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Edge of Arcadia Kindle Edition

by Kenneth Reah (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 10 ratings
Aidan Hamilton is an artist and a teacher. He works in a college of education where he is able happily and effectively to combine both aspects of his vocation. He teaches student teachers, and he paints Arcadia.

While he does not push the notion of Arcadia too far, he never ceases to give thanks to the Gods he doesn’t believe in, for having been called to such congenial labour.

His favourite artist is Nicholas Poussin. Poussin, in Italy in the seventeenth century, painted landscapes which embodied the very essence of Arcadia with its lofty trees, its olive groves, its distant walled city basking in the golden light of the late afternoon sun.

At first, you do not see, in a dark shadowed overhang of rock a man being crushed by a serpent.
Aidan is also blessed with a family, a wife and two beautiful and adoring daughters. Here lurks the serpent.

Cathy, Aidan’s wife, cannot love their elder daughter, Bobbie. Slowly and inexorably, she is crushing Bobbie’s happiness, and destroying the secure world within which the family has been safe, and Aidan’s desperate attempts to mediate are of no avail.

And then the talented Louise De Grey arrives at the college.
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  1. Print length
    616 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    February 10, 2014
  5. File size
    2.7 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ken Reah talks about being an artist and writing his first novel in his 80s. As a painter and sculptor, I have learned over many years to use what I see. When I walk the dog in the park, or when I'm walking through the city, I see relationships among colours, spaces and shapes that have the potential to become art. I do this with everything in my life - for example, that drawing of my wife from the early days of our relationship. It's sometimes said that everyone has a novel inside them. There would be more truth in this idea if it were said that everyone has, as an unavoidable by-product of being alive, enough experience to provide material for a novel. I suppose I used this material, but instead of paint, I used words. But even though it comes from my experience, Edge of Arcadia is a novel not an autobiography. This is not to say in parts it may not come close to real life: some events, some scenarios, some characters. For instance there is a scene where Aidan rescues an old lady's dog from a raging river: something very like this happened though in reality the dog was mine. As for the rest, that's for me to know, and you to find out.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00IDCHFX2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Fantastic Books Publishing
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 10, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.7 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 616 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1909163287
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 10 ratings

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4.6 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Rik
    5.0 out of 5 stars The edge of something new
    Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    With a wonderfully relaxed style, Reah takes us through the seismic emotional disruptions of one man's journey through discovery and rediscovery. Beautifully paced and with endless twists and turns, it's hard to believe this novel runs to over 600 pages. It was, quite literally, over before I knew it - or indeed wanted it to be. Bravo, Mr Reah.
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  • Dr. P. Grubb
    5.0 out of 5 stars A rich emotional landscape mirrors the north-east coast setting
    Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2015
    Edge of Arcadia is the debut novel from artist Ken Reah. It tells the story of Aiden Hamilton also an artist and teacher. This is a book about relationships, Aiden and his wife Cathy in a marriage that has become humdrum at best but with a dark undertone. When Aidan becomes infatuated with Louise, a student at the college, the book sidesteps the well-trodden territory of the relationship triangle. On the face of it we are presented with the older man, the much younger woman, and the wronged wife, but the relationships in this book go deeper. There is a dark thread running through the story involving Aiden and Cathy's relationship with their eldest daughter.

    Aiden’s guilt at his affair runs alongside his guilt at being unable to repair a breach in his family or even to confront it in any constructive way.

    The story of the central characters is built with realism. There are no artificial devices to bring added drama to the story. The complexities within the networks of people provide crises enough as the different relationships develop or deteriorate, through passion and high drama to sometimes predictable and sometimes shockingly unexpected catastrophes where the different strands of Aiden’s life pull him in impossibly different directions.

    Reah avoids the usual clichés. The revelations when they come are not dressed up in unnecessary drama but show the slightly sad reality of real people pushed unwillingly into situations they can’t cope with.

    Edge of Arcadia is a long book, the paperback which I read being far too heavy to take on long journeys. With hindsight, I’d have bought the ebook, but I’m glad I own the paperback for the wonderful artwork (from one of Reah’s own pictures) on the cover.

    I didn't read this book quickly. It drew me in slowly, bit by bit as the various strands interwove and unravelled. Because we always saw the world through Aiden’s eyes we never saw him objectively in the eyes of others, only as he saw himself or as he perceived others to see him. The reader is left to judge the real Aiden from Aiden's perceptions of the emotional rollercoaster that he both revels in and desperately wants to get off.

    Likewise it is Aiden's perceptions we see of his wife Cathy. Is she the wronged wife? Has he somehow pushed her into becoming the woman we see on the page? Some of her actions seem to demand heavy censure yet Aidan struggles not to judge her too harshly. And yet at times it seems to be the guilt of his affair that lets her off the hook for some appalling acts. It is not only Cathy’s actions but some of the actions of the student Louise that are hard to comprehend, but Aidan can't comprehend them and so neither can the reader.

    Reah does not fall into the trap of moralising over anyone's actions. He takes us through the entire journey with Aidan and leaves us to judge, to empathise or not, to lay our loyalties where we choose. It is a gentle read with some moments of high passion and high drama. It provides a rich emotional landscape which mirrors some beautiful descriptive prose of the rich landscape of the North East of England where the book is set. It’s a very good read.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Kay
    5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely A Winner
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 4, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I must start be confessing that my favourite reading is crime fiction, and this book certainly isn't of that genre. This is romance, something no longer in my life, however, it is about an artist and I am interested in art and artists, so please bear with me. Aidan Hamilton a tutor in art reaches middle-age and the realisation that life has passed him by. So taken up with art, college administration and his marriage problems he yearns for something else, and Louise DeGrey, one of his more mature students, seems an obvious choice. Unlike his wife Cathy Louise shares his interest in art, particularly in the artist Nicolas Poussin. Life with Cathy and his children, Dora and Bobby, isn't going well, with discord between Cathy and Bobby. The reader soon comes to the realisation that this character is a rather weak man, constantly stepping back from confrontation in his marriage and to some degree in his career. Aidan has reached that place we call 'middle-age crisis', and true to form falls in love, embarking on a somewhat dangerous, certainly career-wise, liaison with his student. This story has all the essentials of an autobiographical novel as the reader is regularly taken back in the character's memory as he relives his past failures, his mistakes and his desires. At first I was a little irritated by this style, particularly with him being such an indecisive person, however, that was my failing, and I was soon reminded of a great book I read some years ago, 'The Steep Approach to Garbadale' by Iain Banks, a book I had been delighted with. I was also reminded of a late good friend and artist of mine, Jim, better known as Lawrence Isherwood, himself being so similar in character to Aidan. Without virtually giving the plot, for want of a better word, away, I can but say that this is a first novel, by an artist and stands on a par, or maybe better, than the aforementioned novel. Well done is all I want to add, read and enjoy. One little thing I can add. I'm something of a pedant and do regularly become irritated by incorrect spelling and/or grammar in Kindle downloads. Throughout this book I could find only one error, and that a minor one. So, other authors beware, I may not let you off in future. Get your editing up to scratch. This one is excellent.
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  • Magdalena Pasnikowska
    4.0 out of 5 stars A pleasant read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 1, 2014
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    Now that some time has passed since reading the book, I can say it will stay with me. I loved the descriptive parts - you can really tell the author is a painter! The story itself is quite well paced. On the other hand, much of the dialogue is rather generic, which is a pity. I would have liked a bit more psychological depth - we never really get to know why the characters are acting the way they are, and when they open their mouths to speak, they don't give much away either. On the other hand, the novel's main protagonist has been properly fleshed out and as we experience the action through him, the opacity of the other characters is not a huge problem. Overall, I enjoyed the book. If Kenneth Reah writes another, I would like to read it!
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  • Jenny Edwards
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sensuality of Prose and Plot
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 28, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    A most pleasurable read, created with an effective timeline and a sensuality of prose and plot. How convenient for Academic Aiden to have a Study and a Boxroom to persue his adulterous liaison.
    Two major narrative events frame the anticipation and tension of the central character's fulfilment, inter playing with style. Understated sex scenes score highly, pleasuring the reader with their suggestiveness. Fifty Shades of Burnt Ochre, perhaps.

    It does read as dated (pub closes 3pm, Tv programmes show only once so parental denial causes real stress, a car accident requires finding a phone as this is pre-mobile) and as a parent it felt convenient that whenever the children Bobby and Dora needed alternative care there was always a neighbour to help.

    My Best Read of the Year.
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  • Dee
    4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful writing
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 17, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This was not my usual kind of book, I read fantasy fiction more often than not. I was drawn to it by the title and whilst slightly disappointed when I started reading it, the writing was so good that I was captured. The story is really quite commonplace, I guess, one of passion on the one hand, contrasted with the pain of a marriage gone wrong. The characters are believable too and the emotions portrayed throughout the book are palpable because of the skill of the author.
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  • Katie flynn
    5.0 out of 5 stars Edge of Arcadia
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 6, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I was a student at Darlington College of Education from 1969 until 1972 . I studied art there. Mr Reah was a lecturer and mainly taught the students who wanted to concentrate on painting. As I wanted to concentrate on textiles I didnt really have much to do with Mr Reah, except for the odd conversation with him. He struck me as quite surly and very sarcastic, I dont think he was overly impressed with my attempts at painting. Obviously I did see him around college , but didnt know much of his personal life, except that he was often in the company of a petit dark haired girl. I didnt know much about her either think she might have been a mature student.
    I bought the book as I wanted to see if I could recognise any of the things that happened within my time there.
    I so enjoyed the references to parts of the college and life as it was in the art department. I pictured my 18 year old self in the studio and at the college bar. And of course in the Green Dragon.
    The book took me back in time to the atmosphere of the college life as it was. I was very impressed with the way he evoked this. I also thought that his description of the feelings of the main character towards his lover must have come from memories!!
    I loved their trip to Holy island as this is a place I love, his descriptions transported me back there.
    I couldnt put the book down . It was very absorbing .
    The main character was very selfish and self absorbed his poor family felt for them.His wife obviously had a personality disorder and definitely needed help.
    After reading the book, makes you think, wonder how much of this is Mr Reah.
    Have told other students of the college to read the book as wanted to discuss their memories of those college years.
    I am impressed that an 80 year old man has such memories of what it is like to be obsessively in lust. Well done him .
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