I Put a Spell on You

I Put a Spell on You is the last of John Burnside's three memoirs, an enthralling ode to love and wonder in all its forms, featuring a new introduction by Sean Hewitt.

John Burnside first heard the song 'I Put a Spell on You' and was immediately captivated. The song's enchantment and fascination soon turned to obsession, offering intrigue through its themes of love, possession, and danger.

In this exquisite and haunting book, Burnside evokes his coming of age, journeying from the industrial landscapes of Cowdenbeath and Corby to the new horizons of Cambridge. He drifts through thoughts and memories that encompass uncanny encounters with 'lost girls', digressions on voodoo, acid, and insomnia, and interactions with a diverse cast including Kafka, Narcissus, Diane Arbus, and Screamin' Jay Hawkins.

I Put a Spell on You stands as a memoir of romance—of lost love and the act of being lost, a narrative darkened by threat yet illuminated by glamour.

'A master of language' - Hilary Mantel

'Astonishing... Not just brilliant, but essential reading' - Independent

'Exact and enthralling' - Tessa Hadley