Shortlistedforthe1973BookerPrize,AGreenEquinoxisabeguilinglyRococo“studyoflove,consideredinturnascompanionship,sicknessandmysticdevotion...abookwhoseunusualinfatuationsarewellworthlingeringover,andpuzzlingout“(RussellDavies,TheObserver).HeroKinoullisanantiquarianbooksellerwhosesedatelifeinthepicturesqueEnglishtownofBeaudesertisturnedupsidedownbetweenthespringandautumnequinoxesofasingleyear.FirstherquietbutforbiddenliaisonwithHughShafto,thecuratorofthecountry’sfinestcollectionofRococoart,comestoanabrupthaltwhenshedevelopsanadorationforhisstraight-talking,do-goodingwifeBelle.Butthisrelationshipleadstoother,evenmoreunexpectedfeelingsforBelle’swidowedmother-in-law,themajesticKateShafto,whospendsherdaystendinghergardenandsailingherhandmadeboatsinthewatersoftheminiaturearchipelagoshe’sconstructedinadisusedgravel-pit.PublishedtwoyearsafterElizabethMavor’smostfamouswork,TheLadiesofLlangollen--abiographyoftwoeighteenth-centuryIrishgentlewomenwhoscandalizedtheirfamiliesbyelopingtoWales,wheretheylivedtogetherontheirownterms--AGreenEquinoxisitselfanintrepidexplorationofgender,femalesexuality,andpassion:romantic,carnal,andcerebral.
