Buy new:
$15.39
RRP: $19.99

Recommended Retail Price (RRP)

The RRP displayed is the recommended retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier or seller. Amazon will display an RRP if the product was purchased on Amazon.com.au or offered to Australian consumers at or above the RRP in a recent period.
Save: $4.60 (23%)
In stock
$$15.39 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$15.39
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Delivery cost, delivery date and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon AU
Ships from
Amazon AU
Sold by
Amazon AU
Sold by
Amazon AU
Returns
Eligible for change of mind returns within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for change of mind returns within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition within 30 days of receipt for change of mind. If this item is damaged or defective, you may be entitled to a remedy after 30 days. Visit Returning Faulty Items for more information.
Read our returns policies
Returns
Eligible for change of mind returns within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition within 30 days of receipt for change of mind. If this item is damaged or defective, you may be entitled to a remedy after 30 days. Visit Returning Faulty Items for more information.
Read our returns policies
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
New (9) from
$15.39  FREE Delivery on first order.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer—no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera, scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

A. S. Byatt
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Possession: A Romance Paperback – 1 May 2009

by A S Byatt (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars 1,601
Edition: 1st
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$15.39","priceAmount":15.39,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"15","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"39","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"cQeKhyI9xxArKl18lHX2LwtggdTpmk490tfzOKg75K7xLjvkUIC3DeI9bIqGrNicLHjz9%2FULTdtYtiM0x5Png6%2FXK%2BbRmLV%2BcuMmbWso133Kb72cTCJMPlpCLA28q9UaegPfiwZk9ou%2BvuyeSUWozDPyVZ%2FovQcu","locale":"en-AU","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Winner of the Booker Prize

The perfect gift for Valentine's Day

Possession is an exhilarating novel of wit and romance, at once a literary detective novel and a triumphant love story. It is the tale of a pair of young scholars investigating the lives of two Victorian poets. Following a trail of letters, journals and poems they uncover a web of passion, deceit and tragedy, and their quest becomes a battle against time.
Previous page
  1. ISBN-10
    0099503921
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0099503927
  3. Edition
    1st
  4. Publisher
    VINTAGE ARROW - MASS MARKET
  5. Publication date
    1 May 2009
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    12.9 x 3.7 x 19.8 cm
  8. Print length
    624 pages
  9. See all details
Next page

Frequently bought together

Possession: A Romance
$15.39
In stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon AU.
+
The Djinn In The Nightingale's Eye: Five Fairy Stories
$20.10
Only 4 left in stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon AU.
+
The Children's Book
$27.99
Only 1 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon AU.
Total Price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Some of these items dispatch sooner than the others.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

From the brand

From the Publisher

test

Product description

Review

A triumphant success on every level ― Cosmopolitan

Teeming with more ideas than a year's worth of ordinary novels ― Spectator

This is a novel for every taste: a heartbreaking Victorian love story, a take-no-prisoners comedy of contemporary academic life, and an unputdownable supernatural mystery. You turn the last page feeling stunned and elated, happy to have had the chance to read it ― Washington Post

Possession is eloquent about the intense pleasures of reading. And, with sumptuous artistry, it provides a feast of them ― Sunday Times

Our best novelist ― Evening Standard

Book Description

Winner of the Booker Prize

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ VINTAGE ARROW - MASS MARKET; 1st edition (1 May 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 624 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0099503921
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0099503927
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 12.9 x 3.7 x 19.8 cm
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 1,601

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
A. S. Byatt

A. S. Byatt

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs, and more

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
1,601 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Top reviews from Australia

lynette
5.0 out of 5 stars Difficult to hold the book open
Reviewed in Australia on 28 August 2019
Verified Purchase
I struggled until I downloaded the audio on this book then I could not put it down. So beautifully read and the poetry was superb. I am so glad I read it, if I had the time I would surly reread it. The plot kept me intrigued until the very end.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Chris L-D
3.0 out of 5 stars Romance can be a hard grind.
Reviewed in Australia on 25 March 2016
Verified Purchase
One other person has written a review and she has just about summmed up what I think, with one exception. While brilliantly written and conceived, I was bored witless by it. But that's just me. At halfway mark I can't see myself finishing it, and believe me I really am putting in an effort.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
E. A. Solinas
5.0 out of 5 stars Possessed by love
Reviewed in Australia on 12 January 2015
"Possession" is far above and beyond the kind of books usually labelled "romance" -- most of those are just sleazy fantasy fodder.

Instead, A.S. Byatt's magnum opus is a tantalizing ode to both art and romantic love, without being too obvious about either one -- it's lushly written, with exquisite characters, great poetry and interweavings of legend and myth. In fact, it's almost the opposite of typical romance, almost chastely erotic, mysterious and dripping over with what simmers under Victorian repression.

A young scholar, Roland, stumbles accidently on an old letter from acclaimed poet Randolph Ash. He soon has reason to believe that the letter was to Christabel La Monte, a lesser-known "fairy" poet -- except Ash was happily married, and La Monte was single all her life. Roland and the chilly fellow scholar Maud investigate caches of hidden letters, poems, and diaries by the lovers, wife, friends and relatives.

In the past, the cordial letters of Christabel and Randolph blossomed into love and passion. They vanished for a short, blissful time together. But what happened to Christabel and Randolph's love, and why did Christabel leave England, while her lesbian companion Blanche committed suicide? And how do these events somehow involve Roland and Maude's own growing attachment?

They say the pen is mightier than the sword, and in "Possession" it's a valuable historical tool. When words are hidden or read, it can change perceptions, attitudes and even lives. Byatt's own words are wonderfully lush, dreamy and vivid -- given the rather formal language and writing, it almost seems like a nineteenth-century novel, as if Byatt got so swept up in the characters that she started writing like them.

In fact, Byatt has an excellent eye for the language of the era, crafting letters, poetry and fiction that have a very authentic feel. Byatt even manages to change style for different people's writing (Christabel's poetry was a bit reminiscent of Emily Dickenson's). The only problem is when the book veers into long tangents; Byatt seems to get a little off-track at times. But most of the time, the richness of Breton legend adds depth and mystery to an already beautiful novel. The sunken city of Is, the legend of Melusina, and many others are here.

Byatt gives us an amazing look at the ill-fated lovers, Christabel and Randolph; you can feel their passion and love. They aren't just attracted to each other, but drawn together in the mind and spirit. The supporting characters, such as the artist Blanche and devoted, wistful Ellen Ash, are equally well-drawn; you can't dislike any of them. Roland and Maud seem a little anemic by comparison, but they are still compelling characters, caught up in a love affair from over a hundred years ago.

"Possession" is the kind of genuine, heartwrenching romance that you don't see much of -- meetings of minds, genuine passion and love. It's a beautiful thing, and something to be deeply treasured.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Northwest Sailor
5.0 out of 5 stars An absolutely mesmerizing book.
Reviewed in the United States on 2 January 2024
Verified Purchase
An absolutely mesmerizing book. A remarkable feat of storytelling through prose and poetry that compares with nothing I have ever read before. Byatt's facility with the English language, combined with her broad, classical knowledge, make this a read for those who want to savor every sentence and poem. Amazing that an author can be so accomplished in such a broad spectrum of creative writing.
5 people found this helpful
 Report
Angela Christine Brandt
5.0 out of 5 stars Quick shipping Great service
Reviewed in Canada on 1 June 2022
Verified Purchase
I don’t read romances but a friend who also does not read them highly recommended this book for content, style, sheer enjoyment.
One person found this helpful
 Report
Woobie
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully Written Book!
Reviewed in the Netherlands on 25 March 2024
Verified Purchase
"Possession" by B.S. Ayatt is a compelling journey through the intricacies of love, mystery, and the pursuit of knowledge. Set against the backdrop of both contemporary and Victorian England, the novel masterfully intertwines the lives of two modern-day scholars with the Victorian poets they study. Through a series of discovered letters, journal entries, and poems, the characters uncover a deeply hidden connection between the past and present, challenging their perceptions of identity, passion, and the nature of possession—both physical and emotional. Ayatt's narrative is rich with poetic language and vivid imagery, making it accessible yet profound, appealing to readers who appreciate the beauty of a well-crafted story that bridges time and emotions. The novel's exploration of the human heart and the complexities of relationships, coupled with its intellectual pursuits, makes "Possession" a mesmerizing read that captivates and enlightens.
Customer image
Woobie
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully Written Book!
Reviewed in the Netherlands on 25 March 2024
"Possession" by B.S. Ayatt is a compelling journey through the intricacies of love, mystery, and the pursuit of knowledge. Set against the backdrop of both contemporary and Victorian England, the novel masterfully intertwines the lives of two modern-day scholars with the Victorian poets they study. Through a series of discovered letters, journal entries, and poems, the characters uncover a deeply hidden connection between the past and present, challenging their perceptions of identity, passion, and the nature of possession—both physical and emotional. Ayatt's narrative is rich with poetic language and vivid imagery, making it accessible yet profound, appealing to readers who appreciate the beauty of a well-crafted story that bridges time and emotions. The novel's exploration of the human heart and the complexities of relationships, coupled with its intellectual pursuits, makes "Possession" a mesmerizing read that captivates and enlightens.
Images in this review
Customer image
Customer image
Report
Susie Gilchrist from London
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a brilliant book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 February 2024
Verified Purchase
I used this for reading - surprise!! It’s a book! This was my second time of reading Possession since it first won the Booker Prize. Still love it and discovered even more depth.
Report
Arup sarkar
5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent
Reviewed in India on 3 February 2024
Verified Purchase
Seller is excellent... The book is same too. Thanks intertrade india
Report