The Afterlife: Essays and Criticism
British writer Fitzgerald (1916-2000), winner of the Booker Prize forOffshore (1987)and the National Book Critics Circle Award forThe Blue Flower (1996),wrote biographies as well as fiction and lots of subtly erudite, covertly witty, and altogether invigorating essays and reviews. Fitzgerald grew up writing--her father, E. V. Knox, was editor ofPunchfrom 1932 to 1949--and is renowned for her understated style, a habit of restraint that makes for agile and piquant criticism. An extraordinarily discerning reader, Fitzgerald offers strong opinions on the art of biography; expert assessments of visual art, including illustration and cartoons; a keen sense of place; and avid interest in both lesser-known writers such as Charlotte Mew and such giants as William Blake and George Eliot. Fitzgerald's insights into literature are striking in their depth and freshness, and when she writes about her own literary practice in the sterling set of personal essays that conclude this unprecedented and enlivening collection, her piercing intelligence, precision, humor, and unwavering compassion are in full and resplendent force.Donna SeamanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved