 |
A STOPOVER IN
VENICE
-作
者：Kathryn
Walker
Format: 精裝, 320頁, 2008年8月, KNOPF出版
Summary
An enchanting debut novel—a fairy tale of sorts.
本書為西方文學出版翹楚Knopf出版集團今年主推的小說作品. 什麼樣的處女作能讓出版Anne Rice, John Updike, 村上春樹, Michael Ondaatje的Knopf如此深具信心. 甚至摒棄作者前夫為美國流行樂名人James Taylor等可能有助銷售的八卦. 只專注在小說本身的精彩可讀. 此書八月第一版甫出已被書市訂購一空, 旋即再版.
場景在一班開往義大利Verona的火車上, 一名年輕美國女性與她的著名音樂家丈夫正前往義大利旅行. 在對了無生機的婚姻憤怒和絶望後, 她在不知名的小鎮下了車, 折返威尼斯. 八年來她第一次獨立自主, 在Gritti Palace旅館開了個房間, 下定決心探索威尼斯. 溜達當兒巧遇一群男童戲謔一隻小狗, 她解救了小狗並將其偷渡回旅館.
第二天她被一位男性搭訕, 此人聲稱小狗屬於他的雇主. 她只好勉強地跟隨此男子, 來到一歌德式舊皇居見其雇主, 一位年老體衰的女伯爵. 對方堅持要她留宿以表謝意, 她只得依從.
此後事情的發展讓一場衝動的挑戰成為冒險和謎團, 牽涉到威尼斯的歷史, 一幅重見天日的大師作品, 亦見證女主人翁的破繭而出.Review
“Walker’s debut novel is an intriguing mix of romance, art history, and mystery.”
–Booklist
“This intriguing debut novel quickly charms the reader into a magical world…”
–Library Journal
作者
About the Author
Kathryn
Walker attended Harvard University and was the recipient of a Fulbright
Fellowship. She has appeared in leading roles on and off Broadway and has
received an Emmy Award for her performance in the PBS series The Adams
Chronicles. She adapted and directed a series of classical Greek productions
for the Verse Drama program at the 92nd Street Y and has been an artist in
residence at Harvard. She lives in Tesuque, New Mexico, and Washington,
Connecticut.
Review
“Walker’s debut novel is an intriguing mix of romance, art history, and
mystery.”
–Booklist
“This intriguing debut novel quickly charms the reader into a magical
world…”
–Library Journal
“A Stopover in Venice is radiant with mystery, romance and history. Nel
Everett, in the tradition of Americans abroad, is transformed by the
enigmatic city and its alluring characters–both living and dead. Nel–subtle,
perceptive, and witty–in flight from a suffocating marriage, discovers the
elusiveness of understanding the present, as well as the past, in this
brilliant novel of retracing and discovery.”
–Susanna Moore, author of The Big Girls and In the Cut
Kathryn Walker’s beautifully written story of parallel discovery and
restoration is powered by searing insights into the costs of love and
loss. Longing leads to the recognition of the “mysterious gifts concealed in
the dark folds of pain." The results are joyous.”
–Amy Hempel, author of Reasons to Live and The Dog of the Marriage