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Staying On Audiobook
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(3.01) - 1,224 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
In this sequel to The Raj Quartet, Colonel Tusker and Lucy Smalley stay on in the hills of Pankot after Indian independence deprives them of their colonial status. Finally fed up with accommodating her husband, Lucy claims a degree of independence herself. Eloquent and hilarious, she and Tusker act out class tensions among the British of the Raj and give voice to the loneliness, rage, and stubborn affection in their marriage. Staying On won the Booker Prize and was made into a motion picture starring Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson in 1979.
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"I found the four books of the Raj Quartet uneven, to say the least. For me, they followed the inverse rule of the Star Trek movies - the odd-numbered volumes were brilliant, but the even-numbered ones were slow and ponderous. The final book, volume 4, was particularly a drag, and I ended the series with a heavy feeling of disappointment. Thus, what a delight to find this engaging and humane coda to the series. Taking place 25 years after the end of the Raj, Scott wisely focuses on a just a few characters over a short period of time. We meet the Smalleys, who "stayed on" after the British departed, and their landlords, the Bhoolaboys. Scott tells the same, slight story from a variety of points of view, and his approach to his characters is warm, touching, and humane. The portrait that emerges of the Smalleys' marriage - two people who have been married for 40 years but scarcely know each other - is haunting, wise, and ultimately true."
— Mike (5 out of 5 stars)
Awards
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Winner of the 1977 Man Booker Prize
Staying On Listener Reviews
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" A follow up book to the Raj books and if you read the 4 Raj books you will like to read this. "
— N., 2/18/2014 -
" Just wasn't interested in the story I'm afraid. I couldn't see the funny side and it just stank of the 1970s, we are rulers of the world mentality - so gave up! "
— Selene, 2/16/2014 -
" This was really quite good. There are long monologues in the dialogue, which are a little unrealistic, but the story moves in and out of the lives of all the characters in a really skillful, natural way. It is very entertaining. You won't regret picking it up - I avoided it for a long time because the back cover made it look like a sad story, but it isn't at all. "
— Hanaan, 2/12/2014 -
" I can't believe this book won the Booker. "
— Jessie, 2/12/2014 -
" To settle the confusion that seems to beset some other reviewers: There are four books in Scott's Raj Quartet. This is the coda, if you see what I mean. Number five. A slimmer volume, but so very touching. An excellent film adaptation was made, starring Trevor Howard and Celia Johnson (in a way reprising their classic Brief Encounter). It really doesn't matter in which order you do it...read or watch first...but do try and get both. "
— Neil, 2/7/2014 -
" really enjoyed it but left me hanging. by the author of the raj quartet. "
— Heather, 1/30/2014 -
" Good but not as great as the Raj Quartet "
— Noreen, 1/19/2014 -
" Quiet, sad contemplation of growing old and attempting to embrace the contingency of existence. Low-aiming comic tone played like poor Vonnegut. "
— Mike, 1/11/2014 -
" Interesting, but nowhere near as captivating as the Raj Trilogy. The characters are pretty pathetic. But really, that's his point, describing post-colonial India. "
— Alesa, 1/7/2014 -
" Well written and covers interesting ground but just failed to grip ann in the end became a little boring "
— James, 1/1/2014 -
" Loved the insight of the characters. "
— cristina, 12/29/2013 -
" Just wasn't interested in the story I'm afraid. I couldn't see the funny side and it just stank of the 1970s, we are rulers of the world mentality - so gave up! "
— Selene, 12/25/2013 -
" Interesting, but nowhere near as captivating as the Raj Trilogy. The characters are pretty pathetic. But really, that's his point, describing post-colonial India. "
— Alesa, 12/12/2013 -
" Quiet, sad contemplation of growing old and attempting to embrace the contingency of existence. Low-aiming comic tone played like poor Vonnegut. "
— Mike, 12/4/2013 -
" Well written and covers interesting ground but just failed to grip ann in the end became a little boring "
— James, 11/28/2013 -
" This book, even with its comic elements, was sad and tender and moving. It described the "end of an era" which was also the aging and ending of a marriage and a life. Although it was much different from The Raj Quartet I believe he said more in less pages about relationships and love in this book. "
— Anne, 11/25/2013 -
" I can't believe this book won the Booker. "
— Jessie, 11/17/2013 -
" A wonderful little off-center coda to the Raj Quartet. Takes up the lives of a minor couple, the Smalleys, who stayed on after independence. Brings in the other stories obliquely through correspondence with Sarah. Am still very much a fan of Scott. These are books I definitely recommend. "
— Susan, 11/5/2013 -
" The best thing was to learn at least a bit more about Sarah and Guy! "
— Ulla, 8/19/2013 -
" Read all four of this quartet in the late 70's. My first introduction to the Booker Prize. "
— Noreen, 6/27/2013 -
" One of the Booker's that I have missed, well written, wonderfully three dimensional characters "
— Karl, 2/2/2013 -
" This was published about the time that Paul Scott died. I had to read it! "
— Name, 1/4/2013 -
" At the same time mysoginist and emmasculating. But an interesting read! "
— Glorious.Clio, 7/4/2012 -
" Re-read again last year and was a bit disappointed. "
— Susan, 5/15/2012 -
" The best thing was to learn at least a bit more about Sarah and Guy! "
— Ulla, 1/15/2012 -
" Loved this book...just got an Indian brother in law and it was great to have a description of the old post war deference. Characters were great. "
— Jem, 8/20/2011 -
" Good but not as great as the Raj Quartet "
— Noreen, 6/9/2011 -
" Loved this book...just got an Indian brother in law and it was great to have a description of the old post war deference. Characters were great. "
— Jem, 12/18/2010 -
" This was published about the time that Paul Scott died. I had to read it! "
— Name, 12/10/2010 -
" A follow up book to the Raj books and if you read the 4 Raj books you will like to read this. "
— N., 11/22/2010 -
" This book, even with its comic elements, was sad and tender and moving. It described the "end of an era" which was also the aging and ending of a marriage and a life. Although it was much different from The Raj Quartet I believe he said more in less pages about relationships and love in this book. "
— Anne, 6/19/2010 -
" At the same time mysoginist and emmasculating. But an interesting read! "
— Glorious.Clio, 12/13/2009 -
" At the same time mysoginist and emmasculating. But an interesting read! "
— Glorious.Clio, 12/13/2009 -
" Good but not as great as the Raj Quartet "
— Noreen, 3/22/2009 -
" Good but not as great as the Raj Quartet "
— Noreen, 3/22/2009 -
" <em>1977 Booker</em> <br/> <br/>A lovely tale about a couple, Colonel and Mrs Smalley, who "stay on" in India after the British handover. "
— Duckie, 2/29/2008 -
" <em>1977 Booker</em> <br/> <br/>A lovely tale about a couple, Colonel and Mrs Smalley, who "stay on" in India after the British handover. "
— Duckie, 2/29/2008 -
" really enjoyed it but left me hanging. by the author of the raj quartet. "
— Heather, 12/23/2007 -
" really enjoyed it but left me hanging. by the author of the raj quartet. "
— Heather, 12/23/2007
About Richard Brown
Richard Brown (1937–2005) (a.k.a. Joseph Porter), was a former ballet dancer, actor, and popular audiobook narrator. Born in England, Richard came to the United States early in his career and performed with numerous regional ballet companies. After retiring from the ballet, he pursued a career in acting and recorded dozens of audiobooks for numerous publishers.