Muriel Spark 
Far Cry From Kensington 

‘Mercurially funny, playful and mischievous’ Ali Smith’I was in heaven reading this book. I think she writes like an angel . . . just blissful’ Stephen Fry A novel of ‘pure delight’ (Claire Tomalin) by the author of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.When Mrs Hawkins tells Hector Bartlett 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.With an introduction by Ali Smith.’Wonderfully entertaining.’ Sunday Telegraph’An outstanding novel … A Far Cry From Kensington has an effortless, translucent grasp of the spirit of the period.’ Observer