Mates are not always matches, and matches are not always mates,' pronounces Magda Danvers. Years ago, dazzling, domineering Magda swept the shy, virginal Francis into one of the most extraordinary marriages imaginable. Now, as she lies dying, Francis's role as the Good Husband is put to the most extreme test. Moving from the Deep South to Eastern Europe and the cathedral towns of England, this is a rich and rewarding novel with the scope and all the moral force of George Eliot.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
"Mates are not always matches, and matches are not always mates," pronounces Magda Danvers, the magnificent central figure in Gail Godwin's wise and affecting new novel. With The Good Husband, one of America's most gifted novelists creates a portrait of two marriages and four unforgettable characters that travels beyond the usual questions of love and domestic comfort to explore the most profound consequences of intimate relationships. It is also, in its deepest sense, a novel about how we influence and transform - and sometimes complete - one another. As a young woman, brilliant, charismatic, and eternally curious, Marsha Danziger transformed herself into Magda Danvers, taking the academic world by storm with her controversial treatise on visionaries, The Book of Hell. She was already a star when she came upon Francis Lake in a midwestern seminary and married him, to everyone's surprise, including their own. It was a mating that seemed perfect: Magda pursued her career, and attentive, caring Francis devoted himself to Magda. Now, Magda's grave illness puts their marriage to its ultimate test. Even as she faces her "Final Examination," Magda's genius does not desert her. From her bed she continues to arouse her visitors with compelling thoughts and questions, which will change the lives of some of them. Into the heady atmosphere of Magda's provocative repartee comes Alice Henry, fresh from her own family tragedy. Magda's room soon becomes a refuge for Alice from her crumbling marriage to brooding Southern novelist Hugo Henry. But is it the incandescence of Magda's ideas that draws Alice, or the secret of "the good marriage" that she is desperate to discover? For Alice, Hugo, Francis, and Magda will learn that the most ideal relationship - even a perfect marriage - doesn't come without a price. Gracefully written, keenly insightful, intimate in its revelations, The Good Husband reverberates with the lives of its characters, their histories, and the most urgent longings of their hearts - a triumph of the novelist's art, from the author of A Mother and Two Daughters, The Finishing School, A Southern Family, and Father Melancholy's Daughter, all of which were New York Times bestsellers.
Godwin creates a superbly drawn portrait of two marriages and four unforgettable characters in the throes of life and death. 2 cassettes.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping:
US$ 10.07
From Germany to U.S.A.
Seller: medimops, Berlin, Germany
Condition: very good. Gut/Very good: Buch bzw. Schutzumschlag mit wenigen Gebrauchsspuren an Einband, Schutzumschlag oder Seiten. / Describes a book or dust jacket that does show some signs of wear on either the binding, dust jacket or pages. Seller Inventory # M00233988955-V
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: mountain, GEORGETOWN, CO, U.S.A.
Condition: Good. Softcover book, light wear to cover and book edges. Seller Inventory # 2DF5TK00147O
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Der Ziegelbrenner - Medienversand, Bremen, Germany
468 S., kart. Novelle. Gramm 600. Seller Inventory # 8129
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Barter Books Ltd, Alnwick, NORTH, United Kingdom
Black hardback cloth cover. Condition: UNSPECIFIED. First Edition. 240mm x 160mm (9" x 6"). 468pp. With dust jacket. Seller Inventory # bbg167
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Manyhills Books, Traralgon, VIC, Australia
Hardcover. Condition: Good (ex-library). Dust Jacket Condition: Good. Hardcover. 468 pages. *** PUBLISHING DETAILS: Andre Deutsch, Great Britain, 1994. *** CONDITION: The book itself is in good (ex-library) condition and comes in good dust jacket. More specifically: Text and spine/cover marked with Library stamps, in all other respects in very good condition throughout. Boards have no wear, rubbing or soiling. Dust jacket has moderate creasing. Edges of dust jacket have light bumping and superficial wear. Dust jacket is unclipped. Dust jacket is protected in clear, plastic sleeve. Edges of pages are lightly browned. Pages are lightly tanned. *** ABOUT THIS BOOK: A love story of a passionate woman scholar and the gentle seminary student. She turns into the 'Good husband' of the title. From the author of FATHER MELANCHOLY'S DAUGHTER. *** Quantity Available: 1. Category: Fiction; Romance & Women's Fiction; ISBN: 0233988955. ISBN/EAN: 9780233988955. Inventory No: 20041012. Seller Inventory # 20041012
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: PW Books, Andover, HANTS, United Kingdom
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. True first British printing with original unclipped jacket (£15.99). Jacket has minor patchy edge/shelf wear and minor pushing/rubbing to head/tail of spine and to corners. Boards are near fine with a hint of pushing to corners, the odd small mark and minor pushing/rubbing to head/tail of spine. Pages are generally clean and the binding is tight. Top of pages slightly dusty with the odd small mark/minor foxing. Odd small mark/spot of foxing to page edges and bottoms. Minor foxing inside boards and to end-papers. Very occasional small mark/spot of foxing to pages. No other faults. All books described honestly and accurately. Paypal accepted. Seller Inventory # 006792
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Booksalvation, Manchester, United Kingdom
Hardback. Condition: USED_GOOD. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. None. Outline:- As a young woman the brilliant and eternally curious Magda Danvers took the academic world by storm. Then to everyone`s surprise she married Francis Lake a mild midwestern seminarian who has devoted his life to taking care of his charismatic wife. Now Magda`s grave illness puts their marriage to its ultimate test. Though facing her "Final Examination" Magda continues to arouse her visitors with compelling thoughts and questions. Into this provocative atmosphere comes Alice Henry retreating from family tragedy and a crumbling marriage to novelist Hugo Henry. But is it the incandescence of Magda`s ideas that draws Alice or the secret of "the good marriage" that she is desperate to discover? For Alice Hugo Francis and Magda will learn that the most ideal relationship--even a perfect marriage--doesn`t come without a price.-> the publisher of this HARDBACK book is Andre Deutsch The date of this copy is 1994 booksalvation have grade it as Good and it will be shipped from our UK warehouse This book is from the Series. Shipping is Free for UK buyers and at a reasonable charge for buyer outside the UK. null. Book. Seller Inventory # 9780233988955BI1014
Quantity: 1 available