The Transit of Venus

Book • 1981
The Transit of Venus follows the lives of Caroline and Grace Bell, two orphaned Australian sisters who move to post-war England.

The novel spans thirty years, from the 1950s to the 1980s, and explores themes of love, morality, and personal integrity.

Caroline is pursued by a young astronomer, Ted Tice, while she prefers the unscrupulous playwright Paul Ivory.

Meanwhile, Grace settles into a conventional marriage with Christian Thrale.

The novel is praised for its exquisite prose and its intricate plotting, which combines elements of Greek tragedy, family saga, and desperate love story.

It is considered one of the great English-language novels of the twentieth century.

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Susan Wyndham
in the context of discussing Shirley Hazzard's literary career.
Susan Wyndham & Brigitta Olubas – Shirley Hazzard and Elizabeth Harrower: The Letters
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Brigitta Olubas
when discussing Shirley Hazzard's writing process.
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