Possession is a literary fiction book by author A. S. Byatt.
A delightful novel of wit and romance, as well as an intellectual mystery and a triumphant love story.
As a pair of young scholars research the lives of two Victorian poets, they uncover their letters, diaries and poems, and follow their journey from London to Yorkshire – from the The requiem of psychics to the fairy-haunted western Brittany. What emerges is an extraordinary counterpoint of passion and ideas.
This is the second time I have used a Thomas Browne quote from the reviewed book as the title of the book review here. The first was for Sebald’s Rings of Saturn. That book has more in common with this one than Browne: both contain sweeping walks through the English countryside. (Perhaps it’s time for me to look at Browne himself; if others keep quoting him, there must be something.)
Byatt’s maze possession is comparable to incredible erudition and versatility. I tried to call it too flexible. I’m still debating whether this book has too many ‘births’ (Kopfgeburt German might not be a perfect fit for a direct translation, so maybe I should just say: too clever). It’s the kind of book I love to read, but it didn’t shake my boat the way I first met writers like Kis, Sebald, Oe, Murakami.
The author invented 2 Victorian poets, complete with lives and works, some interwoven into the story and a love story.
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Possession
- Narrated by: Virginia Leishman
