Ford Madox Ford Knihy

Anglického spisovatele Forda Madoxe Forda znají u nás jen čtenáři Hemingwayova Pohyblivého svátku jako člena mezinárodní kolonie umělců v Paříži po první světové válce. Jako šéfredaktor dvou význačným časopisů, v nichž pomáhal razit cestu moderní literatuře, vydával Ford E. Pounda, D. H. Lawrence, T. S. Eliota, E. Hemingwaye, J. Joyce a jiné později slavné autory. Z jeho objemného díla, obsahujícího více než sedmdesát svazků, získal punc klasičnosti román Nejsmutnější příběh, poprvé vydaný v roce 1915. Vypravěčem je podvedený manžel, Američan John Dowell, který retrospěktivně líčí zkázu způsobenou jeho anglickým přítelem a milencem jeho ženy Edwardem Ashburnhamem, mužem oplývajícím všemi ctnostmi kromě zdrženlivosti. Dowellovýma očima sledujeme složitosti a nesnáze, jež plodí Ashburnhamova nemorální slepá touha po uspokojení vlastních vášní a citů. Dowellovo vyprávění nerespektuje přirozenou chronologii dějů a neustálým střídáním časů se snaží hlouběji proniknout k pravdě o lidských vztazích, o „nejsmutnějším příběhu“, jehož tragickou bilancí jsou dvě sebevraždy, dva zničené životy, jedna smrt a jedna dívka, která zešílí. Fordův román bývá kritikou označován za průkopnické dílo moderní literatury. Podle grafické osnovy Františka Muziky připravila Hana Keslová. Náklad 27 500 výtisků.

Exploring the profound impact of war, this book delves into an entire era marked by destruction and upheaval. It examines the social, cultural, and emotional ramifications of conflict, highlighting how lives and communities are irrevocably changed. Through vivid storytelling, the narrative captures the essence of resilience amidst chaos, portraying the broader historical context and the human experience during tumultuous times.

Set during the tumultuous reign of King Henry VIII, the story follows Katharine Howard as she rises from obscurity to become his fifth wife. The novel intricately explores themes of power, politics, and personal relationships within the Tudor court. Katharine is depicted with depth, showcasing her innocence and resilience amid the court's intrigue and danger. Ford Madox Ford vividly portrays the social and cultural landscape of the sixteenth century, creating a compelling narrative filled with courtly drama, shifting alliances, and personal challenges.

This never-before published volume offers the late author's personal views on the period 1870-1895, presenting a history of that time fleshed out with reminiscence and anecdote

Set against the backdrop of post-World War I England, this installment of Ford Madox Ford's Parade's End tetralogy delves into the complexities of love, war, and societal change. The narrative explores the psychological struggles of its characters, reflecting the disillusionment of the era. Ford, a notable figure in early modernist literature, draws on his rich literary heritage and experiences, having influenced many writers through his editorial work. This edition features a new introduction, enhancing the reader's understanding of Ford's significant contributions to literature.

Set against the backdrop of World War I, the novel follows Christopher Tietjens, a brilliant statistician and aristocrat grappling with a troubled marriage and societal changes. As he navigates an affair with a young Suffragette, Tietjens' internal conflict drives him to enlist in the army, motivated by a mix of despair and a desire for purpose. His character embodies the struggles of a fading aristocracy in a transforming Britain, making the narrative both symbolic and deeply human. This classic work is recognized as a significant contribution to twentieth-century literature.

The second in a new, definitive, four volume edition of Ford's masterpiece. A panorama of the First World War, an exploration of time, history and sexuality to rival the visions of Joyce and Proust.

'A Tale of Passion', as its sub-title declares, The Good Soldier tells of the complex social and sexual relationships between two couples, one English, one American, and the growing awareness by the American narrator John Dowell of the intrigues and passions behind their orderly Edwardian facade. It is the attitude of Dowell, his puzzlement and uncertainty, and the seemingly haphazard manner of his narration that make the book so powerful and mysterious. Ford called it 'the only novel of mine that I considered...at all to count' and it has perplexed and delighted commentators since its publication in 1915. The novel has many comic moments, despite its catalogue of death, insanity, and despair, and has been read as both a comedy and a tragedy. It has inspired the works of many later, distinguished writers, including Graham Greene.

Ford Madox Ford's acclaimed masterpiece is widely considered one of the best novels of the twentieth century. Parade's End was originally published in four parts (Some Do Not . . ., No More Parades, A Man Could Stand Up--, and Last Post) between 1924 and 1928. It explores the world of the English ruling class as it descends into the chaos of World War I, as seen through the life of Christopher Tietjens, an officer from a wealthy family who is torn between his unfaithful wife, Sylvia, and his suffragette mistress, Valentine. With scenes of sexual warfare that rival the devastation of its battlefield scenes, Parade's End is a profound dramatization of one man's internal struggles during a time of brutal world conflict. The culminating achievement of Ford's career, it fulfills his ambitious conception of the novelist's role as the historian of the present, capturing the essence of the age.

Tietjens is the last of a breed, the Tory gentleman, which the Great War, marriage and qualities inherent in his nature define and unravel. Opposite him is Macmaster, a Scot, different in class and culture, at once friend and foil.