The Good SoldierAfter his wife's death, a man untangles the truth of her infidelity, in this masterful novel of pre-WWI England by the celebrated author of Parade's End. When John Dowell and his wife, Florence, leave America for a stay at a German spa, they meet Capt. Edward Ashburn and his wife, Leonora. The two couples develop a close friendship that lasts for years—until Florence dies and John learns about her long-standing affair with Edward. The infidelity is shocking only to John, however. It seems Leonora has known all along. As John attempts to reconstruct the truth of his marriage, he begins to understand that nothing was what it appeared to be—not his friendship with Edward, his wife's heart condition, or his own feelings about the life he chose. A pioneering work of literary impressionism, author Ford Madox Ford presents a series of flashbacks from the memory of an unreliable narrator to create what is considered "one of the few stylistically perfect works in any language" ( The Guardian). |
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4th of August affair agony Antibes Anyhow appeared Basil believe Branshaw Teleragh called Catholic certainly Chitral Colonel course daresay dark desire Dolciquita door dress Edward and Leonora Edward Ashburnham English extraordinary eyes face father feeling fellow Florence Florence's FORD MADOX FORD Fordingbridge girl's Glasgow gone hair hand heard heart husband idea imagined India Kilsyte kissed knew letter Lohengrin looked Maisie Maidan marriage married matter mean to say mind minuet Misses Hurlbird mistress mother Nancy Rufford Nauheim never night once passion Peire Vidal perfectly perhaps poor dear poor girl Powys pretty prussic acid queer remember Reverend Mother round seemed shoulders silent sort stone pines suddenly suppose talk tell tenants things thought thousand told trust your wife understand voice wanted Waterbury whilst wife woman women words young