THE BACHELORS

by Muriel Spark ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 1961

Memento Mori and The Ballad of Peckham Rye have shown the qualities of this author's approach to the absurdities of the world today and here, again in figures larger than life, are the London bachelors who live on the fringe of the lives of others. With Patrick Seton's forgery of a letter, he arouses those who believe in his gifts as a medium, he continues his plot to kill Alice who is pregnant, he involves the graphologist, epileptic Ronald, and others within the interwoven brotherhood of the bachelors. There is Martin who prosecutes him, Matthew who is in love with Alice, Prett the art critic, Father Socket and his homosexual friend, a bogus medium, and those of the spiritualist group who divide into enemies and champions. Ronald, with his seizures, is the touchstone in the varying areas of the bachelors' philosophies -- their lack of faith, their excuses for their state, their attitude to others and their normal ways. This can be read with many minds -- for its sardonic humor, for its underlying study of the soul, for its exposure of trivialities -- and always for its original intelligence. Caviar.

Pub Date: March 1, 1961

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Lippincott

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1961

Categories: FICTION