|
|
Article: Romance and the stones With the latest Ian McEwan novel, On Chesil Beach, fresh in his mind, Alistair Fraser explores the 18-mile stretch of Dorset shingle that has long inspired writers and delighted holidaymakers
- Article from:
- The Sunday Telegraph London
- Article date:
- April 15, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2007 The Sunday Telegraph London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
|
In the opening pages of Ian McEwan's new novel, On Chesil Beach,
its two central characters are worrying about their wedding night.
Edward and Florence, married earlier in the day, have driven to a
small Georgian hotel on the Dorset coast and are now dining in their
private rooms. They are both virgins (this is 1962, before the
Sixties began 'swinging' and people learnt to voice their intimate
feelings) and the air is thick with tension. One has conventional
first-night nerves, the other a more deep-rooted dread - "a helpless
disgust'' - of what will take place after dinner.
To lighten the mood, they turn in their chairs to consider the
view. Through the evening mist, they see a mossy lawn ...