Elizabeth Buchan is the author of several highly acclaimed and bestselling books of fiction, including the bestselling Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman, The Good Wife Strikes Back, Everything She Thought She Wanted, Consider the Lily, and Separate Beds.In 2006 at the Guardian, she named a top ten list of books to comfort and console during a divorce. One title on the list:
The Pursuit of Love by Nancy MitfordRead about another title on the list.
In an atmosphere of post-divorce reflectiveness The Pursuit of Love could be considered an exercise in masochism. But it is not. Granted, the laughter engendered is often rueful and Linda Radlett'shit-and-miss search for love is sometimes heartless, but that is to ignore the pure comedy and high-spirited wit that streams effortlessly from Mitford's pen. It is also to undervalue her clearsightness, her obvious acquaintance with grief and failure and the deep comprehension of human nature that runs through the light, polished story of the Radlett family and the beautiful Linda in particular. If one has to be down, Nancy Mitford's clever, satirical comedy about a world that has more or less vanished does an excellent job of bracing the spirits - something of which she would no doubt approve.
The Pursuit of Love is one of Anna Quindlen's five best novels on women in search of themselves.
Visit Elizabeth Buchan's website.
The Page 69 Test: Separate Beds.
Writers Read: Elizabeth Buchan (March 2011).
My Book, The Movie: Separate Beds.
--Marshal Zeringue
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