His broad canvas covers the decades of mitteleuropean horrors that began in czechoslovakia in the 1930s. High on a czechoslovak hill, the landauer house shines as a. Simon mawer is author of eleven novels and two non fiction books. The book follows their struggles but also the house and its subsequent owners, who one by one fall under the spell of the glass room. The glass room by simon mawer takes place over the span of 60 years. In previous books, including mendels dwarf and the glass room long and shortlisted, respectively. Honeymooners viktor and liesel landauer are filled with the optimism and cultural vibrancy of central europe of the 1920. The glass room isbn 97815905965 pdf epub simon mawer. The precisions of science, the wild variance of lust, the catharsis of confession and. The glass room pdf download full pdf read book page.
By the time i finished the book, i felt as if i knew the house nearly as well as my own. Just send us an email and well put the best up on the site. Mawer studied zoology at brasenose college, oxford and has worked as a biology teacher. Simon mawers superbly suspenseful novel, the glass room, revolves around a similar house built by an austrian architect in a czechoslovakian town twenty years earlier. Villa tugendhat, brno and the novel by simon mawer.
Starting in the early 1920s before world war ii and spanning into the cold war that gripped eastern europe. The glass room epub adobe drm can be read on any device that can open epub adobe drm. Mawers the glass room is a genuine intellectual achievementa breathtaking story of love and its loss, of art and lost art, of wars lost and then won and lost again, of rich gentleman jews and jews lost to nazi madness. The glass room is a fiction of many remarkable qualities. For the glass room is an historical novel and both the sometimes subtle presence and that simon mawers style mimicked a novel in translation, yet was really tremendously well controlled is just one of the aspects that make this book stand out from other historical novels. For the glass room is an historical novel and both the sometimes subtle presence and sometimes ironic impact of historical context is integral to the story. The glass room summary by michael mcgoodwin, prepared 20.
It deals with important subject matter in the nazi era, atrocities and evil science included, is rather heavy and biological in numerous sexual encounters the author is a biologist, and at times. He builds them a home to embody their exuberant faith in the future, and the landauer house becomes an instant masterpiece. Its a book to be read slowly if possible although its tempting to rush ahead, the chapters are short, the writing elegant and understated as well as sensual, gripping and tragic. Published in britain by little, brown, january 2009 and in the us by the other press, october 2009. Simon mawer writing styles in the glass room simon mawer this study guide consists of approximately 39 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the glass room. A novel by simon mawer and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The glass room by simon mawer book club discussion. At that reception, the british novelist simon mawer, read some extracts from his novel, first published in 2009, entitled the glass room.
I have just loved reading the glass room this week. The story follows the relationship of liesel and viktor landauer and the house they build to share their lives together in. Simon mawers beautifully wrought novel evokes a time and place in a way rarely achieved by historical fiction writers thomas flanagan comes to mind. Honeymooners viktor and liesel landauer are filled with the optimism and cultural vibrancy of central europe of the 1920s when they meet modernist architect rai. The glass room is the eye on the world that witnesses life, love, horror, redemption. Honeymooners viktor and liesel landauer are filled with the optimism and cultural vibrancy of central europe of the 1920s when they meet. The glass room is a novel of ideas, yet strongly propelled by plot and characterised by an almost dreamlike simplicity of telling. The precisions of science, the wild variance of lust, the catharsis of confession and the fear of failure these are things that happen in the glass room. The glass room, by british author simon mawer, was published in 2009 by other press in the. Comparisons with the work of michael frayn would not be misplaced, and there are occasional moments of illuminating brilliance. Simon mawer books list of books by author simon mawer. The glass room by simon mawer and a great selection of related books. It is a fictional story inspired by villa tugendhat, and takes it title from the extensive living space, with its plate glass windows. Simon mawers followup to the bookershortlisted the glass room is more of a traditional thriller, writes natasha tripney published.
A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Book may be a price cutter or have a remainder mark. Each book is wrapped in acidfree paper, within a rigid biodegradable cardboard mailer and a waterproof fullyrecyclable mailing envelope. The slow slide of the pane downwards as though to remove the barrier that exists between reality and fiction, the fabricated world of the living room and the hard fact of snow and vegetation. But almost none of this is in simon mawers the glass room. His first published book was chimera 1989, a novel about old conflicts of a family and tragedies of wartime in. This acclaimed book by simon mawer is available at in several formats for your ereader. A novel by simon mawer and a great selection of related books. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. According to simon mawer, who has written what reads like a poem to the house, it is defiantly there still embodying the concept of the glass space. There is a pause during which the two airs stand fragile and separate, the warmth within shivering like a jelly against the wall of cold outside. Simon mawers the glass room and its spell over private. Mawers control of his themes of language, desire, memory and the power of place is extraordinary as haunting and mysterious as the effect of sunlight on the wall of golden onyx that survives all the convulsions by which his characters are engulfed jane shilling, the daily telegraph.
His first novel, chimera, won the mckitterick prize for first novels in 1989. I knew its moods, as the light flooding the openplan rooms changed with the weather and the seasons. Publication date 2009 publisher other press collection. Read the glass room a novel by simon mawer available from rakuten kobo. At first glance, simon mawers ninth no vel seems a surprising change of pace. Simon mawerthe glass room seeing the world through books. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. Brimming with barely contained passion and cruelty, the precision of science, the wild variance of lust, the catharsis of confession, and the fear of failure the glass room contains it. His previous novels include the fall winner of the boardman tasker prize, the gospel of judas, and mendels dwarf longlisted for the man booker prize. The home at the heart of the glass room, simon mawers eighth novel, is the opposite of primitive. High on a czechoslovak hill, the landauer house shines as a wonder of steel and glass and onyx built specially for newlyweds viktor and liesel landauer, a jew married to a gentile. Simon mawers latest book is a historical novel set in czechoslovakia in the late 1930s. The glass room was inspired by the villa tugendhat, and the house is its central character.
We deliver the joy of reading in 100% recycled packaging with free standard shipping on u. The glass room, published by little, brown in january 2009, was on the man booker shortlist. He published his first novel, chimera, at the comparatively late age of thirtynine and it went on to win the mckitterick prize for first novels. But the radiant honesty of 1930 that the house, with its unique glass room, seems to engender quickly tarnishes. He now lives in italy with his wife and teaches at st. More information about this seller contact this seller 21. The glass room takes on many personas throughout the book, moving from a home to a laboratory to a gymnasium to a museum. Simon mawer was born in england and spent his childhood there, in cyprus, and in malta. Historical novels are usually possessed of horrid, obvious and multiple weaknesses and flaws bogus.
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