The Position of Spoons

From the twice Booker-shortlisted author Deborah Levy, The Position of Spoons is a moving and revelatory collection that explores the muses and experiences that have profoundly shaped her life and work as a writer.

The Position of Spoons invites readers into the complex and intimate interiors of Levy's world. This collection is reflective, as she traces and measures her life through the lens of the significant literary and artistic muses that have inspired her. We journey from the influences of Marguerite Duras, Colette, and J.G. Ballard, to the profound impact of visual artists such as Lee Miller, Francesca Woodman, and Paula Rego. Here, we are offered a glimpse into the richness of their work, which, in turn, influences and enriches Levy's own.

Each page is a testament to Levy's exquisite writing, encapsulating a wonderful precision and an astonishing depth, as she seamlessly shifts between exploring themes of mortality, language, suburbia, gender, consumerism, and the poetics of everyday living. Her prose is both tender and incisive, providing a beautiful and contemplative portrait of a writer's life in all its dimensions.

From her early days as a child in South Africa to her teenage years in Britain and her wanderings around the world as a young woman, Levy's musings are a mosaic of personal and intellectual vitality. The collection embodies her questioning self, as she meticulously dissects and celebrates the influences that have crafted her literary voice.

The Position of Spoons is much more than a peek into the writer's life; it is an evocative journey through the mind of one of contemporary literature's most compelling voices. Every essay is a tender composition, resonating with the universal truths of human experience, capturing the curiosity, complexity, and brilliance of Deborah Levy's contributions to the literary world.