Rumer godden the river

She felt alive and curiously powerful, and full of what seemed to her a glory. The daughter falls in love with a man at the inn, where they spend the day. Rumer godden survived a poisoning attempt, rare illnesses, the death of a baby son, abandonment by her first husband and destitution, in the course of a writing career that spanned more than 60 years. See all books authored by rumer godden, including the story of holly and ivy, and in this house of brede, and more on. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle. Author rumer goddens complete list of books and series in order, with the latest releases, covers, descriptions and availability.

Inspired by the authors personal experiences as a child raised in indiaand the basis for the acclaimed classic motion picture of the same name from french film director jean renoirrumer goddens the river is a lovely, moving portrayal of childhoods end. Rumer godden eigenlijk margaret rumer godden, obe eastbourne. The river by rumer godden overdrive rakuten overdrive. Jean renoirs cinematic adaptation of rumer goddens the. The river presents a poignant portrait of the end of childhood, and desai writes that perhaps no other book exemplifies rumer goddens. The prolific novelist, playwright and poet best known for black narcissus 1938, the river 1946 and the greengage summer. The river is a story of childhood in india, much although not all the story is a tribute to rumer goddens own childhood. Rumer godden author rumer godden 19071998 was the author of more than sixty works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and childrens literature, and is considered by many to be one of the foremost english language writers of the twentieth century. The river book by rumer godden 9 available editions. Her sister is no longer a playmate, her brother is. In her preface to the novel rumer godden explains how.

Although jean renoir made a good movie from this book, in collaboration with the author, i enjoyed the book more. The grace, the fragility, associated with rumer godden, again most evident in this new book which is not a story and therefore less probably popular, but rather an interlude, a pause in time as well as a play on time, in the early adolescence of a young girl. Her father worked for the bengal steamship company and the family travelled around the india of the british raj quite a bit. Jean renoirs cinematic adaptation of rumer godden s the river 5 7 image of india and indian people and culture. It is a great film that can be relished over and over again with increasing appreciation. L ast year, virago published a sixbook coming of age collection, the centrepiece of which was rumer godden s 1946 novel the river, the launch title for. One day, a young american arrives at the home of his cousin, mr. An incredibly prolific writer of novels, childrens books, and memoirs, nine of her novels were made into films. Nine of her works have been made into films, most notably black narcissus in 1947. A few of her works were cowritten with her older sister, novelist jon godden, including two under the indian sun, a memoir of the goddens childhood in a region now part of bangladesh. And in a preface for this edition she explains how this classic tale came to be written. After returning from america to oversee the script for the movie of her book the river, godden married civil servant james haynes. The river is a glimpse into a young girls mind as she ponders life while living in colonial india now bangladesh. Rumer godden contents preface to the river the river a biography of rumer godden preface there is a vast difference between a book that is vouchsafed, its idea or theme coming of itself into your mind, and a book that comes from searching for a story or plot that fits the idea that is in your mind.

Their eventful childhood in the big house on the riverbank, with its large garden, complex hierarchy of family servants, and with the towns hectic. This is a beautifully written book, almost perfectly written, and the story is subtle though riveting. Set in india, and concerned with her perennial theme of the transition from childhood to adolescence, the book was perhaps the most autobiographical of. Beneath the cloak of renoirs apparently sympathetic recording of indian culture and the undeniably beautiful technicolor cinematography, the film perpetuated, i. Evocative, heartfelt, and bittersweet, it is a comingofage story without. Godden s evocative book touched my own recollections of childhood the remarkable clarity of taste, smell, sensation, thought and feeling, the electrical insights flashing into awareness almost reflexively. Rumer godden wrote some 60 works during her life, drawing on her experiences of life in india and britain. Margaret rumer godden obe 10 december 1907 8 november 1998 was an english author of more than 60 fiction and nonfiction books. Rumer godden, an author who evoked her childhood in colonial. Based on the novel by rumer godden, who was born in india and lived there many years, it remembers her childhood seen through the eyes of a young girl named harriet patricia walters, who falls in love with the new neighbor. Rumer was a precocious child and wrote her autobiography when she was only 6. This concerns harriet, one of several children in an english family in india, harriet who has reached the frightening. The film eloquently contrasts the growing pains of three young women with the immutability of the holy bengal river in india, around which their daily lives unfold.

The river rumer godden 1946 by rumer godden for sale online. Rumer godden, british writer whose many novels, poems, and nonfictional works reflect her personal experiences in colonial india and in england. Some of her other wellknown novels include the river, five for sorrow, ten for joy and in this house of brede. In the decades since they were written, rumer goddens india novels. A bourgeois life in france at the onset of world war ii, as the rich and their poor servants meet up at a french chateau. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. The truth behind the events at dove house, the original of dilkhush, was never. You will be pleased to know that, although i am really looking forward to the new virago editions of rumer goddens books, a little forage. The film is one of the simplest and most beautiful by jean renoir 18941979, among the greatest of directors. The river is definitely of its time and its attitudes towards women are dated, yet it is a work that transcends time and place to capture universal emotions. In her 1946 novel, the river, she describes her heroines response to writing a poem she knows to be good. Evocative, heartfelt, and bittersweet, it is a comingofage story without equal from a major twentieth. The river, which was later filmed by jean renoir, is a very short and, in parts, sad book, but in many ways typical of rumer godden s work. Thus begins a new life for rumer, as she is persuaded to write the script for the film, and is again catapulted into another life that includes a stay in india for the casting and shooting of the film.

The river by rumer godden 9781844088416 boomerang books. Inspired by the authors personal experiences as a child raised in indiaand the basis for the acclaimed classic motion picture of the same name from french film director jean renoir rumer godden s the river is a lovely, moving portrayal of childhoods end. Pages can include considerable notesin pen or highlighterbut the notes cannot obscure the text. The river by rumer godden hachette uk virago books. Rumer godden books list of books by author rumer godden. The family of a parisian shopowner spends a day in the country. The river is rumer godden s beautiful tribute to india and childhood, made into a film by the great french director jean renoir. Harriet lives in a house overlooking the river with her english family. Setting up the river, casting, renoir and rumer godden, location anecdotes, and legacy.

Le fleuve is a 1951 american technicolor drama film noir romance film directed by jean renoir. Rumer godden 19071998 was the author of more than sixty works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and childrens literature, and is considered by many to be one of the foremost english language writers of the twentieth century. Here are quotes by rumer godden, an author who was on a continual quest for meaning. Rumer godden, the prolific british author of black narcissus and the river, and a writer of childrens books that are enjoyed throughout the. Rumer goddens the river dvd portland public library. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. Ive now read two rumer godden books, and they were both lovely. This menu item also includes a clickthrough bio of mceldowney and his history with the river 10 text pages.

The descriptions of place are beautiful and haunting. The river must be seen in its original technicolor. Born in england, she and her siblings grew up in narayanganj, india, and she later spent many years living in calcutta and kashmir. The day i read rumer goddens novel, the river, i knew i had found it. The river rumer godden 1946 by rumer godden a readable copy. Rumer goddens the river dvd chicago public library. Rumer godden underwent the same ordeal as sophie barringtonward, but the reality of the matter was less clearcut. The river was one of those rare books that are given to you. Guided by rumer godden s autobiographical novel, he rejected the india of exotic action and spectacle to make a meditative, almost mystical film set beside a holy river in bengal, whose success would launch a new era of portraying india onscreen. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the river. Rumer godden 190798 was the acclaimed author of over sixty works of fiction and nonfiction for adults and children. And ultimately this is the theme and feel of gthe book which comes alive from the words on the page. The best film of rumer godden s work was jean renoirs the river 1951, based on a novel which she had published in 1946.

The river is a simple, beautiful metaphor for the events that flow through the girls life. Godden was taken in infancy to india and lived there until adolescence, when she was sent to a. The river presents a poignant portrait of the end of childhood, and desai writes that perhaps no other book exemplifies rumer godden s strengths as well as this she herself seemed bemused by how well it was received when it was published. Quotes by rumer godden, author and spiritual seeker. Rumer godden was brought up in india at the turn of the century. Rumer godden wrote because she was driven by visceral promptings. The river, screen play by rumer godden and jean renoir, from the novel by miss godden. I would recommend it to any westerner who loves india or wants to go there.