Four Dreamers and Emily

by Stevie Davies

Book Overview

Academics and Wuthering Heights fans are descending on the Bronte family homestead for an Emily Bronte conference. Among their ranks are a single, over-sixty, self-professed expert on the Brontes; an... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312168446
• ISBN13: 9780312168445
• Release Date: August 1997
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.8" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Unquiet slumberers...

While I am more familiar with Stevie's non-fiction works, including the indispensible Emily Bronte: Heretic, I found this novel to be absolutely delightful. Even though I found the style to be a little narrative-heavy in places, Four Dreamers manages to entertain at every level. Anyone who has attended Bronte conferences or even joined Bronte listgroups on the Net, will recognize the spectrum of zany zealots that Stevie presents here. Incredibly, while the wackiness of the competing 'definitive theories' may seem laughably far-fetched, it is in fact, frighteningly representative of the reality. Very strong characters, and a beautifully woven story, although I found the ending, though evocative, to be somewhat anti-climactic. Two thumbs up... (Gorgeous photo of Stevie on the back cover flap.)

This novel renewed my faith in modern literature.

I enjoyed this book tremendously. The plot revolves around four people from varied backgrounds who are all interested, to some extent, in Emily Bronte. Their lives become intetwined and changed by each other, mostly through surprising effects of simple often unintentional acts of kindness. While many social issues are referenced there is nothing strident or pedantic about this book, humor abounds throughout! To top it off the writing is exquisite and I will be lining up to read her next, should she be kind enough to write another!

An entertaining send-up of academia.

In the vein of "Moo", this book sends up several academic types, each in their own search for Emily Bronte at a conference dedicated to her in England. The writer manages to be touching, as well as funny, in her portrayal of the characters' relationships.

Poignant, funny, tender--compulsively readable.

This is a beautiful novel; funny, tender, poignant.Over it all is the spirit of Emily Bronte herself; but it is also a story of four lives touched by Emily's greatness, each flawed in their own way yet most sympathetic.The novel is compulsively readable, with a light touch yet a pervasive sense of tragedy.It is also in the tradition of spoof academia, a la AS Byatt or David Lodge, and the description of the Bronte conference is hilarious.Highly recommended