Stefan Zweig and his Maries

Historical novel is a sly path for any writer: how to make up true story if the only source of information about the heroes is historical evidence, which is arid and adjusted to social demands? This problem doesn't stand so sharply for the master of psychological portrait- Stefan Zweig. His biographies "Marie Antoinette: The Portrait of an Average Woman" and "Mary, Queen of Scotland and the Isles" tell us about historical events, royal intrigues and what is mostly important- these two women, who were quite ordinary in love expectations and unique in their destiny.

E.M.Remarque, "Shadows in Paradise"

Every human, probably, has something in the past, which they're trying to forget. But how can we erase the history, though unpleasant one, if it is part of our life? 

The heroes in Remarque's novel are chased by the ghosts of their past. The shadows of ugly and horrific events of the second World War are not the stalkers you can easily get rid of, even if you ran away from them to the paradise, which the USA were for poor victims of cruel ideology. 

The novel tells us how a purpose of life changes for a person depending on the environment, how to LIVE AFTER you were lucky enough to survive, how to live peaceful life and reorientate your goals when the memories are so strong. Many people can't live normal life after significant stressful events: happiness is transient, while fear can stay with you forever. Remarque shows that sometimes the most severe battles are held inside our mind. To live, not exist, man must conquer not only the external conditions, but the forces within himself, forces that pull him down in the past

Guy de Maupassant

Even if you're not fond of French classic literature, there's a high possibility you know the name of Guy de Maupassant. The famous anecdote about the Eiffel tower tells exactly about this monsieur, who used to lunch at the tower's base just because it was the only place in Paris without view on it. He must have been a curious gentleman. At least his novels are: "Une vie", "Bel-Ami", short stories preferably about Franco-Prussian War, and many other writings I'm not, unfortunately, acquainted with. Yet.

Despite two centuries dividing us from Maupassant's time and events that inspired him for writing, the stories are still actual, characters still exist, scenarios are the same. While reading "Bel-Ami", many faces of our coevals may be spinning in your mind, which proves, people are almost the same either in the time of equestrian teams, or hybrid supercars. The same works with "Une Vie". However, the latter novel is way more straight in terms of sober reality. When you deal with Maupassant, prepare yourself to see the truth, which mostly shows ugly face of our life. If some authors show you the play, and you enjoy watching the book theatre, Guy de Maupassant does not create any pink decorations for you, dear reader, he just shows you everything as it is. You demanded truth? Here it is. But...can you handle it?

E.M. Remarque, "Heaven Has No Favourites/Borrowed life"

They say, live your life like it's your last day on the Earth. Does anyone who is pretty sure they will be alive tomorrow, next month, next year is able to take this wish seriously? Usually we think of death as something inevitable and far... People perceive death as reality only when it comes close to them, either sidewards, or in direct way. Then we forget about it until the next convergence.
 
What is life when death is not an abstraction, but a continuous, albeit unseen companion? It's quite symvolic that Remarque has chosen a young beautiful lady as the death's keeper. Ultimately, death and beauty are correlated: someone thinks death is beutiful, others that beauty has a short life.

Though Death along with Life is the main heroine in the novel, the story doesn't leave a tragic trail after reading. Probably, because the end was already clear from the outset.

The Great Gatsby

Have you heard of the term "American dream"? I believe, you have. Tinsel. Vanity. Richness. Kitsch. Illusion. This description doesn't sound complimentary, does it? But, is there a place for love? Or is love too old-fashioned for this glamorous life, where only diamonds are real?
Francis Scott Fitzgerald knew what he was writing about. He lived lives of his characters. Or, better say, his characters lived his life? Talented writer with a beautiful wife,"golden girl" of the local society,"jazz age", America. You can consider such life perfect, if you don't know, that Fitzgerald had problems with alcohol and his adorable wife turned out to be schizophrenic. Sometimes glossy cover is just a front side of deeper world where loneliness and emotional poverty rule.

You might wonder, what makes Jay Gatsby great? It is love. While reading, you may be captured by the gripping plot, or facsinated how little people have changed, though a century has passed. Still, the author plays with us- he left the culmination, the zest of novel for the end. And its flavour is both bitter and sweet: a poignant aftertaste accompanied by the odd feeling of pride and respect for the hero would remain in your heart after reading, for sure. Jay Gatsby is great because he obtained to remain Jay Hatwell in his heart. He hasn't allowed sparking but a false world to take his soul for the wealth, in return he gave his name only- from Hatwell to Gatsby.
["The Great Gatsby" is on the 43rd place in top100 list of books according to BBC]
P.S. You may find interesting a view of Scott Fitzgerald's character from the eyes of Ernest Hemingway in his "A Movable Feast".

John Fowles, "Daniel Martin"

Who knew, that a person who lived most of his life away from big cities and civilization progress, could make up a novel overwhelming of drama, inner passion and love affairs; a novel which comprises synthetic Hollywood, oldschool Britain and mysterious Egypt in one place, where love and friendship live? However, Fowles proved his ability to feel sensitivity of human soul and drama of love in the "French Leutenant's Woman". Look at the author: calm old familyman with beard, who lived last 40 years of his life in Dorset, England. And now look at his made-up heroes: inner storm of doubts and emotions, insane moves and unpredictable endings. Perhaps, Mr.Fowles was a man of great fantasy and sensitivity.

Anyway, lets go back to the "Daniel Martin". During the reading you can be misled by the author's writing style. Illusion of authobiographic novel comes up to your mind all over 797 pages. This illusion is so realistic, that you believe the hero is a really existing person. Prepare yourself to see a bouquet of different characters, faces, likes and dislikes. 
I dare to say that, maybe, there's too much of everything in this book. But attentive and sensitive readers can notice and feel the main idea passing through the whole story: the battle between freedom and obligation. What is freedom? As well as truth, freedom is unique for every person. But in this case, another aspect of the Fowles' novels shows its importance: definition of pure English soul. You may not be delighted by the density of the plot, or philosophic basis, but, the key thing you will learn from Fowles is the essence of English soul and mind. The writer crystallized noble Britain and vain England between the lines. 
Open your mind, and you'll see a door to the English heart. While a key to any door is inside yours.