A Corner of Paradise
A love story (with the usual reservations)
Published on 3. July 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
224 pages
978-0-09-958186-4 (ISBN)
Description
In 1973, Brian Thompson kissed the impossibly glamorous Elizabeth North for the first time, in a busy supermarket car park along the Leeds ring road. This is the story of the unexpectedly joyous consequences - ones to baffle many, not least themselves - until her death, aged 78.
Both were writers, though they came from opposite ends of the social register - she an Admiral's daughter, he the descendant of unruly Cockney eccentrics. She was by nature a solitary, while he was loud, incurably facetious - and needy. From a tiny Harrogate terrace, to the deeply un-picturesque French farmhouse where they spent their summers, Brian and Liz battled their way to a heart-rending goodbye in an Oxford hospital ward. In many ways, their partnership was 'an exercise in asymmetry' - yet, despite the conflicts, they emerge in this deeply-felt memoir as a couple who were lucky enough to find their corner of paradise in one another.
Both were writers, though they came from opposite ends of the social register - she an Admiral's daughter, he the descendant of unruly Cockney eccentrics. She was by nature a solitary, while he was loud, incurably facetious - and needy. From a tiny Harrogate terrace, to the deeply un-picturesque French farmhouse where they spent their summers, Brian and Liz battled their way to a heart-rending goodbye in an Oxford hospital ward. In many ways, their partnership was 'an exercise in asymmetry' - yet, despite the conflicts, they emerge in this deeply-felt memoir as a couple who were lucky enough to find their corner of paradise in one another.
Reviews / Votes
A joyous, life-and-love-affirming account -- Rachel Joyce * The Times * A portrait of love and grief, both witty and tender * Independent * A beguiling mosaic of incidents and anecdotes... Writing of real charm and humour * Sunday Times * Thompson is a terrific memoirist - wry, vivid and with one eye trained unforgivingly on his own failings... A beautifully written, deeply affecting book * Daily Mail * A beguiling mosaic of anecdotes... Real charm and humour -- Nick Rennison * Sunday Times * A moving tribute... A refreshingly honest book -- Julia Richardson * Daily Mail * A poignant, wry and honest memoir, laced with a self-deprecating wit * Good Book Guide * Good books about being old but feeling young are rare and this is one. Brian Thompson knows how to keep the reader reading -- Ysenda Maxtone Graham * Spectator * Thompson writes with a style and a sense of humour that engages the reader and avoids self-indulgence -- Douglas Osler * Scotland on Sunday * This tender memorial is told with fun, wit, gentleness and an honesty that does not shrink from the occasional bad temper and tetchiness -- Jan Lee * UK Regional Press *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Vintage Publishing
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 130 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
184 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-09-958186-4 (9780099581864)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
07/2013
1st Edition
Vintage Digital
€12.99
Available for download
Person
Brian Thompson was born in London in 1935 and now lives in Oxford. He has written two award-winning volumes of memoir: Keeping Mum (2006), winner of the Costa Prize for Biography and the PEN/Ackerley Prize, and Clever Girl (2007), longlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize. He is also the author of the Bella Wallis mystery series, also published by Chatto/Vintage.