left me so very grateful to have discovered my now favourite writer. Excellent read, highly recommended.