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The House of Baltazar
1920. A novel by the British author. This is one of 28 works by Locke available from Kessinger Publishing.
312 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1920
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About the author
William John Locke
309 books9 followersWilliam John Locke was a British novelist, dramatist and playwright, best known for his short stories. His works have been made into 24 motion pictures, the most recent of which was Ladies in Lavender, filmed in 2004 and starring Dame Judi Dench and Maggie Smith. Probably the most famous of Locke's books adapted to the screen was the 1918 Pickford Film Corporation production of Stella Maris starring Mary Pickford. In addition, four of his books were made into Broadway plays, two of which Locke wrote and were produced by Charles Frohman.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 14, 2015
When John Baltazar, genius mathematician, finds himself falling for a woman other than his own lawful, (albeit nasty) wife, he takes drastic measures and leaves the country. No one hears from him for 20 years and it's assumed he's dead. But after 18 years in China, he returns under an assumed name to a remote farmhouse on the moors where he stays with his Chinese pupil (more closely resembling an adopted son) in blissful ignorance of the world's happenings.
Its only when a German zeppelin crashes nearby, blowing up his house while disposing of its bombs, that this modern day Rip Van Winkle is projected forcefully into the year 1916.
WW1 has been going on for two years without him, he has a son he never knew he had wearing the military cross, and his former love is a practicing nurse at the convalescent home. His wife has long since died.
But if you think a man can just waltz back after 20 years and start over again where he left off you'd be mistaken. People change, feelings can be erratic, and intrigue (especially during a war) can complicate matters. But when you are a larger than life, impetuous man like Baltazar, who grabs life by the throat and dances with it, anything can happen.
CONTENT:
SEX: None
VIOLENCE: Some wreckage resulting from a bomb
PROFANITY: D's and H's
MY RATING: G- Mild PG
An interesting quote from page 269
"He talked wildly.This to be a war to end war? A maudlin visionary's dream. We might crush the Hun this time and have a sort of peace...but the Hun would apply himself to the intensive cultivation of Hate, and in twenty years at the latest would have another go at frightfulness."
keep in mind this book was written in 1919. How true his words proved to be!
Its only when a German zeppelin crashes nearby, blowing up his house while disposing of its bombs, that this modern day Rip Van Winkle is projected forcefully into the year 1916.
WW1 has been going on for two years without him, he has a son he never knew he had wearing the military cross, and his former love is a practicing nurse at the convalescent home. His wife has long since died.
But if you think a man can just waltz back after 20 years and start over again where he left off you'd be mistaken. People change, feelings can be erratic, and intrigue (especially during a war) can complicate matters. But when you are a larger than life, impetuous man like Baltazar, who grabs life by the throat and dances with it, anything can happen.
CONTENT:
SEX: None
VIOLENCE: Some wreckage resulting from a bomb
PROFANITY: D's and H's
MY RATING: G- Mild PG
An interesting quote from page 269
"He talked wildly.This to be a war to end war? A maudlin visionary's dream. We might crush the Hun this time and have a sort of peace...but the Hun would apply himself to the intensive cultivation of Hate, and in twenty years at the latest would have another go at frightfulness."
keep in mind this book was written in 1919. How true his words proved to be!
April 5, 2016
What a character!
July 10, 2018
I give up on Locke. I 've tried several books and enjoyed only one. Everything he does could easily work for a different reader. They just dont work for me.
Contrivances- they often work for me because this is fiction. But his felt too forced for me.
Re petitions- these often build suspense. They rarely worked for me in Locke's books. They just tried my patience.
Characters- some were great and energetic...until it seemed to me that their energy was all they had gping for them.
I only finished this one to find out how the problem was solved. There were great settings, glimpses of exquisite dialog, and a pretty clean read from the past. Go ahead and give Locke a try. My only complaint is simply a matter of individual taste.
Contrivances- they often work for me because this is fiction. But his felt too forced for me.
Re petitions- these often build suspense. They rarely worked for me in Locke's books. They just tried my patience.
Characters- some were great and energetic...until it seemed to me that their energy was all they had gping for them.
I only finished this one to find out how the problem was solved. There were great settings, glimpses of exquisite dialog, and a pretty clean read from the past. Go ahead and give Locke a try. My only complaint is simply a matter of individual taste.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews