The towers of trebizond by rose macaulay librarything. It was awarded the james tait black memorial prize for fiction in the year of its publication. Complete summary of rose macaulays the towers of trebizond. Discussion of themes and motifs in rose macaulays the towers of trebizond. So many people have professed their love for the towers of trebizond that i couldnt help but choose it over several other 1956 books, despite having already read three other rose macaulay novels this year. So begins the towers of trebizond, the greatest novel by rose macaulay, one of the eccentric geniuses of english literature.
From here you are swept into a traveloguememoirfictional book about an adventure through turkey. Rose macaulay in an hilarious novel set on an overland journey across turkey, the narrator encounters sorcerers, cops, and southern evangelists as she and her companion travel from istanbul to trebizond on a. One finishes it uncertain whether it is meant to be humorous or tragic, philosophical or iconoclastic, or whether it is just a more or less aimless meandering adventure of the spirit against the background of a major part of asia minor. At another level the book, against its anglocatholic backdrop, deals with the conflict between lauries attraction to christianity and her. The towers of trebizond has been on my toread shelf since 2007. The first book from rose macaulay since fabled shore will prove a baffler to most readers. Oct 30, 2012 hailed as an utter delight, the most brilliant witty and charming book i have read since i cant remember when by the new york times when it was originally published in 1956, rose macaulays the towers of trebizond tells the gleefully absurd story of aunt dot, father chantrypigg, aunt dots deranged camel, and our narrator, laurie, who are traveling from istanbul to legendary trebizond on a. Nov 30, 2003 rose macaulays the towers of trebizond is an utter delight, the most brilliantly witty and captivatingly charming book i have read since i cant remember when. The book has been awarded with james tait black memorial. It looks, initially, like a travel book but is actually a picaresque account of the search for. The towers of trebizond by macaulay, rose and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The first edition of the novel was published in 1956, and was written by rose macaulay.
The towers of trebizond september read spoilers thread. It popped up on some classic book list, possibly the guardians list of books everyone must read its one of the 100 comedies ive read 37 so far. The empire was formed in 1204 after the georgian expedition in chaldia. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 277 pages and is available in paperback format. Pdf the towers of trebizond book by rose macaulay free. The towers of trebizond by rose macaulay 1,315 ratings, 3. Basically a kind of travelogue of the narrators travels through the levant with her eccentric aunt dot, the smug anglican reverend chantrypigg, and aunt dots crazy camel an important character in its own right, the novel comes to encompass much more.
The towers of trebizond was published in 1956, and i think i read it first a year or two later. Towers of trebizond, the hardcover january 1, 1959 by rose macaulay author 4. Hailed as an utter delight, the most brilliant witty and charming book i have read since i cant remember when by the new york times when it was originally published in 1956, rose macaulays the towers of trebizond tells the gleefully absurd story of aunt dot, father chantrypigg, aunt dots deranged camel, and our narrator, laurie, who are traveling from istanbul to legendary trebizond on a. The towers of trebizond, macaulays final novel, is generally regarded as her masterpiece. May 21, 2019 the towers of trebizond by rose macaulay stuckinabook all may 21, 2019 may 19, 2019 1950s, 1956, macaulay comments take my camel, dear, said my aunt dot, as she climbed down from this animal on her return from high mass.
The towers of trebizond is a very hard work to define. See all 35 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Free download or read online the towers of trebizond pdf epub book. Mar, 2015 rose macaulay, the towers of trebizond 1956 judging from just the famous first line of the towers of trebizond take my camel, dear, said my aunt dot, as she climbed down from this animal on her return from high mass you might think you were in for a humorous travelogue, sort of a midcentury female bill bryson. In this fine and funny adventure set in the backlands of modern turkey, a group of highly unusual travel companions makes its way from istanbul to legendary trebizond, encountering potiondealing sorcerers, recalcitrant. Known by many people simply for its fabulous opening line. Fantasy, farce, high comedy, lively travel material, delicious japes at many aspects of the frenzied modern world, and a succession of illuminating thoughts about love, sex. Take my camel, dear, said my aunt dot, as she climbed down from this animal on her return from high mass. The towers of trebizond by rose macaulay goodreads. Hailed as an utter delight, the most brilliant witty and charming book i have read since i cant remember when by the new york times when it was originally published in 1956, rose macaulays the towers of trebizond tells the gleefully absurd story of aunt dot, father chantrypigg, aunt dots deranged camel, and our narrator, laurie, who are. The towers of trebizond 9780006152958 by macaulay, rose and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices.
Oct 24, 2017 the towers of trebizond begins with take my camel, dear, said my aunt dot, as she climbed down from this animal on her return from high mass. Rose macaulays bestselling novel her last, published in 1956 has a highly memorable and wellknown beginning. Strongly autobiographical, it treats with humour and deep sadness the attractions of mystical christianity, and the irremediable conflict between adulterous love and the demands of the christian faith. The towers of trebizond september read chapters 112. Plus i really liked the cover of the nyrb classic edition, above, so i bought my own copy which promptly gathered dust for.
Apr 02, 2017 the narrator a typical female foil to late 1920s early 30s oxbridge intellectuals eg. Rose macaulays towers of trebizond is unlike any other novel ever written. Towers of trebizond by macaulay rose, first edition abebooks. Nov 09, 2011 in the fall of 2004, morning editions steve inskeep and i talked about great first lines, and one of the books i cited was rose macauleys the towers of trebizond farrar, straus, 2012. The empire of trebizond or trapezuntine empire was a monarchy and one of three successor rump states of the byzantine empire that flourished during the th through 15th centuries, consisting of the far northeastern corner of anatolia the pontus and the southern crimea.
Rose macaulay was a literary lioness of her day 1881 to 1958, and a complicated, passionate. The main characters of this fiction, travel story are. Take my camel, dear, said my aunt dot, as she climbed d. It is a firstperson narrative that appears to be a travel memoir but is theoretically a work of fiction, though one with strong autobiographical elements. There is scarcely a line in the first third of the book. The towers of trebizond is a novel by rose macaulay 18811958. Published in 1956, it was the last of her novels, and the most successful. The towers of trebizond npr coverage of the towers of trebizond by rose macaulay. Towers of trebizond, dame rose macaulays final work, is a curious book. Dame rose macaulay, one of the most popular writers and personalities in england from the 1920s until her death in 1958, was a friend to the likes of e. Buy the towers of trebizond flamingo new ed by macaulay, rose isbn. Rose macaulay, quote from the towers of trebizond the boats were filled mostly with steerage passengers who lived in trebizond or were visiting relations there, and the women carried great bundles and sacks full of things, but the men carried suitcases with sharp, square corners, which helped them very much in the struggle to get on and. We all like the idea of saving a bit of cash, so when we found out how many good quality used books are out there we just had to let you know.