Best Selling Books by Louis Golding

In "The Dangerous Places," Louis Golding crafts a vivid exploration of the human condition, encapsulating the tension between civilization and the untamed wilds. Set against the backdrop of a crumbling seaside town, Golding employs a lyrical yet compelling prose style that intertwines rich descriptive imagery with philosophical reflections. The novel delves into themes of alienation, the search for identity, and the innate dangers that accompany one''s quest for meaning, situating itself firmly within the literary context of early 20th-century modernism, where the fragility of existence is continually interrogated. Louis Golding was a multifaceted author, poet, and essayist, whose experiences traveling through Europe and the Middle East significantly informed his writing. His exposure to diverse cultures and landscapes, alongside his interest in the psychological machinations of his characters, allowed Golding to adeptly weave a narrative that examines the complexities of both personal and communal peril. His nuanced understanding of humanity''s struggles stems from a deeply felt awareness of his own heritage and the tumultuous effects of World War I. "The Dangerous Places" is a profound meditation on the interplay of danger and desire, making it an essential read for those interested in psychological depth and social commentary. Golding''Äôs ability to evoke empathy through his richly drawn characters invites readers to reflect upon their own vulnerabilities. This book will resonate with anyone seeking a thought-provoking literary experience that transcends its historical context.

"One of the perennially-recurring domestic tragedies born on the disharmony between the old tradition-worshiping generation and budding youth that follows the bright rainbow of the future, between the cut-and-dried, fatalistic submission to what is established and the hankering for what is new, alive and pleasant now, is here painted. This struggle, as far as appertains to Jewish life, dates back to the days of Moses Mendelssohn and his gospel of Enlightenment, and was the cause of so many pangs and heartburns, so many domestic tragedies and communal struggles....In America and England there is the added difficulty of an adjustment to the industrial standard, the system of forced labor, as it were, exacting duties and suppression of self that is implied in it. And this is what the author of ''Forward From Babylon'' has been trying to picture for us in his book. ''Reb'' Monash and Philip, father and son, the Patriarchal, tradition-rooted, rock-ribbed father and the rebellious, idealistic and aspiring son, the one looking to the past, the other with his rapt gaze turned toward the future, unquestioned obedience and storm-tossed doubt - all this interwoven with the fabric of the industrial strife going on all about the both of them. What greater material for an epic is needed by any man?" -The Advocate, America''s Jewish Journal "A book of serious merit." -The Nation "The writing has beauty; it has at times a sonorous and stately splendor. Mr. Golding goes to work wrapped in a warm emotion. The emotion is evident in his prose, which is often deeply moving." -Literary Review "Establishes Mr. Golding as one of the significant figures among the younger English novelists." -The Freeman "Sympathetic picture of home life in an Orthodox Jewish family transplanted from Russia to the London ghetto, and a subtle portrayal of complex modern youth in rebellion against the simple, stern ideals of Judaism....One of the six entries for the French prize award for the best English novel of the past year." -Open Shelf "Reveals the author, Louis Golding, to have uncoverec a rather rich vein....There are Babylons and Babylons - Russia, the London ghetto, Phylacteries, Calf-love. Philip Massel goes from them all. ''Forward From Babylon'' is largely adventures in education, and there is nothing that can be more stimulating if the adventurer is a young, self -emancipating Jew, running from the embrace of one new mistress of life to another." -The Menorah Journal "We do not assume that this story of Philip Massel, son of a Russian Jew exiled to a smoky northern town in England, is directly autobiographical; but the element of individual experience in it is obviously very strong....Phillip Massel''s father, Red Monash, is the incarnation of Jewish tradition; a man deeply versed in Hebraic law, an orator, a teacher. His ambition is for Philip to follow in his footsteps, to be above all a good Jew; and the very passion of this ideal gives poetry to his harsh and narrow nature. But Philip is not made for these bonds, and even in early youth he revolts in spirit against the Hebrew school, in which his father gloomily presides. The struggle is a bitter one, with cruelties on both sides, and Philip wins. With a final act of revolt he leaves his father''s house forever." -The Times of London "Of all novels of youth that have come under our notice, ''Forward From Babylon'' we think, gets closest to reality. Those curious, indeterminate years between childhood and adolescence are evoked for us with a genuine subtlety." -The Athenaeum