This book was written over 50 years ago about a popular romance author who is panned by the critics but loved by the masses. "Angel" follows the rise and fall of Angelica Deverell, a prideful, delusional author who believes that her literature should be ranked with that of Shakespeare. Instead, her books are overly dramatic drivel that create idealistic and non-realistic settings and plots - just as Angelica does with her own life. She believes that all the world adores her, and anyone who tells her otherwise she considers "philistines". The final ironic and pitiful moment is when her last will and testament bequeaths all of her possessions to her sister-in-law when in fact Angelica has nothing while her sister-in-law just inherited a fortune. Her will also entitles her publisher with the authority to deal with all of her copyrights and correspondence when in fact her popularity had long since dissipated. She bequeaths her manuscripts to the British Museum - an absurdity that is so pitiful that you laugh out loud. Angelica writes that she wants her executors to set aside a sum of money to preserve her house "to be retained as a public memorial and true record of my life". Her house once grand and pretentious becomes moldy, dark, and debilitated thus a "true record of her life."

I'm happy to know that there is another prominent Elizabeth Taylor because according to the book jacket, Taylor "was one of the most acclaimed British novelists of this century." She is a gifted writer. I just couldn't empathize with her main character who becomes insane while insisting on living in her delusional world. If comparisons to Shakespeare are being made, I would compare Angelica to Hamlet. It makes for good discussion as to when they lose their minds, and there is no regret when they die.