Daniel Martin |
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Author:
John Fowles
By Vintage
Average Customer Rating:  
List Price: £8.99
Our Price: £8.21
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Binding: Paperback
EAN: 9780099743811
ISBN: 0099743817
Label: Vintage
Manufacturer: Vintage
Number Of Pages: 704
Publication Date: 1998-02-05
Publisher: Vintage
Studio: Vintage |
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An outstanding and clever novel, 2003-03-14
This amazing piece of literature deserves to be held in the same high regard as the author's other works. It is the telling of Daniel Martin's life through a linear narrative of "current events" interrupted by chapters detailing his past. The eponymous central character is a bit of an anti-hero and a screenwriter and it is as if Fowles is trying to create this "biographical novel" to read as a screenplay would - revisiting scenes from the past to give you an insight into the current life of a man.
Very clever and absorbing - a must read for all fans of this truly great novelist.
 Not as good as "The Collector", "The Magus" etc. etc.., 2000-08-16
Hmm well. What should I say? John Fowles is a talented writer, and I think that if you buy this book, you will not be sorry. You will find many deep thoughts in it, many same ideas as have been presented in Fowles' other books. But still, something is missing. My opinion is, that this novel ( although well and skillfully written ) doesn't have as fascinating story as the other novels have had. Personally, I didn't much like this Daniel Martin, I found him very traditional, typical, chauvinistic middle-aged man. Though there must be some values in describing a character like that.. I didn't feel any true interest. Maybe because I have met so many "daniel martins" in real life!
Insightful and profound, 2006-11-06
I read this immediately after finishing the Magus. As a forty something father of three and a fan of Sebastian Foulkes I enjoyed the Magus but found Daniel Martin much more moving. There were many passages of profound meaning, many phrases that demonstrate J.F's insight into the human condition - he describes the rigid intelectual Anthony as being very good at looking at orchids but no good at finding them. As with the Magus, it needs to be read in the context of when it was written ( I would be interested to read Martin Amis' comments on the character Jane's statements on Stalinist USSR) but the vast majority of the observations are timeless. I expect some of the passages were worked on for some time before being accepted by the author; every word belongs and can not be improved upon. The material demonstrates J.F's love of nature and humanity. His descriptions of Devon and Dartmoor made me want to rush back there.
I am not sure I would have been ready for this book until now. Perhaps, like much else in life, one has to be ready to listen before one can hear and understand.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
MD
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