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On a Balcony
'On A Balcony is devoted to the 14th century [B.C.] and the Pharaoh Ikhnaton, his sister-wife Nefertiti, the sculptor Tutmose, and the rivalry his religion of Aton brought to Egypt and its then current cult of Amon... presenting Ikhnaton's imposition of a new religion upon those who look on him as a god.' Kirkus Review
'A fascinating study in royal neuroticism.' John Davenport, Observer
'A weird, subtle and compelling novel.' Time & Tide
'What is important about Mr Stacton is his originality. We cannot guess how his book is going to develop. We cannot trace influences on his writing or fit him into any preconceived literary scheme...There is a self-confidence about his writing that has no trace of vanity.' Times Literary Supplement.
'A fascinating study in royal neuroticism.' John Davenport, Observer
'A weird, subtle and compelling novel.' Time & Tide
'What is important about Mr Stacton is his originality. We cannot guess how his book is going to develop. We cannot trace influences on his writing or fit him into any preconceived literary scheme...There is a self-confidence about his writing that has no trace of vanity.' Times Literary Supplement.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1958
25 people want to read
About the author
David Stacton
50 books10 followersAka Bud Clifton
David Derek Stacton (1925–1968) was a U.S. novelist, historian and poet. He was born on 25 April 1925 in Minden, Nevada. Stacton attended Stanford University from 1941–43, and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1951. He served in the Civilian Public Service as a conscientious objector then lived in Europe from 1950–1954, 1960–1962, and 1964–1965. Stacton wrote under the pseudonyms Carse Boyd, Bud Clifton, David Dereksen and David West. Most of his books were originally published in England. He died of a stroke 19 January 1968 in Fredensborg, Denmark.
Stacton's novels are often low in dialogue, and his better novels are instead full of his witty scornful comments on his characters and life. At his best Stacton had an epigrammatic style and enjoyed a sophisticated irony, although antipathetic critics took him to task for pretentious vocabulary, a tendency to florid paradoxes, and anachronistic allusions (i.e. describing a 14th century Zen garden using phrases from Marianne Moore and Peter Pan). In 1963, Time magazine praised his work as "masses of epigrams marinated in a stinging mixture of metaphysics and blood" and suggested that "something similar might have been the result if the Duc de la Rochefoucauld had written novels with plots suggested by Jack London". His other literary influences include Walter Pater, for his choice of characters with frustrated artistic and emotional longings, and Lytton Strachey for his witty attention to history. Several of Stacton's novels feature homosexual characters prominently. Fans of David Stacton include John Crowley, Thomas M. Disch, and Peter Beagle.
David Derek Stacton (1925–1968) was a U.S. novelist, historian and poet. He was born on 25 April 1925 in Minden, Nevada. Stacton attended Stanford University from 1941–43, and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1951. He served in the Civilian Public Service as a conscientious objector then lived in Europe from 1950–1954, 1960–1962, and 1964–1965. Stacton wrote under the pseudonyms Carse Boyd, Bud Clifton, David Dereksen and David West. Most of his books were originally published in England. He died of a stroke 19 January 1968 in Fredensborg, Denmark.
Stacton's novels are often low in dialogue, and his better novels are instead full of his witty scornful comments on his characters and life. At his best Stacton had an epigrammatic style and enjoyed a sophisticated irony, although antipathetic critics took him to task for pretentious vocabulary, a tendency to florid paradoxes, and anachronistic allusions (i.e. describing a 14th century Zen garden using phrases from Marianne Moore and Peter Pan). In 1963, Time magazine praised his work as "masses of epigrams marinated in a stinging mixture of metaphysics and blood" and suggested that "something similar might have been the result if the Duc de la Rochefoucauld had written novels with plots suggested by Jack London". His other literary influences include Walter Pater, for his choice of characters with frustrated artistic and emotional longings, and Lytton Strachey for his witty attention to history. Several of Stacton's novels feature homosexual characters prominently. Fans of David Stacton include John Crowley, Thomas M. Disch, and Peter Beagle.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 14, 2012
I don't really know where to start with this. I'm sure things happen, but I'm not sure what, exactly, happens because it's buried by such poetic prose. I'd be happy to overlook this I'd actually liked the prose but it did nothing for me.
The characters were truly alien-like creatures, acting in ways that made it impossible to connect with them. There were numerous little tidbits in the story that were interesting, but were never developed
All in all, the one word I would use to describe this book is "blah". I don't hate it, but I really don't like it.
The characters were truly alien-like creatures, acting in ways that made it impossible to connect with them. There were numerous little tidbits in the story that were interesting, but were never developed
All in all, the one word I would use to describe this book is "blah". I don't hate it, but I really don't like it.
July 17, 2023
Great book. I learned so much about Akhenaten and the pharaoh's of the 13th century BC. I was captivated from the first page. So well written, it spurred me to do more reading about that time. Of course, it is a novel, so it is Stacton's imagining - but what imagining! Second book by him I have read and they both are wonderful.
September 22, 2024
An extremely strange & haunting book about art, memory, and legacy by a writer who was once ranked as one of the leading postwar American novelists but is now almost completely forgotten.
May 7, 2013
It's a difficult book to read and a difficult one to review. Akhenaten's life and reign serve as a convenient backdrop against which the author seeks to depict the human condition. Sadly, it's a task that I fear may have been a little beyond his abilities. The end result is a book which lacks the required poignancy, and at times sounds contrived and conceited.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews