new titles BOOKS
NEW FICTION Casanova ; Andrew Miller (Sceptre £14.99) *‘kt
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. -. - MON WEST END His name has become a legendary by-word for seduction and sedition, secrets and lies, but Casanova was a historical figure - an 18th century ‘ gambler, womaniser and spy forced to wander the decadent streets of 1‘ IVES Europe after fleeing prison in his native Venice. Andrew Miller, author of the celebrated Ingenious Pain, offers a S E ‘ TE 1 922-97 H fictionalised account of the anti-hero's misadventures in London as narrated — by the geriatric Casanova from a decrepit room in Bohemia. , 7 . PM FREE
Casanova intends to reinvent himself in London, perhaps as a writer, but certainly as a man whose life has more purpose than carving yet another , notch in the bedpost. Sadly, things go pear-shaped when he becomes D QU EEN S HALL
i obsessed with beautiful, young Marie Charpillon but repeatedly fails to get i his gentlemanly leg over. i E g
What follows searches for some kind of insight into the male soul, but u ,, comes over more like Carry On Camping meets Les Liaisons Dangereuse. B M E PA There is surprisingly little sex and, as for historical city squalor, Patrick (Bantam £1 5.99)
Suskind did it much better in Perfume. S E . Still, there are some nice touches. Samuel ’Dictionary’ Johnson is a fully- _— TleEtS 133/51 .50 from 8” branCheS fleshed character, and Miller expertly catches the spirit of an ostensibly 7 ' P M
Christian metropolis which, in the actions of its people, actually worships C mm 500” Bacchus and Mammon. Casanova is readable enough, but really, for a tale 0 g
of sexual intrigue, it's rather limp. (Peter Ross) I
The writers of English murder stepmother is as gripping and Brita”? 5 595’ 101'“! e’lt"€p"€’ze”" 1”” be 4’ mysteries operate on similar principles intricately plotted as one would expect. Waterstone’s Edinburgh, Princes Street — things go wrong when some A fine showcase for the author’s skill, it aristocrat takes a chambermaid to bed, Will make a marvellous teleVision . on 21 september’ 1—2pm or a lily-white daughter of the middle adaptation starring a minor Winslet signing copier (if/.713 autobiograply) in his 071/) Swirls/J Min-stone's appearance
classes takes up with a swarthy manual and someone off The Bi'//. (HM) labourer. The focus isn’t murder, but
83 George Street. Edinburgh
class — and sex across barriers of class, Continued over page. tel; 0131 225 3436 Iqhuemlgivr'éifincsogzzgg33:23:Sh'Ch '5 ""ms‘il'Xfi‘fiKT‘ifié‘é—“W West End, 128 Princes Street, Edinburgh 7 ' ' ’l' 0131 226 2666 Ruth Rendell is perhaps Our most Sgg'iibée t“ ' ‘ . ‘ q I accomplished exponent Of the genre n: t Wort a shot East hnd. 13-14 Princes Street. Edinburgh This rim tale of a irl at the mercy of a H Below average . . . .. . .. . ml; ()131 556 3034 5 g g * ,.,_Xeu’xeeeewmsi; WM “blows /
psychotic boyfriend and an obsessive -_ _.
10—24 Sep 1998 THE “ST 87