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Sense of Guilt #1
A Sense of Guilt
Richard's best friend, Felix, is a writer who can't resist temptation. When he returns to Britain, having found that life as a tax exile gives him writer's block, temptation comes in the form of Sally, Richard's step-daughter.
- GenresRomance
363 pages, Paperback
First published October 3, 1988
20 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Newman
62 books14 followersAndrea Newman (born 7 February 1938 in Dover, Kent) is an English author.
An only child, she taught at a grammar school after graduating with a degree in English from the Westfield College, University of London. A film version of her 1967 novel Three Into Two Won't Go, with a screenplay by Edna O'Brien, was released in 1969. It stars Rod Steiger and Claire Bloom, and was directed by Peter Hall.
Newman adapted her sixth novel A Bouquet of Barbed Wire (1969) for London Weekend Television (LWT) in 1976, as a seven-part serial. Newman recalled her work in 2010 at the time when it was being remade: "I never set out to shock, just to tell a story about an imaginary family, but I imagine most people would still disapprove of hitting your pregnant wife and having sex with her mother." The dramatisation was a popular success; its sequel, Another Bouquet, followed in 1977.
Another similar novel, Mackenzie, was dramatized by the BBC in 1980, starring Jack Galloway, Lynda Bellingham and Tracey Ullman. This adaptation was followed by Alexa (1968 – adapted for the BBC, 1982), A Sense of Guilt (1988 – adapted for the BBC, 1990), and An Evil Streak (1977 – adapted for LWT, 1999). In 2001, Newman was the writer for the television drama Pretending to Be Judith.
Her other novels include A Share of the World (1964), Mirage (1965), The Cage (1966) and A Gift of Poison (1991). A book of 15 short stories, Triangles, was published in 1990. It has been remarked that a frequent theme in Andrea Newman's novels is that with the advent of a baby, the family disintegrates.
An only child, she taught at a grammar school after graduating with a degree in English from the Westfield College, University of London. A film version of her 1967 novel Three Into Two Won't Go, with a screenplay by Edna O'Brien, was released in 1969. It stars Rod Steiger and Claire Bloom, and was directed by Peter Hall.
Newman adapted her sixth novel A Bouquet of Barbed Wire (1969) for London Weekend Television (LWT) in 1976, as a seven-part serial. Newman recalled her work in 2010 at the time when it was being remade: "I never set out to shock, just to tell a story about an imaginary family, but I imagine most people would still disapprove of hitting your pregnant wife and having sex with her mother." The dramatisation was a popular success; its sequel, Another Bouquet, followed in 1977.
Another similar novel, Mackenzie, was dramatized by the BBC in 1980, starring Jack Galloway, Lynda Bellingham and Tracey Ullman. This adaptation was followed by Alexa (1968 – adapted for the BBC, 1982), A Sense of Guilt (1988 – adapted for the BBC, 1990), and An Evil Streak (1977 – adapted for LWT, 1999). In 2001, Newman was the writer for the television drama Pretending to Be Judith.
Her other novels include A Share of the World (1964), Mirage (1965), The Cage (1966) and A Gift of Poison (1991). A book of 15 short stories, Triangles, was published in 1990. It has been remarked that a frequent theme in Andrea Newman's novels is that with the advent of a baby, the family disintegrates.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 1, 2011
"...if he could have all three of them.... the virgin, the mother & the whore."
This is so much more smutty and exciting than the traditional romance-like cover would have you think. I don't actually know what made me read it, I was in a charity book shop so maybe I thought it was only decent to buy something... either way, I ended up coming home with a novel that looked like it would suit my grandmother more than my dystopian/paranormal-romance/erotica loving self.
I'm glad I didn't pass it along to my grandma.
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Cos this book is nasty in a sexy kind of way and Andrea Newman doesn't hold back. It tells the story of Felix, your good old-fashioned womaniser (who is actually hot enough to get away with falling into that stereotype), and the three women he makes it his priority to seduce, those being the aforementioned virgin, mother and whore. The mother is that of the virgin and the wife of Felix's best friend, Richard, she is also the object of a secret desire tht Felix has been harbouring for a couple of decades. The so-called whore is Richard's ex-wife who wants him back but is using every other male as a substitute in the meantime.
Needless to say, they all get caught up in Felix's twisted games and emotions are running high throughout. The sex scenes are good, just enough to keep you interested but never too much. Some people who are that way inclined may find themselves quickly scanning the upcoming chapters for random words like "wet" and "hard" (obviously not something I would do ¬_¬ ). So, yeah, a surprisingly good read that I maybe wrongly categorised as romance because there are no flowers and chocolates... trust me on this. But wasn't sure what else to call it. Would recommend :)
June 24, 2018
It is very hard to write a review for this gem. It is an emotional roller coaster which bounds the reader to tales of the never ending affairs between the characters. When reading this, I could not help but succumb into the pleasures of the characters, their lies, sorrows, loves, hatred and all. The rectangle that is their lives can be seen in one as well as in all.
Richard, Inge, Carey, Helen, Felix, Elizabeth, Marsha, and Sally. They all have secrets. They have Marriages to preserve and to end. Confessions to make, mercy and forgiveness to hope and pray for. All these coming from the burdens of guilt they carry inside their bosoms. The pleasures of marriage not enough for any of them. They still desire to possess "the virgins, the wife, and the whores" at the same time. All these for their own sexual gratifications. The seven deadly sins are real in their lives as it is in art. Absolutely absorbing. It leaves you with a joyous anticipation of a child on its birthday.
Richard, Inge, Carey, Helen, Felix, Elizabeth, Marsha, and Sally. They all have secrets. They have Marriages to preserve and to end. Confessions to make, mercy and forgiveness to hope and pray for. All these coming from the burdens of guilt they carry inside their bosoms. The pleasures of marriage not enough for any of them. They still desire to possess "the virgins, the wife, and the whores" at the same time. All these for their own sexual gratifications. The seven deadly sins are real in their lives as it is in art. Absolutely absorbing. It leaves you with a joyous anticipation of a child on its birthday.
July 29, 2020
Richard’s needy, bohemian ex-wife, Inge, makes life with his new wife and step-daughter as difficult as possible. Since leaving her and their two boys, Richard can’t help but respond to her loneliness, driven by guilt and a sense of duty. Inge has been hanging on for eight years, convinced that Richard will eventually return to the family home. Richard’s second wife, Helen, is more self-contained and independent, allowing him to please everybody except perhaps himself. His lifelong friend the handsome, manipulative, promiscuous author, Felix, is not averse in allowing his creativity to overlap real life, and Felix takes his pleasures very seriously. His devoted wife turns a blind eye to his selfish extravagance, so long as it’s not too close to home.
When Felix begins an affair with Helen’s young daughter, Sally – the most forbidden of fruit – a series of unfortunate events slowly unravels all their relationships, finally laying bare the undesirable truth of jealousy, lies, secrets, immorality, and betrayal. What sets this eighties novel apart from others that try to emulate this kind of sex-shock-taboo style, is the incredible depth of character and the highly credible backstories. The storyline might involve time-worn themes but nothing is overdone or overwritten, sex scenes are restrained and impart only what we need to know, making for a deliciously dark and smutty read heavily based on the psychology of relationships, and the prisons we can so easily make for ourselves.
When Felix begins an affair with Helen’s young daughter, Sally – the most forbidden of fruit – a series of unfortunate events slowly unravels all their relationships, finally laying bare the undesirable truth of jealousy, lies, secrets, immorality, and betrayal. What sets this eighties novel apart from others that try to emulate this kind of sex-shock-taboo style, is the incredible depth of character and the highly credible backstories. The storyline might involve time-worn themes but nothing is overdone or overwritten, sex scenes are restrained and impart only what we need to know, making for a deliciously dark and smutty read heavily based on the psychology of relationships, and the prisons we can so easily make for ourselves.
January 18, 2019
Andrea Newman used to be one of my favourites back in the day so I felt it was time to re-read her. I'm so glad I did. As good as I remembered, dark romance, gritty love lives, almost incestuous and still fascinating to read.
September 4, 2021
I saw a TV adaptation of this novel several decades ago, and for some reason it has always stayed with me. I didn't even realise it was a novel, so when I saw it on a second hand book stall I snapped it up.
It did not disappoint, then or now. A memorable drama and a compelling read.
It did not disappoint, then or now. A memorable drama and a compelling read.
September 29, 2024
A good read
This book was a brilliant read. I loved reading about all the characters and their flaws. I was very very annoyed with sanctimonious Richard who was by far and away the villain of the piece. Top character award goes to Karl and Peter. What lovely children.
This book was a brilliant read. I loved reading about all the characters and their flaws. I was very very annoyed with sanctimonious Richard who was by far and away the villain of the piece. Top character award goes to Karl and Peter. What lovely children.
December 7, 2017
I struggled to finish this book. Found it tiresome and boring.
March 22, 2025
My second Newman this year and not the last. I love her work. Now I’ll watch the tv adaptation with is available on ok.ru.
I have been making video reviews. There is the one for this book:
https://youtu.be/WS62frjIxDE?si=mN0_7...
I have been making video reviews. There is the one for this book:
https://youtu.be/WS62frjIxDE?si=mN0_7...
September 2, 2011
Fantastic sexual drama of the agonies and jealousies of love.
Quotes:
'She hate giving pain but even more she hated people clinging on to her' p. 330
'Perhaps anger would act as an anasthetic' p. 275
'People on the whole did not like Helen which suited her quite well because it meant they left her alone. They sensed her impatience with them, her air of having better things to do with her time'. P. 3
Quotes:
'She hate giving pain but even more she hated people clinging on to her' p. 330
'Perhaps anger would act as an anasthetic' p. 275
'People on the whole did not like Helen which suited her quite well because it meant they left her alone. They sensed her impatience with them, her air of having better things to do with her time'. P. 3
June 7, 2019
Really enjoyed this book very much. I had time to read this so enjoyed it immensely, although at times I could have strangled many of the characters. Richard was the one I felt most sorry for. He was trying to please everybody, except himself. He ended up pleasing nobody. (Lesson to be learned there). I would recommend this book as a good read.
October 4, 2015
I've been wanting to re-read Andrea Newman for some time and having discovered I'd bought the sequel to this, had to then obtain the first. Dated, but in a good way. i.e. representative of its time (but not of my life at that time!)
A highly entertaining farcical romp of sex and lies and morals.
A highly entertaining farcical romp of sex and lies and morals.
June 29, 2015
Emotional rollercoaster. This happens in real life. Take it from the title itself, guilt is, at once, recognized but ignored nonetheless.
†††Pokwita☠†††
†††Pokwita☠†††
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews