Readers' Review: "Possession: A Romance" by A.S. Byatt
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-07-25/readers-review-possession-romance-byatt
Cover image courtesy Random House, Inc.
A.S. Byatt’s novel “Possession: A Romance” caused a literary sensation when it was published in 1990. The mystery and love story tells the tale of two young scholars researching the lives of two Victorian poets. It begins with the discovery of a letter from the well-known -- and married -- poet Randolph Henry Ash to an unknown woman. The search for her identity triggers a chase from London to Brittany, France. Along the way, the modern scholars uncover letters, poems and journals of Ash and his lover, Christabel Lamotte. Soon, others become interested in their pursuit and the story ends with a shocking graveyard discovery. Join Diane and her guests for our Readers’ Review of “Possession."
Guests
Rosemary Jann
professor of English at George Mason University.
Andrew Stauffer
associate professor of English at the University of Virginia and director of NINES (Networked Infrastructure for Nineteenth-Century Electronic Scholarship).
Tania James
author of "Aerogrammes and Other Stories" and "Atlas of Unknowns."
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Read An Excerpt
Excerpted from "Possession" by A.S. Byatt. Copyright © 1991 by A. S. Byatt. Excerpted by permission of Vintage, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Comments
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Oo how exciting! I just read this book a couple months ago and loved it! I generally try to stay away from movie adaptations of books I like, but I'm always curious--anyone seen the movie? Was it a good adaptation?
The movie is, sadly, an execrable adaptation of a wonderful book. To be honest, I'm not sure that a film could ever do the concepts that Byatt addresses in the book justice -- intertextuality, the role of the reader, etc. Possession is such rich text to mine and every reading yields something else. It's been a few years since I read it the last time, but I think I'll read it again and try to catch the show.
Has anyone else read the rest of Byatt's work? She has to be one of my favorite contemporary authors.
Thanks for the opinion, mrw! I figured the movie couldn't do justice to the book. The book was so loaded with details about so many characters after all, and each one of those details is so special into making the characters so real. A very magical read :) I unfortunately cannot comment on anymore of Byatt's work since Possession is my first read of a book of hers. I'll definitely look into more though after this one!
Wonderful book. Disappointing movie.
I haven't read the book yet, but Andrew Stauffer's description of the story and underlying themes makes me want to start on it today! Fascinating topics.
Tom Hubbard
Richmond, VA
804-767-1744
I taught Possession in a critical theory class at Goshen College (Indiana). Each week we read two or three chapters alongside a different theory (feminism, structuralism, ecocriticism, narratology...). The students were amazed at how rich the novel was, how many ways it could be mined for thoughtful reflection on the Victorian period and our own. I am glad you mentioned Beatrice Nest on the show, because she was a perennial student favorite.
In 2001, I did a Masters thesis on AS Byatt's book, "Possession: A Romance" - part of my thesis project was to go to Yorkshire and follow in the footsteps of Randolph, Cristabel, Roland, and Maud and take photos of all the places they visited. The premise of my thesis was that AS Byatts words are 'worth a thousand pictures' - as her words literally bring the story to life beyond what any photos can accomplish. With her words, you can not only 'see' the landscape and waterfall (Thomason Foss) - but you can feel and smell the air and taste the water. My husband and I took over 800 photos, and they cannot even begin to portray the scenes she describes in her books - she paints her stories with her words. Sometime I would love to hear you discuss "Still Life" - also by AS Byatt - another amazing 'art work' in words.
I'm so glad to know the movie, which I liked very much was derived from a book, which is so wonderfully discussed here, thank you all. The book sounds like an absolute must read for me, for all the delicious reasons presented on the show. I did really enjoy the movie! It was such a suspenseful mystery; and who doesn't love all the key actors?!. But I find myself not seeing the movie again, as I so do with all my other favorites, probably because I found the relationship of the modern couple too odd, too strange in parts (as portrayed in the film), which is like a bad taste in one's mouth. This is a story so full of richness we could discuss it for days....so many innuendos, and in it's tragedies, I think, many learning lessons.
On the guest's comment about daughter Maia being a 'Tom Boy', how about instead 'a little Victorian girl as active as her brothers, much like today's girls; just a normal girl.
cont.--- But I do recommend the movie at least once for anyone who has enjoyed the book/story - or, if you are not going to read the book - because the film is very entertaining and fun (a caution on the sensual though). Movies are a different art form, so, much is left behind, with a story so vast, but perhaps enough will come to life also,for your enjoyment.
Good to know, polarmama! :D I bet it's one of those situations where the overall story is good so it can still make a good movie if the overall story is kept, but the book provides so much more details and exploration that it surpasses the movie in terms of what experience you get out of it. I won't rule out seeing it completely though!
What a great discussion! Couple things that came to my mind:
1) Byatt's ability to switch between modern language and Victorian language is astonishing.
2) THOSE LETTERS! I forgot about them until Tania brought them up! I was so entranced for the last third of the book that I totally forgot the work that it took to drag myself through those early letters of Ash and Lamotte's! I appreciate Byatt's ability to create a natural, human conversation between two Victorians. I can't change the fact that I really didn't find them that enjoyable to read though...
3) One of the most psychologically terrifying parts of the book for me was when Ellen recounts the night of consummating her marriage to Ash. In this modern day where sex is taught in public schools and such, it never dawned on me how absolutely terrifying that night would be to a well behaved, pure minded Victorian girl who has been told that sex is dirty and sinful. It made me so thankful that I live in the era that I do.
4) I LOVE that part that you read out loud about Roland and Maud's romance blossoming into something so innocently sensual!
5) So interesting, I never considered Cropper a comical character. I actually found him sinister and pretentious. I always grew very anxious whenever I thought he was going to triumph over Maud and Roland.
6) I think it's a symmetrical occurrence that Ash's last message to Lamotte never reached her, and that Lamotte's last message to Ash never reached him. I'm not sure if that has any literary significance, but just something I noticed and thought was rather poignant :)
7) Too bad there wasn't enough time to discuss Sabine, Lamotte's cousin. I thought she was one of the most fascinating characters in the story, and found her writing to be completely captivating.
Overall, an awesome discussion! Makes me want to go back and read the book again :)
I was so happy when I heard this broadcast this morning/afternoon! Possession is one of my favorite books and I was dying to hear an intelligent discussion about it--among other things I wanted an informed take on the movie from people who loved the book, since I have not yet seen the movie and am trying to get my mom to read the book by first watching the movie with her. Thank you Diane Rehm show and commenters!
Am I reading the same book??? I find it poorly written & difficulty to get in to the story. I'll give it 100 pages before I make a final decision about continuing, but so far I'm very disappointed.
Any suggestions??? Thanks!!!