From Publishers Weekly
Although the plot of the celebrated English novelist ( Black Narcissus ) and memoirist's ( A House with Four Rooms ) latest effort is sadly stale, it is worth reading for its profusion of atmospheric delights. Godden invokes her beloved India in all its colors, creating a hotel by the Coromandel Sea and peopling it with staff and guests, mostly British and American, who enact some nefarious dramas. The benevolent Auntie Sanni, proprietor, watches knowingly as a diplomatic couple on their honeymoon comes to grief, rent by disparate visions of India: what stuffy Blaise sees as sordid, the incandescent Mary finds moving and even transfigurative. To Blaise's chagrin, Mary gets swept up in the local elections, dazzled by a politician whose spirituality changes her forever. Meanwhile, the aloof Olga Manning attends to mysterious proceedings in Calcutta, and a pseudonymous journalist dispatches his spies throughout the area. Adultery, blackmail and mortal tragedy further foment the story line. If the characters conform to stereotypes, they nonetheless quicken through Godden's lightning-fast portraiture and the consummate charm of her setting.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
A week in the life of a luxurious hotel in southern India is the framework for Godden's new novel, set on the lush Coromandel coast. Patna Hall and its staff embody the wisdom and grace of the country, which is clearly beloved by the author. Beautifully drawn characters, rich in complexity, populate this novel, which takes us through a tumultuous marriage of a young British couple, a local political campaign, and assorted human foibles. The Indian characters in particular are portrayed with great dimension and vividness, providing sharp contrast to the rather chilly, oppressive British cast. Indeed, the novel contains layers of contrast between good and evil, seen in the depictions of India and Britain, in the local politics, and in the very essence of human nature. Godden uses dialog skillfully to add subtle texture to her narrative in a treatment that is both unconventional and powerful. Godden fans will be pleased by this novel, her first in seven years. Recommended for large fiction collections. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 4/15/91.
- Margaret Jourdain, Sonoma State Univ., Rohnert Park, Cal.Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
