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mrswythe89's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't like this as much as the other Benson I've read; the rambling about Destiny and Secret Worlds and whatnot became a bit tiresome. Anonyma/Mrs. Gustus was the best part. But the ending was splendidly depressing, I'll give it that.
kdavies's review against another edition
Did not like the writing style, the choice of narrator, or the anti-Semitism.
drewsstuff's review against another edition
5.0
Years ahead of her time, Stella Benson writes her metafaction with a light and airy touch, bringing an almost playful style to her work. She brings the reader into her story, almost as a second primary character, a clever (and successful) device making the worlds and the characters she creates more real. She combines being a technically gifted writer with emotionally-charged and raw writing, a rare gift indeed.
Playful it may be, but in juxtaposing dreams and fantasies with the horrors of world war one, she sets side-by-side what-could-be with what-is. The result is fantasy that is surreal and beautiful, horror that is undiluted and sadness that is not dimished by any lasting comfort.
This is one of the most (if not THE most) beautiful and poignant books I've ever read.
She should be a household name, but seems forgotten or pretty much ignored these days. I don't understand why. Should be required reading for everybody.
Playful it may be, but in juxtaposing dreams and fantasies with the horrors of world war one, she sets side-by-side what-could-be with what-is. The result is fantasy that is surreal and beautiful, horror that is undiluted and sadness that is not dimished by any lasting comfort.
This is one of the most (if not THE most) beautiful and poignant books I've ever read.
She should be a household name, but seems forgotten or pretty much ignored these days. I don't understand why. Should be required reading for everybody.
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