One of Mary Renault's less known contemporary novels (though this was set in the 1930s and written in 1948, so there is a subtle retrospection and of course the shadow of war lightly draped over the narrative). The book is intense, detailed, claustrophobic - an unusual and psychological romance between an older 'liberated' woman and a younger imprisoned man. There are references to the archetypes of the Golden Bough and to Freud, but mostly vivid depictions of an environment and of the growth of love. I particularly relished the conversations between the lovers in all their awkwardness, miscommunication and groping towards union. Strongly recommended

I remember getting bogged down in detail somewhere along the way last time I read Return to Night but that didn't happen this time. I really enjoy the depiction of Hilary's professional life, and I think I'd like more of her friendship with Lisa Clare. I find the antagonism between Hilary and Mrs Fleming, but Mrs Fleming's relationship with her son is pretty frustrating to read, and Julian's aimlessness gets tedious fast. And I feel Hilary's relationship with Julian is overdramatic, but on the other hand that it might be interesting to see it beyond the book (not just the coming together but trying to make a go of it out in the open). ( )

Mary Renault can write like nobody's business. ( )

Return to Night is one of Mary Renault's contemporary novels. Its protagonist is Hilary Mansell, a promising surgeon turned country general practitioner after a male colleague, her lover, got the job she had applied for and had been relatively certain she would get.

One day Hilary sees a young man riding, then some time later the same conspicuously handsome young man is carried to the local hospital. He has fallen off his horse and Hilary suspects he has a serious head injury. His mother, Mrs Fleming, does not take kindly to a female doctor and is offended when Hilary tells her she cannot sit with him. Hilary's actions make sure the young man, Julian, is operated on in time and will make a full recovery. Then they meet again and eventually become lovers. Julian is a budding actor and theatre producer but his mother's attitude makes it very hard for him to make his dreams come true and he is reduced to what Hilary during an argument calls his "lap dog life" with his mother. We find out the reason for Mrs Fleming's attitude in the end.

A well-written novel with interesting somewhat transgressive characters. I like Hilary who's strong and independent professional woman which in the late 1930s where the novel is set would not have been that usual. ( )

Read 2015. ( )