Mistletoe Malice

Name: Mistletoe Malice
Brand: Allen & Unwin
SKU: 9780571378265
Price: 23.0 NZD
Availability: InStock

'Christmas literary comfort and joy' (Meg Mason, author of Sorrow and Bliss)

By Kathleen Farrell

0.0 (0 reviews)

2.68

( 949 ratings, 180 reviews)

Summary

Mistletoe Malice by Kathleen Farrell is a witty novel set during the Christmas season, focusing on a family gathering laden with both festive spirit and underlying tension. As relatives come together, they navigate through personal conflicts and secrets, with pointed humour and astute observations on family dynamics. This engaging story oscillates between moments of heartfelt connection and comedic mishaps, offering an enjoyable read with a sharp edge.
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Format: Paperback / softback

$23⁰⁰

Elsewhere:

~~$24⁹⁹~~

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Mistletoe Malice

$23⁰⁰

Elsewhere:

~~$24⁹⁹~~

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

If you enjoy witty and engaging stories set around Christmas with a touch of drama and charm, this might be the book for you. Its blend of family dynamics and holiday spirit could appeal to readers who appreciate richly drawn characters and clever dialogue in their fiction.

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A dysfunctional family reunites for the Christmas holiday from hell in this rediscovered festive classic with fangs: 'literary comfort and joy' (Meg Mason, author of Sorrow and Bliss) for fans of Barbara Pym, Elizabeth Taylor and Stella Gibbons.

Description

A dysfunctional family reunites for the Christmas holiday from hell in this rediscovered festive classic with fangs for fans of Barbara Pym, Elizabeth Taylor and Stella Gibbons.

Literary comfort and joy. It got me out of mourning for the Cazelet Chronicles. - Meg Mason (author of Sorrow and Bliss)

A stylish and penetrating comedy of manners. My favourite Christmas book by far - and you can read it all year round. - Rachel Joyce (author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry)

A horribly delicious snapshot of post-war family life, in which tensions ensnare the reader in tinsel-covered barbed wire. - Janice Hallett (author of The Appeal)

The fire is on, sherry poured, presents wrapped, and claws are being sharpened. In a seaside cottage perched on a cliff, one family reunites for Christmas. While snow falls, a tyrannical widowed matriarch presides over her unruly brood. Her niece tends to her whims but fantasises about eloping; and as more guests arrive, each bringing their secret truths and dreams, the Christmas tree explodes, a brawl erupts, an escape occurs - and their 'midwinter madness' climaxes ...

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Mistletoe Malice by Kathleen Farrell is praised for its captivating depiction of post-war family life, offering a blend of tension and humour. A vividly chronicled comedy of manners, the book stands out as a versatile read appreciated for its stylish narrative, making it an appealing choice beyond just the festive season.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780571378265

Publisher: Faber & Faber

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 November 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Faber & Faber

Edition: Main

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 17.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 243g

Pages: 288

Collections

Classic Crime & Mystery Fiction Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Cosy Crime Crime & Thriller Fiction General Fiction Kathleen Farrell Literary Fiction

About the Author

Kathleen Farrell was born in London in 1912 and educated at a convent school. Her first book, Johnny's Not Home from the Fair (1942), was written while working for the wartime secretary-general of the Labour party, after which she founded a prestigious literary agency, eventually sold to a rival firm. Farrell lived in Hampstead for twenty years with her partner Kay Dick - reviewer, editor and author of They (1977) - in a literary circle including Ivy Compton-Burnett, Stevie Smith and Olivia Manning. She wrote stories as well as five more novels - Mistletoe Malice (1951), Take It to Heart (1953), The Cost of Living (1956), The Common Touch (1958), and Limitations of Love (1962). Farrell's fiction was critically acclaimed for its savage wit and unsentimental humour, compared to Barbara Pym and Elizabeth Bowen, but failed to find a popular audience, and - by the time of her death in Hove in 1999 - she had fallen into obscurity.

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