Purposes of Love: A NovelMary Renault’s inventive debut novel: A love-triangle drama set against the backdrop of hospital life Working in a hospital in 1930s Britain, two colleagues fall into an emotionally charged relationship. Vivian and Mic work demanding jobs and must endure long gaps between their secret meetings. But it is their relationship with Vivian’s brother, Jan, a charismatic scientist, that really complicates their union. Before falling for Vivian, Mic had nursed feelings for independent-minded Jan. As for Vivian, her romantic experience has left her with doubts about commitment. For this fraught trio, big questions about love—what and whom it is for—demand answers. In this powerful, sparklingly written debut tale of romance between the wars, Mary Renault showcases the talents that made her one of the twentieth century’s most beloved novelists. |
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asked began beriberi beside better Brancaster breath Camps Bay cold Colonna course dark darling dear door dress duty Ember Day everything expect eyes face feel felt flat Freeborn gone hair half hand happened head heard hospital Jan's kind KING MUST DIE kissed knew Lampeter laughed leave light live Malplaquet MARY RENAULT Matron Mic looked Mic's mind minute morning moved never night once patient perhaps PERSIAN BOY pneumonia Pratt Prince Igor probationer pulled quiet Ramillies realised remembered Rosenbaum round Scot-Hallard seemed shoulder shut silence Sister sleep slipped smile someone sometimes sorry sound stood stopped suddenly suppose talk tell Thank there's things thought tired told tonight took turned Valentine Verdun Vivian lay Vivian looked voice walked ward watch window wonder YORK TIMES BESTSELLING