Shade Those Laurels

by Cyril Connolly

A bizarre whodunit spoof about critics, editors, and writers asks the question--who killed famous writer Mortimer Gussage?

174 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Cyril Connolly was born in Coventry, Warwickshire in 1903. Educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford he was a regular contributor to the New Statesman in the 1930s.

Connolly also co-edited Horizon (1939-41) with Stephen Spender and later was literary editor of the The Observer. Books by Connolly include the novel, The Rock Pool (1938), the autobiographical, Enemies of Promise (1938) and The Unquiet Grave (1944), a collection of aphorisms, reflections and essays.

After the Second World War Connolly was the principal book reviewer of the Sunday Times. He also published several other books including The Condemned Playground (1945), Previous Convictions (1963) and the Modern Movement (1965). Cyril Connolly died in 1974.

Reviews

[Emg · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit of a difficult read - needed three dictionaries (Latin, French and Webster's), a Roman history and a French encyclopedia to make sense of some (many) scenes. It helps to have read "Children of the Sun" which made it easier to identify some of the referenced personalities and social traits. Sort of a book to read twice, once for wayfinding, then for enjoyment.

[Rozonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful, wonderful novel with amazing characters. The novel had to be ended by another author because of Connolly's death (the coincidence with the plot will strike you when you read the book)so th ending is a bit inferior.