Charlotte Gray

click here for more details, find new or used items

Sebastian Faulks

New from £0.75

Used from £0.01

Pages: 400 (Paperback)

ISBN: 0099428342

Pub: Vintage

Pub date: 2002-01-24

Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 297104

Editorial Review:

Sebastian Faulks established his authority as a storyteller with his best-selling Birdsong. His next book, Charlotte Gray, a haunting story of love and war set in London and occupied France in 1942-3, is loosely a sequel. Charlotte is a highly educated young Scottish woman who falls passionately in love with an airman, Peter Gregory, emotionally scarred by his many close brushes with death. When he disappears on a mission to France, she follows him as a British secret courier, sent over to help support the Resistance. Having failed to find Gregory, she decides to stay on to do what she can for the France she has loved since childhood. She and the reader are drawn ever deeper into the lives of assimilated French Jews-- the children Andre and Jacob whose parents have already been sent to the death camps, and the Levades, father and son. Though ultimately powerless to help, Charlotte nevertheless learns a far deeper understanding of herself and her own family through them.

This is a book full of insight into the way civilisation can slip into barbarism. Its haunting themes of memory and passion stay with you long after you have finished reading. --Lisa Jardine

Reader Reviews:

A good read, but... (2/3 people found this helpful)

You can only go so wrong with Sebastian Faulks, as his books are always beautifully written, touching, intense and melancholy.

However, this one was just a little too epic for me i.e. it could have done with being a little bit shorter and a little less convoluted.

Maybe to some extent it was the setting (World War 2, Occupied France) that didn't do it for me, but I didn't really lose myself in, or find it impossible to tear myself away from, this novel as I had with some of Faulks' other work.

If you've read his other work, by all means do read this too, but if you're looking for an introduction to Faulks, I'd go with `Birdsong' or `On Green Dolphin Street' first.

so realistic (2/2 people found this helpful)

I loved this book so much, I was completely hooked. Although the love story got in the way a bit the reality of the war was shocking. especially with Andre and Jacob...when I found out what happened to them I cried because they were young children. Reading this book makes you realise how real this really was and how awful it was. I didn't like birdsong but I really enjoyed this book.

Definite recommendation

the film was better (2/4 people found this helpful)

After watching and loving the film, i decided to give the book a try. I'm afraid that the book just didnt grip my attention and that the characters were unconvincing. I agree that the book is stretched out and 250 pages would have been max instead of 500. The film made Charlotte more understandable, whereas in the book Charlotte Gray's plot to save Peter Gregory becomes boring and irritating, unusual for me this book took a long time to read, however there are some very gripping scenes within it focusing on the Jewish camps which are realistic and heart-wrenching descriptions of the terror that went on.
If, like me you want to read the book because of the film, be prepared for major changes, the film changed everything including the ending which is why I think that I was shocked and slightly disappointed with the book.

Amazing (6/7 people found this helpful)

This book is simply the best book I have ever read. It draws you in to such a difficult time and situation. It is a story of struggle and bravery. Please do not judge this book by the film as the use of beautiful language throughout the book adds to value and depth.

If a book like Harry Potter can get 5 stars this book should be on double that.

An ambition not quite realised (4/9 people found this helpful)

This could be a great book in more capable hands. There is a good storyline but it's stretched over 500 pages when 200 would do. The character of Charlotte is not deep enough to fulfil her role as eponymous heroine. She is either physically or emotionally abused (she's not sure which - perhaps both are equal evils)but this does not come out in her personality which is adventurous and confident: In no way handicapped by her father or alleged depression.

The book is good on historical facts. I learned a lot about the French attitude to Naziism. I did not know that so many hated the British. There's a lot on concentration camps as well.

Although it stared out promising enough the pace was just too slow with 90% of the plot delayed until the last 100 or so pages.
And what was Charlotte doing confiding in a dirty old man like Lavade who spied on her in the bathroom and she says "disgusts" her. A bit kinky for her character I thought.
The ending was over sentimental, but I won't spoil it for you.
Perhaps Fauks will mature to fulfil his own ideas. But for now, Louis de Bernieres is streets ahead.

Similar Products

The Girl at the Lion D'Or

The Fatal Englishman: Three Short Lives

On Green Dolphin Street

A Fool's Alphabet

Birdsong