The Temple of Optimism
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Book Overview
Set in 18th century Derbyshire in northern England, The Temple of Optimism is a cross between a Jane Austen novel and Tom Stoppard's Arcadia: a wonderful comedy of country life, with a pair of star-crossed lovers who are united in the final pages, against extraordinary odds. There is a spectacular villain: Sir Anthony Apreece, who sets out to swindle a young landowner, Edward Horne, who has recently inherited a country estate bordering his. There is fox-hunting, dramatic death, financial speculation, gossip, village intrigue, country house life, and unlikely love. It is like reading Jane Austen through a 20th Century filter - affectionate, ironic, tender; but what is most remarkable is the writing, which is sophisticated and joyously alive. This is a novel which will succeed by word-of-mouth, and we can capitalize on the superb reviews it is bound to receive in the UK.
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:0786866764
ISBN13:9780786866762
Release Date:January 2000
Publisher:Miramax Books
Length:315 Pages
Weight:1.20 lbs.
Dimensions:1.1" x 6.4" x 9.6"
Customer Reviews
3 ratings
Original and beautiful
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
Fleming's novel, The Temple of Optimism, begins in a rather odd, impressionistic fashion, but quickly adopts a more conventional narrative form. The characters are interesting, and yes, it is a love story, but what's wrong with that? No, it isn't Jane Austen but I wasn't expecting her. Nor was I expecting the originality of the vision, the basic fun of the good guy and the vigor of the bad guy. He convincingly puts philosophy in the mouth of his villain, and joy in his hero. Wonderful.
A Laugh-aloud Pleasure
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
Here is a Trollope-ian romp through Eighteenth Century England's country set, from landed gentry (the chief characters) to the well-drawn eccentricities of the local unlanded. The chapters dealing with the "villain's" dinner party are not to be missed. How come no one else writes this stuff this well?
Read the book not the reviews!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
Temple of Optimism is one of those books that puts a smile on your face as you read it. Its about England before the car came and, for better or worse, opened the country for all to see. And its about people that fill your living room with a world that you know was real, because of the great mansions which inhabit the oh so English countryside, but which needs a real writer to breath life into. James Fleming weaves intrigue around those essentials of life: Land, love and money.I got absorbed from the start, was engrossed during the middle and sped to the end.
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