Margaret Drabble is the author of The Sea Lady, The Seven Sisters, The Peppered Moth, and The Needle s Eye, among other novels. She has written biographies of Arnold Bennett and Angus Wilson, and is the editor of the fifth and sixth editions of The Oxford Companion to English Literature. For her contributions to contemporary English literature, she was made a Dame of the British Empire in 2008."
One of The Guardian's Best Books of 2017 "This humane and masterly
novel by one of Britain's most dazzling writers is . . . deeper
than mere philosophy: a praisesong for the magical human
predicament exactly as it has been ordained on Earth." --Cynthia
Ozick, The New York Times Book Review (cover review) "A beautiful
rumination on what it means to grow old . . . It's a truly lovely
novel . . . This isn't a sentimental book, but it's a deeply
emotional one." --Michael Schaub, NPR "Once again, Dame Margaret .
. . has created a story that defies its own parameters . Gentler
than Muriel Spark's Memento Mori but no less honest, The Dark Flood
Rises examines aging from liver spots to liver failure, but the
novel's humor vaccinates it from chronic bleakness . . . [Drabble
is] refreshingly frank about the tragicomedy of aging." --Ron
Charles, Washington Post "The Dark Flood Rises escapes being
unbearably depressing by the brilliance of its characterizations,
the cleverness of its observations and the indomitable spirit of
Fran." --Patricia Hagen, Minneapolis Star-Tribune A timely and
relevant novel about the way we live (and die) now . . . Reading
Drabble is like having a brilliant and companionable acquaintance
delve into the ways of the world across a dinner table. The subject
may be death, but she still brims with life. --Mike Fasso, Tampa
Bay Times "A vein of black humor pulses in Margaret Drabble's The
Dark Flood Rises, which, thankfully, makes the novel's reflections
on how we age and die as entertaining as a conversation with a dear
friend." --Associated Press [Drabble is] the English novelist
supreme . . . The Dark Flood Rises is a compelling conversation, an
example of the kind that many folks over seventy may be having with
themselves. --Michael Langan, Buffalo News Vital and
audacious...Along the way, Drabble interjects her sizeable critical
expertise...[and] offers readers a broad medley of different
approaches to aging. --Norah Piehl, BookBrowse Mordant and
thought-provoking...More witty than morbid...this wise assessment
of aging by one of England's most respected writers deserves our
readerly attention. --Lauren Bufferd, BookPage The Dark Flood Rises
is a kind of Canterbury Tales that involves a pilgrimage towards a
vista no one's keen to contemplate. The upshot is a book full of
-humanity and humour and compassion that has a lot more variety and
urbanity than you have any right to ask for...You will be
enthralled by the sheer artistry . . . Young and old should make a
point of reading it. This is a wisdom book, which makes it a rare
thing indeed. --The Australian "Those who appreciate her able
combination of intelligence, wit, and rue will willingly follow
Drabble into the sunset." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Searingly sad but often hilarious . . . Drabble has filled her
tale with characters desperately trying to make sense of life and
loss, of beauty, talent, missed opportunities, faded passion."
--Publishers Weekly (starred review) "There's plenty of joy to be
had in this thoughtful meditation on aging and mortality."
--Barbara Love, Library Journal (starred review) "With intimations
of the pending ravages of global warming, Drabble's incisive
grappling with questions of purpose and chance in life and death is
peppered with wisdom, pluck, and humor." --Donna Seaman, Booklist
"Mordant wit and a strong humanitarian concern coexist in this
novel . . . [The Dark Flood Rises] is a significant achievement,
admirable and truthful." --New Statesman "Drabble couldn't have
written about the indignities, pains and general 'uselessness' of
old age any better."
--Lucy Scholes, The Independent "For all its morbidity, The Dark
Flood Rises is a reassuringly vital novel . . . Drabble squares up
to old age with pragmatism: she shows us its terrible physical
pain, loneliness and expense, but lightens what could threaten to
be a grim read with observational humour, delighting in her
characters' eccentric pleasures." --Emily Rhodes, The Spectator
"[The main character's] obsession with death yields a great deal of
rich, contradictory, and stimulating contemplation." --Matthew
Adams, The National "Beneath the apparently placid surface,
Drabble's novel seethes with apocalyptic intent . . . these
characters are brilliantly drawn." --Alfred Heckling, The Guardian
"A heartfelt rumination on the process of ageing and [the]
inevitability of death . . . In this novel, the dark flood is death
itself, but trust Margaret Drabble to take even the most worrisome
of topics and make
it witty, relatable and, most importantly, readable." --Rebecca
Monks, The List "Full of characteristically arresting descriptions
. . . there is a sharpness about most of this, a sense of serious
things being addressed without sentiment or wool-pulling." --The
Times "As the novel sets sail, Drabble quietly, wittily and
searchingly portrays her crew. There is a gentleness about her
touch, a mood of sympathy and understanding, as if the wisdom of
years have allowed a kindly perspective. As always with her work,
she is acute on the problems of today, and possibly of tomorrow . .
. Indeed, [the novel's] sophistication and understanding of human
nature are what make this such a satisfying, rich read." --Herald
Scotland "A thought-provoking, witty and surprisingly acerbic
read." --Press and Journal "A darkly witty and exhilarating novel
... bleak but bracing . . . Its sharp perceptions and macabre verve
make it an often exhilarating read." --Sunday Times "An acerbic,
sharp, meditation on what it means to lead a good life and how to
ensure a good death." --Observer "Surprisingly uplifting, this
profound novel has an unforgettable central character." --Sunday
Telegraph "Masterly, poignant and uplifting." --Mail on Sunday
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