‘I knew that Clea would share everything with me, withholding nothing – not even the look of complicity which women reserve only ... read full description
reviews
Jun 09, 2008
Dave
rated it: 
After an absence of 7 years or so we return to Alexandria during the last year of WWII with the reliable Darley as narrator. It seems that Durrell actually intends to give us some resolution to this multi-faceted story, so we revisit the same cast of characters, some now dead, some forever altered ..it's difficult to even conjure up the first impressions I had of this exotic bunch.
Of course, the emotional thrust of the story revolves around Clea, someone that we've only met obliquel More...
Of course, the emotional thrust of the story revolves around Clea, someone that we've only met obliquel More...
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Feb 20, 2011
Charlotte
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This cover is oodles more attractive than my 1969 paperback. I am happy to be finished at last with the Alexandria Quartet. I ended up loving parts of it, and slogging through some other parts. I should not have put this volume down halfway through in order to grade an endless stack of papers because it was hard to get going again, to get back into the rhythm of Durrell's voice. Here's a passage I liked:
"Sometimes I try and think of us all as habit-patterns rather than human being More...
"Sometimes I try and think of us all as habit-patterns rather than human being More...
Jan 24, 2011
Dick
rated it: 
This book suffers somewhat from the shortcomings of the previous 3 (excessive figurative speech to no good purpose), but not quite to the same extent. The passage in which Clea gets harpooned underwater and Darley heroically saves her life is quite exciting. I think I enjoyed it more because it is in stark contrast to so much of the 4 books, in which florid prose is overdone without describing any activity. I enjoy descriptions of a persons inner feelings, but Durrell overdoes it to the poi
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Jan 12, 2010
Julia
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Last of the Alexandria Quartet. I've quoted from the other three, so here's a bit of Clea: "A phrase of Pursewarden's came into my mind as I softly closed the door of the ward. 'The richest love is that which submits to the arbitration of time.' "
Individually, any of the four is a gem. Altogether, the Quartet is magnificent. I don't love, or even like, Elizabeth Gilbert, but I read a quote of hers a bit ago about listening in a college freshman English class to some dude sa More...
Individually, any of the four is a gem. Altogether, the Quartet is magnificent. I don't love, or even like, Elizabeth Gilbert, but I read a quote of hers a bit ago about listening in a college freshman English class to some dude sa More...
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Apr 20, 2009
Deborah
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Dec 12, 2011
Isabelle
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Clea is the closing installment of the Alexandria Quartet and a well put together way to close out the novel, bring resolution where it is needed and reopen the stories for those of the characters who manage to survive their dramatic demise.
Everyone, if not everything is revealed… everyone loses something in the process… no one emerges unscathed, but everyone is finally true to his or her own self. There are those who hold the promise of a future life where happiness is possible, maybe eve More...
Everyone, if not everything is revealed… everyone loses something in the process… no one emerges unscathed, but everyone is finally true to his or her own self. There are those who hold the promise of a future life where happiness is possible, maybe eve More...
Jul 16, 2011
Christopher
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It's difficult to articulate the incredible achievement Durrell has produced with the Alexandria Quartet, and this, the final novel and, in many ways, key to the series. As Durrell noted in the introduction to the second volume, _Balthazar_, his overall plan was based on the four-dimensional space of Einsteinian relativity physics, and this last volume, indeed, introduces, explicitly, the effects of time into Durrell's narrative, including all the ramifications time represents for interpersonal
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Jun 16, 2011
David
rated it:
The finale of this quartet of books is pretty satisfying and (finally) has some gripping plottwists and romantic intrigue, including a James-Franco-esque handcutting scene that's pretty kick-ass.
Books one, two, and four are in Darley's voice, so after the departure of book three, we're back to the over-the-top style begun in Justine. I liked Darley's observations about Egypt and writing (through Pursewarden) more in this book than in the first two, and I think part of my preferenc More...
Books one, two, and four are in Darley's voice, so after the departure of book three, we're back to the over-the-top style begun in Justine. I liked Darley's observations about Egypt and writing (through Pursewarden) more in this book than in the first two, and I think part of my preferenc More...
Apr 05, 2010
carl
rated it: 
The first two volumes Justine and Balthazar cover the philosophical pondering of love, as the narrator falls for Justine, and Justine loves? All the philosophy turns out to be describing 'real' activities in the third of the series Mountolive, which is where we finally learn the narrator's name, though he is no longer narrating, and more of the action, such as it is takes place.
The Alexandria Quartet is written in an 'artsy' manner, one that I couldn't quite get int More...
May 30, 2011
Dennis
rated it: 
My gosh. After the muddling confusion of Justine, both Balthazar and Mountolive seemed to rub off the confusion of this story, so I had high hopes that Clear would present the final polishing, bringing clarity to a story arc that so desperately wants explanation, but no--such was not the case. Clea wraps up little and instead only adds to the fog of the Alexandria Quartet through the inclusion of Pursewarden's rambling, largely incoherent notes to Darley (aka Brother Ass).
So much of D More...
So much of D More...
Sep 11, 2010
Angie
rated it:
To finally have finished the fourth in this amazing quartet of books feels like a journey of sorts.
I have really adored being emersed in the lives of this group of individuals, thrown together through public and political life in a backdrop of exotic Egyptian locations and traditions starting in the romantic 1930's through to wartime. The contrast between the British characters: Mountolive, Darley, Pursewarden and others, (many eccentric tales there), to the Egyptian wealthy sociali More...
I have really adored being emersed in the lives of this group of individuals, thrown together through public and political life in a backdrop of exotic Egyptian locations and traditions starting in the romantic 1930's through to wartime. The contrast between the British characters: Mountolive, Darley, Pursewarden and others, (many eccentric tales there), to the Egyptian wealthy sociali More...
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Jul 27, 2010
http://kristinsbookblog.blogspot.com/201...
Clea – the fourth (and final) installment in Lawrence Durrell’s Alexandria Quartet – returns us to the narrative style of Balthazar, and picks up where it left off.
At the conclusion of Balthazar, Darley receives a letter from Clea, though since I read that novel almost a year ago I don’t have any recollection what that letter was about. But anyway, it was enough to prompt Darley, who had been living on an island with Nessim & Meli More...
Clea – the fourth (and final) installment in Lawrence Durrell’s Alexandria Quartet – returns us to the narrative style of Balthazar, and picks up where it left off.
At the conclusion of Balthazar, Darley receives a letter from Clea, though since I read that novel almost a year ago I don’t have any recollection what that letter was about. But anyway, it was enough to prompt Darley, who had been living on an island with Nessim & Meli More...
Oct 30, 2007
Claysim
rated it:
This is the fourth book in the Alexandria Quartet by Durrell. This was one of the most exciting series of books I have read in a long time. The writing is breathtaking and the scope and detail of the characters and story were amazing. In this last book, he completes the quartet of examining the "dimensions" of this love story by addressing the dimension of Time in this novel. It is a satisfying read in the sense that there are enough loose ends and open questions from the other thr
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Jul 27, 2011
Moureco
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A história do Quarteto de Alexandria resolve-se. O tempo avança, Alexandria é mesmo deixada para trás quando partimos em direcção à Grécia. Clea resolve deixar a cidade, a sua rede intrincada de interesses, paixões, enganos e desenganos, e procurar para si paz de alma e serenidade. (Agora que escrevo sobre o fim do Quarteto, dou-me conta da necessidade de o reler. É estranho, é já a 2ª vez que isto me acontece na mesma semana, e hoje é só terça-feira...)
Jan 17, 2010
Poupeh
rated it:
i had almost forgotten how beautifully this man writes!
Enjoying every sentence of it.
Finished the book. I am sorry that there is no more books in the series.
Alexandrian Quartet is great.
The presence of the city as a character, human passion for one another and for life, the sufferings, the betrayals, the limited views we have of one another and ourselves, fact, fiction, and it all passes ... it all passes and there only remains the beauty of the words that tell the sto
Enjoying every sentence of it.
Finished the book. I am sorry that there is no more books in the series.
Alexandrian Quartet is great.
The presence of the city as a character, human passion for one another and for life, the sufferings, the betrayals, the limited views we have of one another and ourselves, fact, fiction, and it all passes ... it all passes and there only remains the beauty of the words that tell the sto
Aug 16, 2009
Rob
rated it:
Some heavy going in parts of this last volume of the Alexandria Quartet, but reading the four volumes has been a treat. Begin with the first volume, not with Clea. The language and evocation of Alexandria are wonderful. What an extraordinary gallery of characters. The themes are complex and elusive. Love comes in myriad forms. All is relative. Seeking truth is lke stepping into quicksand.
Aug 30, 2011
Ben
rated it:
There is no way for me to summarize or explain how good this series is, but then again, if a series or novel could be explained succinctly would it really be any good?
I have encountered many realistic characters, but none this deep and never so many at once. The plot flows out of them, reveling more of the characters which then leads to more plot, and so on. Durrell's writing envelops and expands on the profundity in true beauty.
I have encountered many realistic characters, but none this deep and never so many at once. The plot flows out of them, reveling more of the characters which then leads to more plot, and so on. Durrell's writing envelops and expands on the profundity in true beauty.
Dec 12, 2010
Matthew
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Oct 17, 2011
Jesse
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so i have spent the last 6 months or so reading the alexandria quartet with my girlfriend and at the moment, i am a good third of the way through volume three in terms of a close read with extensive notes. i don't plan on writing a full review, but do plan on writing an essay on durrell's plagiarism - as i have hunted down a good half dozen, and counting, sources that he filched from. i also wanna try and understand why durrell did this and whether the quartet should be seen in a different light
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Oct 06, 2008
Mr.
rated it:
Durrell's final novel of his Alexandria Quartet returns the narrative back to Darley, the narrator of Justine, and the result is somewhat mixed. On the one hand, it is actually relieving that Durrell kicks the time forward in this sequel, instead of continuing to tighten and twist the narrative thread in another direction as he does in the previous three novels. However, returning the narrative voice back to Darley also has the effect of blinding our perspective instead of expanding it. Although
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Mar 18, 2011
Title in portuguese: Clea – Lawrence Durrell
(trad_Daniel Gonçalves )
Ulisseia ed., 1970
Lisboa
- Book to reread for pure pleasure.
- The third book of the Alexandrian' quartet.
notes.
Clea by Lawrence Durrell (1960)
(trad_Daniel Gonçalves )
Ulisseia ed., 1970
Lisboa
- Book to reread for pure pleasure.
- The third book of the Alexandrian' quartet.
notes.
Clea by Lawrence Durrell (1960)
Jul 12, 2010
David (Dafydd)
rated it:
I first read this book, together with the other three comprising the Alexandria Quartet, in my early twenties and was smitten instantly. It is one of the few books I re-read from time to time.
Jul 04, 2008
Jonathan
rated it:
For me, this was by far the best of the quartet. Durrell's intriguing description of the happenings and the landscape surrounding his characters (not to mention the formulation of the characters themselves) is completely remarkable and unmatched. His rich, descriptive language often left me feeling envious of not being with the narrator. For the most part, this is consistent throughout the quartet, but the wrap-up of the series is wonderful and leaves me with a feeling that i must visit this
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Feb 09, 2011
Sophie
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I loved this quartet of books. Elegantly written and keeping one's interest in the characters and the city. Wonderful.
Apr 06, 2009
Ana-Catrina
rated it:
Beautiful, love it! As a whole, I loved the entire Alexandria Quartet very much.
Mar 26, 2010
Emily
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definitely worth reading to the end, the alexandria quartet is beautifully written and has a few plot twists if you need those too.
