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Mrs Palfrey At The Claremont

A Virago Modern Classic
3.98 goodreads logo

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( 12,019 ratings, 1,806 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
Mrs Palfrey at The Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor follows the poignant and often humorous story of Mrs Palfrey, an elderly widow who moves into the Claremont Hotel, a residential hotel in London. As she navigates her new life among an eclectic group of long-term residents, she forms an unexpected friendship with a young writer, leading both to reassess their lives and priorities amidst the backdrop of loneliness and companionship. This novel delicately explores themes of ageing, friendship, and the human condition.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$4200

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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 novel if you appreciate stories that delve into the human condition with wit and poignancy. Set in a London hotel, it beautifully explores themes of loneliness, companionship, and the unexpected connections that can shape our lives. Fans of character-driven narratives and nuanced portrayals of everyday life will likely find it captivating.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A humorous and compassionate look at friendship between an old woman and a young man.

*A humorous and compassionate look at the blossoming friendship between an old woman and a young man.

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

Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont is, for me, her masterpiece - Robert McCrum, Guardian, 'The Best 100 Novels'

An author of great subtlety, great compassion and great depth - SARAH WATERS

Jane Austen, Elizabeth Taylor, Elizabeth Bowen - soul-sisters all - ANNE TYLER

On a rainy Sunday in January, the recently widowed Mrs Palfrey arrives at the Claremont Hotel where she will spend her remaining days. Her fellow residents are magnificently eccentric and endlessly curious, living off crumbs of affection and snippets of gossip. Together, upper lips stiffened, they fight off their twin enemies: boredom and the Grim Reaper.

Then one day Mrs Palfrey strikes up an unlikely friendship with an impoverished young writer, Ludo, who sees her as inspiration for his novel.

Elizabeth Taylor's exquisitely drawn character study of eccentricity in old age is a sharp and witty portrait of genteel postwar English life facing the changes taking shape in the 60s. Much of the reader's joy lies in the exquisite subtlety in Taylor's depiction of all the relationships, the sharp brevity of her wit, and the apparently effortless way the plot unfolds - Robert McCrum, the 100 best novels, Guardian

Series: Virago Modern Classics

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    Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont is, for me, her masterpiece - Robert McCrum, Guardian, 'The Best 100 Novels' An author of great subtlety, great compassion and great depth - SARAH WATERS Jane Austen, Elizabeth Taylor, Elizabeth Bowen - soul-sisters all - ANNE TYLER On a rainy Sunday in January, the recently widowed Mrs Palfrey arrives at the Claremont Hotel where...
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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?

Mrs Palfrey At The Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor is hailed as a gem in British fiction, offering a keen exploration of human emotions and relationships. Critics praise her as an exceptional novelist who deftly navigates the complexities of the heart. The book is recognised for its humour and honesty in portraying the sometimes unintentional cruelties people inflict on one another, making it a delightful discovery for new readers.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781844083213

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 April 2006

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Virago Press Ltd

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Paul Bailey

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 13.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 195.0mm

Weight: 170g

Pages: 208

About the Author

Elizabeth Taylor (1912-1975) was born and educated in Reading. After leaving school she worked as a governess and later in a library. She lived much of her married life in the village of Penn in Buckinghamshire. In 1984 ANGEL was selected by the Book Marketing Council's 'Best Novels of Our Time'.

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