Selected Stories by O Henry (Classic Books on Cassettes Collection) [UNABRIDGED]

Book Description

Selections include "A Madison Square Arabian Night", "The Lost Blend", "The Buyer From Cactus City", "Georgia's Ruling", "Blind Man's Holiday", "The Ransom of Red Chief", "Calloway's Code" and "The Last Leaf". (Two 90-minute cassettes)

Selected Stories of O. Henry (Barnes & Noble Classics Series) (Barnes & Noble Classics)

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O Henry
Sanity and tragicomedy.

Selected Stories of O. Henry (Barnes & Noble Classics Series) (Barnes & Noble Classics)
O. Henry
Manufacturer: Barnes & Noble Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1593080425

Book Description

O. Henry mastered the art of the humorous, energetic tale that ends with a sudden, ironic twist. In “After Twenty Years,” for example, two boys agree to meet at a particular spot exactly twenty years later. Both are faithful, but in the intervening years one boy has turned into a criminal, the other into a policeman. Behind the rendezvous lurks a powerful dramatic situation with a fascinating moral dilemma—all dealt with in a few brief pages.

This is just one of the many literary gems in Selected Stories of O. Henry, a collection of 45 of O. Henry’s most renowned and entertaining short stories. Each one offers insights into human nature and the ways it is affected by love, hate, wealth, poverty, gentility, disguise, and crime—themes that ran through the author’s own life. Born William Sidney Porter, O. Henry started writing while in prison for embezzlement. Later he moved to New York, and his tales romanticizing the commonplace, particularly the life of ordinary New Yorkers, became highly popular. The most widely read author of his time, O. Henry died penniless but left behind a wealth of short stories that endure as classics of the genre.

Customer Reviews:

O Henry .......2007-05-12

This collection is a marvelous compilation of short stories. I first read O. Henry as an undergraduate student of American Literature and was pleasantly surprised in discovering a most incredible story teller! I couldn't get enough. I was telling his stories to my friends and they began buying his work. We started a discussion group and attracted others to our meetings. My class was absolutely saturated with O. Henry. This particular collection offers the best selection for O. Henry samplers as well as for true fans. One favorite is "Friends in San Rosario". One cannot know American Literature without knowing O. Henry.

Sanity and tragicomedy........2007-03-05

G. K Chesterton observed, "He is a sane man who can have tragedy in his heart and comedy in his head." If that is true, the O. Henry is probably the only sane man in the history of the world. His optimism and sense of providence in guiding us foolish creatures to an unexpected (but happy) ending is his enduring and endearing legacy.

This collection has the well-know favorites--"Ransom of Red Chief", "Gift of the Magi", "After Twenty Years"--plus many of the lesser known tales. This is an acceptable mixer, giving you want you want, and exposing you to things you didn't know that you needed.

So why is O. Henry so endearing? In addition to reaffirming the divine, guiding province, these stories capture a moment in time. We get a second look on the world at the turn of the twentieth century. This is the world of the Wright Brothers, Henry Ford, and the Great Gatsby. We see the trailing edge of the Gay 90's, prior to the disillusioning horror of the World War I Lost Generation. To coin a phrase, this is the carefree--even garish--dawn before the darkness.

Style-wise, O. Henry's gift is also a curse. He is an unquestioned genius of the short story. He has vibrant prose, charming characters, and a flair for ironic dénouements. Additionally, His eye for both the gritty realities of high and low society, the twisty affairs of the heart, and a soft touch for the happy ending is unparalleled. You always finish his stories with a smile.

His curse is that his stories are formulaic. Now, I admit that his formula works. But if you read more than three of his stories in a row for a week, then midway, you can guess the ending, which destroys his punch line.

So when reading this book, nibble one or two stories, then set it aside for a month, and then return. This will give you enough time to forget his formula, and experience his style fresh. With 45 stories, you will have plenty of time to savor these stories and laugh.

100 Selected Stories (Wordsworth Classics) (Wordsworth Classics)

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An American original
Short story master!
MASTER OF THE IRONIC TWIST!
O Henry is the best Short-Story Writer

100 Selected Stories (Wordsworth Classics) (Wordsworth Classics)
O. Henry
Manufacturer: Wordsworth Editions Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1853262412

Product Description

This collection of 100 of O Henry's finest stories is a showcase for the sheer variety of one of America's best and best-loved short story writers The variety of the stories is amazing; O Henry is as at home describing life south of the Rio Grande as he is chronicling the activities and concerns of 'the four million' ordinary citizens who inhabited turn-of-the-century New York. They are marked by coincidence and surprise endings as well as the compassion and high humour that have made O Henry's stories popular for the last century.

Customer Reviews:

An American original.......2005-11-03

I was surprised upon rereading O. Henry to discover more insight into human situation and character than I had thought of before. The image of a superficial maker of slight superficial gimmick stories was somehow in my mind, and it proved wholly wrong. Linguistic inventiveness, a strong narrative gift, a power to see into various kinds of human situation, warm human sympathy and of course , frequent humor, are found in his stories.

Short story master!.......2003-01-19

A collection of 100 or more short stories by O. Henry? My mouth waters already! It's hard to imagine any literary treat that can be enjoyed in small doses more pleasurable than this. I have spent over a year savouring these stories, reading them one by one, tasting his delightful choice of words, digesting his fascinating story-lines, and the warm satisfying afterglow that comes after a typical twist at the end. His stories are superbly outstanding in at least four ways, each illustrated with five of my personal favorites.

Firstly, his brilliant use of language. These stories were written in the first half of the twentieth century, and O. Henry's use of language easily surpasses that of most contemporary writers. Not only does he have an extensive vocabulary, but his writing abounds with similes and metaphors that breathe sparkling life and depth into his stories. "Ulysses and the Dogman" is a fine example of his skills with a language, metaphorically portraying dog owners as victims of Circe, in a hopeless enchantment to their leashed pets. Also exemplary is "Madame Bo-Peep of the Ranches" where a ranch manager has a heart fenced by barbwire just like the ranch on which he lives, and yet the twist at the ending suggests that perhaps we were completely mistaken. "A Comedy in Rubber" uses wonderfully elevated language to farcically portray a class of people today known as ambulance chasers. And "Sisters of the Golden Circle" revolves around the profound bond that exists between two married women who are strangers but yet sisters "of the plain gold band." "An Unfinished Story" employs profound metaphors of angelic hosts to tell the tragic story of poor Dulcie's struggle for survival.

Secondly, his unique insight into the social conditions of his time. O. Henry has a great understanding of the trials of the lower class, frequently picturing the lives of ordinary people of early twentieth century America with sympathetic colours. His characters are frequently the overlooked: the struggling shop girl, the unsuccessful artist, the impoverished. Admittedly, some of his images can be hard to comprehend for modern readers, and the distance that time has placed between us and O. Henry's beloved New York means that some of his verbal pictures will be harder to identify with. But his genuine sympathy for the oppressed cannot be missed. "The Gift of the Magi" is the signature O. Henry story, probably his most famous tale which recounts a poor young couple who both give up a prized possession in order to purchase a gift for one another - but ironically a gift intended to complement the other's prized possession that they have just given up. Another story which displays his ability to picture the social conditions of his time is "The Pendulum", a wonderful portrait of the daily routines of an poor couple and the bursting anxiety of a married man, until the bubble bursts. "The Cop and the Anthem" was the first O. Henry story I ever read, and humorously recounts the unsuccessful attempts of a man to get into jail for the winter. "The Furnished Room" is a tragic and shocking story of suicide, depicting the depths of despair and desperation of the impoverished.

Thirdly, his warm humour. O. Henry has an uncanny ability to portray the mundane and the ordinary in the most elevated language. Frequently he pits two characters together in a remarkable way so that one outshines and complements the other. On other occasions he crafts the most ingenious and humorous schemes for outwitting others. One of his most popular stories is "The Handbook of Hymen", the tale of two men in a winter cabin, one armed with the hilarious Herkimer's handbook of Indispensable Information. And then there's Jeff Peters, a man who comes with the most ingenious money-making schemes, two shining examples displayed in "Jeff Peters as a Personal Magnet" and "The Exact Science of Matrimony". "Let Me Feel Your Pulse" pokes fun at doctors, while in "Next to Reading Matter" an overly eloquent character wins the heart of a senora with streams of articulate talk about the mundane.

Fourthly, his ironic twist. One of the distinctive characteristics of O. Henry's short stories is the ironic twist at the end, which never fails to surprise and entertain, sometimes reversing the entire story line in a concluding one-liner. O. Henry's suspense and trademark ironic twist ensures that readers who have a good literary taste in short stories will not be disappointed. Like the Jeff Peters stories, "The Love-philtre of Ikey Schoenstein" also feature a brilliant scheme, and the way the romantic scheme backfires is unforgettable. Other delightful examples of the glorious ironic twist include "Witches' Loaves" and "While the Auto Waits". The twist that comes at the end of "The Hypotheses of Failure" is so perplexing, that you'll have to re-read the entire story after reading the ending - but completely delighted at the way in which O. Henry has misled you. Perhaps one of O. Henry's best uses of the ironic twist comes in "The Last Leaf", a warm and tragic tale describing how a dying artist proves as resilient as the last leaf on the wall outside, and through the self-less sacrifice of another.

The Wordsworth collection is superlative, because it contains more than 700 pages of literary gems. It consists of 100 stories, showcasing a wide range of O. Henry's short-story talents. A few popular favorites are missing, such as "Schools and Schools", "Shearing the Wolf", "The Green Door", and "The Pimienta Pancakes." But the reality is that nearly all O. Henry's stories feature his trademark ironic twist, as they do his warm humour, his unique insight into the social conditions of the time, and his brilliant use of language, and that every story in this collection is a literary delight worthy of inclusion. The inaccessibility of some references for modern readers does not prevent these stories from being always entertaining and enduring! Don't pass up on these!

MASTER OF THE IRONIC TWIST!.......2000-08-04

O. Henry began writing short stories as a prison inmate, and he quickly fine tuned his skills behind the bars and developed into an excellent story-teller.

The distinctive characteristic of O. Henry's short stories is the ironic twist at the end, which never fails to surprise and entertain. O. Henry's suspense and trademark ironic twist ensures that readers who have a good literary taste in short stories will not be disappointed.

These stories were written in the first half of the twentieth century, and O. Henry's use of language far surpasses that of most contemporary writers.

His stories also demonstrate his unique insight into the social conditions of his time.

This collection is superlative, because it consists of 100 stories, more than 400 pages, and is offered by Amazon.com at an excellent price! Don't pass up on this one!

O Henry is the best Short-Story Writer.......1999-09-06

What an excellent book! I recommend it all who love short-story works

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101 O. Henry Stories
Selected By Laurent Lalonde
Manufacturer: The Folio Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JQRJUO

The Best of O. Henry ; Selected Short Stories

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The Best of O. Henry ; Selected Short Stories
O. Henry
Manufacturer: Indialog Publications Pvt. Ltd.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 8187981172

Best Stories of O. Henry, Selected, and with an Introduction by Bennett Cerf and Van H. Cartmell

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Best Stories of O. Henry, Selected, and with an Introduction by Bennett Cerf and Van H. Cartmell

Manufacturer: The Sun Dial Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000FHDW76

O. Henry Memorial Award Prize Stories of 1941

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O. Henry Memorial Award Prize Stories of 1941
Selected & Edited By Herschel Brickell
Manufacturer: New York: The Book League of America, 1941
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O3PD5U

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O. Henry selected stories
O Henry
Manufacturer: Book-of-the-Month Club
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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ASIN: B0006QS6Z4

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Selected Stories
O. Henry
Manufacturer: Franklin Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound
ASIN: B000N6KZ4M

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Selected Stories From O. Henry
O. Henry
Manufacturer: Kessinger Publishing, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature.

Book Description

Rodney Williams's disappearance seems typical to Chief Inspector Wexford -- a simple case of a man running off with a woman other than his wife. But when another woman reports that her husband is missing, the case turns unpleasantly complex.

Customer Reviews:

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.......2007-09-26

A women's rights group populated by high school and college girls and led by a virulent feminist, with a stylized raven logo. The mysterious disappearance of a secretive businessman who's often out of town. Everyone in the neightborhood seems to know about both. It's up to Inspector Wexford to tease apart the disparate threads and solve more than one murder. There are other crimes, equally reprehensible, that contribute to the tangled mess. It's fairly easy to figure out who did it. How, when, and why are questions more to the point, with more obscure answers.
Rendell is a literate author whose Wexford series never fails to please and intriguing. And her books are even better when the victim deserves his fate.
Note: This book was written in 1986, a long ago time before cell phones and word processing. Though this does not affect the mystery itself, a typewriter is one of the major clues, a blast from the past!

Not her best, but still dratted good.......2006-02-27

This is the first of Rendell's "Inspector Wexford" novels I've read so far, and this one wasn't quite as impressive as most of her other endeavors, in some ways. What I did enjoy was the secret society of man haters, or perhaps the uber-feminist group would be a better way of putting it. I found all that psychology fascinating and very compelling. I also had no idea who on earth was perpetrating these murders, so it's not like I had figured it out and was all annoyingly smug. Maybe it was the lack of enough appropriately psychotic characters, or the lack of insight into them throughout the book, as is the case with most of Rendell's other efforts. Still, Rendell on a bad day beats most other contemporary authors on a good one, so I'm not really complaining. Too much.

another excellent Rendell novel.......2003-10-10

An "Unkindness" is the collective noun for a group of ravens. They are not particularly predatory birds, but neither rare they soft and submissive. Now, the Raven has become the symbol of a militant feminist group known as Arria, whose attitude to the male gender is, like the nature of said bird, far from submissive.

When Chief Inspector Wexford was asked to investigate the disappearance of his neighbour Rodney Williams he was certain it was just a case of another middle-aged man having run-off with a young woman. All the signs pointed that way. A waste of time to concern yourself with, his thoughts tell him. However, he would be shocked to his core when, weeks later, Rodney's disappearance turns out to be the centre of a violent and bizarre murder.

As reliable as ever, this is Rendell - and Wexford - once again on fine form. If you want an entertaining, intelligent and realistic with piercing insights into society, Ruth Rendell is the author to whom you should turn. The Wexford series remains the best example of the English detective story currently being produced. It stands out not just for its layered intelligence, but its unflinching social observancy, its piercing insight into human nature, and its warm (sometimes!) and nostalgic centre in the form of Reg Wexford.

This novel is a very strong addition to the series. Rendell's mystery is intricate and dramatic and original and very intriguing, with a plausible solution that will shock if not surprise. An Unkindness of Ravens is an excellent book of detection as well as being a vehicle for Rendell's unerring observational insight into society and its constant shifts and changes. It is well worth anyone's time.

Tiresome.......2003-09-20

I picked up the audio version of this book hoping it would keep my interest for a cross country drive. Instead, I found myself irritated at the tedious pace and extraneous details. I didn't care for any of the characters, and by the time I realized it wasn't going to get any better...I was in too deep and had to finish out the 9+ hours to find out whodunnit. At least it kept me awake for the drive. Nevermore.

Compulsively Readable.......2003-07-13

An Unkindness of Ravens marks yet another Inspector Wexford mystery and it revolves around the disappearance of a neighbor and a militant feminist group. The story holds together well enough and it's a super fast read. As I've read more Ruth Rendell novels, I am disappointed in the rushed pace of the novel. A story like this needs to unfold slowly. Not that I want to make a novel overly long, but I feel a tad more background information on the recurring characters and the current suspects would work to her advantage. It's not her best. It's not her worst. It's a serviceable mystery that is over before it starts.

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Spider Web of Intrigue****
A new mystery writer who does it right....
A promising debut

Unkindness of Ravens
Kathleen Tracy
Manufacturer: Paribus Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1933705825

Book Description

Think The L Word meets Brenda Starr-if Brenda was a tomboy. Unkindness of Ravens, introduces Sam Perry, a droll, burnt-out crime reporter who moves to Palm Springs seeking a new start and the chance to explore her latent sexuality.or not. Ellen Konrad is a well-known actress who left Hollywood to protect family skeletons and is now a fast-rising local political star. The mysterious torture murder of an unidentified young man brings them together and the search for his killer uncovers Konrad's long hidden secrets-leading both women to confront long ignored erotic yearnings. The ending is filled with unexpected twists that changes Sam and Ellen's lives forever. The Palm Springs setting offers a unique sense of place and the author's background as an investigative print journalist lends authenticity to the guerilla tactics Samantha Perry occasionally employs when necessary to break the story. Kathleen Tracy has written over 30 books, including "Don Imus: America's Cowboy" (Carroll & Graf), "Ellen DeGeneres" (Simon & Shuster) and "The Secret Story of Polygamy" (Sourcebooks), an investigation into the Utah child abuse trial that shed light on polygamy in modern America.

Customer Reviews:

Spider Web of Intrigue****.......2007-06-16

I just finished this book and I was really sorry to see it end. This book is actually two stories that merge into one.

Samatha Perry, a reporter from LA that has had one too many gruesome stories to cover, moves to Palm Springs, CA.(the epitome of hot) to cover bingo ball tampering. But the murder of Jeff Rydell throws her right back into the thick of things. What seems to be an easy enough piece to write, turns quickly into major story with more questions than answers. As Sam delves into these questions, she meets Ellen Konrad the front-runner for mayor of Palm Springs, who is also an accomplished actress.

Ellen is automatically attracted to Samatha. Ellen seems to know something about Sam that Sam has not even admitted to herself. This connection invades Samatha's subconscious and enters her dreams. Sam's childhood friend, Joe, visiting from Chicago evens knows her truth. Ellen amd Sam seem to be a slow sensous dance of looks, gestures, and innuendoes.

Almost everyone in this book has multiple identities. Even the strippers at the Crazy Girl have two names, their stage name and their real name. So keeping track of who is who is a real challenge.

This is a great read, I'm not a sequel reader because I love stories of discovery, but I will probably be tempted to read the next Sam Perry mystery.

A new mystery writer who does it right...........2007-03-30

Sam Perry moved to Palm Springs to get away from tragic stories. Reporting the latest scam involving weighted bingo balls was a far cry from her job with the LA Times and her involvement with the gruesome scenes of serial killers. Life was simple, if not boring and lonely, and her two adorable little dogs kept her company as she began to sort out her life.

But, when her new editor called with a fresh murder assignment, Samantha became embroiled in such a bizarre mystery that she could just not resist the challenge. Coincidentally her childhood friend Joe had come for a surprise visit. He and Sam had been a team since high school. He came out of the closet early on and Sam accepted his friendship unconditionally. Joe has a few secrets that he hasn't shared yet though. He insists on tagging along as she tries to find out the details about the murder victim so that she can write a respectful summary of his life. This human story is important--an integrity in journalism that is characteristic of Samantha Perry.

In the process Sam unravels a dark and twisted family secret about a local actress who is involved in politics. But murder is not the only thing that gets unraveled. Samantha has some tangled emotional issues involving romance and discovers some truths about herself that she has avoided exploring in the past. When she becomes delightfully attracted to Ellen Konrad, the beautiful and mysterious actress/candidate, her affections are returned and a love story blossoms as well. Meanwhile Joe, who is generally more interested in designer accessories and beauty makeovers, plays a significant role in solving the mystery as he gently nudges Sam into the arms of Ellen.

Although this book is self-published, the writing and editing are excellent. Sadly, the drab and unprofessional looking photo that is used for the cover is a definite turn-off.

I look forward to another intriguing adventure with Sam Perry!

Armchair Interview says: Don't judge a book by its cover. Kathleen Tracy has proven herself to be a first-class mystery writer.

A promising debut.......2006-12-10

Unkindness of Ravens introduces a new mystery series starring Sam Perry, a highly successful crime reporter. Sam has fled Los Angeles, where she covered many sensational murders and made a career writing books about her experiences, and is living in Palm Springs. Sam had reached the limit of her tolerance for murder and mayhem and needed a change of life, but now she's getting restless, which her editor realizes, so Sam is sent to cover the story of a body found in the desert, a body that has no identity and has been slowly and mercilessly tortured to death. As Sam begins to unravel the mystery of this young man she finds that every answer simply opens up more questions. Some of those questions involve the campaign of Ellen Konrad, former movie queen and television star, who is running for the position of mayor in Palm Springs. Was the man murdered because of his unusually close relationship with Konrad or did he know something that was damaging to her political career? Or maybe the murder is tied to his fondness for hanging out in a strip club with shady overtones. Sam and Ellen find themselves being drawn to each other by strong emotions, emotions that threaten Sam's ability to remain impartial and solve the murder, no matter who is hurt. The trick will be to answer the questions without destroying her new friendship with Ellen and the possibility of a future before them.

Tracy has introduced a promising new mystery series. Sam Perry is a highly likeable character and having her approach mysteries from the angle of being a reporter provides a different twist on the genre. It's interesting to see Sam move through the process of collecting bits and pieces of information that slowly put the puzzle together. The attraction between Sam and Ellen is also handled extremely well. The second Sam Perry mystery, Plague of Locusts, is already in preparation. If it follows the quality of this story, the series should progress into a number of more volumes.

An Unkindness of Ravens: Poems (New Poets of America Series)

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"A Raven's View of Women"

An Unkindness of Ravens: Poems (New Poets of America Series)
Meg Kearney
Manufacturer: BOA Editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them (P.S.)

ASIN: 1929918097

Book Description

In An Unkindness of Ravens, Meg Kearney's poems weave voices of estrangement and redemption: mothers, daughters, lovers of gin and dead things. In the middle poems, the protagonist confronts "Raven": a figure of guises and disguises, revealing the speaker's fears and angst. National Book Critics Circle Award-winning poet Donald Hall has written the Foreword.

Meg Kearney is the Associate Director of the National Book Foundation. She was the recipient of the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and New York Times fellowships and received the Alice M. Sellers Academy of American Poets Prize in 1998. She lives in New York City.

Customer Reviews:

"A Raven's View of Women".......2001-11-29

If , in our modern world, we ask whether women are still vulnerable, we need only to turn to Meg Kearney's An Unkindness of Ravens for the answer. In "Swan Song" "She knew his boots were full of mud...She felt him watching through the dark...She could smell him now. Beer and cigarettes...She'd known [what he intended to do] by the way he'd come in the door." He had brought the "rush of rain" from the porch into their bedroom..."Making a mess of everything."
While the effect of a drunken man is strongly demonstrated in one poem, Kearney clearly gives us a more encompassing picture of female loss in "Love is a Form of Recklessness" when she relates that "My mother's love is the strength to walk and keep on walking, drive and keep driving until her daughter has learned to live without her..."
In this volume, Meg Kearney even touches on that famous "La Belle Dame" who gave and gave "until at last she'd given it all away."
This is not to say that Kearney only contemplates the causes of female depression. Many of her poems also reflect fond memories of a father lost and chances for a new love found.

An Unkindness of Ravens (An Inspector Wexford Mystery)

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An Unkindness of Ravens (An Inspector Wexford Mystery)

Manufacturer: Borders and Recorded Books Unabridged
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Mystery & Thrillers | Books on CD | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
ASIN: 1402540906

Product Description

Unabridged audio book. 8 CDs. Narrated by Davina Porter. Detective chief inspectors have better things to do with their time than listen to women complain about philandering husbands. It takes Inspector Wexford less than five minutes to figure that's what his current case is all about. Yet he's dead wrong.

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Review

An Unkindness of Ravens
Ruth Rendell
Manufacturer: New York Ballantine 1986.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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British Detectives | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0099450704

Customer Reviews:

Review.......2001-12-06

An Unkindness of Ravens (1985) is the first Rendell novel I have read for four years, and it shows her giftsýcharacterisation and plottingýat their best, as she combines a scathing look at political extremism, the psychology of adolescent girls, and a gripping police procedural, with themes of feminism, extremism, teenagers vs. parents, women vs. men, poor vs. rich, and paedophilia.

At the heart of the story is Rodney Williams, a missing bigamist, ýtwo different mený One middle-aged, set in his ways, bored maybe, taking his family for granted, the other young still, even swinging ý making the grade with a young wifeý, and suspected of having paedophiliac tendencies. It must be noted that the fine revelation of his true character is a genuine surprise. Williamsý murderýstabbed through the heart, most probably by one of his two wivesýseems to coincide with a series of stabbing attacks carried out on men approaching, or approached by, young womenýýan extraordinary picture Buddýs story had created and one which appealed to his imagination. The dark wet night, the knife flashing purposefully, even frenziedly, the girl running into the rain with a sack slung over her shoulder. It was like an illustration in a fairy book of Andrew Lang, elusive, sinister, and other-worldlyý. It transpires that these women are all members of the feminist organisation A.R.R.I.A., whose emblem is a ýraven woman [with] a face like Britannica or maybe Boadicea, one of those noble, handsome, courageous, fanatical faces, that made you feel like locking up the knives and reaching for the Valiumý. It is the raven emblemýand its followersýthat gives the book its title, for ravens are ýnot soft and submissive. The collective noun for them is an ýunkindnessý. An Unkindness of Ravens. Appropriate, wouldnýt you say? In their attitude to the opposite sex anyway. They stab at us with knives rather than beaks.ý Despite her liberal politics, Rendell is clearly against extremism, although she makes the point that ýrevolutionaries are always extreme. Look at the Terror of 1793, look at Stalinism. If they're not, if they compromise with liberalism, all their principles fizzle out and you're back with the status quoý Thatýs what's happened to the broader womenýs liberation movement.ý

Chief Inspector Wexford, as always, is actively detecting, showing his human side as well as his intelligence, as he tracks down clues and suspects, continually making comparisons to literature and to history. Although the surprising ending, well-clued, shows Rendellýs interest in psychology, with terms such as solipsism, folie à deux, and Freudian seduction theory being tossed around with gay abandon, there is not too much psychology, even though Wexford feels ýhe sounded like a psychotherapist, though any interrogating policeman was one of thoseý, and Burdenýs familial problems do not intrude.

Product Description

This is the unabridged audio book of An Unkindness of Ravens, An Inspector Wexford Mystery by Ruth Rendell. Total of six cassettes. Running time 9.25 hours.Synopsis: At first glance, the disappearance of a man named Rodney Williams seems just one more case of marriage gone sour. But another woman reports her husband is missing, too. As Wexford looks for a connection, the search for the missing men widens, and the very landscape begins to develop an unpleasant, unsettling feel.

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An Unkindness of Ravens
Ruth Pendell
Manufacturer: Pantheon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JKRRH0

An Unkindness of Ravens (Ace Fantasy Book)

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Really good
Unkindness of a Raven

An Unkindness of Ravens (Ace Fantasy Book)
Dee Meaney
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0441854508

Customer Reviews:

Really good.......2005-08-28

This book is really well-written and researched. Although it is a fantasy, most of the historical details are accurate. I liked how Meaney depicted King Knut and Thorkell the Tall!

Unkindness of a Raven.......2003-05-14

This book is a wonderful fantasy book. It was the one that got me reading fantasies. I suggest you read this one!

Average customer rating:

An Unkindness Of Ravens (An Inspector Wexford Mystery)
Ruth Rendell
Manufacturer: Arrow Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KKM8ZA

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