Rebecca West

Two young women come of age in a novel "unbelievably rich in character, incident, and observation." -- The Boston Globe Their childhood and adolescence were overshadowed by the Great War. Now, in its lonely aftermath, Rose and Mary Aubrey find themselves deprived of the guiding strength of their cousin Rosamund when she marries a man of dubious morals and intolerable vulgarity. Retreating to an inn on the Thames, they find a haven of security with old friends. Into this fragile Eden a new, disruptive force is introduced; Rose discovers the power of love, and, confronting her own sexuality, learns to delight in it. With extraordinary fierceness and candor, Rebecca West has written a portrait of sexual awakening, one that allows her characters an uncanny glimpse of our own age. "Comes as close as we are ever likely to get to a self-portrait of the extraordinary woman who created her." -- Sunday Observer (London) "The author's searching, stinging, imaginative intelligence encompasses art and love and justice and simple humanness." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Henry James" by Rebecca West is a compelling work of literary biography, offering readers a nuanced exploration of the life and works of the esteemed American author. Delving into the intricate complexities of James's literary genius and personal journey, West presents a richly detailed portrait of one of the most influential figures in American literature. As a masterful piece of literary analysis, the book navigates through James's prolific career, from his early writings to his later masterpieces. West's insightful commentary and keen observations illuminate the themes, characters, and narrative techniques that characterize James's oeuvre, providing readers with a deeper understanding of his enduring literary legacy. The genre of "Henry James" can be categorized as literary biography, showcasing West's expertise as a renowned literary critic and biographer. Through meticulous research and thoughtful reflection, West offers readers a captivating glimpse into the life and times of Henry James, capturing the essence of his literary brilliance and the complexities of his personal and professional relationships. Overall, "Henry James" stands as a testament to West's skill as a biographer and her profound appreciation for the enduring contributions of one of America's most celebrated authors.

Returning to his stately English home from the chaos of World War I, a shell-shocked officer finds that he has left much of his memory in the front's muddy trenches. The three women who love him best anxiously await his arrival: the thoughtful and intuitive cousin who narrates the story, the lovely wife he cannot recognize, and the woman with whom he shared a summer romance 15 years ago. Rebecca West's novel depicts neither battles nor battlefields. This remarkable tale takes a searching look at the far-reaching effects of the first modern war on a sheltered society. The Return of the Soldier effectively and memorably captures the spirit of England in the throes of unwelcome change. It is a penetrating view of the nation's shifting class structures and offers a sensitive portrayal of individuals torn between nostalgia for their irretrievable past and acceptance of their conflicted present. Reprint of the Century Co., New York, 1918 edition.

This is a masterful novel about a shell-shocked, amnesiac soldier returning from WWI to the three women who love him. Published as part of a beautifully designed series to mark the 40th anniversary of the Virago Modern Classics.

"Rebecca West's magnum opus . . . one of the great books of our time." --The New Yorker Written on the brink of World War II, Rebecca West's classic examination of the history, people, and politics of Yugoslavia illuminates a region that is still a focus of international concern. A magnificent blend of travel journal, cultural commentary, and historical insight, Black Lamb and Grey Falcon probes the troubled history of the Balkans and the uneasy relationships among its ethnic groups. The landscape and the people of Yugoslavia are brilliantly observed as West untangles the tensions that rule the country's history as well as its daily life. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Rebecca West’s never-before-published Survivors in Mexico brings to readers a daring and provocative work by a major twentieth-century author. An exhilarating exploration of Mexican history, religion, art, and culture, it explores the inner lives of figures ranging from Cortés and Montezuma to Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, and Leon Trotsky.“Witty and entertaining, substantive and reflective, insightful and well documented, in splendid and uncommon prose, Rebecca West’s travelogue . . . is a model of British sophistication and knack for seeing the other.”—Jorge G. Castañeda, New York Times Book Review “An enthrallingly readable book . . . full of sharp impressions and stimulating insights.”—Merle Rubin, Los Angeles Times Book Review“Luscious reading. . . . The book succeeds beautifully as a travelogue thanks to West’s intellect and experience, with Mexico serving as the vehicle for it all.”—Sam Quinones, Washington Post Book World

Writing her first novel during World War I, West examines the relationship between three women and a soldier suffering from shell-shock. This novel of an enclosed world invaded by public events also embodies in its characters the shifts in England's class structures at the beginning of the twentieth century. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

In 1916, when Rebecca West was not yet twenty-five years old, George Bernard Shaw wrote: 'Rebecca can handle a pen as brilliantly as ever I could and much more savagely.' These early writings, collected ehre for the first time, established Rebecca West's reputation as a brilliant journalist and a dedicated yet undogmatic feminist and socialist. From the age of nineteen, writing articles for The Freewoman, and later the Clarion, she displayed her characteristic fierce intelligence, her passion and her biting wit in articles on women's suffrage, imperialism, the Labour Party, and trade unionism as well as literature, religion, domesticity, men and crime. Whether reviewing the latest novel by H.G. Wells ('the sex obsession that lay clotted on Ann Veronica... like cold white sauce'), describing police brutality against suffragettes ('An Orgy of Disorder and Cruelty'), or arguing for better conditions for working women ('Women ought to understand that in submitting themselves to this swindle of underpayment, they are not only insulting themselves, but doing a deadly injury to the community'), she demonstrated again and again a characteristic fearlessness and a formidable grasp of events.Including a short story, 'Indissoluble Matrimony', which appeared in the historic first issue of Blast, and a biographical essay of great psychological penetration on the suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst, this exhilerating collection introduces the early work of one of the most distinguished writers of our time and provides a portrait of a fascinating and turbulent period of British political and literary history.