Yes, yes, I know that most of you know that I'm on a book-buying ban (and ban on non-essential spending). So why am I posting about new acquisitions? Well, these four Muriel Sparks were kindly sent to me by Sophie from Virago. Virago are quite excited by the VVV and are letting me have some copies of their new books.I've read some of these before (but can't offhand remember which), but am intending to re-read them as I definitely want to write about Muriel Spark on this blog. I am a big fan of her work.
I apologise for the blurry photo, and I'd like to point you at a post from Paperback Reader's blog earlier this year where she enthuses over these lovely covers.
Have any of you read any Muriel Spark or any of the ones above?
Thanks for the link; I do love these covers. I have the 30th birthday hardback edition of A Far Cry from Kensington but have the other three; I've read all but The Comforters, which I intend to read soon. I would say that Loitering with Intent was my favourite so far. I'm looking forward to Memento Mori being re-released next year.
ReplyDeleteI'd quite like the hardback one too Claire. I hope they reprint Prime too - I know it is the most well-known but I'd like to own all of them in the same set.
ReplyDeleteThey can't as the don't own rights to all of the Spark novels including The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (Penguin do).
ReplyDeleteInteresting - didn't know that.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it nice to get review copies when you are on a book buying ban! I'm glad they're reissuing at least some of Muriel Spark's books and will have to see what I'm missing!
ReplyDeleteI love Muriel Spark - The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and A Far Cry from Kensington are the two that I have read - they were fab.
ReplyDeleteit turns out that the ones I have read are The comforters and Symposium. I have also read The prime, Memento Mori, and The driver's seat.
ReplyDeleteI love The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and The Driver's Seat is an AMAZING book :).
ReplyDeleteI love Spark and have read a lot of her stuff. I can't help but feel like she deserves better cover art than this. Does anyone else feel this way? It almost looks like they are trying to make it look like chick lit.
ReplyDeleteI wonder Thomas if the new-style covers may make Spark more accessible to readers who might not otherwise read her? I think I like them better than the new editions of Pym.
ReplyDeleteVerity, they probably are trying to make them more accessible. But it still seems like they could have a much better job. Same thing for Pym. I read you often on the B Files but until last night forgot that you had this blog as well. It was a lot of fun to go back through lots of your old posts. I hate to say it, but in general I think that Virago's art department is headed the wrong direction. In almost every case I prefer the original covers.
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming back Thomas - and catching up! I do think that the newer covers rarely rival the original green covers (although I have to say I'm getting a little tired of green covers with portraits of women on the front!)
ReplyDeleteI love Muriel Spark, and those are gorgeous covers. I hope you have fun reading them!
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