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All Passion Spent

By Vita Sackville-West
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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
All Passion Spent by Vita Sackville-West is a poignant exploration of aging, autonomy, and personal reflection. Following the death of her husband, Lady Slane, an 88-year-old widow, decides to break free from the expectations of her family. She seeks to spend her remaining years in a house she always dreamed of, contemplating her past decisions and newfound independence.
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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?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy stories about personal freedom and self-discovery. Set in the twilight years of the protagonist's life, the novel explores themes of independence as an elderly woman steps away from societal expectations to find her own path. Its reflective and introspective narrative may captivate those interested in subtle yet profound storytelling.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A charming extraordinary early 20th century novel about family relationships.

When the great statesman Lord Slane dies, everyone assumes his dutiful wife will slowly fade away, the paying guest of each of her six children.

Life begins at 88- a widow escapes her overbearing family and discovers the unexpected freedoms of old age

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

All Passion Spent by Vita Sackville-West is a charming, extraordinary early 20th-century novel about family relationships and the unexpected freedoms of old age.

Life begins at 88 for Lady Slane, a widow who escapes her overbearing family. When her husband, the great statesman Lord Slane, dies, everyone assumes his dutiful wife will slowly fade away, becoming the paying guest of each of her six children. Yet, to everyone's surprise, Lady Slane chooses to escape to a rented house in Hampstead.

In Hampstead, she revels in her newfound freedom, revives youthful ambitions, and gathers some very unsuitable companions. Irreverent, entertaining, and insightful, this is a tale of the unexpected joys of growing older.

With an introduction by Joanna Lumley.

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?

All Passion Spent is praised for its uplifting portrayal of a woman embracing her own desires in widowhood, defying familial expectations. Reviewers highlight the humorous and heartening writing style of Vita Sackville-West, noting the story's ability to inspire and celebrate old age. The novel is described as a delight, with many finding it an enjoyable and pleasurable read.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781784870553

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 24 March 2016

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage Classics

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Joanna Lumley

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 12.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 141g

Pages: 192

Collections

Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Penguin Books Vita Sackville-West

About the Author

Vita Sackville-West was born in 1892 at Knole in Kent, the only child of aristocratic parents. In 1913 she married diplomat Harold Nicolson, with whom she had two sons and travelled extensively before settling at Kent's Sissinghurst Castle in 1930, where she devoted much of her time to creating its now world-famous garden. Throughout her life Sackville-West had a number of other relationships with both men and women, and her unconventional marriage would later become the subject of a biography written by her son Nigel Nicolson. Though she produced a substantial body of work, amongst which are writings on travel and gardening, Sackville-West is best known for her novels The Edwardians (1930) and All Passion Spent (1931), and for the pastoral poem The Land (1926), which was awarded the prestigious Hawthornden Prize. Sackville-West died on 2 June 1962 at her Sissinghurst home, aged seventy.

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