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The Hourglass
The Hourglass | Liz Heron
1 post | 1 read | 1 to read
Spring 2000. Paul Geddes visits Venice to research the fin-de-siècle opera singer, Esme Maguire, seeking out a cache of papers held by Eva Forrest, the widow of a collector. What he reads begins in the 1680s, moving through the city’s later history of Enlightenment and Revolution, describing a life stretched beyond human possibilities. She travels across Europe to sing in Regency London and Edinburgh, then Belle Epoque Paris, always returning to Venice, its shadows and its luminosity, its changes and its permanence. What would it be like to live for nearly 300 years, as an exceptional being who must renew herself time after time, as those she has loved age and die? Could this story be grounded in reality or be merely the product of an ageing woman’s delusion, as Paul suspects. Warily, Eva and Paul fall in love, their tentative emotions bringing them closer until, on a trip to the Dolomites, Eva’s past catches up with her.
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The Hourglass | Liz Heron
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Set in Venice, based on an opera about a woman who lives for 300 years, this book blends a present day story about Paul meeting a mysterious older woman and the story of Esme, the opera singer he's researching. Beautiful descriptions of historical Venice and the opera, Esme lives a fascinating life. The magic realism is done subtely and this is a little reminiscent of Orlando.

Crazeedi This I might be interested in, hmmmm 5y
Bindrosbookshelf Ohh this sounds good! 5y
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