Michael

by E.F. Benson

A story of English life before and during the war. Michael Comber is the son of Lord Ashbridge and heir to the title. Family tradition requires that he enter the army, but finding the life distasteful, he resigns his commission after three years and goes to London to devote himself to music, his one great passion. Michael, who is awkward and ungainly and quite lacking in social graces, has never made friends, but in the musical circles to which he. now gains admittance, he becomes a new person. He grows particularly intimate with Hermann and Sylvia Falbe, two young German musicians. The friendship grows and his feeling for Sylvia deepens, but just as he learns that his love is returned, the war comes, shattering all international ties. Hermann and Michael separate to meet again face to face In the trenches, but Sylvia's love for Michael proves strong enough to survive even the tragedy that results from this meeting.

372 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1916

About the author

Edward Frederic "E. F." Benson was an English novelist, biographer, memoirist, archaeologist and short story writer.

E. F. Benson was the younger brother of A.C. Benson, who wrote the words to "Land of Hope and Glory", Robert Hugh Benson, author of several novels and Roman Catholic apologetic works, and Margaret Benson, an author and amateur Egyptologist.

Benson died during 1940 of throat cancer at the University College Hospital, London. He is buried in the cemetery at Rye, East Sussex.

Last paragraph from Wikipedia

Reviews

[Catfantastic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. I was a little nervous when I read the reviews of it, but having read the book myself now, it seems like people's biggest problem with it is that it was nothing like "The Bus Conductor." Not as flag-wavy as Rilla of Ingleside; recognized the humanity of all parties; treated Sylvia with a decent amount of respect as an artist and an independent woman. I guess my biggest complaint was that it seemed a bit thin. The story didn't feel finished; it barely felt begun. Good things happened, and bad things happened, but it felt like the stage had just been set when the book ended.

[Ian · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of EF Benson's comic novels and horror stories but found this heavy going. As the First World War begins, Michael is torn between loyalty to his two best friends (a half German brother and sister) and loyalty towards his country. I struggled to finish. There was none of the Bensonian wit that is usually there in even his non comic works and there is much repetition in thought and expression as Benson chronicles Michael's inner turmoil. If you're new to Benson's work, I would suggest you don't start here.

[Bruce · Rating 2 out of 5]

This obscure novel by the author of the Mapp and Lucia series starts out fine, but lapses into sentimentality and jingoism. It feels like it was written to buck up the English during the darkest hours of WWI, but today, to me, it felt dated and unauthentic.

[Cindy Bellomy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite. Needed some editing.

[Christie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not finishing this one, folks. I'm only in chapter 2 but I feel no desire to read more. The usual Benson magic just isn't there and from reviews it sounds like things only go downhill