While England Sleeps: Amazon.ca: Books

Product Description

Philip Hensher, MAIL ON SUNDAY

'Perfect'

TIME OUT

'Funny and sexy'

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Customer Reviews

10 Reviews

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.5 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)

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Most helpful customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Probably the best gay fiction out there, Sep 20 2002

By A Customer

The first time I read this book I cried. Definitely Leavitt's best material and when I read the story about the copyright court case it only intensified my appreciation for this work. I find most gay fiction cheezy, too sappy, needlessly racy, unbelievable, etc. etc. This one's different. It truly belongs in the category "literature" first of all and it was very thirtieseque. I only hope and pray someone out there with money and connections makes this into a movie with Jude Law and Rupert Graves.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Touching love story and period piece, Jun 3 2002

By	Curtis Lane (Orlando, FL United States) - See all my reviews

While his novels aren't as good as his short stories, I still find Leavitt worth reading in any form. This novel was surrounded by controversy and as a result, hasn't been given a fair critical reception. The fair critic still could not pass this novel off as brilliant, however. The story is moving and the history is accurate; some anachronisms--especially in the dialogue--are present, however. The story also doesn't have any deeper meaning that I can find; entertainment if not mind fodder.

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4.0 out of 5 stars a more intimate David Leavitt, Aug 12 2001

By	KIR (Jersey City, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This is by far the most intimate and emotionally-generous of David Leavitt's works, a novel that steadfastly and fortunately avoids the emotional detachment and narrative aloofness that can be seen as the major flaw in his other novels. Rather, While England Sleeps is a slender, plainly told and intimate story of love, loss, and regret between two young men in the years before the outbreak of World War II. Coming from two different social strata, Brian from the starchy upper-crust, Edward from the emboldened working class, the two men enact one of the most tried and true formulas in fiction- gay or straight- but Leavitt pulls it off by injecting a certain grace and emotional rawness that lifts the story above platitudes and into the realm of true feeling. The fact that the two men live in a turbulent time- and the grim reality that their future is sacrificed to it- is not lost on Leavitt but rather than launching into an examination of the social and historical background, he allows his characters to delve into it themselves. The writing lacks the artifice of some other writers but Leavitt always seems to understand the economy better than the art of words, but here his restraint is only in the words themselves. Sorrowful, accomplished, and sincere, this is the best Leavitt has produced so far.

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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A marvellous, touching book with great geographic detail.
Despite the (ridiculous) controversy, you will find this book is gripping, interesting, informative and captures a certain place in history. Read more

Published on Jul 1 2001 by toothygrin

4.0 out of 5 stars A sad and graceful love story.
I have read practically every David Leavitt book and this ranks as his most satisfying novel. Although I read this book 2 years ago, I cannot forget how it moved me. Read more

Published on Jun 9 2000 by Bernard

5.0 out of 5 stars Touching and Accessible
David Leavitt is one of the most easily accessible authors writing about gay life these days. While England Sleeps is especially interesting because of its setting in England,... Read more

Published on Mar 15 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars What is a "pentimento" tale?
I don't have a review. Just a question

Published on Jul 20 1999