Still Life by Antoia Byatt /Ex-Lib Literary Fiction

This is a first edition/first printing hardcover copy of the novel Still Life by Antonia Byatt (A.S. Byatt). The novel is the second volume of the "Frederica Potter" tetralogy and follows the Potter siblings in 1950s England as they navigate choices between domesticity, ambition, life, and art. Hardcover, dust jacket. Ex-lib with appropriate markings- please see photos. The dust jacket is attached, remnants of glue are still visible.The edging is perfect, a gold- copper color. 

The novel is set in England during the 1950s and explores themes such as intellectual commitment, family loyalty, and the conflict between domesticity and ambition. The cover art is a detail from Vincent van Gogh's painting Vase with Oleanders (1888). The story follows the characters as they make choices between their personal dreams and responsibilities, leading to a significant, life-altering event. This is readable literary fiction, with themes of family drama,  family saga and coming-of-age.  

This intricately woven novel follows the Potter children as they navigate their lives, often in conflict with their Yorkshire background. The narrative explores the tension between intellectual pursuits and the demands of ordinary life.

In *Still Life*, Stephanie's struggle to maintain an independent intellectual life is ultimately overcome by the demands of material, small-town family life. The book is a character-driven story, exploring relationships and their enduring impact.