A truly enjoyable journey awaits as we waver between the fascinating interplay of the competitive and collaborative work of two contemporary literary scholars in England and their chosen subjects - fictive Victorian poets who shared a clandestine love affair.

Through a careful examination of letters, a close reading of poems, and other intriguing clues pieced together by their creative sleuthing, the hidden romance of the Victorian poets gradually unfolds.

I found it particularly interesting how the story vividly contrasts the cultures of the two eras. It also offers a compelling account of why literary scholars often find themselves becoming completely obsessed with the personal lives of their favorite writers. This obsession, in a sense, is a way for them to "possess" and understand the essence of those literary figures on a deeper level.

Overall, it's a captivating exploration that combines elements of mystery, history, and literary analysis to create a truly engaging narrative.

"With a little practice, writing can be an intimidating and impenetrable fog! Want to see my book report?" -Calvin & Hobbes (Bill Watterson)

Indeed, Calvin. You speak the truth. And after slogging through a sample portion of that intimidating and impenetrable fog known as Possession, I've learned a valuable lesson. Lend me your ears, gentle reader, for I'm about to reveal another truth that has been absent from your daily literary grind.

A.S. Byatt is undeniably smart. Oh, yes. She is smart, and she desires everyone to be aware of it. If the world is reluctant to listen, she'll force the truth into our ears using a handful of steel-plated swabs. I suspect that Possession isn't so much a novel as it is an intellectual mercy killing. She has taken it upon herself to correct the error of our feeble dreams, namely, that the common masses have received an education adequate to understand the higher thinking of Literature. (Nothing thins out the herd like an intimidating capital letter, right?)

After enduring the entirety of another impenetrable Byatt fog (Angels & Insects), I thought I was prepared for the onslaught. But no. There was no possibility of harmonious communication between my inferior brain and the superior Literature of Possession. It's the straightforward outcome of a simple equation: I failed to recognize that A.S. Byatt is smart, and therefore I failed to understand why I should care about these fictional academic blowhards and their bloated, self-indulgent dialogues.

...But perhaps the failure isn't entirely my fault. Remember, A.S. Byatt is smart. My undergrad-level education and leisure reading hobbies are just a minor blip. What hope did I have of appreciating Literature that aims to celebrate the written word and Victorian culture? Call me a fool, gentle reader. But even after failing to connect with Possession, I'm still held captive by the most ignorant of blind faiths. I believe my wounded pride will heal. Surely those of lesser intellectual capabilities can strive for greatness, even yours truly as she tosses and turns through another sleepless night, crying salty tears of ignorance into a soggy, mildewed pillow.

Yes, it's true. A.S. Byatt is smart. That's the beginning, the middle, and the end. So please excuse me while I list Possession on Paperback Swap. Maybe I can trade it for something I'll actually enjoy reading.

"Possession" is a honking great piece of literary self-gratification. It's a novel about writers, and perhaps all such novels should be given a more concrete form. It serves as a grand excuse for A S Byatt to showcase her fancy ventriloquism skills and dazzle us. Indeed, you can sense the throb of the author's perfervid intelligence, much like a lawnmower hacking away at the tough grass on the edge of the lawn. However, after all is said and done, one has to be honest and admit that "Possession" isn't worth the thinnest novelette penned by Raymond Chandler, the most offhand poem by e e cummings, or the most obscure B side by the Beach Boys. It's a pure waste of time, and I was unfortunately suckered into reading it by someone whose taste I had previously thought trustworthy. This was truly a lesson learned bitterly.

***

This book blatantly breaks one of PB's commandments: Thou shalt not write a book that is a series of sock puppets, designed entirely to impress the hoi polloi at the Hay-on-Wye Literary Festival when you read bits out to them in funny voices. It seems that "Possession" falls into this category, lacking the depth and substance that one would expect from a great work of literature. Instead of engaging the reader on a profound level, it appears to be more concerned with showing off the author's literary tricks and gimmicks. As a result, it fails to leave a lasting impression and is ultimately forgettable.

History is not just a collection of hard facts; it is also something else - the passion and colour lent by men and women. A.S. Byatt's work reminds us of the power of words and the allure of poetry. In a world dominated by logic and science, poetry offers a vibrant escape, transporting us to imaginary realms and making us fall in love with fictional characters.

Byatt takes us back to the Victorian period, a time when poets were held in high regard. She introduces us to Randolph Henry Ash and Christabel LaMotte, whose passionate correspondence is discovered by modern academics Roland Michell and Maud Bailey. As they delve deeper into the letters, they are possessed by the romance and the need to understand the true nature of the relationship between the two poets.

The story is a captivating blend of history, literature, and romance, exploring themes such as the essence of poetry, the role of women in a patriarchal society, and the power of the imagination. Byatt's writing is rich and detailed, painting a vivid picture of the Victorian era and the people who inhabited it. She effortlessly weaves together different elements, from mythology to science, creating a complex and engaging narrative.

At its core, "Possession" is a celebration of the written word and the power it has to move us, inspire us, and connect us across time and space. It reminds us that poetry is not a dying art but a living, breathing entity that continues to evolve and reinvent itself. As Roland Michell discovers, the romance of the past can inspire us to create something new and beautiful in the present.

So, let us embrace the power of words, whether they are found in a classic poem or a modern pop song, and let them transport us to new worlds and new experiences. As Byatt herself wrote, "Only write to me, write to me, I love to see the hop and skip and sudden starts of your ink."

The "idea" of the story was that poems live longer than poets, that poems and poets are more alive than literary theorists and biographers who experience their lives secondhand.

Don't let the image of a large, thick book with a female face on the cover and the word "romance" under the main title deter you. Don't pass it by in the bookstore because you would be making a big mistake! A 32-year-old award-winning masterpiece is making its appearance again in the Greek language and you must read it! It was my reading surprise of the year, the best book!

I admit that initially the reason to read it was the appreciation I have for the work of its translator, Katerina Schina. What a feat she must have accomplished to transfer this multi-volume work with such naturalness into our language! I was truly charmed! Because when reading "Possession", I did not come into contact with a specific fictional work, with a corresponding style of writing and tone or with a linear narrative path. On the contrary, I read many books together: poetry books, books of correspondence or epistolary writing, diary books, books with an academic tone and corresponding information. I encountered the power of orality and the vividness of the images, whether of the nature of the British countryside or of university libraries. The tone was sometimes romantic, sometimes lyrical, sometimes full of harsh realism. In short, it was a mixture of literary phenomena within 626 pages! How could I classify this rich story somewhere?

It was a tactical compilation of multiple readings and corresponding feelings because as the title, "Possession", also confirms, in order for someone to be initially captivated by the writing of a new world that Byatt has built so successfully, since everything she mentions is fictional, and that Schina has translated so methodically, artistically and harmoniously, one must have a relationship of passion with this subject! How much talent is needed to convey the love and the search for truth that characterizes every researcher towards the subject they are captivated by? Also, how human and timeless is the presentation of people's feelings and their struggle for acceptance in society? Probably there is no difference between today and the Victorian era! It is not a simple or meager book, it is an epic! Because although it may not seem so at first, the objectivity that pervades it, that is, the influence of other contemporary or not works, places it in the pantheon with the classic works. Although I have only read this book by the author, it undoubtedly now belongs to one of my favorite shelves!

4.5

“Tell your aunt,” he said, “that you met a poet.”

This is not a proper review. It is simply a compilation of the thoughts that occurred to me at various points, during or after reading the book, and got lodged in my mind. It includes the peculiarities of this book that charmed me, and a few other things as well. This list is not intended to make sense to anyone but me, yet I hope you will still be able to glean inspiration or motivation from it to hurry to the nearest bookstore or library and obtain a copy of this magnificent book. Those who have read it will surely understand many, if not all, of these points. I apologize for this jumbled form, but curiously enough, I discovered that if these ideas were put into a more cohesive text, they would make even less sense.

-\\tWhat possession, and of whom or what? There is the possession of the scholar by the poet, of the poet by the scholar; of the man by an idea, a dream, a castle in the clouds, an obsession; of one lover by the other, and vice versa, both platonically and carnally; of the listener or reader by curiosity, by the need to know what lies on the other side of the words and by the words themselves, the end of the story, how it is going to end. There is intellectual possession, spiritual possession, romantic possession, sexual possession, narrative possession, and all their nuances.

-\\tThe mind and body, and the places where they touch and where they do not, where they embrace each other and where they would tear each other apart, if only we let them.

-\\tThe hatred or disgust we feel when we become acquainted with the tortuosity of our minds.

-\\tAnd the fear or disgust we feel when we become acquainted with the physicality of our bodies.

-\\tHow utterly ugly sexuality and relationships can become between men and women, between partners, and yet how blissful they can also be.

-\\tThe past and present running in parallel, in contrast, and symmetrically.

-\\tThe academic world, with its clowns, its devotees, its treasure hunters, and its novices.

-\\tFeminism, sometimes gently and intelligently mocked, sometimes forcefully endorsed.

-\\tLiterary criticism and categories, interpretation, virtuosity, ventriloquism, textual camouflage.

-\\tThe tracing of sources halfway between a detective story and the research for an academic paper.

-\\tWe never know the whole story. No one gets to know the whole story, ever, not even the one who writes it or the one who lives it, because even those who live it will only have their own perspective and not others'. And to all stories, there is always another side, and another side, and another side.

The only thing about Possession that I didn't like, or disagreed with, if you will, and therefore the only reason why this isn't a five-star reading for me, is the arrangement of the narrative material. I found it difficult to care about the characters because the story progresses very slowly, not really flowing, due to the abundance of letters, academic documents, and so on, and also of POVs, even of very secondary characters in whom the reader is, at best, only tenuously interested. I think, however, that this mostly concerns my personal taste and enjoyment of the story. Rarely have I seen such a masterfully crafted piece of contemporary literature (or of any other genre you would like to place this book into).

After hearing so much praise for so many years, I thought I might love Possession. This novel seems to be tailored for those readers who have the patience to linger over long stanzas of Romantic poetry, soak in the lush descriptive passages, and delve into the academic esoterica.

Alas, I am not that reader. At least not at this moment. Clearly, Byatt is a brilliant writer. Her ability to craft a story that weaves together different elements is truly remarkable.

I did enjoy Roland and Maude’s quest. Their search for the truth about the poets and their relationship added an element of mystery and excitement to the narrative. However, the overall pace of the novel was a bit too slow for my taste.

Perhaps I will give Possession another chance in the future, when I am in a different frame of mind and more willing to invest the time and effort required to fully appreciate its beauty.

I'm not entirely certain what to express

except to wonder how I could have missed reading this before. It is truly incandescent in its temporal treatment of time. The multi-genre format significantly contributes to the progression of the narrative in a manner that a traditional format simply could not achieve. I found myself eager to embark on the trek of the mystery that surrounds Christabel and Ash. It is truly amazing, with vivid visuals and an intriguing storyline. I absolutely loved it! This book has managed to capture my attention from the very beginning and has held it firmly throughout. The unique combination of different genres adds an extra layer of depth and complexity to the story, making it a truly engaging read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery or is looking for something a little different.

The Booker Prize-winning book by A.S. Byatt, I wanted to read it from the very moment I learned that it was being reissued in a new translation.

As you may know, I read a variety of different literary genres and "Possession" belongs to those books that combine more than one genre but do it artistically.

I'm not at all ashamed to admit that at first I struggled quite a bit since the genres were changing very quickly. Was it a research book? A nonfiction that wanted to introduce us to As and LaMotte?

After reading the letters, the book took on other dimensions in my eyes. Especially, the chapters that contain the metrical pieces made me enthusiastic and maintained my enthusiasm until the end.

I would say a bittersweet ending, which however resolved all my doubts.

I won't mention at all what this specific book is about.

I will only say that it is a book-hymn to literature...

A book that may not be for everyone, but that is worth reading for some.

4.5 stars

Possession by A.S. Byatt is an absolute masterpiece. It won the 1990 Booker Prize for Fiction, and rightfully so. This novel is a spectacular blend of ideas, intrigue, poetry, art, passion, and intellect. It manages to be both a modern and a Victorian novel. Two young academics, Roland Michell and Maude Bailey, embark on a journey of discovery into the works of the mid-Victorian poet Randolph Henry Ash and his contemporary Christabel Lamotte. They explore the lives of these previously thought unconnected Victorian artists mainly through their artistic works, personal letters, journals, and poems. As they follow their movements from London to the Yorkshire coast, a haunting correspondence of passions and ideas begins to unfold. This is a powerful book that combines mystery, intrigue, and romance in a truly captivating way. A.S. Byatt has crafted an ambitious and unforgettable novel that I simply adored. The many literary and artistic facets of this beautiful book make it a joy to read.

\\n  

\\"A writer only becomes a true writer by practicing his craft, by experimenting constantly with language, as a great artist may experience with clay or oils until the medium becomes second nature, to be moulded however the artist may desire.\\"

\\n--Christabel LaMotte

Possession, the winner of the 1990 Booker Prize, is not just a love story as it is often touted. It is a complex and multi-faceted tale that delves into obsession, guilt, passion, love, and the powerful transformative force of the written word. A.S. Byatt skillfully entraps the reader in the search by Roland Mitchell and Maud Bailey for the potential relationship between Randolph Henry Ash and Christabel LaMotte, two fictional Victorian poets.

Roland Mitchell, an Ash scholar and postgraduate research assistant, stumbles upon the poet's affectionate letters to a mysterious woman. Through some investigative work, he suspects that the unknown recipient might be LaMotte. Maud Bailey, a scholar of LaMotte who is as dedicated or perhaps even obsessed with this female poet as Mitchell is with Ash, is the perfect person to share this potentially explosive discovery. Together, they follow the clues that lead to the revelation of the relationship and affair. However, other academics in Great Britain and the U.S. are also vying for the credit of this discovery, which could make them famous and forever alter the field of Victorian poetry studies. They are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve this.

Through letters, poems, and journals, Ash and LaMotte come to life. Just like the characters themselves, all of these are composed by A.S. Byatt, which truly amazes me. The poems are not simple Hallmark verses. They are intricately detailed, filled with numerous references and a wealth of knowledge. I often had to read a poem, step away to think about it, and then reread it. Frequently, my less learned mind was still left in a fog. Does Byatt attempt to prove her brilliance? I don't think so. I believe she is simply incapable of dumbing down her writing.

The movie adaptation of Possession is quite enjoyable, yet it is somewhat limited. It is like watching an advertisement for a place you have long desired to visit. It makes you aware that visiting in person will reveal so much more and the experience will be deeper, accompanied by long-held memories.

“Now and then there are readings that make the hairs on the neck, the non-existent pelt, stand on end and tremble, when every word burns and shines hard and clear and infinite and exact, like stones of fire, like points of stars in the dark - readings when the knowledge that we shall know the writing differently or better or satisfactorily, runs ahead of any capacity to say what we know or how. It is a sense that the text has appeared to be wholly new, never before seen, is followed, almost immediately, by the sense that it was always there. For the first time we become fully cognizant of our knowledge.”

This was mainly my fault. What on earth was going through my mind when I made the decision to read a book that centered around a love story between two poets, despite the fact that I have no affinity for poetry? Didn't it even occur to me that there would inevitably be copious amounts of poetry in this novel? The answer, quite frankly, is no. I had read in the synopsis that there were going to be letters and a literary investigation. It all sounded rather intriguing, and besides, it was a Booker winner, from which I had managed to discover a few hidden gems in the past.

After skipping a significant portion of the book, I have the following observations:
1. WARNING! Do not even attempt to read this novel if you have no inclination towards reading poetry. It is absolutely inundated with it, entire chapters dedicated to it. And it would truly be a pity to do as I did and simply skip over those parts, as they actually contribute to the overall plot. I initially tried to read the first few poems, but after a few chapters, I just couldn't be bothered anymore.
2. The language employed in this novel is rather pretentious. It may prove to be annoying for some readers, while others might view it as extraordinary writing. Like every work of art, this is a highly subjective matter. I do appreciate beautiful writing, but in this instance, I felt as though the author was trying far too hard to come across as intelligent. I have to admit that I felt rather stupid while reading this, and I firmly believe that this novel is better suited for those individuals who have a passion for literary research and books that are about other books.

The novel simply was not suited for me due to the reasons stated above, but that does not in any way imply that I think it is a bad book. It would have been a 2-star rating for me, but I gave it a 3-star rating since I skipped the poetry and some of the letters, thereby impairing my overall understanding of the novel.