The Fountain Overflows by Rebecca West

Rebecca West’s novel, The Fountain Overflows, is a delightful blend of narrative artistry, morality, and bittersweet melancholy. Partly autobiographical, this classic novel traces the life of the Aubrey family matriarch, Mary, and her four children, Cordelia, Richard Quin, Rose and Mary's stepson, Owen.

The novel is set in Edwardian London, a setting that West captures with detail, atmosphere and beauty. Through Mary's highly vivid memories of childhood, we see a dreamy, golden-tinged world of affluence and good manners, where the fountains of Mary's imagination overflow with stories, music and drama. But this idyllic world is viewed through the perspective of time, creating a timeless quality in which past and present are inextricably bound together.

Mary, a retired music-hall singer, sacrifices her own desires to maintain a high social position in Edwardian society, yet the wisdom of her actions is often balanced with the sad insight of a mother who has lost her chance for love and happiness. She manipulates her way of life in order to maintain her place in society and to also protect her children from the difficulties of family life.

Her children are presented with unforgettable characters who observe and struggle with questions of identity, fulfillment and morality. Rose is the rebel, determined to break free from the constrictions of society, Cordelia is the obedient daughter determined to follow in her mother's footsteps, while Richard Quin is a dreamer and musician, hungry for the joys that life can offer. Finally, there is Owen, the stepson, a man draped in secrets, longing for a place of refuge and peace.

By using a diction that is poetic yet natural, West is capable of creating an atmosphere of gentle charm as well as tragic loss. Through expertly drawn descriptions, every moment of the Aubrey family's journey through joy and sorrow is given thoughtful relevance. West can evoke the perils of being tied to a dysfunctional family, yet bring us to the conclusion that in the end, these experiences have both enriched and developed the Aubrey children.

The Fountain Overflows is a novel of great value, ultimately reminding its readers how important it is to accept the multiplicative aspects of life: the laughter, the love, and equally the sorrow and pain. West showcases the lives of her characters in such vivid detail that allows us to understand that feelings, relationships and situations are never quite as straight forward as they first appear.

In The Fountain Overflows, West has composed a timeless and memorable novel, packed with themes and characters of suggestion, as well as a wealth of ideas to explore. Above all, it is a work of beautiful poignancy, one which will linger in the heart and mind of any who read it.