#atheatrefordreamers

[bookramblings]

A Theatre for Dreamers

Author: Polly Samson

Published by: Bloomsbury Publishing

Pages: 352

Format: Hardback

My Rating ★★★★

1960. The world is dancing on the edge of revolution, and nowhere more so than on the Greek island of Hydra, where a circle of writers, painters and musicians live, ruled over by Charmian Clift and George Johnston, troubled queen and king of bohemia. Within this circle forms a love triangle: its points magnetic, destructive writer Axel Jensen, his dazzling wife Marianne Ihlen, and a young Canadian poet named Leonard Cohen.

Into their midst arrives Erica, with little more than a bundle of blank notebooks and her grief over losing her mother. Settling on the periphery of this circle, she watches, entranced and disquieted, as this creative paradise unravels.

Burning with the heat and light of the Greek islands, A Theatre for Dreamers is a spellbinding novel about utopian dreams and innocence lost – and the wars waged between men and women on the battleground of genius.

My thoughts

Capturing the halcyon days of an artistic community on a Greek island in the 1960s, this blissful novel of escapism is hugely readable and atmospheric. I loved being whisked away to a little island in Greece with this delightful story! It really was the perfect book for a sunny Easter weekend at home.

The author uses vivid description to set the scene on Hydra, and describes it as ‘a theatre for dreamers. The stage is lit by sun and sea...’

In the 1950s the Greek island of Hydra became a magnet for artists and writers, including Lawrence Durrell, Patrick Leigh Fermor and Henry Miller. Polly Samson’s novel, set in this makeshift artists’ colony in 1960, focuses on the married Australian authors Charmian Clift and George Johnston, Norwegian novelist Axel Jensen, his wife Marianne Ihlen, as well as an unknown young poet from Canada named Leonard Cohen. We see all of these real-life characters from the perspective of our narrator, Erica, a seventeen-year-old outsider. Using a legacy from her mother, Erica travels with her brother Bobby and boyfriend Jimmy to the Greek island of Hydra. Here she finds herself in the group of bohemians and artists surrounding authors.

I enjoyed living precariously through her as she lives on the island. Erica initially seems quite naive in the early stages of the book and I found her a little frustrating at times. This is however also part of her charm too and I enjoyed following her as she grows up. Charmian is another fantastic character who seems like someone I’d like to know in real life. She is complex and feels a little mysterious which I found interesting.

I particularly loved the descriptive passages throughout the book which are so immersive. Despite being a little long, they didn’t bore me at all. In fact, these vivid details set the scene and work perfectly to evoke the atmosphere, era and mindset of the time and place. Before I knew it, I could already feel the heat on my skin and see the sun-washed houses and blue seas if the small Greek island. I felt immediately transported.

For me, this booked worked as a much-needed piece of escapism. This wonderful, absorbing book truly helped distract me from everything that is currently happening in the world. If you’re getting cabin fever and are hankering for some armchair travelling, I can’t recommend this novel enough.

A Theatre for Dreamers is a glorious read and I’m so pleased I was able to take part in the online read along for this one. Thanks again to Bloomsbury and Tandem Collective for gifting me with a hardback edition of the book.

Overall reaction:

[dangerofmusic]

https://dangerofmusic.com/2020/07/03/yes-i-have-ghosts-e-uscito-il-video-del-nuovo-singolo-di-david-gilmour/ #yesihaveghosts #yes #ghosts #pollysamson #atheatrefordreamers @davidgilmour @pollysamson #romanygilmour #rattlethatlock (presso Roma) https://www.instagram.com/p/CCMyexxhlQV/?igshid=1v96vc53wkkbw

[paulocezarcunha]

When the expiremental rock band collaborated with #ballet #pollysamson #davidgilmourofficial #davidgilmourliveatpompeii #davidgilmourguitar #pinkfloyd #atheatrefordreamers #News by #wiplash #music #guitars #rockers #rock #castguitars #avemusrock #hdpinkfloyd #rogerwaters #nickmanson #richardwright #pinkfloydthewall #thewall #pulse #insideout #thedark #1973 #geraldscarfe #hammer #comebacktolife #learningtofly #thedivisionbell (em Avemus Rock Home Estúdio) https://www.instagram.com/p/CB673k1A2C_/?igshid=190akr20gfy7i

[motioncollector]

David Gilmour with Romany Gilmour - Yes, I Have Ghosts (Official Music Video 4K) via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwI1RmYaVB0 // YES, I HAVE GHOSTS is the first new song from David Gilmour in 5 years and features the voice and harp playing of his daughter Romany. Available to stream / download now: https://smarturl.it/davidgilmour The inspiration for the track was the new novel ‘A Theatre for Dreamers’, by Polly Samson, who also wrote the lyrics. The song has previously only been available as part of the ground-breaking audiobook for the novel. Set on the idyllic Greek island of Hydra in 1960, 'A Theatre for Dreamers' captures the hazy, sun-drenched days of an expat bohemian community of poets, painters, and musicians, including a 25 year-old Leonard Cohen. The Sunday Times bestseller ‘A Theatre For Dreamers’ by Polly Samson is out now: https://smarturl.it/atheatrefordreamers *MUSIC CREDITS* Yes, I Have Ghosts (David Gilmour / Polly Samson) David Gilmour Vocals, Guitar, Samples, Programming Romany Gilmour Vocals, Harp John McCusker Fiddle Damon Iddins String quartet sampling All other instruments by David Gilmour Produced by David Gilmour Mixed by Andy Jackson with David Gilmour Engineer David Gilmour, Damon Iddins Mastered by Andy Jackson, Tube Mastering Video directed by Gavin Elder ‘Yes, I Have Ghosts’ released via Columbia Records / Sony Music on July 3rd, 2020. ‘Yes, I Have Ghosts’ published by Pink Floyd Music Publishers Ltd. administered by Concord Music Publishing LLC (P) 2020 David Gilmour Music Ltd., marketed by Columbia Records, a Sony Music Group Company. © 2020 David Gilmour Music Ltd. The copyright in this sound recording and artwork is owned by David Gilmour Music Ltd. Subscribe to David Gilmour's YouTube channel here: http://smarturl.it/DGYTSubscribe *DAVID GILMOUR SOCIAL MEDIA* Official Website http://www.davidgilmour.com Facebook https://www.facebook.com/davidgilmour Twitter https://twitter.com/davidgilmour Instagram https://www.instagram.com/davidgilmour *ABOUT DAVID GILMOUR* David Gilmour CBE, the voice & guitar of Pink Floyd, hit No. 1 in the UK with his 2006 solo album On An Island. Following Pink Floyd’s final album, 2014’s The Endless River, David released his latest studio album, Rattle That Lock, in 2015, followed by the album and film Live At Pompeii in 2017. Buy via http://www.davidgilmour.com A Cambridge friend of Syd Barrett, David joined Syd, with Roger Waters, Richard Wright, and Nick Mason, in Pink Floyd in early 1968, only for Syd to leave the group five gigs later. Pink Floyd's subsequent huge worldwide success continued after Roger Waters' departure in 1985, with the albums A Momentary Lapse Of Reason and The Division Bell both charting at No. 1 in the UK and the US, and sell-out world tours. Rattle That Lock, David’s 4th solo album, went to No. 1 in 13 countries. #DavidGilmour #YesIHaveGhosts #4K

[dangerofmusic]

https://dangerofmusic.com/2020/07/03/david-gilmour-con-romany-e-uscito-il-singolo-yes-i-have-a-ghosts/ #yesihaveghosts #yes #ghosts #pollysamson #atheatrefordreamers @davidgilmour @pollysamson #romanygilmour #rattlethatlock (presso Roma, Italia / Rome, Italy) https://www.instagram.com/p/CCMyODRB1Wh/?igshid=zitpezu14rvt

[paulocezarcunha]

Musician David Gilmour, known for his work with Pink Floyd, announced that he will release his first new song in 5 years, when, in 2015, he released the album "Rattle That Lock". The track, entitled "Yes, I Have Ghosts", will be part of the audiobook version of the book "A Theater for Dreamers", written by Polly Samson, Gilmour's wife. #pollysamson #davidgilmourofficial #davidgilmourliveatpompeii #davidgilmourguitar #pinkfloyd #atheatrefordreamers #News by #wiplash #music #guitars #rockers #rock #castguitars #avemusrock (em Avemus Rock Home Estúdio) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBWM5P3ABO_/?igshid=1d5ucy8aba8fh