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A Meeting by the River

By Christopher Isherwood
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3.76 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 876 ratings, 117 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
A Meeting by the River by Christopher Isherwood explores the complex relationship between two brothers who meet in India. One brother plans to become a monk, while the other has a more pragmatic outlook on life. Their reunion becomes a profound exploration of spirituality, identity, and the nature of familial bonds.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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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?

You might enjoy this book if you are intrigued by explorations of sibling dynamics and spiritual quests, as it unfolds the story of two brothers with contrasting lives who meet in India, leading to profound reflections on identity and cultural differences. The narrative intertwines themes of conflict, reconciliation, and self-discovery, providing a deep and thoughtful journey.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Breaking a long silence Oliver, a young Englishman, writes to his elder brother, Patrick.

A deeply satisfying novel of sibling rivalry, sexuality and spirituality.

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

A deeply satisfying novel of sibling rivalry, sexuality and spirituality.

Breaking a long silence, Oliver, a young Englishman, writes to his elder brother, Patrick. Oliver, the idealistic younger brother, is living in a Hindu Monastery and has decided to take his final monastic vows. Patrick, a successful, long-married publisher, newly in love with a boy in Los Angeles, decides to visit Oliver to persuade him not to renounce the world.

First published in 1967, A Meeting by the River exposes the complex rivalries of sibling relationships and dramatises the conflict between sexuality and spirituality.

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?

A Meeting by the River is praised for its exploration of the classic dichotomy between saintly and flawed siblings, offering believable character portrayals according to The Guardian. The Chicago Tribune highlights the novel's luminous depiction of spiritual and earthly longing, showcasing Isherwood's mastery of English prose. Book Week describes it as an extraordinary combination of brilliance and challenge, with an intriguing mix of strangeness and beauty.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780099561095

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 November 2012

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 13.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 141g

Pages: 192

Collections

Christopher Isherwood Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Penguin Books

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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