Some months ago I saw a review of this novel – I simply can’t remember where, which made me immediately jump online and order a copy. Daunt books has re-published this beautiful novel in a very stylish edition, which only serves to add to the overall beauty of the novel.
“My memory of the conjunction of events that followed – that night, the next day, the days after- merged with too many later memories. There was a shaky bus ride in a preposterous little vehicle along a nocturnal road that did not seem short; but cannot have been more than a mile; we came out on a waterfront, tight shut and silent. It was late by then, late certainly for the South of France at that time of the year. The hotel was the Hotel Du Port. A woman I do not remember ever seeing again took us up.”
As this novel opens in the late 1920’s Constanza and her daughter Flavia arrive by train in the French Riviera. Neither of them have any real idea of what they are doing, or indeed where they are. The loss of a ring leads Constanza to make a life altering decision. Then the story moves back, to Constanza’s childhood, her life with warring parents, a New England heiress and an Italian prince.
Born into a life of Roman palaces, Constanza has a wonderful early childhood. However Anna, Constanza’s mother is driven to make a decision that will change the lives of the whole family. Constanza’s parent’s tragic marriage and their eventual separation leads young Constanza to travel across Europe with her mother. Barred from her father, she is also estranged from her much younger brother who stays with their father. Spending many years in London, Constanza grows up wondering about the truth of her parent’s separation.
We then follow Constanza as she grows up, marries, returns to Italy and has her own child. Obviously I don’t wish to spoil the novel for future readers, by recounting all that happens, but I can say it is a story I simply loved. The story of these three generations of women is beautifully and elegantly told. As we return to where the novel started, Constanza’s motivations and mistakes are revealed – and we are given a final tantalising glimpse of the future.
Daunt books also publish the sequel to this novel, A Compass Error, which continues the story of Flavia, Constanza’s daughter. I bought it at the same time as A Favourite of the Gods, and am looking forward to it so much it may make it on to next month’s pile.
I feel I have read this myself, but an awfully long time ago. Must finish my index to my reading diary to make it easier to check!
This sounds very beautiful – I love intergenerational stories, especially ones that focus on women.
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