From the Bookshelf of Reading the 20th Century…

A Far Cry from Kensington

Muriel Spark

Start date: February 9, 2018

Finish date: March 15, 2018

Discussion: Buddy Reads

Why we're reading this: A Far Cry from Kensington by Muriel Spark is one of our buddy reads for February 2018
[close] A Far Cry from Kensington by Muriel Spark is one of our buddy reads for February 2018

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What Members Thought

Jun 09, 2017 Chrissie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: classics, arts, philo-psychol, england, 2017-read, mystery, audible-uk, favorites, humor

Wow, what humor! I absolutely loved every minute listening to this. Cannot a book that gives such a glorious ride be considered amazing?

The humor is not just slapdash; it has a message. Humor about what? Publishing houses and authors, first and foremost. Religion and homosexuality and supernaturalism and one's appearance and really all of modern day life. The humor is sophisticated. Listen carefully to the lines!

All of us here at GoodReads need to know of the marvelous expression “pisseur de c Wow, what humor! I absolutely loved every minute listening to this. Cannot a book that gives such a glorious ride be considered amazing?

The humor is not just slapdash; it has a message. Humor about what? Publishing houses and authors, first and foremost. Religion and homosexuality and supernaturalism and one's appearance and really all of modern day life. The humor is sophisticated. Listen carefully to the lines!

All of us here at GoodReads need to know of the marvelous expression “pisseur de copie”. I’ll help you out. It is a writer who turns out rubbish, pure rubbish. Leave it to the French to invent such a phrase! Hector Bartlett is a pisseur de copie. You‘ll meet him here. It is said he is based on an old lover of Spark.

There is a mystery that you want solved, and you are compelled to not put the book down until it is solved.

The setting is South Kensington, London, primarily 1953 and 1954.

The audiobook is narrated by Juliet Stevenson. Narration cannot be better than this. She too sees the humor. No of course she doesn't laugh, but she pauses giving the listener time to reflect and catch the import of the lines. Her intonations for both men and women are done with perfection. She captures each character’s particular personality. It is easy to follow and always clear. If you can listen to this narrated by Juliet Stevenson; don't read the paper book.

I copied a million and one lines I thought I would add here, to show you why I think the book is so fantastic. No, I am in a lazy mood. You will just have to read the book instead.

I had no idea I would enjoy this so much! I have read The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, which I gave three stars, but that just does not come close. Isn't it delightful when an author delivers her/his messages through humor?

This cannot yet be classified as a classic, since it was first published in 1988, but I certainly hope and believe that is what it will become. That is why I have shelved it as such.

This is a light book, but it speaks the truth on many, many subjects, and it is terribly fun to read. I dare you to read this book and not laugh. It contains absolutely wonderful lines. Yeah, it is amazing. ...more

74 likes · Like · see review

Jan 18, 2018 Susan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This novel contains the reminiscences of Mrs Hawkins, a young, comfortably overweight, war widow and her life in 1954 London. During this time, Mrs Hawkins lodges in a rooming house in South Kensington, owned by the warm and friendly, Milly Sanders. Other inhabitants of the house include district nurse, Kate Parker, Polish dressmaker, Wanda, medical student, William Todd, the young, theatre loving Isabel and quiet couple, Basil and Eva Carlin.

During this book, Mrs Hawkins (always referred to by ...more

36 likes · Like · see review

Feb 09, 2018 Nigeyb rated it it was amazing

This the third book I have read by Muriel Spark and, in common with the other two, she yet again consistently manages to make the everyday extraordinary and to add intrigue and mystery to the mundane. Black humour and dark twists abound in this evocative slice of mid 1950s London life, which primarily takes place in a Kensington rooming house, and the world of book and magazine publishing.

Mrs Hawkins, a young widow whose husband was killed in WW2, works as an editor in 1950s London, and she is This the third book I have read by Muriel Spark and, in common with the other two, she yet again consistently manages to make the everyday extraordinary and to add intrigue and mystery to the mundane. Black humour and dark twists abound in this evocative slice of mid 1950s London life, which primarily takes place in a Kensington rooming house, and the world of book and magazine publishing.

Mrs Hawkins, a young widow whose husband was killed in WW2, works as an editor in 1950s London, and she is our narrator and guide who is looking back on her time in Kensington decades later. She is one of the residents of the rooming house which is also home to an eclectic bunch of characters who include Wanda, a Polish dressmaker.

Wanda receives a threatening and disconcerting anonymous letter which is the cue for a slew of quirky character studies and relationships. Despite the droll humour and easy readability there is a lot to ponder and enjoy, not least the character of Mrs Hawkins, who is wholly committed to telling the truth. Despite being hunted throughout the book, Mrs Hawkins remains resolute and resilient, and also actively prospers through her ongoing self reinvention.

There's so much to enjoy in A Far Cry from Kensington: the hopes and challenges of Londoners in the decade following the end of WW2; the bizarre world of publishing; drinks at Grosvenor House; life lessons from our narrator; the subtle relationships between housemates, lovers, enemies and colleagues; credible work relationships; well observed characters; a fraudulent boss; pseudo-science; a truly monstrous villain; and much more.

I feel this review barely scratches the surface. I could happily go straight back to the beginning of this book and read it all over again. I hope I have said enough to convince you to try it. It's very enjoyable, entertaining, original and thought provoking. I remain committed to reading all of Muriel Spark's work.

5/5

Coincidentally I have just listened to a recent episode of A Good Read on BBC Radio 4 with Stephen Fry and Alan Davies, and presenter Harriett Gilbert, and one of the books under discussion is A Far Cry from Kensington which they were all very positive about. Listen here (or on podcast)...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09plx4w ...more

27 likes · Like · see review

Jan 12, 2018 Laura rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-books, fiction-20th-century, british-literature, 1000-guardian, virago-modern-classics, psychological-thriller, read-2018

From BBC Radio 4 - Book at Bedtime:
Muriel Spark's playful and autobiographical novel set amid London's post-war publishing scene.

Episode 1:
War widow Mrs Hawkins enjoys her life; her rooms suit her, she cherishes good friends and holds a coveted job working with books. But when an author starts to make a nuisance of himself, her life will change beyond recognition.

Episode 2:
War widow Mrs Hawkins' future prospects look uncertain as the Ullswater Press falters: meanwhile there are more pressing p ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 11, 2018 Val rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: group

Mrs Hawkins works as an editor for a small publishing firm, so when she tells a writer that his book is badly written, I think we can assume that she is correct. She could have been more tactful and apologised for the language, but not the judgement. She refuses and she repeats the derogatory phrase several times. Unfortunately the bad writer is involved with a good writer neither this publisher nor a further one can afford to offend. Mrs Hawkins loses her job, twice.
Muriel Spark worked in publi ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Feb 13, 2018 Tina rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A big thanks to the Reading the 20th Century group for prompting me to re-read this novel. I binged on Muriel Spark when I was in my 20s and 30s, and it's time for a revisit.

I liked this novel upon initial reading, but liked it better the second time.

The narrator is Mrs. Hawkins, who matter-of-factly looks back on her days as a young widow in the 1950s, living in a Kensington rooming house. Her fellow tenants and the people she encounters at various publishing jobs are all colorful characters--i ...more

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Apr 22, 2017 Amy Gentry rated it really liked it

Shelves: spinster-lit, favorites, comedy-of-manners

Reads at first like a nostalgic snapshot of a time and place--loose and diffuse--then, lazily, drifts into a tragicomic crime plot--and even, in the last act, becomes a romantic comedy. The narrator is a physically and emotionally solid war widow and publisher's assistant, one of those "excellent women" everyone relies on to be steady, maternal, and sexless forever. One tiny act of rebellion sets into motion a series of events that for a long time seem unrelated, as well as a transformation in N ...more

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