Reader's Report
In the following essay, Martin Levin argues that A. S. Byatt's novel "The Game" is notable for its subtle blend of character traits and beliefs with dynamic action, successfully integrating philosophical depth with emotional engagement to create a cumulatively exciting narrative.
["The Game"] is a book of uncommon subtlety….
What is so admirable about Mrs. Byatt's treatment of her characters is her blending of what they are with what they believe. The father's passive idealism, Simon's belief in original sin, Cassandra's view of the order and harmony of the universe, and Julia's ritualistic religion are truly part of the action. Yet the author doesn't sacrifice emotion to philosophy; her book is cumulatively exciting.
Martin Levin, "Reader's Report," in The New York Times Book Review (© 1968 by The New York Times Company; reprinted by permission), March 17, 1968, p. 36.∗
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