48 pages • 1 hour read
The Transit of Venus
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Book Brief
352
Novel • Fiction
Sydney, Australia • 1950s
1980
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The Transit of Venus focuses on sisters Caro and Grace Bell who move from postwar Australia to England. Caro embarks on complex relationships, working a government job, and translates Latin American poems while Grace marries Christian Thrale and settles into domestic life. The novel juxtaposes their intimate experiences with broader themes of identity, love, and societal roles in the post-WWII Western world. It includes depictions of mental health challenges and miscarriage.
Melancholic
Contemplative
Romantic
Bittersweet
Mysterious
Reviews & Readership
4,541 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Shirley Hazzard's The Transit of Venus garners acclaim for its eloquent prose and complex characters. Critics praise its intricate narrative and emotional depth, although some find its structure challenging. Overall, readers appreciate the rich, evocative writing despite occasional difficulty in following its elaborate plot.
Who Should Read The Transit of Venus?
Fans of intricate narratives and emotional depth akin to Jane Austen and Virginia Woolf will cherish Shirley Hazzard's The Transit of Venus. Its rich character development and exploration of love, loss, and destiny resonate with readers who appreciate literary fiction with a contemplative edge.
4,541 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
352
Novel • Fiction
Sydney, Australia • 1950s
1980
Adult
18+ years
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