The Last Resort: The Modern Classic

by Pamela Hansford Johnson

'A very cool and intelligent writer' TLS

Described by the Telegraph upon her death as 'one of Britain's best-known novelists', plunge yourself into the wry world of Pamela Hansford Johnson in this story of seduction and marriage, perfect for fans of Elizabeth Jane Howard and Barbara Pym.

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Christine Hall, a mother in her late thirties, is on holiday on the south coast of England when she bumps into an old friend: Celia Baird, staying with her parents at the Moray hotel. Celia - eccentric, impulsive - is one of tangled group of friends who have Christine at their core. There's architect Eric Aveling (who happens to be having an affair with Celia); his wife, terminally ill Lois; and Junius Evans, Eric's business partner.

When death affects a shift in the dynamics of the group, none of them expect the final outcome.

Duty, guilt, secrecy, loneliness: the hidden side of marriage is uncovered as choices are thrust upon the characters.

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Praise for Pamela Hansford Johnson:

'Witty, satirical and deftly malicious' Anthony Burgess

'A remarkable craftswoman' A.S. Byatt

'Hansford Johnson at her wittiest is Waugh mingled with Malcolm Bradbury Ruth Rendell

'A writer whose memory fully deserves to be kept alive' Jonathan Coe

Genres: Fiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1956

About the author

Pamela Hansford Johnson was born in 1912 and gained recognition with her first novel, This Bed Thy Centre, published in 1935. She wrote 27 novels. Her themes centred on the moral responsibility of the individual in their personal and social relations. The fictional genres she used ranged from romantic comedy (Night and Silence, Who Is Here?) and high comedy (The Unspeakable Skipton) to tragedy (The Holiday Friend) and the psychological study of cruelty (An Error of Judgement). Her last novel, A Bonfire, was published in the year of her death, 1981.

She was a critic as well as a novelist and wrote books on Thomas Wolfe and Ivy Compton-Burnett; Six Proust Reconstructions (1958) confirmed her reputation as a leading Proustian scholar. She also wrote a play, Corinth House (1954), a work of social criticism arising out of the Moors Trial, On Iniquity (1967), and a book of essays, Important to Me (1974). She received honorary degrees from six universities and was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. She was awarded the C.B.E. in 1975.

Pamela Hansford Johnson, who had two children by her first marriage with journalist Gordon Neil Stewart, later married C. P. Snow. Their son Philip was born in 1952.

Reviews

[Nadia Zeemeeuw · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was quite excited to meet Christine again. In “An impossible marriage” we learned not only about her failed marriage, we also learned about her failed friendship. Here, in “The last resort” we are about to learn about another friendships of hers. Pamela Hansford Johnson is on her best again - witty, sharp, making clever observations, deftly playing with words and her characters which by the way seemed somehow so selfish, self-absorbed that I couldn’t force myself to feel for their troubles and unhappiness. Not that I was much enjoying the character of Christine itself. The girl is grownup in some aloof and a little bit callous person - it’s clear even though all her “worries”. Hmmmm.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have no idea how this book found itself in my flat, and I may not remember it this time next year, but I had a nice enough time reading it.

[Jane Downey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this very much even though Christine didn't relate to her earlier self ( Mark presumably isn't Gerald's child). Is it supposed to be Brighton? Even though they were all rich ...