Book Review: The Phoenix

"The Phoenix" was written by Sylvia Townsend Warner in 1940. She was a poet and a novelist.

The story shows the commercial interests, were everything goes around money. It can be read as an allegory on the conflict between man and nature.

The main part of the book is set in England, after a world war; particularly at "Poldero's Wizard Wonderworld". 

The Phoenix is the central character of the story; it's a bird that has unusual powers. In general it plays a passive role until the end of the story. 

Throughout the story, the Phoenix suffers a lot. First, it is taken away from Arabia (his habitat). 

Fortunately, it is caught by a nobleman that collected birds: Lord Strawberry. This nobleman had the finest aviary in Europe, so the Phoenix was threatened well. 

But then, after Strawberry's death, the Phoenix ends up at Poldero's Wizard Wonderworld, where it was tortured by the owner, just for his ambition and satisfaction. 

To sum up, this book moves you all the time to keep on reading. I totally recommend it for those who like fantasy, supernatural, immortality and revenge. The main themes are: nature versus human race, greed and the sensational and the grotesque. All common aspects in life.