Which book is this?

[poppyshake]

I guess then it must be Dickens?  No idea which book if it is though!

Yes Claire it is

It has to be A Tale of Two Cities!!!

 

Edit: And because I didn't know it from the first quote, I will try and redeem myself by saying that I knew it from the second quote, even before I'd seen chesilbeach's post above ^

Wohoo!  .. well done frankie .. it is indeed .. brilliant book

 

Your turn now  

[frankie]

Yay!

 

If I should attempt to tell how I have desired to spend my life in years past, it would probably surprise those of my readers who are somewhat acquainted with its actual history; it would certainly astonish those who know nothing about it. I will only hint at some of the enterprises which I have cherished.

[Janet]

No guesses?

 

I don't recognise it.  

[chaliepud]

Is it a biography? Maybe Augustin Burroughs as I know he is a favourite of yours and Kay's? Stab in the dark though!

[frankie]

No, it's not Augusten Burroughs

 

I would say that it is sort of autobiographical, but a lot more, too, and doesn't cover a whole life span

[chaliepud]

It's not ringing any bells, is it a contemporary book?

[frankie]

Not in the least bit

[frankie]

Nobody? Hm... Male author.

[Chrissy]

Is it the Count Of Monte Christo by Dumas?

[frankie]

No, it is not

[poppyshake]

Is it on the 1001 frankie? (if so that will narrow it down )

[frankie]

Yes it is! So that's 1001 titles from which to choose...

[poppyshake]

.. well I can count out all the contemporary books .. that might halve it

Ok .. let's try and figure out where the author's from .. Britain? 

[frankie]

Yep, contemporaries and female authors

 

Not from Britain, no

Edited November 3, 2013 by frankie

[poppyshake]

Yep, contemporaries and female authors

You're practically giving it away

Not from Britain, no

 America maybe?

[frankie]

You're practically giving it away

 

I know

 

 America maybe?

 

Yes, he was from the States. (note the past tense. another clue! )

[poppyshake]

He's dead you mean!! Awww RIP dead American male author .. you did write a classic though .. maybe more than one  and you got it on the 1001 so fair play  

Oh hang on .. you don't mean Henry James do you? He was American born.

[frankie]

He's dead you mean!! Awww RIP dead American male author .. you did write a classic though .. maybe more than one  and you got it on the 1001 so fair play  

 

Great obituary!

 

Oh hang on .. you don't mean Henry James do you? He was American born.

 

Not Henry James.

 

Should I add another quote... Hmmm?

[poppyshake]

Poe .. is it Poe?

[frankie]

As I preferred some things to others, and especially valued my freedom, as I could fare hard and yet succeed well, I did not wish to spend my time in earning rich carpets or other fine furniture, or delicate cookery, or a house in the Grecian or the Gothic style just yet. If there are any to whom it is no interruption to acquire these things, and who know how to use them when acquired, I relinquish to them the pursuit.

[frankie]

Not Poe. And not fictional.

[poppyshake]

Ooh .. he's very wordy. Not fictional!! .. well I didn't think you'd made him up

 

Oh do you mean the book is non-fiction? Oh that must narrow down the 1001 considerably ermmm ...  

[frankie]

Ooh .. he's very wordy. Not fictional!! .. well I didn't think you'd made him up

 

Oh do you mean the book is non-fiction? Oh that must narrow down the 1001 considerably ermmm ...  

 

:D The book is non-fiction! Chalie already asked earlier if it's a bio and I told her it's kinda autobiographical, but much more, too, although I've now realised I probably should've said 'a memoir' because an autobio/bio covers the whole life, right? And this one doesn't.

Edited November 3, 2013 by frankie

[poppyshake]

Oh did I miss that bit?  what a twit

 

Aha! ... Henry David Thoreau's Walden? .. I would have said that earlier only it's taken me this long to painstakingly go through the 1001 looking for male, American, dead, non-fiction writers  

 

I hope it's him and that I haven't missed someone else? I had to look up all the authors that I suspected weren't British .. most of them were German and more than half turned out to actually be British     

[frankie]

Yay, you got it, it's Walden!   I've never even read it myself, but I thought I should, and found a cheap secondhand copy of it a year or two ago, but haven't felt like reading it, I thought it would be boring... But now, leafing through it for quotes, it's really interesting and I like the style! So, happy time!

 

Your turn!