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The Go-between

By L. P. Hartley
Penguin Classics
Series: Penguin Modern Classics
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Check link for latest rating. ( 14,139 ratings, 1,402 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Go-between by L. P. Hartley is a poignant exploration of memory and loss, told through the eyes of an elderly man reflecting on his youth. Set in the hot summer of 1900, he becomes an unwitting messenger in a clandestine love affair between a beautiful young woman and a local farmer. This experience profoundly impacts him and unfolds in a narrative interwoven with themes of innocence and the stark realities of social divides.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate a nostalgic exploration of childhood and its fragile innocence, set against a backdrop of societal change at the turn of the 20th century. The story, with its intricate character dynamics and intense emotional currents, looks deeply into themes of memory, love, and class distinction, making it perfect for readers who enjoy richly layered narratives.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

When one long, hot summer, young Leo is staying with a school-friend at Brandham Hall, he begins to act as a messenger between Ted, the farmer, and Marian, the beautiful young woman up at the hall. He becomes drawn deeper and deeper into their dangerous game of deceit and desire, until his role brings him to a shocking and premature revelation.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Hartley's classic novel of innocence lost, now reissued with a new jacket.

When one long, hot summer, young Leo is staying with a school friend at Brandham Hall, he begins to act as a messenger between Ted, the farmer, and Marian, the beautiful young woman up at the hall. He becomes drawn deeper and deeper into their dangerous game of deceit and desire, until his role brings him to a shocking and premature revelation.

The haunting story of a young boy's awakening into the secrets of the adult world, The Go-Between is also an unforgettable evocation of the boundaries of Edwardian society.

Series: Penguin Modern Classics

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Go-between is praised for its vivid exploration of childhood innocence and the painful transition to adulthood. Critics often highlight the novel's intricate storytelling and the poignant depiction of memory and societal norms. The narrative's reflection on past events and the impact of secrets resonates with readers, showcasing Hartley's skill in capturing human emotions and the nuances of social class distinctions.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141187785

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 29 January 2004

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Douglas Brooks-Davies

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 249g

Pages: 336

Collections

Best Sellers at Book Hero Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Fiction General Fiction In Stock Books In-Stock Fiction Books L. P. Hartley Literary Fiction New Release Fiction New Zealand's Best Selling Books Penguin Books Penguin Classics Penguin Classics: General Fiction Series: Penguin Modern Classics Top 100 Penguin Classics

About the Author

Leslie Poles Hartley was born in 1895 and educated at Harrow and Balliol College, Oxford. He is best known for Facial Justice, the Eustace and Hilda trilogy and The Go-Between, which won the Heinemann Foundation Prize in 1954 and whose opening sentence has become almost proverbial- 'The past is a foreign country- they do things differently there.' He was appointed a CBE in 1955, having won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize in addition to the Heinemann. He died in 1972.

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