"Extraordinary and enchanting", Hilary Spurling.
"... absolutely magical", Harriet Devine.
" .... [a] terrific novel", Vintage Reads.
Those remarks - and Amanda Craig's comment - are good enough for me, and I hope they will make you want to get hold of a copy of The Fountain Overflows
"Rose observes her musical, bohemian family with a child's wisdom - sometimes with innocence and occasionally with cruelty. There is her twin Mary, whose nature chimes perfectly with her own; beautiful, obtuse Cordelia, pitied for not being musically gifted; her adored little brother Richard Quin; and her charming, unprincipled father Piers, whose streak of folly ever threatens to bring his family to financial and social ruin. It is their mother Clare, beleaguered, kind and quixotically eccentric, who emerges as the family's true strength."
"It is improbable that even the most scrupulous reader could name a more poignantly and lovingly told tale, a more beautiful piece of writing" - so said the New York Times, so let's read this story of an artistic family on the verge of financial ruin and social disgrace and see whether we agree.
As to availability, shops should stock it or be able to get it easily, libraries ought to have it, and of online sources, The Book Depository is offering it at a competitive price, and there is a Kindle version;
We'll be talking about Lady Audley's Secret on the 21st. of this month, so let's reconvene to discuss The Fountain Overflows on Saturday, 25th. February; I hope there will be a lot of interest in this one as it promises much, I think.
These days, "on the verge of financial ruin" is always relevant. I wish more contemporary literature were dealing with it.
Posted by: Shelley | 04 January 2012 at 04:39 PM
Your description makes me think of "I Capture the Castle". I am sure I will love this.
Posted by: Julie Fredericksen | 04 January 2012 at 04:47 PM
Good point, Shelley.
Posted by: Cornflower | 04 January 2012 at 05:27 PM
I thought of "I Capture ...", too. I hope we'll love this one.
Posted by: Cornflower | 04 January 2012 at 05:28 PM
This book was one of the very last ones I read in 2011, and it was lovely. You're in for a treat!
Posted by: M (@notarevolution) | 04 January 2012 at 06:24 PM
Well last time I loved one you hated it so I do hope you have better luck with this!
Posted by: Harriet | 04 January 2012 at 06:31 PM
I'm so glad to hear that - thankyou.
Posted by: Cornflower | 04 January 2012 at 06:46 PM
I think there are many more books on which we've held similar opinions than ones on which we've differed, so I'm very hopeful with this one, Harriet!
Posted by: Cornflower | 04 January 2012 at 06:49 PM
I have this on my kindle, as I do LA'sS (which I am reading now). It is looking good that for the first time ever I may be part of the Cornflower reading group - twice!
Posted by: Nan | 04 January 2012 at 07:20 PM
I read this years ago and loved it, then went dashing to buy the other books as soon as they were published posthumously in the mid-80s. (Must have really loved it, because it was quite something for me to buy a hardback in those days!)
All so long ago that it's definitely time for a re-read.
Posted by: m | 04 January 2012 at 07:38 PM
That's great, Nan!
Posted by: Cornflower | 04 January 2012 at 09:09 PM
I'm so pleased to hear that - hope the re-read is as good or even better.
Posted by: Cornflower | 04 January 2012 at 09:10 PM
Yes! My library has a copy. Looking forward to this one, since I have never read any Rebecca West, but I have heard of her. This is what I like about the Cornflower Book Group, the opportunity to discover books and authors who are new to me.
Posted by: Ruthiella | 04 January 2012 at 11:11 PM
Just borrowed a copy of this to read so am delighted to hear the Cornflower Book Group will be discussing. Not often do I have the book on time....
Posted by: Susan E | 05 January 2012 at 12:29 AM
I've read Rebecca West's The Return of the Soldier ( http://cornflower.typepad.com/domestic_arts_blog/2007/11/having-read-har.html ) but nothing else by her.
Posted by: Cornflower | 05 January 2012 at 10:15 AM
Great!
Posted by: Cornflower | 05 January 2012 at 10:15 AM
This is the first of a trilogy, the other two being "This Real Night" and "Cousin Rosamund". They didn't receive as good a reception but I think this may be because they are not about children.
Posted by: Erika | 05 January 2012 at 02:02 PM
Yes, from what I've read, Rebecca West wasn't happy with the later volumes, and they were published posthumously.
Posted by: Cornflower | 05 January 2012 at 05:39 PM
The Fountain Overflows is one of my favorite books. What a treat to see other people enjoy it.
Posted by: pburt | 09 January 2012 at 12:02 AM
Having gobbled it down, wanted to say "I loved it!" --and now am ordering the sequel! More in February.
Posted by: Rebecca | 19 January 2012 at 11:23 PM
Oh, good!
Posted by: Cornflower | 20 January 2012 at 07:45 PM
The Fountain Overflows is one of my favorite books. What a treat to see other people enjoy it.
Posted by: Hotels in Buxton | 21 January 2012 at 04:29 AM
Yay! The library has found me a copy of this, so I'm off to town to collect it and can start reading this afternoon. I've not read any Rebecca West, and don't know what to expect.
Posted by: ChrisCross53 | 11 February 2012 at 09:54 AM
Dear Cornflower - I am not sure whether you are busy right now preparing 'very large pink and white fondants in fluted paper cases' [Nancy's party] but whatever happens be sure not to cheat and use a jar for your pork-pie (!) AND include conger eel '....and the best black peppercorns....from a shop crusted like a bottle of port.....' - can't wait to find out what you have chosen as the "recipe" to go with this sublime book!
Posted by: Rose | 19 February 2012 at 11:09 AM
I was delighted to find so much food content, Rose, so I'm now spoilt for choice!
Posted by: Cornflower | 20 February 2012 at 10:43 AM