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A Far Cry From Kensington

By Muriel Spark
Series: VMC
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3.84 goodreads logo

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Brief Description
I can't help it. Sometimes the words just come out and I can't stop them. It feels like preaching the gospel. When publishing assistant and war widow Nancy Hawkins tells Hector Bartlett he 'urinates frightful prose', the repercussions are swift. Losing not one, but two, much-sought-after... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
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A sharp-eyed and acidly funny story of the mid-century publishing world, this is one of Muriel Spark's most charming novels.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

I can't help it. Sometimes the words just come out and I can't stop them. It feels like preaching the gospel.

When publishing assistant and war widow Nancy Hawkins tells Hector Bartlett he 'urinates frightful prose', the repercussions are swift. Losing not one, but two, much-sought-after literary jobs, Mrs Hawkins finds herself embroiled in a mystery involving anonymous letters, quack remedies and blackmail. Years later, and a far cry from Kensington, she looks back with a sharp and mischievous eye at the cost of telling the truth.

Introduced by Ali Smith.

'Mercurially funny, playful and mischievous' – Ali Smith

'I was in heaven reading this book... just blissful' – Stephen Fry

'Funny, astringent, shrewd, her take on life is wonderfully bracing' – William Boyd

'Wonderfully entertaining' – Sunday Telegraph

'An outstanding novel... A Far Cry From Kensington has an effortless, translucent grasp of the spirit of the period' – Observer

'The divine Spark is shining at her brightest... Pure delight' – Claire Tomalin

Series: VMC

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  • A Far Cry From Kensington
    I can't help it. Sometimes the words just come out and I can't stop them. It feels like preaching the gospel. When publishing assistant and war widow Nancy Hawkins tells Hector Bartlett he 'urinates frightful prose', the repercussions are swift. Losing not one, but two, much-sought-after literary jobs, Mrs Hawkins finds herself embroiled in a mystery involving anonymous letters, quack...
    By Muriel Spark
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    Sold Out

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780349019581

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 23 January 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Virago Press Ltd

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Ali Smith
  • Introduction by Ali Smith

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 18.0mm

Width: 126.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 170g

Pages: 208

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Muriel Spark Series: VMC

About the Author

Muriel Spark, D.B.E, C. Litt, was born in Edinburgh in 1918. A poet and novelist, she also wrote children's books, radio plays, a comedy, 'Doctors of Philosophy', first performed in London in 1962, and biographies. She is best known for her stories and many successful novels, including Memento Mori, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Loitering With Intent, The Comforters, A Far Cry from Kensington and The Public Image. For her long career of literary achievement, Muriel Spark won international praise and many awards, including the David Cohen British Literature Award, the T. S. Eliot Award, the Saltire Prize, the Boccaccio Prize for European Literature, the Gold Pen Award and the Italia Prize for dramatic radio. Muriel Spark was given an honorary doctorate of Letters from a number of universities, London, Edinburgh and Oxford among these. She died in 2006.

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