"During summer games of hide and seek Harriet falls in love with Vesey and his elusive, teasing ways. When he goes to Oxford, she cherishes his photograph and waits for the letter that never comes. Years pass, and Harriet stifles her imaginings; with a husband and daughter, she excels at respectability. But then Vesey reappears, and her marriage seems to melt away. Harriet is older, it is much too late, but she is still in love with him."
That's Elizabeth Taylor's 1951 novel A Game of Hide and Seek
Recognising that some of us had trouble with Troubles, and without wishing to pre-empt next week's discussion, that The Bridge ... could fall a bit flat, as it were, I thought that for our next book we might return to the sort of territory occupied by Elizabeth Jenkins' marvellous The Tortoise and the Hare which went down so well last year.
This "story whose theme is love" and which "has something of the lucid delicacies of Persuasion together with, at moments, more than a touch of the fiery-icy strangeness of Wuthering Heights" (Elizabeth Bowen), may already be well known to many of you; it will be new to me (though I recognise the cover of this edition
Let's come back here to talk about the book from Saturday, 20th. November - copies should be easily found through shops, libraries, and online (The Book Depository has it at a very competitive price and offers free worldwide delivery). If you haven't read along with us before but would like to join in now, please do!
I think that's my favourite of all her books. (The Bridge fell a bit flat for me, too ... I hadn't read any Thornton Wilder before but, even so, I'm always glad when you push me to try someone new.)
Posted by: m | 16 October 2010 at 10:54 AM
One of my favourite Elizabeth Taylor books. I re-read it so recently I don't need to read it again now.
I have the same edition you linked to! I hope lots of people will try this one.
Posted by: Barbara | 16 October 2010 at 11:08 AM
Oh, perfect choice. I read some of her books a long time ago (not this one), collected others, and then never went back to them. I just bought the NB bio, too.
Posted by: Audrey | 16 October 2010 at 11:33 AM
I have turned from my computer to the bookcase I keep my special books and picked "A Game of Hide and Seek". Looking forward to re-reading this book.
Posted by: Anne | 16 October 2010 at 02:27 PM
Never heard of it. At first I thought E.T. the movie star had also been a novelist! I hope I can get a copy of it over here.
Posted by: Julie Fredericksen | 16 October 2010 at 03:33 PM
I found a used copy at Amazon for $0.01 --- BUT the shipping charge is $6
ah well, still a good buy and looking forward to this one
Posted by: Janice | 16 October 2010 at 08:17 PM
Usually the shipping charge is $3.99. I wonder why so much on this one??
Posted by: Julie Fredericksen | 17 October 2010 at 02:09 AM
I haven't been reading The Bridge but have this one on the shelves and the Nicola B so it's a must. I did enjoy The Toroise and and The Hare.
Posted by: Claire | 17 October 2010 at 10:56 AM
This seems like a good time to join in, if I may? The bookshelves are up in the living room and, due to pruning and moving, there is space....for more books, of course!
Posted by: Lesley | 17 October 2010 at 11:24 AM
I ordered the one for 88 cents - since it had a cover I liked. I admit - I judge a book by its cover!
Posted by: Julie Fredericksen | 22 October 2010 at 02:58 AM
Never heard of her. This time I have been able to borrow a copy so you'll be hearing my views on this book on the 20th.
Posted by: Dark Puss | 08 November 2010 at 08:40 AM