The Last September (Warbler Classics Annotated Edition)

ISBN: 196568422X

Author: Bowen, Elizabeth

Condition: New

Undeniably clever...from an esthetic standpoint, perfectly worked out. -The New York TimesElizabeth Bowens The Last September is a poignant and evocative masterpiece that captures the inner register of a tumultuous time. Set against the backdrop of the Irish War of Independence, the novel delves into the lives of the Anglo-Irish gentry as they cling to a way of life on the brink of extinction.At the novels center is Lois Farquar, a young woman coming of age in a world of fading traditions and uncertain futures. She navigates the complexities of first love and self-discovery amidst the political upheaval of 1920s Ireland. However, Bowen renders her protagonist not as a romantic heroine, but as a keen observer trapped in a decaying social architecture. The narrative pulses with an extraordinary tension: elegant surface rituals-tennis matches, dances, and drawing room conversations-cannot mask the constant threat of political violence. The turbulent atmosphere permeates the story, even in its most seemingly serene moments, creating a haunting juxtaposition of beauty and unrest. Bowen herself described the novel as an exploration of the Troubles, which were marked by ambushes, arrests, captures and burning, reprisals and counter-reprisals. The Last September is a landmark work that remains as poignant and uncompromising as when it was first published.Elizabeth Bowen (1899-1973) was an Anglo-Irish novelist and short story writer, renowned for her intricate narratives exploring the lives of the upper-middle class in both Ireland and wartime London. Along with The Last September, her notable works include The Death of the Heart and The Heat of the Day. Bowens contributions to literature earned her a CBE in 1948, confirming her legacy as a significant voice in twentieth-century fiction.Captures the silliness, the snobbery, the perfect manners, the determination not to show their feelings, the denial, and the ending of the way of life of Bowens circle. -The Guardian