Virago Modern Classic Book Club: A Far Cry From Kensington by Muriel Spark

Book of the Month: A Far Cry From Kensington by Muriel Spark

In honour of Muriel Spark’s Centenary our Book Club pick for February is A Far Cry From Kensington.

‘One of Muriel Spark’s most liberating, liberated and meditative novels. Spark is a writer who can take the meditative and make it mercurially funny, playful and mischievous’ – Ali Smith

When Mrs Hawkins tells Hector Bartlett he is a ‘pisseur de copie’, that he ‘urinates frightful prose’, little does she realise the repercussions. Holding that ‘no life can be carried on satisfactorily unless people are honest’ Mrs Hawkins refuses to retract her judgement, and as a consequence, loses not one, but two much-sought-after jobs in publishing. Now, years older, successful, and happily a far cry from Kensington, she looks back over the dark days that followed, in which she was embroiled in a mystery involving anonymous letters, quack remedies, blackmail and suicide.

‘Wonderfully entertaining – full of absurd, comical, engaging characters and written with typical wit, elegance and aplomb – Sunday Telegraph

Let us know if you are reading along using #VMCBookClub, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, we love to hear what you think. Plus, click here for more information about the Virago Modern Classics Book Club.