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Lorna Sage (1943–2001)

Author of Bad Blood: A Memoir

8+ Works 960 Members 14 Reviews 1 Favorited

Works by Lorna Sage

Associated Works

Ethan Frome (1911) — some editions — 9,441 copies
The Voyage Out (1915) — Editor, some editions — 2,693 copies
The Garden Party (1922) — Introduction, some editions — 1,471 copies
Two Serious Ladies (1943) — Introduction, some editions — 793 copies
Diana of the Crossways (1885) — Introduction, some editions — 283 copies
Granta 41: Biography (1992) — Contributor — 143 copies
The Salzburg Tales (1934) — Introduction, some editions — 129 copies
Granta 3: The End of the English Novel (1980) — Contributor — 41 copies
[Anthologie de nouvelles anglaises] (2001) — Contributor — 1 copy

Tagged

Common Knowledge

Birthdate
1943-01-13
Date of death
2001-01-11
Gender
female
Nationality
UK
Birthplace
Whitchurch, Shropshire, England, UK
Place of death
London, England, UK
Places of residence
Whitchurch, Shropshire, England, UK
Education
Girls' High School, Whitchurch, Shropshire, England, UK
Durham University
University of Birmingham
Hanmer village school, Flintshire, Wales, UK
Occupations
writer
professor (English Literature ∙ University of East Anglia)
reviewer
literary critic
autobiographer
Organizations
University of East Anglia
Short biography
Lorna Sage grew up in the '40s and '50s on the border between Wales and England and in the crossfire between her difficult grandparents. Despite a teenage pregnancy, she won a scholarship to university and became a noted academic and literary critic. Bad Blood, her autobiography, was published in 2000.

Members

Reviews

I really enjoyed the first 3/4 of the book, although I had to finally skim through some of the stuff about her Grandfather. The end felt very rushed and not as honest as the rest of the book. For me it felt like a big disconnect and left me disappointed. Plus she visits Liverpool and is the same age as the Beatles and no mention of this fact?!
 
Flagged
squarishoval | 13 other reviews | Mar 13, 2022 |

Loved this biography which seemed to combine something like Laurie Lee's 'Cider with Rosie' style with an 'Akenfield' one. Village living, amazing characters and dysfunctional families as I believe all families are. What is normal? Beautifully written, funny and sad. I will pass this book on to be enjoyed and to demonstrate the restrictions and uptightness of the 50s and early 60s, the feel and restrictions of the times. Does anybody else live in a house where the chimney is blocked for two floors by a bird's nest?
… (more)
1 vote
Flagged
HelenPollock | 13 other reviews | Jul 21, 2019 |
I really liked this memoir of the literary critic Lorna Sage’s unconventional childhood in Wales with her parents and grandparents because it is written with such passion and humour. The story tells how, through her academic ambitions and determination, Sage manages to transcend the ‘bad blood’ that has cursed the family, although her escape from her miserable circumstances seems at one point to be threatened, when she becomes pregnant at 15. She analyses her dysfunctional family perfectly, and the characters, especially her grandfather, are very gothic and fascinating. [2011]… (more)
½
1 vote
Flagged
papercat | 13 other reviews | Jul 1, 2017 |
Winner WHITBREAD Prize Autobiography
Book of the year by 19 writers/mags/reviewers

great book wish there was part 2. so sad that she died at 58.
1 vote
Flagged
mahallett | 13 other reviews | Mar 29, 2017 |

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Statistics

Works
8
Also by
9
Members
960
Popularity
#26,838
Rating
½ 3.6
Reviews
14
ISBNs
45
Languages
1
Favorited
1

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