Jun 03, 2010 you might not like all of william boyd s novels, but you can never criticize his work for lacking originality or interesting characters. William boyd, the blue afternoon, signed limited first edition, 1993 shapero rare books. The blue afternoon ebook by william boyd rakuten kobo. Now the blue afternoon puts its characters in an equally marginal and obscure. The blue afternoon is the afternoon on which carriscant and delphine first consummate their relationship, an afternoon of rain and sun when the light seems to turns blue a phenomenon which is indeed beautifully conjured, and, by for once recreating. You might not like all of william boyds novels, but you can never criticize his work for lacking originality or interesting characters. His father alexander, a doctor specialising in tropical medicine, and boyds mother, who was a teacher, moved to the then gold coast in 1950 to run the health clinic at the university of ghana, legon formerly university college of the gold coast.
And i hated all the bits about the dead bodies and the dirty hospitals which made it all so grim and depressing. By william boyd the blue afternoon by william boyd a perfectpitch story of love and redemption the new york times, boyds atmospheric new novel confirms his reputation as heir to the grand narrative traditions of joseph conrad and somerset maugham. Indeed a tower of such tomes tottered at his elbow. Boyd tells his subsequent tale of amoral, obsessive and cunning love in. A masterful storyteller, william boyd captivates his reader from the onset. Boyds new novel should carry a label advising readers that an intriguing narrative is initially obscured beneath a plot device that almost ruins the whole thing.
Introducing the blue afternoon 1993 the proposer said he had first read it on holiday in tuscany in 1995. The blue afternoon 1993 is a novel by william boyd. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. His father alexander, a doctor specialising in tropical medicine, and boyd s mother, who was a teacher, moved to the then gold coast in 1950 to run the health clinic at the university of ghana, legon formerly university college of the gold coast. This is a book about which we had to agree to differ.
Our archive discussions can be found here and a list of the books we have discussed, with links to the discussions, here. Kay fischer, a young, ambitious architect, is shadowed by salvador. Volume 1 vintage international kindle edition by boyd, william. The blue afternoon by william boyd, 9780141046907, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. William boyd books list of books by author william boyd. Buy a cheap copy of the blue afternoon book by william boyd. When confronted, he explains that his name is salvador carriscant and that he is her father. He is the author of fifteen highly acclaimed, bestselling novels and five collections of stories. Buy the blue afternoon by william boyd, in very good condition. Books by william boyd authors like william boyd what. Boyd is a fabulous story teller and the blue afternoon is simply a splendid read. William boyd is the author of fifteen novels, including a good man in africa, winner of the whitbread literary award and the somerset maugham award. Buy the blue afternoon by william boyd from waterstones today. Boyd was born on march 7, 1952 in accra, ghana in a scottish descent.
Among his other awards are the whitbread first novel prize, the john. As clare and others pointed out, there are many references to blue throughout the book. The deluxe limited issue first edition of blue afternoon by william boyd, clothbacked marbled boards and glassine dustjacket. I suspect the usual jumble of motivations was immediately on. Kay fischer, a young, ambitious architect, is shadowed by salvador carriscant, an enigmatic stranger claiming to be her father. May 25, 1993 the blue afternoon is yet another incredibly good william boyd novel. Buy the uk edition of the blue afternoon buy the us edition of the blue afternoon. He is the author of fifteen highly acclaimed, bestselling novels and five. Well structured and well realised, it has been written with both strength and beauty, and presents a real understanding of the human condition. Brazzaville beach won the james tait black memorial prize. William boyd is the author of ten novels, including a good man in africa, winner of the whitbread award and the somerset maugham award. He has successfully written many novels that are quite popular all over the world. William boyd is the author of one work of nonfiction, three collections of short stories and thirteen novels, including the bestselling historical spy thriller restless winner of the costa novel of the year and any human heart, in which the character of ian fleming features.
William boyd was born in 1952 in accra, ghana, and grew up there and in nigeria. William boyds first novel, a good man in africa, won a whitbread prize and a somerset maugham award. A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. The blue afternoon is yet another incredibly good william boyd novel. He is married and divides his time between london and southwest france. I didnt really believe or like any of the characters and the story was just not plausible. Books by william boyd authors like william boyd what should i read next register for free to build your own book lists. About the blue afternoon a perfectpitch story of love and redemption the new york times, boyds atmospheric new novel confirms his reputation as heir to the grand narrative traditions of joseph conrad and somerset maugham. The blue afternoon by william boyd overdrive rakuten. The new york times from william boyd, awardwinning author of brazzaville beach and restless, comes a stunning literary mystery about crime and punishment. The blue afternoon by william boyd, penguin pounds 4. An icecream war, winner of the john llewellyn rhys prize and shortlisted for the booker prize. Its too bad that boyd encased his engrossing central tale in its unwieldy carapace. The blue afternoon by william boyd elizabeth baines.
A prominent surgeon in manila, carriscant is called in to examine the bodies of two american soldiers whose deaths prompt a murder investigation. An ice cream war, winner of the john llewellyn rhys prize and shortlisted for the booker prize. I have read most of boyds novels, all of which range from good to very good to great. Kay fischer, a young and ambitious architect, is being followed by an old man. Here the more obvious aspect of the rule of governor william howard. Blue afternoon by william boyd penguin books australia. A perfectpitch story of love and redemption the new york times, boyds atmospheric new novel confirms his reputatio. This one is near the top of the list in my opinion. The blue afternoon by william boyd penguin books australia. A perfectpitch story of love and redemption the new york times, boyd s atmospheric new novel confirms his reputatio. Winner of the sunday express book of the year award achingly memorable the times a quest for secrets in the blue afternoon. Below is a list of william boyds books in order of when they were originally published. Well structured and well realised, it has been written with both strength and beauty, and.
A perfectpitch story of love and redemption the new york times, boyds atmospheric new novel confirms his reputation as heir to the grand. William boyd became a published novelist in 1981 with the novel a good man in africa, which he followed up with a short story collection entitled on the yankee station and other stories that same year. Boyd was born in accra, ghana, to scottish parents, both from fife, and has two younger sisters. The blue afternoon is a classic, prizewinning novel by bestseller william boyd winner of the 1993 sunday express book of the year award. The blue afternoon by william boyd penguin books new zealand. The cultural details which boyd weaves in are fascinating, and the story unfolds in an effective way. A perfectpitch story of love and redemption the new york times, boyds atmospheric new novel confirms his reputation as heir to the grand narrative traditions of joseph conrad and somerset maugham. See all books authored by william boyd, including any human heart, and restless, and more on. Our cheap used books come with free delivery in the uk. Brazzaville beach, winner of the james tait black memorial prize.
Read the blue afternoon volume 1 by william boyd available from rakuten kobo. You might not like all of william boyd s novels, but you can never criticize his work for lacking originality or interesting characters. The blue afternoon by william boyd and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. By william boyd the blue afternoon by william boyd a perfectpitch story of love and redemption the new york times, boyd s atmospheric new novel confirms his reputation as heir to the grand narrative traditions of joseph conrad and somerset maugham. Within weeks of their first meeting, kay will join him for an extraordinary journey into the old mans past, initially in search of a murderer, but finally in celebration of a glorious, undying love. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. The blue afternoon, about which some people were a little puzzled. Much like other readers i am a william boyd fan, and was most disappointed in the blue afternoon. The blue afternoon the cross and the banner like snow in the sun an englishman in the tropics seuil editions balland express club withered slices, rubbing on a dust jacket otherwise good condition fast, neat and free shipping to mainland france and foreign countries contact me to know the shipping costs to the domtom bookstore dbooks. Carriscant is such a compelling character the reader can not help but get sucked into his life and his tale. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the blue afternoon. William boyd seems singularly blessed with both an innate love of storytelling and the talent to render those stories in swift, confident prose.
Aug 30, 2010 the blue afternoon is a classic, prizewinning novel by bestseller william boyd winner of the 1993 sunday express book of the year award. The blue afternoon book by william boyd half price books. British novelist boyd brazzaville beach, 1991, etc. William boyd, the blue afternoon, signed limited first.