All Passion Spent examines the life of a woman, widowed late in life, who seizes the opportunity to do what she wants for the rest of her time. Lady Slane's children expect that she will split her time between them (thus also augmenting their incomes) but she decides to take a house in Hampstead and live privately in the countryside with her long-time servant.
Although she intends to live there in peace and quiet, and to some extent does achieve this, Sackville-West surrounds her with a number of intriguing characters. There is Mr Bucktrout the landlord, who has not let the house for years because he was waiting for the right tenant and who tries to convince her not to upgrade the house to make it more comfortable. There is Mr Gosheron, the undertaker. And there is Mr Fitzgeorge, a character from Lady Slane's past who proves that all her passion is not spent, as he awakens a romantic spark inside her.
So, was it Sackville-West's best novel? Well, I've only read one other so far so it would not be fair to say. I found this extremely well written, but I enjoyed the story in Family History more.
Apparently this was filmed, but the DVD is only available in the US, which is a shame as it has rather interesting reviews on the Internet Movie Database.
Three different Virago modern classics editions, each I suppose trying to evoke Lady Slane. The copy that I own is the bottom one. I am intrigued by the similarities of the photos used in the two later covers; I looked to see where the photo had come from on my book but it is just atributed to the Getty archive.
I have the bottom copy too but haven't read it yet. Will look out for Family History.
ReplyDeleteI have the top edition. I started reading and was enjoying it but I put it to one side and, at the moment, I'm not really being drawn back to it. I think it might be one of those books you need to read at exactly the right moment. There was a radio dramatisation a while ago, and I could imagine that it would film really well. A lovely role for an actress of a certain age.
ReplyDeleteI have this on my TBR pile. The only Sackville-West I've read is The Edwardians and I thought that was excellent, but somehow I've never managed to prioritise reading her others, even though I have them ready and waiting on my shelves. Have you got hold of The Edwardians yet? I think you'd really enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments guys. I would have loved to have heard the radio dramatisation. And yes, I do have The edwardians lined up to read - maybe next week.
ReplyDeleteI loved this book, which I have in the last of the three editions, like you. But my favourite VSW (of the three I've read) is a very short novel called The Heir, published by Hesperus.
ReplyDeleteHadn't heard of The heir Simon, so thanks for mentioning it.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first Virago and the first Sackville-West I ever read. I loved it.
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