The Passion"Winterson is a master of her material, a writer in whom great talent deeply abides." -- Vanity FairFirst published to great acclaim in 1987, this arresting, elegant novel from Jeanette Winterson uses Napolean's Europe as the setting for a tantalizing surrealistic romance between an observer of history and a creature of fantasy.Jeanette Winterson's novels have established her as one of the most important young writers in world literature. The Passion is perhaps her most highly acclaimed work, a modern classic that confirms her special claim on the novel. Set during the tumultuous years of the Napoleonic Wars, The Passion intertwines the destinies of two remarkable people: Henri, a simple French soldier, who follows Napoleon from glory to Russian ruin; and Villanelle, the red-haired, web-footed daughter of a Venetian boatman, whose husband has gambled away her heart. In Venice's compound of carnival, chance, and darkness, the pair meet their singular destiny. In her unique and mesmerizing voice, Winterson blends reality with fantasy, dream, and imagination to weave a hypnotic tale with stunning effects. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
afraid arms asked boat boatmen Bonaparte Bonaparte's boots Boulogne canal cards Casino catarrh chicken church clothes codpiece cold cook dark dead Devil Domino door dream dress eyes fabulous thing face father feel feet felt fire France gone Grande Armée hair hands hate head heard heart Henri Holy horse husband Joséphine kiss knew lagoon laughed leave live look lose Madame Clicquot married morning mother mouth never night passion Patrick Perhaps play porridge priest pushed Queen of spades round rowed Russians San Servelo seagulls sleep slept smell smile soldiers St Mark's St Mark's Square staring stay stopped stories straight talk Talleyrand There's thought told took turned Venetian Venice village Villanelle walk on water walked wanted watching wild card window woman women zero winter