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Loading... The Feast (original 1950; edition 1949)by Margaret Kennedy
Work InformationThe Feast by Margaret Kennedy (1950)
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. It's the summer of 1947 and we are in Cornwall on the coast in a small cliff-side inn. We know from the opening pages that the cliff collapses on the inn, and people die. As the story goes back to the week before the collapse, we meet the owners, the staff, the guests, and their families, as they go about their day-to-day activities. As the week progresses we are left to wonder who will die and who, if anyone, will live. Of course, some of the characters are "nice" and kind, and we sympathize with them, maybe even love them. And some are selfish, mean, even evil. Maybe we are hoping they will be the ones to die. And there are the children. Some are little demons, some spoiled brats, some adorable angels. One of the interesting things about the characters is that some of the characters are said to represent the seven deadly sins: Gluttony, Pride, Envy, Sloth, Wrath, Lechery, and Covetness. I had fun puzzling who was which sin. Beyond the wonderful characters the book presents us with, it gives us a very good feel for what it was like to live in England in the aftermath of the World War II. It's still "austerity" Britain, and rationing is in full effect. I really enjoyed this book and would like to read more by this author. 4 stars In post-WWII England the Pendizack Manor Hotel holds a cast of characters, there for a seaside vacation, each with their own past and agenda for the future. The hotel sits at the base of a cliff in Cornwall. A mine has recently floated into a cave and exploded, weakening the cliff. At the beginning we know the cliff will collapse on the hotel, but not who dies or survives. The bulk of the story follows the guests, owners and staff. Relationships develop, character is revealed, plans are made. There’s going to be a feast on the cliff with all participants in costume, children and adults. Some will remain behind at the hotel for various reasons. This is when the cliff will collapse. Originally published in 1950, parts of the book sound like they could have been written today: “All the politicians have taken to talking as if they were God’s Head Prefects. Look how they quote the bible at us! Look how they insult anyone who disagrees with them!” “He was a Liberal – the kind of Liberal which turns pink in blue surroundings and lilac at any murmur from Moscow.” The Feast by Margaret Kennedy is an intelligent, literary novel being re-release by McNally Editions. Originally published in 1949, this very highly recommended novel is a morality play covering the seven deadly sins: pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth. Set at the Pendizack Manor Hotel at the seaside in Cornwall in the summer of 1947, readers will know from the start that a cliff will destroy the the hotel and only sixteen survive the collapse. Before we know who survives, we are introduced to the guests, the family that runs the inn and their staff. As a character driven novel, The Feast excels as both a character study and a morality story. The focus is on the characters, their actions, integrity, and true nature. It is a pleasure to read and discover such a delightful, thoughtful, and memorable novel. It is quite clear why The Feast was re-released for a new generation of readers. This would be a perfect summer vacation read. Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of McNally Editions via Edleweiss. http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2023/05/the-feast.html
EXCERPT: There is readily imagined symbolism here, and more than a suggestion of comparison with The Bridge of San Luis Rey. But there is a tenuous thread of good, and now here, now there, a softening influence emerges, ultimately to bring part of the group together for ""the feast"" .... A haunting sort of story. Belongs to Publisher SeriesGallimard, Folio (7253)
This summer holiday vintage classic exploring the mystery of a buried Cornish hotel invites us to solve the puzzle as detectives: perfect for Agatha Christie fans, with a dash of Richard Osman ...'I am loving it!' Nigella Lawson'Hilarious and perceptive ... Perfect.' Daily Mail'Entertaining, beautifully written, and profound.' Tracy Chevalier'Tense, touching, human, dire, and funny ... A feast indeed.' Elizabeth Bowen'Kennedy is not only a romantic but an anarchist.' Anita Brookner'Oh boy, what a treat; wonderfully sharp and funny ... Page-turningly good!' Lissa Evans'So full of pleasure that you could be forgiven for not seeing how clever it is.' Cathy Rentzenbrink (foreword)Cornwall, Midsummer 1947. Pendizack Manor Hotel is buried in the rubble of a collapsed cliff. Seven guests have perished, but is it murder, and what brought this strange assembly together for a moonlit feast before this Act of God - or Man? Over the week before the landslide, we meet the hotel guests in all their eccentric glory: and as friendships form and romances blossom, sins are revealed, and the cliff cracks widen ..Reader Reviews:'One of the best books I have ever read ... Viva Ms. Kennedy, you were truly marvellous!' *****'The best book I've ever read. Yes, I know that's a big statement! Kennedy is quickly becoming my all-time favorite author ... A first-rate literary genius.' *****'This is bar none, one of the best books I have ever read.' *****'Offers us the chance to solve a very unusual kind of mystery ... An unexpectedly engaging literary game.' ****'A magnificent rediscovery ... Kennedy's masterpiece is a searing and unflinching look at postwar England ... Elegantly and tartly written, this smart and haunting novel offers one of the most unforgettable endings ... A brilliant and moving literary feast to be enjoyed without any moderation! *****'I'm longing to read this again! Clever Kennedy! Is it a thriller? Is it a morality play or an exploration of divine justice? Or is it a family/village saga and maybe even a romance? ... Terrifically readable with a marvellous cast.' *****'Such a good idea, and brilliantly executed ... I was unable to stop reading, absorbed completely in the company of the motley group. It's almost like you're eavesdropping on them. After finishing it, I find myself still thinking about it ... A fabulous read.' *****'One of my favorite kinds of books: a forgotten treasure..' *****. No library descriptions found.
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There are several dramatic scenes in the book and a couple very unpleasant characters. I thought the premise was clever, but it's also set up sort of as a fable/moral story and some of the characters were just a bit too obviously there to prove a point or a specific sin. But, I did enjoy reading this and kept reaching for it over other books. ( )