The collected stories of elizabeth bowen critical essays

Failing well has long been a virtue in Britain and, to some extent, in Bowen's native Ireland, but she discarded that theme after World War II and explored society failing poorly, stumbling. Her writing became less polite, if you will.

The same year that Bowen published Encounters (1923) she married Alan Cameron, an educational administrator. Their marriage was never consummated and was described as a “sexless but contented union.” Although she was with Cameron, she had numerous relationships outside of her marriage.

Some have referred to her as the “grande dame” of the modern novel, her work characterized by a conscious, concise style. Bowen’s work reflects her great interest in “life with the lid on and what happens when the lid comes off.”

Perhaps the only exception are the stories she wrote during the war which would make a brilliant short collection. Otherwise we're treated to a lot of the social whimsy which also dominated her first couple of novels and get a glimpse of her guilty pleasures - most notably the ghost and murder story, most of which, frankly, are a bit trite.