Average Rating:

.

The Siege of Krishnapur

by: J.G. Farrell

July 01, 1996
My interest in this book was piqued when it was nominated for the 'Booker of Bookers'. On reading it, I was not at all disappointed. It ticked every box I could hope for - excellent characterisation, well plotted storyline, free indirect discourse that Jane Austen would be proud of,and an enormous amount of wit. At times I was laughing out loud at the antics of the characters under pressure of the siege. A truly excellent novel that I thoroughly recommend.

Average Rating:

.

Troubles

by: J.G. Farrell

August 05, 1993
Just back from the trenches of World War I, the retired Major Brendan Archer travels out to the Irish village of Kilnalough to meet his fiancée Angela Spencer, whose family runs the (once renowned) Majestic hotel. But once there she proves first elusive and then sick, and before long she dies. But although afterwards there's nothing much keeping him there, the Major finds himself strangely unable to leave the Majestic hotel. But this is Ireland in 1919, and remote as Kilnalough may be, there are increasing stories in the papers of troubles all over Ireland.

As in 'The Siege of Krishnapur' (another masterpiece, set during the Indian Mutiny in 1857, and winner of the Booker Prize), Farrell depicts in this novel the slow decline of the ... Read More:

Average Rating:

.

The Singapore Grip

by: J.G. Farrell

July 01, 1996
This was much more of an epic than I expected. Nearest comparison I can think of is Olivia Manning's "Fortunes Of War" (Balkan and Levant trilogies), with a dash of Paul Scott (Raj quartet) and Evelyn Waugh (Sword Of Honour).

By turns serious and satirical, it recounts the inexorable decline of the ex-pat British colonial community in Malaya, as the imperial Japanese storm gathers, bursts, and ultimately destroys their apparently invunerable world of privilege.

Although parts of the book are slow (but often funny), it is never less than absorbing, and builds to a gripping and moving climax, which I found utterly unputdownable.

Sadly, this was to be Farrell's last book, as he died shortly after completing it.

Average Rating:

.

Siege of Krishnapur

by: J.G. Farrell

January 01, 1999
My interest in this book was piqued when it was nominated for the 'Booker of Bookers'. On reading it, I was not at all disappointed. It ticked every box I could hope for - excellent characterisation, well plotted storyline, free indirect discourse that Jane Austen would be proud of,and an enormous amount of wit. At times I was laughing out loud at the antics of the characters under pressure of the siege. A truly excellent novel that I thoroughly recommend.

Average Rating:

.

The Siege of Krishnapur (Flamingo)

by: J.G. Farrell

October 10, 1985
My interest in this book was piqued when it was nominated for the 'Booker of Bookers'. On reading it, I was not at all disappointed. It ticked every box I could hope for - excellent characterisation, well plotted storyline, free indirect discourse that Jane Austen would be proud of,and an enormous amount of wit. At times I was laughing out loud at the antics of the characters under pressure of the siege. A truly excellent novel that I thoroughly recommend.

Average Rating:

.

The Hill Station

by: J.G. Farrell

April 01, 1993
If there's one thing Farrell cannot be forgiven for is dying before finishing this book. The book takes up with Dr McNab who is now passing into his twilight years with his wife Miriam, both characters appearing earlier in The Siege of Krishnapur. The book, or perhaps half a book (the novel ending abruptly midway), tells of their time in Simla with their niece Emily who is husband hunting. Within Simla a fierce battle rages, this time it is the forces of Popery and Anglicanism that clash. The good doctor is caught in the middle. Whilst we seem only to be getting into the story when it tragically is left unfinished the humour and the skill Farrell had with words is still visible.
The book also contains some essays on him by friends (where the plot of the book is given) ... Read More:

Average Rating:

.

Siege of Krishnapur

by: J.G. Farrell

April 24, 1975
If there's one thing Farrell cannot be forgiven for is dying before finishing this book. The book takes up with Dr McNab who is now passing into his twilight years with his wife Miriam, both characters appearing earlier in The Siege of Krishnapur. The book, or perhaps half a book (the novel ending abruptly midway), tells of their time in Simla with their niece Emily who is husband hunting. Within Simla a fierce battle rages, this time it is the forces of Popery and Anglicanism that clash. The good doctor is caught in the middle. Whilst we seem only to be getting into the story when it tragically is left unfinished the humour and the skill Farrell had with words is still visible.
The book also contains some essays on him by friends (where the plot of the book is given) ... Read More:

Average Rating:

.

The Siege of Krishnapur [Audiobook]

by: J.G. Farrell

September 12, 2005
If there's one thing Farrell cannot be forgiven for is dying before finishing this book. The book takes up with Dr McNab who is now passing into his twilight years with his wife Miriam, both characters appearing earlier in The Siege of Krishnapur. The book, or perhaps half a book (the novel ending abruptly midway), tells of their time in Simla with their niece Emily who is husband hunting. Within Simla a fierce battle rages, this time it is the forces of Popery and Anglicanism that clash. The good doctor is caught in the middle. Whilst we seem only to be getting into the story when it tragically is left unfinished the humour and the skill Farrell had with words is still visible.
The book also contains some essays on him by friends (where the plot of the book is given) ... Read More:

Average Rating:

.

Troubles (Flamingo)

by: J.G. Farrell

May 10, 1984
Just back from the trenches of World War I, the retired Major Brendan Archer travels out to the Irish village of Kilnalough to meet his fiancée Angela Spencer, whose family runs the (once renowned) Majestic hotel. But once there she proves first elusive and then sick, and before long she dies. But although afterwards there's nothing much keeping him there, the Major finds himself strangely unable to leave the Majestic hotel. But this is Ireland in 1919, and remote as Kilnalough may be, there are increasing stories in the papers of troubles all over Ireland.

As in 'The Siege of Krishnapur' (another masterpiece, set during the Indian Mutiny in 1857, and winner of the Booker Prize), Farrell depicts in this novel the slow decline of the British empire, and he does so ... Read More:

Average Rating:

.

The Siege of Krishnapur

by: J.G. Farrell

1993-04
My interest in this book was piqued when it was nominated for the 'Booker of Bookers'. On reading it, I was not at all disappointed. It ticked every box I could hope for - excellent characterisation, well plotted storyline, free indirect discourse that Jane Austen would be proud of,and an enormous amount of wit. At times I was laughing out loud at the antics of the characters under pressure of the siege. A truly excellent novel that I thoroughly recommend.