A Far Cry from Kensington, Muriel Spark
A Far Cry from Kensington, Muriel Spark
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A Far Cry from Kensington

Author: Muriel Spark

Narrator: Pamela Garelick

Unabridged: 6 hr 8 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/02/2011


Synopsis

Set on the crazier fringes of 1950s literary London, A Far Cry from Kensington is a delight, hilariously portraying love, fraud, death, evil, and transformation. Mrs. Hawkins, the majestic narrator of A Far Cry from Kensington, takes us well in hand and leads us back to her threadbare years in postwar London. There, as a fat and much admired young war widow, she spent her days working for a mad, nearbankrupt publisher (of very good books) and her nights dispensing advice at her small South Kensington rooming house. At work and at home Mrs. Hawkins soon uncovered evil: shady literary doings and a deadly enemy; anonymous letters, blackmail, and suicide. With aplomb, however, Mrs. Hawkins confidently set about putting things to order, little imagining the mayhem that would ensue.Now decades older, thin, successful, and delighted with life in Italyquite a far cry from KensingtonMrs. Hawkins looks back to all those dark doings and recounts how her own life changed forever. She still, however, loves to give advice: Its easy to get thin. You eat and drink the same as always, only halfI offer this advice without fee; it is included in the price of this book. A Far Cry from Kensington has been hailed as outstanding (Observer), wickedly and adroitly executed (New York Times), and a comedy that holds a tragedy as an eggcup holds an egg (Philadelphia Inquirer).

About Muriel Spark

Muriel Spark (1918–2006) was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. She was the author of over twenty novels, including The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, as well as critical biographies, radio plays, children’s books, poetry, and short-story collections. She was made a Dame of the British Empire in 1993 and a Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres in 1996.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Violet

Every now and again a novel comes along when it's beneficial to have some inside information on its real life inspiration. Muriel Spark was trolled in her lifetime by an ex-lover who, by all accounts, was a pretty despicable character. This novel is her revenge on him. And as you'd expect from someo......more

3.5 stars Here's what New York Times' reviewer Michiko Kakutani wrote about this author: Here is the recipe for a typical Muriel Spark novel: take a self-enclosed community (of writers, schoolgirls, nuns, rich people, etc.) that is full of incestuous liaisons and fraternal intrigue; toss in a bombshe......more