Alison Lurie ist eine gefeierte Autorin, deren Werke meisterhaft komplexe Beziehungen und soziale Dynamiken erforschen, insbesondere in akademischen Umfeldern. Sie beobachtet und porträtiert scharf Charaktere, die sich mit Liebe, Täuschung und erotischen Verstrickungen auseinandersetzen, oft vor dem intellektuellen Hintergrund von Universitäten. Ihr unverwechselbarer Stil zeichnet sich durch scharfe Einblicke in die menschliche Natur und subtilen Witz aus, der die Leser in die komplexen sozialen Netze ihrer Erzählungen zieht. Neben ihrer Belletristik befasst sich Lurie auch mit der Erforschung von Kinderliteratur und erweitert damit ihren literarischen Horizont.
Lurie's essays provide a humorous and candid exploration of her experiences at Radcliffe during WWII, highlighting the challenges faced by women in academia. She reflects on her initial struggles as a writer and the eventual recognition she achieved, fostering connections with notable figures like Robert Silver and Edward Gorey. Through insightful and often amusing commentary, she delves into themes such as literary deconstruction and beloved children's literature, offering readers a rich and entertaining perspective on her life's journey.
In 1981 Alison Lurie published The Language of Clothes , a meditation on costume and fashion as an expression of history, social status and individual psychology. Amusing, enlightening and full of literary allusion, the book was highly praised and widely anthologized. Now Lurie has returned with a companion book, The Language of Houses , a lucid, provocative and entertaining look at how the architecture of buildings and the spaces within them both reflect and affect the people who inhabit them. Schools, churches, government buildings, museums, prisons, hospitals, restaurants, and of course, houses and apartments―all of them speak to human experience in vital and varied ways. The Language of Houses discusses historical and regional styles and the use of materials such as stone and wood and concrete, as well as contemplating the roles of stairs and mirrors, windows and doors, tiny rooms and cathedral-like expanses, illustrating its conclusions with illuminating literary references and the comments of experts in the field. Accompanied by lighthearted original drawings, The Language of Houses is an essential and highly entertaining new contribution to the literature of modern architecture.
En Gente de verdad seis personajes conviven durante dos semanas de verano en una gran casa de campo para concentrarse en su trabajo lejos de las presiones del mundo exterior. La diferencia entre lo aparente y lo real, entre los roles sociales y la propia identidad, flotará en el ambiente, aunque con cierto sentido del humor, para descubrirnos una historia de insatisfacción, de amor, de superación femenina y de vanidad.
Polly Alter, eine frisch geschiedene Kunsthistorikerin, nimmt den Auftrag an, die Biographie der verschwundenen Malerin Lorin Jones zu schreiben, die unter mysteriösen Umständen starb. Dabei erkennt sie, wie gefährlich es sein kann, sich in das Leben anderer zu vertiefen, während man selbst in der Luft hängt.
Nach Jahren glücklicher Ehe erkennen Jane und Alan sich selbst kaum wieder. Als Delia und Henry auf dem Campus auftauchen, geht alles drunter und drüber. ›Paare‹ ist eine Geschichte darüber, dass Fremdgehen auch für frischen Wind sorgen kann.
This collection showcases a diverse array of European folktales featuring strong, resourceful heroines who defy traditional gender roles. The young protagonists are active and courageous, capable of battling giants, solving riddles, and outsmarting evil forces. These tales, often overlooked in earlier compilations, highlight the wit and bravery of women, presenting them as dynamic characters rather than passive figures. Through these stories, readers are introduced to a rich tapestry of female empowerment in folklore.
Focusing on the lives of American poet James Merrill and his partner David Jackson, the narrative blends comedy with insightful analysis. It highlights their shared experiences in various locations, including New York and Key West, while delving into Jackson's significant influence on Merrill's acclaimed poem, "The Changing Light at Sandover." The book offers a unique perspective on their relationship and artistic collaboration.
Exploring the connection between children's literature and its authors, Pulitzer Prize-winning Alison Lurie examines how some of the most celebrated writers, like Louisa May Alcott and Dr. Seuss, channel their childhood experiences and emotions into their work. Through a series of essays, Lurie highlights how these authors transform themes of sorrow and nostalgia into timeless classics, revealing the profound impact of their own lives on the stories they create.
The classic book about the clothes we wear and what they say about us.Even before we speak to someone in a meeting, at a party, or on the street, our clothes often express important information (or misinformation) about our occupation, origin, personality, opinions, and tastes. And we pay close attention to how others dress as well; though we may not be able to put what we observe into words, we unconsciously register the information, so that when we meet and converse we have already spoken to one another in a universal tongue.Alison Lurie, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, is our savvy guide and interpreter on this tour through the history of fashion. She provides fascinating insights into how changing sex roles, political upheavals, and class structure have influenced costume. Whether she is describing the enormous amount of clothing worn by early Victorian women or illuminating the significance of the long robes worn by aging men throughout history to connote eminence, her analysis is playful, clever, and always on target.
Sein Einsatz für bedrohte Tierarten hat Wilkie Walker weltberühmt gemacht. Mit 70 aber merkt Walker plötzlich, daß er selbst vom Aussterben bedroht ist, und verfällt in tiefe Depression. Damit er wieder lebenslustig wird, schlägt seine um 24 Jahre jüngere, treuergebene Frau Jenny ihm einen Szenenwechsel vor: Key West in Florida, berühmt für seine exotische Pflanzenwelt und das nicht weniger bunte Völkchen, das die Insel bewohnt. Doch die Ortsveränderung hat für beide unerwartete Folgen.
