A Flavour of the Book: “In a modern, forward-looking handbook that was supposed to be helpful to young brides, with its cheery tones and exclamation marks, she came across certain phrases or words that almost made her gag: mucous membrane, and the sinister and glistening glans. Other phrases offended her intelligence, particularly those concerning entrances: Not long before he enters her… or, now at last he enters her, and, happily, soon after he has entered her… Was she obliged on the night to transform herself for Edward into a kind of portal or drawing room through which he might process?”
The Authortrek View: This is a beautifully written vignette of a couple on their marriage night in 1962, on the eve of the 60s sexual revolution. Edward and Florence love each other, but a seemingly insurmountable barrier has risen between them: will they be able to undergo their final rite of passage? The setting of the story is not all that far away in history, but it could be seen as another world, for culture and society have changed so much in the intervening years. It’s not hard to imagine that many couples faced this kind of dilemma in this era, before the advent of the Pill and the 24-hour media society. Ian McEwan reminds us poignantly of the world we have lost, that had its joys and its loves as well as its agonies. On Chesil Beach is beautifully written, with not a single word wasted – this is Ian McEwan at his most subtle and understated best, a million miles away from his former nickname of Ian Macabre, but equally as powerful. Credit must also go to Chris Fraser Smith’s cover photograph, which captures the final sentence perfectly. There is also some evidence of Ian McEwan’s wry humour, especially in the short epilogue concerning the hotel. In the final analysis, On Chesil Beach is a haunting, soulful read that will resonate with readers for a long time.
To find out more about the author, please visit our Ian McEwan page.
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