Sterner Stuff

by Stanley Middleton

Frank Montgomery is principal of an art college, coping with an aging father and a mother in law on the dark descent into Alzheimer's. His marriage is strong, his relationships supportive - but in one way Frank is he is being talked of as a major figure in British art, a figurative painter of national reputation with commissions beckoning right up to royalty. As he struggles to live the good life and to create, he is much concerned by issues in both work and is it better to do new things, or old things perfectly? In this novel, Frank's values are put to the test. Once again Stanley Middleton dissects middle England with his sharp but healing scalpel, and in the process he explores family life, generational change, and the true nature of art through the complexities, pains and joys of its creation.

244 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2005

About the author

Stanley Middleton wrote 45 novels, including 1974's Booker Prize-winner Holiday. A Cautious Approach was his last novel.

Reviews

[Phil Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book by Stanley Middleton that I have read, it won’t be the last. Having finished it I did a litttle research to see what the world thinks of the author, and was very pleased to find that my initial thoughts mirrored what most critics write of him.
I found Sterner Stuff delightful, although it seems that nothing much actually happens. The beauty of the book for me, and I am surprised to learn that apparently this is quite old fashioned, is the way that as I was reading and noticing that the plot wasn’t moving on very quickly I really didn’t mind, as it was so well written. The economy of language, excellent grammar and the quality of the conversations between the characters led to my not wanting to put the book down until I’d got to the end of a chapter. I’m guessing that as there are so few reviews, not many people have read Mr Middletons novels. It’s a shame because he really is very good and worth picking up.