A Solitary Grief

by Bernice Rubens

A Solitary Grief (1991) is a novel by Bernice Rubens about a Harley Street doctor who cannot cope with his own life. Increasingly alienated from his wife and daughter, he also considers himself unable to help his patients any longer and decides to start a new life together with a newly found friend. However, his hopes are again shattered, which eventually leads to catastrophe.

Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Bernice Rubens was born in Cardiff, Wales in July 1928. She began writing at the age of 35, when her children started nursery school. Her second novel, Madame Sousatzka (1962), was filmed by John Schlesinger filmed with Shirley MacLaine in the leading role in 1988. Her fourth novel, The Elected Member, won the 1970 Booker prize. She was shortlisted for the same prize again in 1978 for A Five Year Sentence. Her last novel, The Sergeants’ Tale, was published in 2003. She was an honorary vice-president of International PEN and served as a Booker judge in 1986. Bernice Rubens died in 2004 aged 76.

Reviews

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good psychological drama that explores themes of identity, expectations, parental love and relationships. There are some quite unusual twists and turns, and the ending really took me by surprise. It started slowly, but as it progressed I could barely put it down. Certainly not what I expected from the opening pages of the story.

[John Newcomb · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a iittle too dark a comic novel for my taste dealing with downs syndrum and child murder.

[October671]

Another Christmas present, in the queue.

[Stephen Rowland · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF (60%) -- just ridiculous.