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Kathleen and Frank

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( 69 ratings, 18 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Kathleen and Frank is a poignant memoir by Christopher Isherwood, detailing the lives of his parents from their meeting in 1895 to his father's death in World War I and his mother's life thereafter. More than a family story, it serves as a social history of a transformative era, reflecting the world that shaped and ultimately distanced Isherwood.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$4500
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Ideal for readers interested in biography, social history, and fans of Christopher Isherwood's work seeking a deeper understanding of the man behind the literature.

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This is the story of Christopher Isherwood’s parents – their meeting in 1895, marriage in 1903 after his father had returned from the Boer War, and his father’s death in an assault on Ypres in 1915, which left his mother a widow until her own death in 1960.

First published in 1971, this is a key book in Isherwood's career revealing as much about him as the parents he set out to portray.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

First published in 1971, this is a key book in Isherwood's career revealing as much about him as the parents he set out to portray.

This is the story of Christopher Isherwood's parents - their meeting in 1895, marriage in 1903 after his father had returned from the Boer War, and his father's death in an assault on Ypres in 1915, which left his mother a widow until her own death in 1960.

As well as a family memoir, Kathleen and Frank is a social history of a period of striking change, and a portrait of the world which shaped Isherwood and which he rejected.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Celebrated for its insightful portrayal and clear, precise writing, the book has been praised as a moving account based on personal letters and diaries. Critics note its depth and the compelling character studies within, highlighting its significance both as a social history and a memoir.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780099561194

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 23 May 2013

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 38.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 483g

Pages: 528

About the Author

Christopher Isherwood was born in 1904. He began to write at university and later moved to Berlin, where he gave English lessons to support himself. He witnessed first hand the rise to power of Hitler and the Nazi party in Germany and some of his best works, such as Mr. Norris Changes Trains and Goodbye to Berlin, draw on these experiences. He created the character of Sally Bowles, later made famous as the heroine of the musical Cabaret. Isherwood travelled with W.H Auden to China in the late 1930s before going with him to America in 1939. He died on 4 January 1986. His novel A Single Man was recently made into an award-winning film by Tom Ford, starring Colin Firth and Julianne Moore.

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  • A Single Man
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