Precipice, Robert Harris

Precipice opening line: Late one Thursday morning at the beginning of July 1914, a young woman with dark wet hair strode long-legged from the Serpentine in Hyde Park along Oxford Street towards Marylebone.

My blurb:

Prime Minister Asquith is a man sitting on not only the precipice of War, but on the precipice of the life he wants, and the life he has. He writes obsessively to Venetia Stanley, and sees her as a lover. Whether this relationship is physical or not, it is dangerous. Because he cannot control himself, and shares with her the most secret of all things, including correspondence which will ultimately lead to his downfall.

Precipice

Summer 1914. A world on the brink of catastrophe.

In London, 26-year-old Venetia Stanley – aristocratic, clever, bored, reckless – is having a love affair with the Prime Minister, H. H. Asquith, a man more than twice her age. He writes to her obsessively, sharing the most sensitive matters of state.

As Asquith reluctantly leads the country into war with Germany, a young intelligence officer is assigned to investigate a leak of top secret documents – and suddenly what was a sexual intrigue becomes a matter of national security that will alter the course of political history.

My verdict:

Precipice is based on the actual letters sent by H. H. Asquith to Venetia Stanley. It is well written and a thought provoking novel. To me, this is a world we cannot relate to today. It is about people who are in Government because of who they are, and who they know. It shows the corner Henry painted Venetia into, and the reason she chooses to marry Edwin Montagu, a man she does not love. If you are interested in historical fiction this is a must read book about the start of World War I and just what the English politicians were doing at the time of the War.

About the Author:

Robert Harris is a long-time music journalist, writer, teacher, and broadcaster. From 2000-2008, he was the host and producer of I Hear Music, a weekly show presented on CBC Radio 2. He is the author of two books, What to Listen for in Mozart, and What to Listen for in Beethoven. He is the classical music critic for The Globe and Mail.

Publishing information:

Penguin Random House South Africa sent me this novel to review.

See the links below for blog posts I published on November 3:

• 2022: White Chocolate Icing
• 2021: October 2021 Showcasing In My Kitchen
• 2019: All That’s Dead
• 2017: Grapefruit Cake
• 2014: November 2014 Showcasing In My Kitchen
• 2013: Samantha Taylor Interview
• 2010: Wholewheat Chilli Pancakes

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