Stu at Winstonsdad’s blog is hosting a Henry Green Week from January 23 through January 29. Since this is the first time I’ll be reading anything by Henry Green, I’ve chosen his book Loving * Living * Party Going.
“This volume brings together three of Henry Green’s intensely original novels. Green explored class distinctions through the medium of love, incidentally revealing, says John Updike in his reverent introduction, “what English prose fiction can do in this century.” Loving brilliantly contrasts the lives of servants and masters in an Irish castle during World War II, Living those of workers and owners in a Birmingham iron foundry. Party Going presents a party of wealthy travelers stranded by fog in a London railway hotel while throngs of workers await trains in the station below. Each novel amply illustrates why Green was one of the most admired writers of his time.” (back cover of the Penguin edition)
“The most gifted prose writer of his generation.” V. S. Pritchett
“Green’s books remain solid and glittering as gems…They are not, like so many contemporary noels, mere slices of life but highly successful attempts at making art give meaning to life.” -Anthony Burgess
“The most original…the best writer of his time.” -Rebecca West
I’ve just finished Loving which reminds me so much of the original Upstairs, Downstairs as well as Downton Abbey. It is a wonderful portrayal of the servants in the castle, such that I feel I am dwelling among them.
Dolce Bellezza 
You made me quite curious. I think I'll have to give that book a try!
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I have never even heard of Henry Green. I'm looking forward to your thoughts. Happy New Year, Bellezza!
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I love that time period, and love both the series you referred to. So now I want to read this book, too!
My TBR pile is growing and growing…
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Having pre-ordered my Kindle copy of Party Going it magically appeared on my device this morning & is waiting patiently for me to read it.
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I'm also planning on joining despite the fact that January is already very busy but after I've seen Stu's post and read a few thing about Henry Green, I thought I must read him.
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PS, The Best of Wishes to you & your for the coming year.
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I recently read Loving and while I liked it from the start I loved it by the end. I look forward to reading comments on it and other works by Green–thanks for passing this on.
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I've never read any Green, although I'd heard of him previously. You've made my curious now, as I love Downton Abbey and Upstairs, Downstairs. There's something about that time, and getting behind the scenes that really fascinates me. (I live not too far from a 1910s estate which is just lovely to visit for both gardens and buildings, and I've always wanted to take one of their behind the scenes tours.)
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I'm excited about joining in this! Think I'll be reading Blindness…
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great I m looking forward to this week ,I read a great interview on line in paris review with him worth checking out ,all the best stu
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Happy Reading, Bellezza! I have been wanting to read Henry Green since I read an article about him a few years back. He seems to be one of the undiscovered treasures in the literary world. I would love to join the Henry Green Week, but I am not sure whether I would be able to finish reading this book by that time. I will look forward to hearing your thoughts and those of other participants. Happy Reading!
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I remember trying him years ago, expecting I would love him, but didn't. I'll be most interested in what you make of him since I can't remember a thing!
I LOVE the new header pic, and your layout.
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Nan, after completing Loving, which I enjoyed but sadly, didn't love, I'm not sure if I'll continue with Living and Party Going. Green gives an interesting point of view for his time, but it is a teensy bit like watching paint dry.
(So glad that you like the new header picture. I really, really needed some color here, much as I liked my reclining woman. I'll just keep her for my gravatar.)
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