A surprising and wonderful novel.  The narrator, Ebenezer Le Page, tells the story of his life and of the passing of a way of life in the Channel Islands of Great Britain.  He speaks in a unique tongue, a sort of French/English patois, that sounds unlike anything you've ever heard.

As his story & his life come to a close, he finds a transcendent happiness that will warm the cockles of the coldest heart.

(Reviewed:)

Grade: (A+) Orrin C. Judd

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Book-related and General Links:
    -REVIEW: Geoffrey Grigson: In the Crab Pots (NY Review of Books)

If you liked The Book of Ebenezer Le Page, try:

Llewellyn, Richard
    -How Green Was My Valley

Having known Guernsey for nearly 50 years and having read Ebenezer at least six times I was surprised on a visit last week that the book was not on the island's bookshelves. Not only is it a wonderful story but the character of the island and its people has been perfectly captured. The change on Guernsey continues and though Ebenezer would recognize much and the old family names live on he would be horrified at some of the new buildings and mourn the loss of the old markets. If you get the chance go to Guernsey - it is as compulsive as the book.

- Les Smith

- Jul-11-2005, 04:28

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One of the finest books I have ever read. It transports you to another place and time. As if you are sitting next to a a remarkable old character and hearing his tale in a language long forgotten.

- Joy Handler

- Jan-15-2005, 22:37

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I entirely agree and tis a scandal that Penguin have let it go out of print but then I may be biased being the one to whom Gerald Edwards entrusted his typescript and who got it published (after many rejections).

- Edward Chaney

- Oct-30-2003, 12:46

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- Oct-30-2003, 12:44

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I just did a Google search to find out if Le Page was spelled as one word or two, which is something I'd forgotten. I then clicked the first search result that came up and saw a reader's review which mentioned having read the book five times. I'll be beginning my fifth reading probably next month. It's at the top of my list of books to read over and over again along with Mary Renault's ~The Last of the Wine~.

- Enzo Piccone

- Sep-24-2003, 15:40

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The Book of Ebenezer LePage is the finest book I have ever had the pleasure of reading (6 times at present count)

I am thrilled to see it on someone's list of must-read books.

- Chris Teague

- May-22-2003, 17:22

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