A brief post to let Brooknerians know the moment has arrived: a biography commissioned by Chatto & Windus, to be written by Hermione Lee. Hermione Lee interviewed Brookner on television in the 80s. Brookner joins illustrious company. Lee has lifed, among others, Virginia Woolf and Edith Wharton.
I certainly wish Dame Hermoine (or is Profressor Lee more appropriate?), all the best. I certainly got the strong impression from Anita Brookner's infrequent comments on the subject, that she wouldn't leave a biographer anything to work with if she had any say in the matter.
ReplyDeleteOne is reminded of Henry James and those bonfires at Lamb House as he prepared to withstand the 'siege of all the years'.
DeleteThank you so much for letting us know.
ReplyDeleteIt was a big surprise.
DeleteThis is excellent news for Brooknerians. I can't wait to read it although I imagine that Brookner herself would have been horrified at the prospect of a biography.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt she envied James, with his large private garden at Lamb House, ample space for those bonfires.
DeleteWhat fantastic news! I await this with much anticipation; thank you so much for letting us know.
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to it. Although I agree Anita Brookner would not have liked the idea.
ReplyDeleteMuch, perhaps, as she mightn't have quite liked Barnes's Elizabeth Finch...
DeleteFantastic. My very favourite writer. And excellent biographer ! When is it expected to be published?
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. No news as yet, though she is prolific.
DeleteBonjour Cher Brooknerian, Heureuse d'apprendre qu'une biographie de Anita Brookner est en préparation. Il ne me reste qu'à souhaiter qu'elle sera traduite en français, mais hélas rien n'est moins sûr, les éditeurs français étant de plus en plus frileux ...
ReplyDeleteOne can but hope.
ReplyDeleteOh dear. Lee of the 500 pages plus biographies. I think Brookner deserved a biographer who was alive to subtlety and nuance, not just to the accumulation of facts
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