Named one of the best books of 2018 by The Washington Post, The Seattle Times, and The Advocate“Staggeringly brilliant . . . You’ll start The Maze of Windermere with bewilderment, but you’ll close it in awe.” —The Washington Post“Pitch perfect.” —New York Times Book Review When a drunken party guest challenges him to a late-night tennis match, Sandy Allison finds himself unexpectedly entangled in … late-night tennis match, Sandy Allison finds himself unexpectedly entangled in the monied world of Newport, Rhode Island. A former touring pro a little down on his luck, Sandy has nothing to stake against the vintage motorcycle his opponent wagers. But then Alice DuPont—the young heiress to a Newport mansion called Windermere—offers up her diamond necklace.
With this reckless wager begins a dazzling narrative odyssey that braids together four centuries of aspiration and adversity in this renowned seaside society capital. A witty and urbane bachelor of the Gilded Age embarks on a high-risk scheme to marry into a fortune; a young Henry James, soon to make his mark on the world, turns himself to his craft with harrowing social consequences; an aristocratic British officer during the American Revolution carries on a courtship that leads to murder; and, in Newport’s earliest days, a tragically orphaned Quaker girl imagines a way forward for herself and the slave girl she has inherited.
Gregory Blake Smith weaves these intersecting worlds into a rich, brilliant tapestry. A deftly layered novel of love, ambition, and duplicity, The Maze at Windermere charts a voyage across the ages into the maze of the human heart.
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Not since Beautiful Ruins have I read a novel with such breadth of imagination or depth of heart, nor a cast of characters so real, so varied, so compelling. In five exquisitely braided tales spanning nearly four centuries, Gregory Blake Smith illuminates the everlasting power of our passions and the hazard of our follies — in essence, the many ways we mortals strive and yearn toward the center of the maze we each call life. This book is a tour de force: gorgeous, suspenseful, cunning, and wise.
Gregory Blake Smith’s The Maze at Windermere is a dazzling high-wire act. I turned every page with a sense of wonder and excitement.
The Maze at Windermere is quite unique. It tells the story of several characters, each one in a different century. The only thing they have in common is their location at the time of the narrative. Upon finishing the book, I was upset and disappointed by the ending until I finally understood what the author was going for and why the book was named after the maze. Then it all made sense and I was blown away by the originality of the story and its conclusion.
The Maze at Windermere is an astonishing book — prismatic, continually surprising, daring not only in structure but in its investigation of the human heart. Somehow it manages to be both ruthless and tender. On top of all that, it’s wildly, hurtlingly entertaining.
An easy read when you need a break, but a wonderful depiction of a time and place in America.
Poorly written with silly plot.
This is a book that covers Newport, RI, over generations. Many people, from the Revolution, to contemporary times. I t can be a bit confusing; read it chapter by chapter, but if you know the history and area, you will enjoy it!
I am currently obsessed with this book! Once you get the hang of the chapters written by a character it was hard to put down and As I go back through it I discover new interplays and insights that didn’t seem especially important on the first reading, but that actually add to the layers of the plots.
Great writing. Many different story lines from times in the history of Newport, RI, which the author manages to connect by references to places and family. Newport is one of my favorite small cities so I found it fascinating. Highly recommended.
It took a while to “get into” it.
Enjoyed learning about the Hamptons. It was challenging to keep the time frames straight but I kept reading because l wanted to see what happened
I didnt finish it. The characters were hard to relate to. I had hoped for a more historical beginning.
Tried to keep reading but not enough character development and too dated for me. Totally lost interest with the jump to a new place and time
Not sure why the author had to jump around in time so much. It’s was a little disconnected.
Historical novel that necessarily keeps your attention.
Very engaging story with characters spanning hundreds of years living their lives small and large with Newport RI serving as a backdrop to their lives and the dramatic changes taking place in our country from the 17th century to the present. The author does a great job making the voices of the characters authentic to their gender, class, and time period.
i found the opening characters decadent and hard to identify with and stopped reading this novel zi was so excited about. i just did not connect with the characters.
Loved it. Layered and twisty and cool.
This book was a maze in my head.!! It was all over the place ! Not enjoyable !
just could not get into it