Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont - Elizabeth Taylor

“Every day for an infant means some new little thing learned; every day for the old means some little thing lost.” (p. 184) The Claremont is a London hotel, where the elderly widow Mrs. Palfrey arrives one January. For a few luckier old people, they choose to stay at the hotel instead of a nursing home. They all expect to shuffle off their mortal coil inside its walls, as they hit an age and state of mind where stark reality replaces the optimism and feelings of immortality associated with the young. The Claremont is still a hotel which receives guests, but even though the elderly residents are in the minority, they seem to dominate the ...  Read the complete review

This is a gentle tale of growing old, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1971. It is beautifully written and is filled with interesting characters and interactions that are bound to bring a smile to your lips. THE PLOT Mrs Palfrey has been recently widowed and moves to the Claremont Hotel in London as a long-term resident. This novel tells the story of her relations with the other ageing residents, her family and a handsome young writer, Ludo, with whom she forms an attachment. THE CLAREMONT Although the hotel has normal guests, many of its customers consist of elderly people who live there until they reach a point when ...  Read the complete review