The recently released biography “Anita Brookner: Art and Life” by Hermione Lee provides an intimate look at the life of the British novelist, who passed away in 2016. Through personal anecdotes and reflections, Lee paints a portrait of Brookner that aligns with her famously reserved demeanor.
Hermione Lee recounts her own brief encounter with Brookner at a gathering in London, noting the novelist’s discomfort in social settings. Despite initially engaging in conversation, Brookner quickly withdrew from the gathering, reinforcing the impression of her as someone who preferred solitude to the demands of social interaction.
Throughout the biography, which spans approximately 500 pages, Brookner’s distinct lifestyle emerges. Lee highlights Brookner’s meticulous routines, detailing her frugal habits such as waking up at 5 a.m. to listen to the BBC World Service and purchasing biscuits only when they were on sale. Her home, described as sparsely furnished, featured a minimalistic aesthetic punctuated by a few meticulously arranged houseplants, reflecting her personality and lifestyle choices.
In her will, Brookner left a majority of her estate to a medical charity, after making smaller bequests to friends and institutions with which she had connections. This decision illustrates not only her practical nature but also her personal values. Lee’s biography sheds light on how Brookner lived by her own principles, often at the expense of societal expectations and norms.
As readers delve into Lee’s biography, they will encounter not just a reflection on Brookner’s literary contributions but a nuanced understanding of the woman behind the words, characterized by her independence and singular approach to life.
