The Transit of Venus

Shirley Hazzard
47 pages1-hour read
Fiction
Novel
Adult
Published in 1980

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Book Brief

Shirley Hazzard

The Transit of Venus

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1980
Book Details
Pages

352

Format

Novel • Fiction

Genre
Historical Fiction

•

Classic Fiction
Period
Post-War Era
Setting

Sydney, Australia • 1950s

Theme
Colonialism

•

Masculinity

•

Love
Topic
Gender & Feminism

•

European History

•

Immigration & Refugeeism
First Publication Year

1980

Publisher

Virago

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

The Transit of Venus focuses on sisters Caro and Grace Bell who move from postwar Australia to England. Caro embarks on complex relationships, working a government job, and translates Latin American poems while Grace marries Christian Thrale and settles into domestic life. The novel juxtaposes their intimate experiences with broader themes of identity, love, and societal roles in the post-WWII Western world. It includes depictions of mental health challenges and miscarriage.

Melancholic

Contemplative

Romantic

Bittersweet

Mysterious

Reviews & Readership

4.0

6,184 ratings

73%

Loved it

18%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Shirley Hazzard's The Transit of Venus garners acclaim for its eloquent prose and complex characters. Critics praise its intricate narrative and emotional depth, although some find its structure challenging. Overall, readers appreciate the rich, evocative writing despite occasional difficulty in following its elaborate plot.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Transit of Venus?

Fans of intricate narratives and emotional depth akin to Jane Austen and Virginia Woolf will cherish Shirley Hazzard's The Transit of Venus. Its rich character development and exploration of love, loss, and destiny resonate with readers who appreciate literary fiction with a contemplative edge.

4.0

6,184 ratings

73%

Loved it

18%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Character List

An Australian woman raised by her half-sister, Dora, after her parents' deaths, Caro is known for her striking appearance and independence. Throughout the story, she grapples with personal freedom, intimacy, and professional challenges in a London setting.

Caro's younger sister, Grace, is noted for her beauty and self-assurance. She initially lives a conventional domestic life with her husband, Christian, but later seeks to connect with her roots and rediscover her passions.

The half-sister who raises Caro and Grace after their parents' death, Dora is characterized by her resentment and dependency. Her complex relationship with Caro adds a layer of familial tension to the narrative.

An English astronomer of working-class origins, Ted becomes entwined with the Bell sisters' lives. His character is marked by intelligence, complexity, and steadfast devotion.

A charming and artistic Englishman, Paul engages in a secretive and complex personal life. His relationships often blur the lines between genuine connection and calculated pursuit.

Grace's husband and a British government official, Christian's background is rooted in social status and tradition. His interest in the Bell sisters is both an attraction and a threat to his ordered life.

Christian's mother, who adheres to Victorian customs, is a sharp observer of those around her. Her story reflects themes of transition and loss of status.

A professor nearing the end of his career, Sefton is portrayed as nostalgic for a bygone era. He struggles with feelings of irrelevance in a changing social landscape.

An American businessman and Caro's husband, Adam is involved in human rights efforts. While confident and direct, he occasionally struggles to understand Caro's romantic nature.

Paul's aristocratic wife, Tertia exemplifies British nobility's characteristics. Her outward appearance masks a deeper awareness of her husband's personal complexities.

Ted's wife and a mother with keen intelligence and sensitivity, Margaret embodies beauty and grace but faces personal heartache within her marriage. Her situation hints at themes of love and independence.

Book Details
Pages

352

Format

Novel • Fiction

Genre
Historical Fiction

•

Classic Fiction
Period
Post-War Era
Setting

Sydney, Australia • 1950s

Theme
Colonialism

•

Masculinity

•

Love
Topic
Gender & Feminism

•

European History

•

Immigration & Refugeeism
First Publication Year

1980

Publisher

Virago

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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