{"product_id":"westwood","title":"Westwood","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"113\" data-end=\"706\" class=\"\"\u003eStella Gibbons’ \u003cem data-start=\"129\" data-end=\"139\"\u003eWestwood\u003c\/em\u003e is a sharply observed novel set during World War II, following Margaret Steggles, a plain and idealistic young woman who becomes entangled with the wealthy and artistic Quayne family in London. Unlike her more vivacious friend Hilda, Margaret is deeply serious, yearning for intellectual and emotional fulfillment. When she stumbles upon a lost ration book, it leads her into the orbit of the charming but self-absorbed playwright Gerald Challis and the sophisticated, privileged world of Westwood, a grand house that symbolizes the upper-class intellectual elite.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"708\" data-end=\"982\" class=\"\"\u003eAs Margaret gets drawn further into their lives, she struggles with her own feelings of inadequacy and unrequited affection. Meanwhile, the more carefree Hilda finds happiness with far less effort, highlighting the novel’s exploration of class, romance, and self-delusion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"984\" data-end=\"1231\" class=\"\"\u003eUnlike the satirical \u003cem data-start=\"1005\" data-end=\"1024\"\u003eCold Comfort Farm\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem data-start=\"1026\" data-end=\"1036\"\u003eWestwood\u003c\/em\u003e is a more subtle, bittersweet novel, offering a richly detailed portrait of wartime London, the contrast between social classes, and the struggles of an intelligent but overlooked young woman.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"1233\" data-end=\"1258\" class=\"\"\u003eWhy read this book?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul data-start=\"1259\" data-end=\"1624\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"1259\" data-end=\"1352\" class=\"\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1261\" data-end=\"1352\" class=\"\"\u003eA beautifully written, character-driven novel exploring class, love, and self-perception.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"1353\" data-end=\"1439\" class=\"\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1355\" data-end=\"1439\" class=\"\"\u003eA fascinating look at London during World War II, filled with rich period details.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"1440\" data-end=\"1520\" class=\"\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1442\" data-end=\"1520\" class=\"\"\u003eA complex, bittersweet heroine who is both frustrating and deeply relatable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-start=\"1521\" data-end=\"1624\" class=\"\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1523\" data-end=\"1624\" class=\"\"\u003eA novel that showcases Stella Gibbons' ability to blend humor, irony, and poignant social critique.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-start=\"1626\" data-end=\"1648\" class=\"\"\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1649\" data-end=\"1989\" class=\"\"\u003eStella Gibbons (1902–1989) was an English novelist, poet, and journalist best known for \u003cem data-start=\"1737\" data-end=\"1756\"\u003eCold Comfort Farm\u003c\/em\u003e (1932). While that novel remains her most famous, \u003cem data-start=\"1807\" data-end=\"1817\"\u003eWestwood\u003c\/em\u003e demonstrates her skill in writing nuanced, character-driven fiction with sharp social observation. Gibbons wrote over 20 novels, many of which deserve renewed attention.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vintage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46154220208381,"sku":"","price":1120.0,"currency_code":"NPR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0484\/4145\/8840\/files\/81HULnbnguL._SL1365.jpg?v=1743019185","url":"https:\/\/biblionepal.com\/ar\/products\/westwood","provider":"BIBLIONEPAL","version":"1.0","type":"link"}