All are burdened by human muddle and human cravings. Michael frayn is the author of nine novels, including the bestselling headlong, which was a new york times editors choice selection and a booker prize finalist. Headlong by michael frayn overdrive rakuten overdrive. Headlong is a novel which, like recent books by julian barnes england, england and alan hollinghurst the spell, treats rural england as if it was a domestic transylvania, a place where normality cant survive one uneasy night or apparently innocuous dinner party. Headlong, a booker prize finalist, combines a heavy dose of humor with a fascinating glimpse into the world of priceless art when martin clay and his art historian wife are asked to appraise the private collection of a loutish man, it is martin, not his wife, who believes. Read unlimited books and audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and android. It covers a most interesting period in history when the reformation and the counterreformation was at its peak. The book is very good and shows normal wear for a good book. Michael frayn was born in london in 1933 and began his career as a journalist on the guardian and the observer. Big religious representations and gaudy weight of literature behind them. His novels include towards the end of the morning, headlong, spies and skios. With its sumptuous surfaces and alluring sense of gravitas, classic dutch painting has fascinated writers for centuries.
His novels include towards the end of the morning, the trick of it and a landing on the sun. Jan 09, 2010 headlong by michael frayn 1999 picador 2000 352 pp just a few days after seeing his play democracy, i was wandering around londons national gallery bookshop when i first saw michael frayn s novel headlong. He has also written a memoir, my fathers fortune, and fifteen plays, among them noises off and copenhagen, which won three tony awards. Headlong by michael frayn and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Martin is asked to value some paintings and, though hes no expert, he is immediately sure one of them is a priceless missing masterpiece. In headlong, for instance, as frayn s wouldbe art historian ruminates on the likelihood of a missing brueghel turning up, out pops an allusion to oscar wildes importance of being ernest. His novels, such as towards the end of the morning, headlong and spies, have also been critical and commercial successes, making him one of the handful of writers in the english language to. Headlong ist ein roman des britischen autors michael frayn. His seventeen plays range from noises off, recently chosen as one of the nations three favourite plays, to copenhagen, which won the 1998 evening standard award for best play of the year and the. The books comedy isnt quite uproarious enough, even in its moments of intended farce, and throughout the narrative the reader feels slightly.
But michael frayns headlong falls short in two ways. Martin is asked to value some paintings and, though hes no expert, he is immediately sure one of them is a priceless missing. Michael frayn is an english playwright and novelist. The fact that a painter of the skill and authority of bruegel had to hide the real meaning of his work tells us more about that.
Michael frayn audio books, best sellers, author bio. Headlong is his first novel to appear in the united states since now you know came out in 1993. Michael frayn has 67 books on goodreads with 56884 ratings. Headlong ebook by michael frayn 9781466828346 rakuten kobo. Published 1999 by metropolitan books first american edition, 342 pages author s. Michael frayn michael frayn discusses his book spies at the guardian book club. Michael frayn s headlong 1999 turns alternately from comic novel to lively art history and back again. Michael frayn is a celebrated british playwright and is also the author of eight novels including headlong and spies and three screenplays. Michael frayn s book taught me how to read a painting and how to understand whats behind the obvious subject painted, as well as the importance of historical context.
Get this book free when you sign up for a 30day trial. I didnt know he wrote novels because i knew frayn only for copenhagen, noises off, and now democracy, all great plays. Very english, so expect to learn a great deal about class, and. Ever erudite, michael frayn always uses his deep knowledge of philosophy to inveigle something deeper into what, on the surface, might appear to be no more than comic novels. Published september 1st 2000 by metropolitan books kindle edition, 351 pages author s. Michael frayn books list of books by author michael frayn. Written by michael frayn, audiobook narrated by frederick davidson. With these paintings the author can step into a story rather than a myth. In fact frayn cleverly builds the clockwork mechanism of farce showcased so brilliantly in. Read headlong a novel by michael frayn available from rakuten kobo.
The novel is terrific, except for those repeated interruptions, and perhaps the same could be said for the art history, if art history were ones purpose for reading a novel. Headlong has 12 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. The plot centres on the discovery of a longlost painting from pieter bruegels series the months. Headlong, a booker prize finalist, combines a heavy dose of humor with a fascinating glimpse into the world of priceless art.
Michael frayn has given us entertainment of the highest order. In headlong, michael frayn, the master of what is seriously funny anthony burgess, offers a procession of superbly realized characters, from the country squire gone to seed to his giddy, oversexed young wife. Headlong 1999 was shortlisted for the booker prize and. Headlong by frayn, michael and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Martin, the main character, is supposed to be writing a book. But what is striking is the thematic consistency that underpins a vast and diverse output. One of the greatest living english dramatists, michael frayn is also the author of seven novels and three screenplays. His novels, such as towards the end of the morning, headlong and spies, have also been critical and commercial successes.
I simply coudnt put it down and when it ended, i went straight to my local library to get out books about the netherlands and old dutch masters. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading headlong. See all books authored by michael frayn, including copenhagen, and noises off, and more on. A novel bestselling backlist kindle edition by michael frayn. Michael frayns other novels include spies, which won the whitbread best. A novel bestselling backlist by frayn, michael and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. When martin clay and his art historian wife are asked to appraise the private collection of a loutish man, it is martin, not his wife, who believes he.
An unlikely con man wagers wife, wealth, and sanity in pursuit of an elusive old master. Not only is michael frayn s novel, headlong, an artful narrative about artistic theft. Jan 31, 2002 in headlong, for instance, as frayn s wouldbe art historian ruminates on the likelihood of a missing brueghel turning up, out pops an allusion to oscar wildes importance of being ernest. A young wouldbe art historian suddenly sees the chance of a lifetime. Michael frayn s headlong begins with martin clay, a philosopher taking time off to write a book about art, travelling to the country with his arthistorian wife and infant daughter, there to work in quiet and seclusion on the book he has not quite managed to really get started. He is best known as the author of the farce noises off and the dramas copenhagen and democracy. Some of frayns funniest writing here concerns not the country but what. Martin clay is in the country with his wife and infant daughter to finish a book. Michael frayn has joined the flemish fray in headlong, where a bruegel has a starring role. His novels include towards the end of the morning, the trick of it and landing on the sun.
Headlong by michael frayn shortlisted for the man booker prize and the whitbread novel award is a comic thriller set in the world of fine art, where a young philosophy lecturer risks his wealth and his sanity in the pursuit of an elusive masterpiece. Huge entertaining and informative, michael frayn s book about an art historian turned frantic detective is a delight from start to finish. While one of the pleasures of this book certainly lies in frayn s deft sendup of pompous academics, the novel also delivers humor of a less cerebral kind. Michael frayn drew me into the story but the best part of the book was the background to the painter. The story is essentially a farce, but contains a large amount of scholarship about the painter. Signin to download and listen to this audiobook today. Read headlong by michael frayn for free with a 30 day free trial. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. He has also written thirteen plays, among them noises off and copenhagen, which won three tony awards in 1999. Frayn, the author, is such a cynic and davidson, the narrator, so dry, that the book is a great pairing of writer and reader. A novel by michael frayn 2000, paperback at the best online prices at ebay.
Michael frayn is the author of ten novels, including the bestselling headlong, which was a new york times editors choice selection and a booker prize finalist, and spies, which received the whitbread fiction award. But michael frayn s headlong falls short in two ways. Headlong 1999 was shortlisted for the booker prize, while his most recent novel, spies 2002, won the whitbread novel award. Michael frayn enjoys equally successful careers as dramatist, novelist and translator, having started out as an awardwinning journalist. Headlong 1999 was shortlisted for the booker prize and spies 2002 won the whitbread best novel award. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Toby jones, gina mckee, tim mcinnerny and denise gough in robin brooks adaptation of michael frayn s novel. Once in the country they are invited to the rundown estate of their neighbors, the. All agree the writing is very solid, but some found the two strands of the book too much at odds with one another. Celebrated for his playwriting, british author michael frayn has also written screenplays and several acclaimed novels. Buy a cheap copy of headlong book by michael frayn. Headlong isbn 0805062858 is a novel by michael frayn, published in 1999. Some of frayn s funniest writing here concerns not the country but what. Not only is michael frayns novel, headlong, an artful narrative about artistic theft.
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