Nothing

The British writer Henry Green's literary skill went far beyond a comedy of manners, which this book appears to be on the surface. Dense with meaning, "Nothing" is a short literary gem, which forces the reader to read a million nuances into the witty and yet deeply dense conversations which make up the entirety of the book. The story is set in 1948 and follows John and Jane, now middle aged but still reminiscing about an affair they had many years before when they were still married. They both have new relationships, Liz and Richard, but still see each other frequently for meals or for tea. Their respective children, Mary and Philip, are now grown and want to marry. But of course there are complications.The world that the author creates for the reader is a very British one. The dialogue is precise but filled with hidden meanings, as what is unsaid is often even more important than what is said. There's a wonderful symmetrical balance in each of the conversations as well as in the structure of the book. The characters speak for themselves, with very little description, and, through their words alone, the twists and turns of the story emerge, the sounds of their voices echoing on the pages. The question of what really happened and is happening is always just beyond our reach, and the even though the characters might be moved around like chess pieces at the author's whim, they never do change or gain insight into their behavior. Surprisingly, this is still an amazingly satisfying read, as if is the reader himself or herself who gets to experience their world and gain insight into the inevitability of the conclusion. This book is a delightful read and a real treat. I highly recommend it.

With a little patience, the reader will quickly adjust to the rhythms of one of English literature's most unique, and until recently, nearly forgotten novelists; and in the process enjoy an utterly and unabashedly charming and delightful novel. Years after having an affair that almost ruined their respective marriages, Jane Weatherby and John Pomfret are reunited when their children decide to get married despite questions regarding their possible kinship and the fact that they have almost no money to their name. Afraid that Mary Pomfret and Philip Weatherby are destined for the working-class, Jane and John attempt to stall the development of the wedding plans by having endlessly witty conversations about, well, nothing. This gives Jane -- a shrewd, resourceful widow -- the opportunity to embark on a scheme to lure John away from his current love interest. As the plot advances through discussions filled with misdirections and omissions, Green demonstrates that there is nothing like the spoken word to conceal one's true intentions, yet at the same time reveal everything. One of Green's final novels, Nothing is a worthy addition to the varied tradition of English literature that includes Virginia Woolf and Evelyn Waugh. Fans of Austen, Forster, and Wharton should also be rewarded. Green's masterful description of the novel's centerpiece alone -- an as-if-you-were-there party -- is worth the price of purchase.

The recent publication of a biography of Green encouraged me to revisit his books, which for years have been grossly and inexplicably neglected. I started with this one. Nothing is based in London in 1948 and concerns two former lovers, John Pomfret and Jane Weatherby, who find their two children, Mary Pomfret and Philip Weatherby, are engaged to be married. Complicating things are Liz Jennings and Dick Abbot, the pair's current lovers. Jane still loves John and hatches a subtle plan to wreck the children's engagement and win him back. Things work out nicely in the end for everyone except poor Arthur Morris. Like almost all of Green's books, Nothing is about love. One of the most curious thing about it is that it consists mainly of dialogue. It is almost a play rather than a novel. There is little descriptive narrative, unlike some of this earlier works. Happily Green gets the dialogue right. He has an extraordinary ear. Nothing is reminiscent of Evelyn Waugh (circa Vile Bodies) and Anthony Powell (A Dance to the Music of Time). John and Jane are by far the most attractively rendered characters. I found myself particularly drawn to the latter. Green is an absolute master. In addition to Nothing I would recommend the rest of his books, especially Loving, Party Going, and Pack My Bags.