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View of the Harbour
View of the Harbour | Elizabeth Taylor
20 posts | 15 read | 25 to read
Blindness and betrayal are Elizabeth Taylor's great subjects, and in A View of the Harbour she turns her unsparing gaze on the emotional and sexual politics of a seedy seaside town that's been left behind by modernity. Tory, recently divorced, depends more and more on the company of her neighbors Robert, a doctor, and Beth, a busy author of melodramatic novels. Prudence, Robert and Beth's daughter, disapproves of the intimacy that has grown between her parents and Tory and the gossip it has awakened in their little community. As the novel proceeds, Taylor's view widens to take in a range of characters from bawdy, nosey Mrs. Bracey; to a widowed young proprietor of the local waxworks, Lily Wilson; to the would-be artist Bertram--while the book as a whole offers a beautifully observed and written examination of the fictions around which we construct our lives and manage our losses.
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quietjenn
A View of the Harbor | Elizabeth Taylor
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It's so lovely (and heartening) when you finally get to a book that you've long had on your shelf and been looking forward too, and it's just as excellent and you love it just as much as you expected.

EvieBee It‘s the best feeling! I love Taylor‘s books. 2y
Tamra I‘m happy for you. 😊 2y
jlhammar I love when that happens! 2y
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BarbaraBB Echoing @EvieBee 🤍 2y
LeahBergen It‘s a good one! 🥰 2y
youneverarrived Love when that happens 🤍 2y
quietjenn Thanks! It really is the best feeling! I'm glad y'all can relate! 😀 @EvieBee @Tamra @jlhammar @BarbaraBB @LeahBergen @youneverarrived 2y
BkClubCare Yes! I read this recently!! 2y
63 likes3 stack adds8 comments
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BkClubCare
A View of the Harbor | Elizabeth Taylor
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Editing this post because I finished the book (and the bottle of wine) and don‘t have the energy to find a thoughtful photo. Book is good. I love E.Taylor‘s writing. This is May‘s #BookSpin!! 😵‍💫🍭
@TheAromaofBooks
My Scruffy Head Red arrived! And it is good. #EstherFest #Whpg #Griff4short #Wirehairedpointinggriffon #readingoutside #BookCovermatchesWineLabelmatchesTheDog 🐶🍷

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
41 likes1 comment
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BkClubCare
A View of the Harbor | Elizabeth Taylor
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“She opened her eyes as she spoke, but when she heard the door slam after Beth she closed them again quickly, yet it seemed as if she did it needlessly, for the darkness which rushed over her came not from outside but from within.”

Loving this book, intrigued where it is headed. #buddyread #readICT #Flowers #Platycodon

BkClubCare “Her features became disorganized as she attempted a look of animated interest.” LOL 2y
BarbaraBB I just read another wonderful book by her: 2y
BkClubCare @BarbaraBB - yay! You enjoyed it. I love this author. 2y
BkClubCare “Even sitting still she was conscious of the violence of the emotion which assailed her, as if it had an origin outside and away from her.” 2y
37 likes4 comments
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BkClubCare
A View of the Harbor | Elizabeth Taylor
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“No gulls escorted the trawlers going out of the harbour, at teatime, as they would on the return journey; they sat upon the rocking waters without excitement, perching along the sides of little boats, slapped up and down by one wake after another. #FirstLineFridays #BuddyRead #readICT

Tamra Love that cover! 2y
BkClubCare @Tamra - I ordered this edition because I was excited to read the Sarah Waters Introduction (which I will read AFTER!! 🤣) 2y
Tamra @BkClubCare funny, I do the same! 2y
Nutmegnc Cool photo really shows off the great cover!! 2y
Nutmegnc @BkClubCare @tamra I saw that and was like Oooh, must be good!! 2y
50 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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BkClubCare
A View of the Harbour | Elizabeth Taylor
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I shop at indie bookstores! #bookstoreroadmap

#readict

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Leftcoastzen
A View of the Harbour | Elizabeth Taylor
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Traded some books today. Looked for future reads for the #NYRBBookClub , no luck.Bookmans has 2 branches in Phx /Mesa .The one nearby is more a general neighborhood store .The Mesa store gets more odd stuff as it is close to the university. I started the #Virago scan with success & found an oldie I didn‘t know about. Happy Sunday!

EvieBee The best kind of Sundays! In my hometown of El Paso, we had a thrift store that only got books in from Cambridge, MA so they were mostly funky classics that appealed to me and very few people who shopped there. I miss it! 3y
LeahBergen That‘s a lovely green Virago! 😍 Have you read Taylor before? I‘m a big fan! 3y
Leftcoastzen @EvieBee wow that‘s cool! You know exactly what I mean . 3y
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Leftcoastzen @LeahBergen I have not! I have seen some of your reviews, definitely looking forward to it. 3y
quietjenn That sounds like a lovely Sunday! And my version of that Taylor is a NYRB, so it's still a potential #nyrbbookclub score 😉 3y
Leftcoastzen @quietjenn I thought there were some Taylor titles on NYRB lists . I think 🤔 one was nominated once? 3y
tokorowilliamwallace I found a Virago Modern Classics edition of a Nina Bawden---I had never heard of the author before, so we'll see. I was tempted with a handful of NYRB at Barnes & Noble last weekend with a friend (including Kingsley Amis!), but couldn't find the club's calendar for selections on here and didn't really want to spend the money. Soon maybe. 3y
batsy Those are some lovely finds! I've heard of the Mitford book but don't know too much about it. 3y
Leftcoastzen @batsy Wikipedia says it was published anonymously in 1678 . They believe it was written by Madame de La Fayette . Also mentions as the earliest psychological novel, historical novel set in 1558.how could I leave it there?😁Especially translation by Mitford! Also , New Directions always catches my eye. (edited) 3y
Leftcoastzen @tokorowilliamwallace if you check out the tag #NYRBBookClub all the picks are up through April. Also , New York review books website has a sale right now on select titles, discount increases with number of volumes purchased. 3y
Leftcoastzen @LeahBergen I‘m forgetful, I read this one with #NYRBBookClub 3y
58 likes1 stack add11 comments
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sisilia
A View of the Harbour | Elizabeth Taylor
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IRL bookclub... done via Zoom. Nothing can stop us 😆

ju.ca.no Great😁 4y
TheSpineView 👍 4y
60 likes2 comments
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Cathythoughts
A View of the Harbour | Elizabeth Taylor
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Delightful & charming & sad & funny & real & so perfectly of its time. Loving this story... it seems almost every seaside harbour town I know has an Anchor Bar ... perfect 👌🏻in so many ways ❤️
Please more suggestions from Elizabeth Taylor fans

Sace The flower is beautiful! 4y
Cathythoughts @Sace we are very proud & adoring of that flower 👍🏻 4y
Sace I just went back to one of your earlier posts. How interesting that it's also a nameless flower! Makes it all the more beautiful and unique 😁 4y
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Cathythoughts @Sace it‘s not so much nameless as that we can‘t find a normal name for it ... it‘s all Latin & obscure ...... 😁 it‘s a beauty though 🤍 4y
Sace Latin seems appropriate. It looks like it should be on the cover of a historical epic novel. 4y
batsy Lovely photo 🌼 I just read my first Elizabeth Taylor for #NYRBbookclub and loved it! 4y
Cathythoughts @batsy Thanks Suba ! I‘ll definitely go for that one next. And I‘d highly recommend this tagged one ....( my first ever by her ) 👍🏻❤️ 4y
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Cathythoughts
A View of the Harbour | Elizabeth Taylor
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Now , as he walked the length of the quay before bedtime, he wondered about this .. Life breaks through...
.... But even now 2 days in this place and the tide creeps up,begins to wash against me ... “ Cut Away from all I knew , in a strange place , I thought I could achieve all I have dreamt about and intended sinse I was a young man .... but the tide creeps up , begins to wash against me and

✨Life Breaks Through ✨

Enjoying this one

erzascarletbookgasm Beautiful ✨ I still haven‘t read this author although I have one of her books on my shelf. 4y
LeahBergen @erzascarletbookgasm I think you‘d like her! 4y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen @erzascarletbookgasm im not too far in yet but I‘m enjoying it ! It‘s very gossipy... all the goings on in the seaside village ❤️ (edited) 4y
45 likes3 comments
review
sisilia
A View of the Harbour | Elizabeth Taylor
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Pickpick

4⭐️ I truly enjoyed Taylor‘s writing in this one. Just like the light from the lighthouse, she swept over all the characters in this harbour village with her usual lovely quiet tone. She‘s really a master in offering various perspectives, shifting from one character to another

Caroline2 Glad to hear you liked it. I‘ve just ordered ‘Mrs Palfrey‘. I‘ve not read anything by her yet so we‘ll see. 👍 4y
sisilia @Caroline2 It‘s in my TBR ☺️ 4y
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sisilia
A View of the Harbour | Elizabeth Taylor
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It‘s Sunday morning, and I‘m starting this book. I heard only good things about this, so am excited for another good read

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Jas16
A View of the Harbour | Elizabeth Taylor
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#7days7covers Day one. #covercrush

Thank you so much for the tag @Centique It was fun looking at my shelves and thinking about what covers I especially love!

@CocoReads are you interested in participating if you haven‘t been tagged yet? Just post a cover you love for seven days with no other explanation and tag someone new every day.

CocoReads Oh! Yes! I‘ll give this a shot! Thanks for the tag! 5y
BookNAround Ooo. I like this cover a lot. 5y
readordierachel Lovely! 5y
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LeahBergen This Virago series is lovely 😍😍 5y
Centique Beautiful! 5y
Tanisha_A 😍 5y
batsy I love this. 5y
Jas16 @LeahBergen I know! It was difficult not buying them all. 5y
Suet624 So pretty!! 5y
71 likes1 stack add9 comments
review
shawnmooney
A View of the Harbour | Elizabeth Taylor
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Bailedbailed

Quite the disappointment after worshipping her later masterpiece Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont. Marred by one of the most irritating characters in all of 20th century British lit, some doddering old artist wannabe, Bertram, who fussed and meddled with all the women in town and annoyed the crap out of me. And there was way too much processing of emotions here, between two-dimensional characters that stayed flat on the page. Bailed halfway through.

LeahBergen Nooooooo!! Okay, try At Mrs Lippincote‘s next. I second @saresmoore . 👍🏻 6y
40 likes2 comments
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Moray_Reads
A View of the Harbour | Elizabeth Taylor
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@saresmoore Did these lovely goodies come from you?? Either that or I've been making Amazon orders in my sleep again...

saresmoore Bahaha! Thanks for the plot of my next novel! 😅 Yes, they are from me. I worked around the exorbitant shipping costs by ordering from Amazon UK. Were those Bloomsbury editions ones you didn‘t have? I was trying hard to remember which I had seen on your shelves! 6y
Moray_Reads @saresmoore they're the very ones I was missing, I'm very impressed. And the Elizabeth Taylor and calendar are lovely. Thank you so much x 6y
saresmoore Oh, yay! You are more than welcome! ♥️ 6y
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LeahBergen Oh, I love Angela Harding‘s illustrations! 😍 6y
Moray_Reads @saresmoore I have a parcel to send to you but I'm not sure it will make it before Christmas now. I'll send it asap x 6y
Moray_Reads @LeahBergen @saresmoore isn't it gorgeous? It can replace the lovely 2018 calendar my flatmate has up in our kitchen 6y
41 likes6 comments
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LeahBergen
A View of the Harbour | Elizabeth Taylor
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Up next in my year of reading all of Elizabeth Taylor‘s novels. I‘m becoming a huge fan! 👏🏻

tpixie I didn‘t know she wrote! ( the actress right?) 6y
LeahBergen @tpixie No, this is a British writer from the 1940s. Crazy, right? 6y
CarolynM Beautiful picture❤️ 6y
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tpixie Lol! Well enjoy 😊 6y
Aimeesue Ooooh, pretty edition!😍 6y
Leftcoastzen Oh wow,I need to read her 6y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I love this photo. 6y
TrishB Lovely 💕 6y
Kalalalatja 😍😍😍 6y
Cathythoughts Perfect picture 👍🏻💜 6y
LauraBeth That‘s a lovely edition 😍 6y
rubyslippersreads So far I‘ve only read one, but I enjoyed it. 6y
Centique It‘s so purty! 6y
Reviewsbylola I love this collection. I only have one from it so far. 6y
96 likes1 stack add14 comments
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Beck9lol
A View of the Harbour | Elizabeth Taylor
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Surprise book mail from my fabulous #litsypenpal @Litlady !!!! Both books sound (and look) great and check out that sweet doggy pen! 😍🐶👀 Such a nice letter and fun gifts to brighten up this stressful week! Thank you so much Ginny!!!

Litlady Oh yay!! It arrived safe and sound! Give Mr. Foxy a kiss on the head from me! 🐶❣🐶 Enjoy my dear‼️📚🤗 6y
22 likes1 comment
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Lizpixie
A View of the Harbour | Elizabeth Taylor
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#BookMail Bk3 is a particularly pretty #ViragoModernClassics Edition of A View Of The Harbour by Elizabeth Taylor(am I the only one who thought it was the actress at first?) With a foreword by Sarah Waters, set in a small coastal village, it‘s a novel about secrets and lies. And did I mention how pretty it is?😍

sudi These covers are so pretty ❤ 6y
Nute I love Virago Press. The editions are gorgeous. 6y
65 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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SaraBeagle
A View of the Harbour | Elizabeth Taylor
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I took two boxes of books to Half Price Books and left with only two books and some cash. Pretty proud of myself 🏆 And I'm really excited about what I found!

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LeahBergen
A View of the Harbour | Elizabeth Taylor
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quirkyreader That is a very lovely #Virago book. Are those editions easy to get ahold of in Canada? 8y
Kalalalatja Love the VMC designer classics 👌 8y
LeahBergen @quirkyreader Not really. I found 3 at my local used bookstore, though. 👍🏼 8y
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LeahBergen @Kalalalatja Me, too! I need more. 8y
quirkyreader It would be super cool if Hachette(sp?) sold this imprint in North America. 8y
shawnmooney Should I read Elizabeth Taylor? You know your wish is my command, as always… 8y
LeahBergen @quirkyreader Wouldn't it?? 8y
LeahBergen @shawnmooney I'm not sure as I haven't read her yet! I picked up 3 of her books (in these pretty editions) at my local used bookstore as she seemed quite Pym-ish. I've read about her for years and her stuff seems like "books that Shawn and Leah would like". ? 8y
shawnmooney I think so too – must get to one eventually… 💖 8y
rubyslippersreads I would buy this just for the cover. 😄 8y
MrBook That's a great cover! 8y
LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads Well ... that's pretty much what I did! 😂 8y
quirkyreader @shawnmooney I read Elizabeth's biography put out by #persephonebooks. She seems like a rather interesting character. Elizabeth was also acquainted with one of the last woman murders to be executed in England, Ruth Ellis. I think ET wrote Angel, which was made into a film with Romala Gari and directed by Fancois Ouzon. 8y
LeahBergen @quirkyreader Yes, she did. I bought 3 of her books in this same Virago series at the used bookstore. This one ☝️, Angel, and Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont. They're all so pretty! 8y
LeahBergen @quirkyreader And now I'm interested in her life if she knew that murderer! I'll look it up in my Persephone catalogue. Thank you! 8y
quirkyreader @LeahBergen The bio isn't in the catalouge. I had to get if from the library because it might be out of print. I did see copies of it on amazon and Better World Books. 8y
Hobbinol Do you actually keep tea in that canister? Or is it to keep all your bookmarks nice and fresh? 8y
LeahBergen @Hobbinol I DO keep tea in it. My bookmarks are in a little chest that's about 15X this size. 😂 8y
95 likes2 stack adds18 comments
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Readliterature
A View of the Harbour | Elizabeth Taylor
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"The young imagine insults, magnify them, with great effort overcome them, or retaliate. A waste of emotion Bertram thought, forgetting how much emotion there is to spare."