The conclusion to Wilson's "stunningly funny" (The Times) saga of the literary Lampitt family is a masterful novel of manners concocted out of unlikely elements: murder, the ghost of Shakespeare, and the ironies and confusions of sex. As Lampitt family biogapher Julian Ramsay watches a Shakespearian performace on television, his mind wanders to a long-ago time and place and thoughts of the love of his life.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Longtime fans of A.N. Wilson's Lampitt Chronicles have awaited this conclusion and climax to the series with impatient vigor. As deeply entertaining, exact, and moving as the previous novels, A Watch in the Night still manages to solve old mysteries, tie up loose ends, reencapsulate all that has come before, and leave the reader with a sense that all is right with the universe. Julian Ramsey, a nice guy who is thrust somewhat unwillingly into an adventure bigger than himself, finds grace in unexpected places and comes to terms with shattered dreams.
From Publishers Weekly
What is the true story of James "Jimbo" Petworth Lampitt's death? Was Raphael Hunter implicated in his mysterious fall? And what about Virgil D. Everett, whose demise was similar to Jimbo's? Readers of Wilson's four previous novels about the Lampitt family as recalled by narrator Julian Ramsay (the most recent was Hearing Voices) will enjoy this concluding volume in the Lampitt Chronicles. Wilson's audience knows, however, that the author's sinuous, digressive path to these final revelations is as rewarding as the details of the plot. Here, again, Julian ruminates on some recurring topics: the nature of the creative process, the preeminence of Shakespeare in the pantheon of writers, the role of Christian theology in daily life, the prevalence of homosexuality among the British upper class, the aristocracy's support of conservative (here fascist) political activities. Wilson reserves his greatest scorn for Raphael Hunter. A talentless writer and opportunist who has achieved success, wealth and celebrity ("this Booker Judge, this presenter of 'Perspectives' on the telly") on the strength of his bogus biography of Jimbo, Hunter finally confesses his part in the "accident" that took Jimbo's life. Amply foreshadowed in the previous books, the disclosure comes not as a surprise but as a rich culmination of Wilson's masterful portrait of a generation in its heyday and decline. Presented with ironic humor and dense with engaging ideas and indelible characters, the series and this final book are well worth a reader's time and attention.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
There are no customer reviews yet.
|
|||
|
Video reviews
|
Inside This Book
(learn more)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
First Sentence:
'Only, I wasn't sure whether you were staying for supper.' Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Gorley Swallow, Campbell Dilkes, Day Muckley, Aunt Deirdre, Dark Lady, Dame Deborah, Hubert Power, Raphael Hunter, Sir Hubert, James Petworth Lampitt, Madame de Normandin, Seaforth Grange, Hubie Power, Pacemaker's Arms, Miss Dare, Albion Pugh, Jason Grainger, Les Mouettes, Black Bottle, Dodie Rich, Miss Beach, Planet Venus, Professor Cormac, White Hart, Alderville Road New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
'Only, I wasn't sure whether you were staying for supper.' Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Gorley Swallow, Campbell Dilkes, Day Muckley, Aunt Deirdre, Dark Lady, Dame Deborah, Hubert Power, Raphael Hunter, Sir Hubert, James Petworth Lampitt, Madame de Normandin, Seaforth Grange, Hubie Power, Pacemaker's Arms, Miss Dare, Albion Pugh, Jason Grainger, Les Mouettes, Black Bottle, Dodie Rich, Miss Beach, Planet Venus, Professor Cormac, White Hart, Alderville Road New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 30
books:
See all 30 books this book cites
8
books
cite this book:
See all 8 books citing this book
- Antony and Cleopatra (Folger Shakespeare Library) by William Shakespeare on page 6, and page 59
- Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare on page 6, and page 59
- Measure for Measure (Signet Classics) by William Shakespeare on page 40
- Troilus and Criseyde (Oxford World's Classics) by Geoffrey Chaucer on page 13
- King Lear (The New Folger Library Shakespeare) by William Shakespeare on page 52
See all 30 books this book cites
- Hitler and Churchill: Secrets of Leadership by Andrew Roberts in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Betjeman: A Life by A. N. Wilson in Front Matter
- My Name Is Legion: A Novel by A. N. Wilson in Front Matter
- God's Funeral: A Biography of Faith and Doubt in Western Civilization by A.N. Wilson in Back Matter
- London: A History (Modern Library Chronicles) by A.N. Wilson in Front Matter
See all 8 books citing this book
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
