Started: March 5, 2024 | Finished: March 11. 2024
New Grub Street
Immersive, addictive, beautifully-wrought. I knew I might like “New Grub Street” but I did not anticipate discovering one of the best books I’ve ever read.
“New Grub Street” is about a part of the London literary world during the late 19th century.
Initially we follow the fortunes of Edwin Reardon, an author and his wife, Amy. But the cast of characters soon expand to include what can be considered archetypes of the literary world.
Reardon, together with his friend, Harold Biffen, typify the artist as author. They are classically inclined, well-read, and sentimental.
Jasper Milvain and Mr Whelpdale are also literary contributors but of a more practical vein.
Then we have Alfred Yule who is an older literary contributor who is the father of Marian Yule, also engaged in creating fodder for the periodicals.
“New Grub Street” presents us with a comprehensive panoply of “literary types”” that interact across its various subplots.
As the story progresses we get a sense of what this industry is like both from the creative and business sides.
Now that I have finished reading it, I consider “New Grub Street” as one of the best books I have ever read. Maybe because I have - presumably like most readers - daydreamed about becoming a writer myself.
Also, it could be because of the excellent writing and solid plotting of the piece. I found this to be a page turner.
Beyond the plot, the depth of the book, the journey it gives to a reader by carefully delineating the minds and emotions of the characters is both fascinating and revelatory. Not only did this book entertain me but it held up a mirror and compelled me to think about my own life choices and attitude. I think this particular quality makes this book better than good - it is a great book.