The Bottomless Well . . . terrific story marred by anti-semitism at end. British occupied Arab land. Legend of Aladdin (different one) building into the heavens. God, angry, throws him into well as deep as the building was to be high. Brits have golf course, clubhouse, etc., near the well. And then--murder. Famous general (Hastings) killed, apparently by his wife's lover. Enter Fisher: He figures out that a revolving bookcase holds the secret as to how the death occurred. Also the (lack of) use of the bottomless well as a place to throw the body plays into the solution. Very clever, and then, some nasty anti-semitism which blames Jews for involving England in places they shouldn't be, all for money. G.K.--I didn't know!
"To all humankind, Tess was only a passing thought. Even to friends, she was only a frequently passing thought." Angel Clare is a good character. He's "enlightened," in so many ways, but when Tess's confesses her "crime," he reverts to ancestral form . . . Tess's "confession" comes earlier than I expected, right after Angel reveals that he has had a bad moment with a woman. Tess points out the similarity in their transgressions, though his is the only true transgression, expecting forgiveness. She doesn't get it. She returns to her mother . . . realizes she can't stay with her. Thoughts to suicide. Unhappiness that divorce is not possible. Departs. Tragic in that the two, if Angel could just see clearly, would indeed be a great couple, each adding to the other. Nature as a definite force involved in the tragedy. It's not neutral--when things go bad, the very skies mock Tess. Tess as unaware of the power of her bea...
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