The Beginning of Spring

by Penelope Fitzgerald
The Beginning of Spring cover
Good Books rating 4.33
Historical Fiction
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Paperback • £9.99
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Technical
  • ID: 10474
  • Added: 2026-01-25
  • Updated: 2026-01-27
  • ISBN: 9780395908716
  • Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
  • Published: 1998-01-01
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Frank Reid, a British printer living in Moscow, faces the daunting task of raising his three young children alone after his wife returns to England. Set against the backdrop of the impending Russian Revolution, Frank's life becomes a whirlwind of emotional and moral dilemmas. He grapples with the advice of his Tolstoyan bookkeeper and his growing feelings for his Russian housemaid, all while trying to understand how to live the right life. This novel delves into the intricacies of human relationships and the search for meaning in a time of upheaval. Penelope Fitzgerald's prose brings to life the rich cultural and historical context of early 20th-century Russia, offering a poignant exploration of love, duty, and the choices that define us.

Reviews
The Guardian · 2017-01-17
immersive 4.00

The novel is immersive and vivid due to Fitzgerald's ability to detail her subjects' lives. The reader is transported into the world of the characters with ease.

Fitzgerald's novel is incredibly immersive and vivid, thanks to her talent for scattering details about her characters' lives throughout the pages. This technique makes the reader feel as though they are truly part of the story, experiencing the world alongside the characters. The book is a testament to Fitzgerald's skill in creating rich, engaging narratives that draw the reader in and hold their attention. The atmosphere and setting are beautifully evoked, making it a compelling read from start to finish.

Quick quotes

    It feels immersive and vivid because Fitzgerald is so easily able to scatter details of her subjects' lives over her pages.

    She makes the reader feel as though they are truly part of the story.

    The atmosphere and setting are beautifully evoked, making it a compelling read from start to finish.

JacquiWine's Blog · 2014-06-23
engaging 4.50

The novel draws readers slowly into its mysterious world with a quiet but compelling narrative. The atmosphere and characters are vividly portrayed, making it a memorable read.

This book is a quietly compelling novel that slowly pulls you into its mysterious and atmospheric world. The way Fitzgerald scatters details about her characters' lives creates an immersive experience. The story feels like a fairytale, with a richly evoked setting that lingers in your mind long after you've finished reading. It's a book that stays with you, releasing its flavors gradually. The characters are well-developed, and the narrative is engaging, making it a memorable and satisfying read.

Quick quotes

    The Beginning of Spring is a quietly compelling novel, one that draws you slowly, yet steadily, into its mysterious world.

    Fitzgerald is so easily able to scatter details of her subjects' lives over her pages.

    The Beginning of Spring is a quiet but very atmospheric novel with a fairytale feel to it.

The Asylum · 2008-12-04
atmospheric 4.50

The book simmers in your mind long after reading, releasing its flavors gradually. It's a quiet but atmospheric novel that leaves a lasting impression.

This is one of those books that stays with you long after you've turned the last page. It simmers in your mind, continuing to release its rich flavors and nuances. The novel is quiet but deeply atmospheric, with a fairytale-like quality that makes it feel both timeless and deeply personal. Fitzgerald's writing is evocative and rich, creating a world that feels vivid and real. The characters are well-developed, and the story is engaging, making it a memorable and satisfying read that lingers in your thoughts long after you've finished.

Quick quotes

    The Beginning of Spring is one of those books which simmers on in your mind and continues to release its flavours for some time after completion.

    The book is quiet but very atmospheric with a fairytale feel to it.

    Fitzgerald's writing is evocative and rich, creating a world that feels vivid and real.

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