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A Temporary Life: A Novel
An art teacher searches for meaning in a strange town as his wife spirals into madness in this stunning novel from Man Booker Prize–winning author David Storey
Colin Freestone had not planned to live in northern England. The people here are so passionate and raw that he does not expect to ever understand them or feel at ease. But when his wife, Yvonne, fell sick, she would only accept psychiatric care if she could be near her mother, so Colin had no choice but to move north. As Yvonne wastes away in the hospital, sinking deeper and deeper into a terrifying and incomprehensible madness, Colin tries to make sense of his strange surroundings. He may live here now, but he will never call it home.
To pass the time, he takes a job teaching art at a second-rate college that is headed by a nutrition-crazed dean. Colin makes friends, meets women, and plays tennis, but nothing can distract him from the fact that his wife is slowly dying and he is helpless to stop it.
Colin Freestone had not planned to live in northern England. The people here are so passionate and raw that he does not expect to ever understand them or feel at ease. But when his wife, Yvonne, fell sick, she would only accept psychiatric care if she could be near her mother, so Colin had no choice but to move north. As Yvonne wastes away in the hospital, sinking deeper and deeper into a terrifying and incomprehensible madness, Colin tries to make sense of his strange surroundings. He may live here now, but he will never call it home.
To pass the time, he takes a job teaching art at a second-rate college that is headed by a nutrition-crazed dean. Colin makes friends, meets women, and plays tennis, but nothing can distract him from the fact that his wife is slowly dying and he is helpless to stop it.
248 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1973
About the author
David Storey
85 books29 followersDavid Storey was an English playwright, screenwriter, award-winning novelist and a former professional rugby league player. Storey was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire in 1933, and studied at the Slade School of Art.
His first two novels were both published in 1960, a few months apart: This Sporting Life, which won the Macmillan Fiction Award and was adapted for an award-winning 1963 film, and Flight Into Camden, which won the Somerset Maugham Award. His next novel, Radcliffe (1963) met with widespread critical acclaim in both England and the United States, and during the 1960s and 70s, Storey became widely known for his plays, several of which achieved great success.
He returned to fiction in 1972 with Pasmore, which won the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Award and was short-listed for the Booker Prize. Saville (1976) won the Booker Prize and has been hailed by at least one critic as the best of all the Booker winners. His last novel was Thin-Ice Skater (2004).
David Storey lived in London. He was married and had four children.
His first two novels were both published in 1960, a few months apart: This Sporting Life, which won the Macmillan Fiction Award and was adapted for an award-winning 1963 film, and Flight Into Camden, which won the Somerset Maugham Award. His next novel, Radcliffe (1963) met with widespread critical acclaim in both England and the United States, and during the 1960s and 70s, Storey became widely known for his plays, several of which achieved great success.
He returned to fiction in 1972 with Pasmore, which won the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Award and was short-listed for the Booker Prize. Saville (1976) won the Booker Prize and has been hailed by at least one critic as the best of all the Booker winners. His last novel was Thin-Ice Skater (2004).
David Storey lived in London. He was married and had four children.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 30, 2017
Incredible lack of recognition, I read this 1973 book in about 1985 - it seemed ancient then. It was at a second hand bookshop either in South France or North Italy on a holiday to Florence. A fantastic book to read, and a great achievement to write. The style is a bit out of the ordinary but easy to read. The story is gripping and moving, especially the wife who can't take the cruelty of the world. The hero's pugnaciousness is a bit shocking at first but very thought provoking and memorable.
As I write in June 2014 I notice that this book has two ratings and no reviews. It deserves a thousand times the readership. If David Storey reads this site he must be flabbergasted by this book's lack of readers. You wonder if he thinks it was worth writing the book at all.
I understand that there is a play "Life Class" drawn from the same materials. I must get to see it.
One problem looking back is that all these working class post war British writers seem to merge into each other - I spent some time looking for Alan Sillitoe as the author.
As I write in June 2014 I notice that this book has two ratings and no reviews. It deserves a thousand times the readership. If David Storey reads this site he must be flabbergasted by this book's lack of readers. You wonder if he thinks it was worth writing the book at all.
I understand that there is a play "Life Class" drawn from the same materials. I must get to see it.
One problem looking back is that all these working class post war British writers seem to merge into each other - I spent some time looking for Alan Sillitoe as the author.
November 6, 2018
I stumbled upon this book in a charity shop recently and was intrigued by the blurb:
'Colin Freestone, ex-professional boxer, has forsaken the Noble Art to teach Fine Art in a provincial town. Remote at first from the threatening atmosphere of greed and pretension, he is later drawn into violent confrontation, battling against the forces of modern evil like a legendary knight; but without the shining armour.'
It's an absorbing read which successfully combines that age-old blend of tragedy and comedy (Storey's description of the dinner at Wilcox's is superb!). It's very much representative of the period and portrays the post-war growing pains of the country in the form of Neville Newman (much better described as a speculative developer than a 'city planner' as suggested in the description) as he cements over the countryside in the name of 'revitalisation'.
The main character, Colin Freestone, has the rebellious spirit of a film noir anti-hero, valiantly (and at times amusingly mischievously) trying to make sense of the cards he has been dealt, often with violence, but always with integrity. As with all good anti-heroes, every reader can see a bit of the character's nature in themselves and Freestone is no exception in that respect.
I am in full agreement with the previous reviewer in suggesting the novel is very much under appreciated.
'Colin Freestone, ex-professional boxer, has forsaken the Noble Art to teach Fine Art in a provincial town. Remote at first from the threatening atmosphere of greed and pretension, he is later drawn into violent confrontation, battling against the forces of modern evil like a legendary knight; but without the shining armour.'
It's an absorbing read which successfully combines that age-old blend of tragedy and comedy (Storey's description of the dinner at Wilcox's is superb!). It's very much representative of the period and portrays the post-war growing pains of the country in the form of Neville Newman (much better described as a speculative developer than a 'city planner' as suggested in the description) as he cements over the countryside in the name of 'revitalisation'.
The main character, Colin Freestone, has the rebellious spirit of a film noir anti-hero, valiantly (and at times amusingly mischievously) trying to make sense of the cards he has been dealt, often with violence, but always with integrity. As with all good anti-heroes, every reader can see a bit of the character's nature in themselves and Freestone is no exception in that respect.
I am in full agreement with the previous reviewer in suggesting the novel is very much under appreciated.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews