64 pages • 2 hours read
Parade's End
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Book Brief
836
Novel • Fiction
England • 1910s
1928
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Parade’s End by Ford Madox Ford follows Christopher Tietjens, a conservative English gentleman, and his tumultuous relationships with his unfaithful wife Sylvia and suffragette Valentine Wannop amidst the upheaval of World War I. The tetralogy explores themes of love, honor, and societal change through modernist narrative techniques, emphasizing characters' psychological experiences rather than traditional plot progression. The novels include traumatic war experiences, infidelity, and mental illness.
Melancholic
Mysterious
Contemplative
Bittersweet
Gritty
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Ford Madox Ford's Parade's End has been praised for its complex psychological depth and masterful depiction of a changing society during World War I. Reviewers commend Ford's intricate narrative and realistic portrayal of characters. However, some find the prose dense and challenging, affecting readability. Overall, it remains a significant, if demanding, modernist work.
Who Should Read Parade's End?
Fans of Parade's End by Ford Madox Ford typically enjoy complex narratives, historical settings, and themes of war and social change. This reader likely appreciates the nuanced exploration of human relationships and psychological depth, similar to those found in works like War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy or A Dance to the Music of Time by Anthony Powell.
Sylvia Tietjens
Sylvia Tietjens
Sylvia is Christopher's beautiful but vindictive wife from a wealthy family. Her complex personality and antagonism significantly impact Christopher's life.
Valentine Wannop
Valentine Wannop
An intellectual equal to Christopher, Valentine comes from an academic family and is passionate about women's suffrage. Her relationship with Christopher contrasts with his troubled marriage.
Mark Tietjens
Mark Tietjens
Christopher's older half-brother and the caretaker of the family estate, Mark is a traditional English gentleman with a strong sense of familial duty. He provides a stabilizing presence in the narrative.
836
Novel • Fiction
England • 1910s
1928
Adult
18+ years
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