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A review by serendipitysbooks
Possession by A.S. Byatt
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Possession is a literary mystery in both subject and style. Roland Mitchell and Maud Bailey are two academics both researching Romantic poets from the Victorian era, Randolph Ash and Christabel La Motte, when the possibility of a previously unknown connection between them comes to light. The story follows the intricacies of the research and investigation as they seek to uncover the truth, and stop an American researcher from beating them to the punch - and spiriting some important documents out of the country. It took me a while to settle in to this story and I initially found it tough, slow, going. The plot is slow moving and the prose is dense. But once I was in I was all in, fully invested in the outcome of the research and the fate of all the characters.
I can fully see why this won the Booker Prize in 1990. Byatt is a master of her craft. Not only did she write an intricate layered story, but she created all the documents that her fictional scholars used to piece together the connections between their poets- lengthy romantic poetry that could easily pass for authentic, letters, diary entries, and extracts from academic publications. At times I found the literary analyses and critiques, the textual analysis, a bit too dry and academic. At other times I enjoyed playing literary sleuth myself. I also appreciated the varying tones Byatt incorporated. Much of the book felt dry and academic, especially if Victorian literature is not your thing. Yet the book is not all like this. In fact a chapter towards the end, a sort of showdown between the British academics and their unscrupulous American counterpart, was laugh out loud funny with cars ramming each other plus a spot of grave digging. And I also sniggered more than once at the fun Byatt poked at academics. The ending was satisfying, if a bit too convenient. I had reservations at the beginning of this book but I ended up liking it a lot more than I initially expected.
I can fully see why this won the Booker Prize in 1990. Byatt is a master of her craft. Not only did she write an intricate layered story, but she created all the documents that her fictional scholars used to piece together the connections between their poets- lengthy romantic poetry that could easily pass for authentic, letters, diary entries, and extracts from academic publications. At times I found the literary analyses and critiques, the textual analysis, a bit too dry and academic. At other times I enjoyed playing literary sleuth myself. I also appreciated the varying tones Byatt incorporated. Much of the book felt dry and academic, especially if Victorian literature is not your thing. Yet the book is not all like this. In fact a chapter towards the end, a sort of showdown between the British academics and their unscrupulous American counterpart, was laugh out loud funny with cars ramming each other plus a spot of grave digging. And I also sniggered more than once at the fun Byatt poked at academics. The ending was satisfying, if a bit too convenient. I had reservations at the beginning of this book but I ended up liking it a lot more than I initially expected.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia, Suicide, and Lesbophobia