Jennifer Johnston (1) (1930–)
Teoksen How Many Miles to Babylon? tekijä
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Tekijän teokset
Associated Works
Merkitty avainsanalla
Yleistieto
- Virallinen nimi
- Johnston, Jennifer Prudence
- Muut nimet
- JOHNSTON, Jennifer Prudence
JOHNSTON, Jennifer - Syntymäaika
- 1930-01-12
- Sukupuoli
- female
- Kansalaisuus
- Ireland
- Syntymäpaikka
- Dublin, Ireland
- Kuolinpaikka
- Dublin, Ireland
- Asuinpaikat
- Derry, Northern Ireland
- Koulutus
- Trinity College, Dublin
- Ammatit
- novelist
short story writer
playwright - Suhteet
- Johnston, Denis (father)
- Organisaatiot
- Aosdána
- Palkinnot ja kunnianosoitukset
- Irish Book Award ( [2012])
Whitbread Book Award (The Old Jest ∙ 1979) - Lyhyt elämäkerta
- Jennifer Johnston was born in Dublin, Ireland and has lived most of her life in Northern Ireland. Her parents were actor-director Shelah Richards and playwright Denis Johnston. She was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. Her first two novels, The Captains and the Kings (1972) and The Gates (1973) are set in decaying Anglo-Irish manor houses. Many of her works explore Irish political and culture tensions. Often they concern interpersonal relationships and the difficult transition from childhood to adulthood. Her third novel, How Many Miles to Babylon? (1974) was adapted for the stage. Her book The Old Jest (1979) won the Whitbread Novel Award and was adapted into a 1988 film entitled The Dawning. She also has written short stories and plays, including Three Monologues: Twinkletoes; Mustn’t Forget High Noon; Christine (1995), and The Desert Lullaby: A Play in Two Acts (1996). She is a member of Aosdána, an Irish association of artists.
Jäseniä
Kirja-arvosteluja
Got a bit fed up with this. Started off beautifully, struggled to finish it.
Think it was me rather than the book, I just slipped off track.
Think it was me rather than the book, I just slipped off track.
[This is a review I wrote in 2008]
**A heart-wrenching First World War story**
With the huge popularity of other more recent World War One literature, such as "Birdsong", "Regeneration" etc., Jennifer Johnston's wonderful story has been largely forgotten about - but not rightly so.
In 'How Many Miles to Babylon' the author really gets to the heart of life for young men in the trenches of Northern France and she writes a truly mesmerising and horrifying story, with great skill and few words, which leaves you quite stunned at the end.
The story centres around Alec, a boy whom we meet at a young age, growing up with Anglo-Irish parents on a country estate in Southern Ireland. Alec leads a sheltered and lonely life as a boy, and neither parent provides him with companionship, so he is delighted to find a friend in a boy from the village, Jerry. The boys keep their friendship secret as both are acutely aware of class divisions and know that neither should be seen with the other. When their friendship is discovered a few years later both boys are desolate but some bonds cannot be broken, and the boys enlist and go off to war together. Jerry is off to learn to fight so he can put his skills to use for the Irish Nationalist Cause, and Alec (who vaguely believes in Home Rule) finds himself goaded into war by his mother. Kinship survives despite further class divide in the army, but some obstacles are insurmountable and the two young men find themselves facing a greater horror than the War itself.
Although there are other convincing novels that deal with trench warfare in the First World War, this one really stands out for me. You won't be disappointed.… (lisätietoja)
**A heart-wrenching First World War story**
With the huge popularity of other more recent World War One literature, such as "Birdsong", "Regeneration" etc., Jennifer Johnston's wonderful story has been largely forgotten about - but not rightly so.
In 'How Many Miles to Babylon' the author really gets to the heart of life for young men in the trenches of Northern France and she writes a truly mesmerising and horrifying story, with great skill and few words, which leaves you quite stunned at the end.
The story centres around Alec, a boy whom we meet at a young age, growing up with Anglo-Irish parents on a country estate in Southern Ireland. Alec leads a sheltered and lonely life as a boy, and neither parent provides him with companionship, so he is delighted to find a friend in a boy from the village, Jerry. The boys keep their friendship secret as both are acutely aware of class divisions and know that neither should be seen with the other. When their friendship is discovered a few years later both boys are desolate but some bonds cannot be broken, and the boys enlist and go off to war together. Jerry is off to learn to fight so he can put his skills to use for the Irish Nationalist Cause, and Alec (who vaguely believes in Home Rule) finds himself goaded into war by his mother. Kinship survives despite further class divide in the army, but some obstacles are insurmountable and the two young men find themselves facing a greater horror than the War itself.
Although there are other convincing novels that deal with trench warfare in the First World War, this one really stands out for me. You won't be disappointed.… (lisätietoja)
An odd story with two main characters and others - possibly none are telling the truth?
Listat
Palkinnot
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Jennifer Johnston writes mostly slim novels about just such topics, and the end of her novels always present the issue with reference and dignity. Her novels portray people from a sense of deep interest, and deep understanding. Johnston's novels are often set in Ireland. Stories and characters find themselves set back, reaching out for humanity and warmth.
Grace and truth is one of those stories, gentle and warm.… (lisätietoja)