Rosalind Brackenbury Livres

During the years leading up to her marriage with Leonard Woolf in 1912, the year in which she finished The Voyage Out and sent it to be published by her cousin at Duckworth’s, the future Virginia Woolf was teaching herself how to be a writer. While her brothers were sent first to private schools, then to Cambridge to be educated, Virginia Stephen and her sister Vanessa were informally educated at home. With this background, how did she know she was a writer? What were her struggles? How did she teach herself? What made Miss Stephen into the author Virginia Woolf? Miss Stephen’s Apprenticeship explores these questions, delving into Virginia Woolf ’s letters and diaries, seeking to understand how she covered the distance from the wistful “I only wish I could write,” to the almost casual statement, “the novels are finished.” These days, the trajectory of a writer very often starts with studying for an MFA. In Woolf ’s case, however, it’s instructive to ask: How did a great writer, who had no formal education, invent for herself the framework she needed for a writing life? How did she know what she had to learn? How did she make her own way? Novelist Rosalind Brackenbury explores these questions and others, and in the process reveals what Virginia Woolf can give to young writers today.

"When her old friend Hannah doesn't show up at her house in the south of France, everyone assumes that Claudia, who has known Hannah since their shared years at boarding school, will know where she is, and what has happened. But as Claudia travels from the USA to France to help Hannah's husband and children conduct their search, she is forced to deal with her old jealousy of Hannah, as well as her own relationship in the present with her French lover, Alexandre. As events unfold, Claudia begins to wonder if Hannah and Alexandre may have had an affair and if that has had something to do with Hannah's mysterious disappearance. In this exquisitely written, Ferrante-esque novel the question of whether or not Hannah will come back becomes urgent and bewildering. And if she doesn't come back, what will the lives of her friends and family be without her?"--

Exploring the complexities of love and fidelity, the story follows Maria Jameson as she navigates a passionate affair that challenges her perceptions of commitment. Torn between her husband and a new lover, she grapples with the emotional turmoil of loving two men simultaneously. The narrative delves into themes of desire, choice, and the consequences of infidelity, prompting readers to question the nature of love and the sacrifices it demands.

The discovery of a woman's bones on a Dorset beach triggers haunting memories for Nessa Halloran, linking her present to her English post-war childhood. As she grapples with the mystery of the bones' identity, Nessa's past resurfaces, intertwining her personal history with the enigma surrounding the remains. The narrative explores themes of memory, identity, and the shadows of the past that shape the present.

Rosalind Brackenbury's works are praised for their emotional depth and insightful character development. Reviewers highlight her ability to weave complex narratives that explore themes of love, loss, and personal growth. Her writing style is often described as lyrical and evocative, drawing readers into the intimate lives of her characters. The books resonate with authenticity, making them relatable and impactful for a wide audience.

After the death of her art dealer father, forty-year-old Gaby Greenwood's unmoored grief drives her to Paris alone, leaving her American husband behind. Where better for an existential crisis than the city so many artists have loved? Walking through the streets, she sees a man with white hair and a worn corduroy jacket--a dead ringer for her late father. A ghost? Or has mourning driven her mad? Then she receives a letter from a woman she never knew existed--her father's lover of three decades. The mysterious Françoise has been entrusted with her father's last gift to Gaby, a valuable seventeenth-century still life. The woman is also the bearer of so many of her father's secrets. But when Gaby takes a French lover, she starts to question everything she ever knew about her father and her own double life: America or Paris, husband or lover, old life or a new, reimagined one?

"Seb Fowler has arrived in Paris to research his literary idol, Henri Fournier. It begins with an interview granted by a woman whose affair with the celebrated writer trails back to World War I. The enchanting Pauline is fragile, but her memories are alive--those of an illicit passion, of the chances she took and never regretted, and of the twists of fate that defined her unforgettable love story. Through Pauline's love letters, her secrets, and a lost Fournier manuscript, Seb will come to learn so much more--about Pauline, Henri, and himself. For Seb, every moment of Pauline's past proves to be more inspiring than he could have imagined. She's given him the courage to grab hold of whatever life offers, to cherish each risk, and to pursue love in his life."--Provided by publisher.