Spuffords first novel is set in colonial new york city, whereas new arrival from london richard smith discoversthings can get out of hand quickly, and often do. A novel of old new york is a swashbuckling debut novel by british author, francis spufford. This interview may not be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the holder. Jun 27, 2017 it also won the costa book award for best first novel, despite arguably being spuffords second novel, after the hardtoclassify red plenty, his engrossing, ambitious retelling of the early years of the soviet union. Francis spufford s welcome first volume of collected essays gathers an array of his compelling writings from the 1990s to the present.
I was so confused and shocked that such a thing could exist. Francis spufford, a former sunday times young writer of the year 1997, has edited two acclaimed literary anthologies and a collection of essays about the history of technology. Francis spufford is the author of five books of nonfiction and has been long or shortlisted for prizes in science, historical, political and theological writing. Why, despite everything, christianity can still make surprising emotional sense, and its written by francis spufford, a professor in london.
Unapologetic, has been translated into three languages. Francis spufford pens unauthorised narnia novel books the. To understand the thrall of fiction, spufford goes back to his earliest encounters with books. His first book, i may be some time, won the writers guild award for best nonfiction book of 1996, the banff mountain book prize and a somerset maugham award. Ice and the english imagination, which appeared in the united states in 1998. Then there is living with a wild god, the altogether stranger, more wonderful, and more stubbornly independent book by the activist and atheist. In a piquant series of linked short stories in the middle of the book, spufford shows how it. The latter part of the book probably last third rather than half was more of a reflection on what it is that this literature does and his search for books and a sense of enjoyment that he. Francis spuffords books cover a wide variety of subjects, from polar exploration to his childhood reading to a blend of fiction and nonfiction about soviet russia in red plenty, which dwight garner named one of his 10 favorite books of 2012. In a great piece for the latest first things, art historian matthew milliner discusses the. It is hard to believe that this wonderfully picaresque romp through 18th century new york is spuffords first novel. Red plenty is a work of historical fiction that thoroughly blurs the line between history and fiction in a fascinating way. Why, despite everything, christianity can still make.
Spuffords apologetic takes the reader by surprise in three ways. In the summer of 1970, elizabeth hardwick may have been the best nonfiction prose writer in america, just as jim hines was the fastest man alive and joe frazier was the heavyweight champion of the world. I really like this book, although i am still reading it slowly because it is the sort of thing. Below is a list of francis spuffords books in order of when they were first released. Golden hill by francis spufford goodreads share book. Taking the things people do wrong seriously is part of taking them seriously. Spufford has written this book, he notes in an afterword, as a kind of homage to rambling and often comic novels like sarah fieldings the adventures of david simple 1744 and her sibling. The muchesteemed francis spufford has a new book out this month. It is trim rather than bulky, refrains from indulging in too many antique. A crackerjack novel of old manhattan francis spuffords fiction debut is a fastpaced romp, but it keeps its eyes on the moral conundrums of america.
Spufford adds to the diversity of his bibliography, this time mounting an impassioned argument for, as the subtitle. Smith, dancing from foot to foot upon deck, that the. The child that books built is francis spuffords celebrated memoir and. Francis spuffords first novel, golden hill, which is set in new york in 1746, doesnt make that mistake. Francis spuffords unapologetic is a wonderfully pugnacious defense of. To call the author bookish is to call a python a mere reptile. Red plenty is a beautifully crafted words of fiction, but a meticulously documented one that tells the story of the quest for economic growth in the midtwentieth century soviet union. As soon as his ship docks on allhallows 1746, smith heads to merchant gregory lovells golden hill home to cash a large bill of credit. The brig henrietta having made sandy hook a little before the dinner hourand having passed the narrows about three oclockand then crawling to and fro, in a series of tacks infinitesimal enough to rival the calculus, across the grey sheet of the harbour of newyorkuntil it seemed to mr.
An addictively quotable stylist, spufford writes sentences and paragraphs that spawn thickets of enthusiastic marginalia. None of his writing is dry or boring spufford couches these theories and history lessons wonderfully through his characters stories however there are portions that require careful reading. Oct 24, 20 francis spufford credit bart koetsier q. Fairy tales and where the wild things are, the lord of the rings. Its like a rigid tree of historical explanation with nice, juicy fictional fruit growing on it, spufford suggested of that book. Francis spuffords new narnia novel narniaweb netflixs. Mar 28, 2019 a few weeks ago, narniawebbers were surprised and intrigued when writer frank cottrell boyce started tweeting excerpts from francis spuffords narnia fanfiction the stone table. He makes use of a variety of encounters with particular places, writers, or books to address deeper questions relating to the complicated. His second, the child that books built, gave neil gaiman.
He makes use of a variety of encounters with particular places, writers, or books to address deeper questions relating to the complicated relationship between storytelling and truthtelling. The times londonstrange as it may seem, the gray, oppressive ussr was founded on a fairy tale. The child that books built by francis spufford books the. Why, despite everything, christianity can still make surprising emotional sense kindle edition by spufford, francis. It recounts the attempts by the soviet union in the 1960s to engineer their economy into prosperity and dominance over the west hence red plenty. It also won the costa book award for best first novel, despite arguably being spuffords second novel, after the hardtoclassify red plenty, his engrossing, ambitious retelling of the early years of the soviet union. The idea that as adults we inhabit an imaginative world shaped by our childhood reading, or that its the books we read. Spufford, of the guardian in london, plumbs the cultural fascination and aesthetic attraction of cold regions for british explorers, and how their romance with snow was fashioned by an evolving national sensibility, in this smartly argued, wideranging book. The first chapter is pretty difficult to get through, but stick with it the novel is fantastic, and spuffords creative narrative device is a winner. Francis spufford wins the ondaatje prize with golden hill. Golden hill book by francis spufford official publisher. Francis spuffords new narnia novel narniaweb netflixs narnia. Francis spufford is the author of five highly praised books of nonfiction. For the first half, i felt we experienced the literature that spufford encountered as a child and the effect that these books had on him during that period.
For me, red plenty was a genuine compromise between fiction and nonfiction. Why, despite everything, christianity can still make surprising emotional sense. In his new book, francis spufford has made a significant contribution to the genre. Free delivery on book orders dispatched by amazon over. To understate things, theres a big difference between public expressions of christianity in britain, where your book was first published, and in the united states. Old new york springs alive in francis spuffords golden. In his first book i may be some time, 1997, journalist spufford won acclaim for examining the english imagination. Lovell is introduced early on as a man to whom few things retaind the force. Among his early books are i may be some time, the child that books built, and backroom boys. We are given the sketchiest of details about spuffords life and not as much about the actual. May 08, 2017 francis spufford wins the ondaatje prize with golden hill this article is more than 2 years old astonishingly rich portrait of 18thcentury new york scoops award for book with finest sense.
Spufford is mostly known for his nonfiction, but in 2016 earned the costa book award for his first novel, golden hill. Red plenty by francis spufford nook book ebook barnes. He has also edited two volumes of polar literature. An interview with francis spufford commonweal magazine. It was built on the twentiethcentury magic called the planned economy. Support first things by turning your adblocker off or by making a donation. I really like this book, although i am still reading it slowly because it is the sort of thing you. Francis spuffords first novel is a swashbuckling tale. Spiritual literature for atheists by francis spufford. Residents, he declares, are wild, suspicious, combustible and the devil to govern. Such is the epistemological structure of francis spuffords splendidly entertaining and ingenious first novel, and it certainly helps to propel the reader forward. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading unapologetic.
Then there is living with a wild god, the altogether stranger, more wonderful, and more stubbornly independent book by the activist and atheist barbara ehrenreich. The chatto book of cabbages and kings, 1989, about lists used as a literary device, the chatto book of the devil, 1993, and the antarctic, 2008. Excerpt from golden hill by francis spufford, plus links. Francis spuffords first book, i may be some time, won the writers guild award. Francis spuffords first book to be published was the anthology the chatto book of cabbages and kings in 1989. Francis spuffords welcome first volume of collected essays gathers an array of his compelling writings from the 1990s to the present. The first chapter is a relentless, highvolume monologue, but thanks be to mozart, the tone varies in the subsequent chapters. Spufford distributed selfprinted copies to friends. Unique because spuffords context is postchristian england, and he is fully aware that he. Its like a rigid tree of historical explanation with nice, juicy fictional fruit growing on it, spufford suggested.
The child that books built by francis spufford kirkus. Early sunday morning, one of the friends comes back with rags and a jug of water and a box of. Oct 24, 2017 francis spuffords true stories and other essays is just such a book. Inside the fifties soviet dream by francis spufford. Spufford began as a writer of nonfiction, though always with a strong element of storytelling. First, and most immediate, the book shocks us with its language. Old new york springs alive in francis spuffords golden hill. Jul 14, 2017 this is a place where things can get out of hand very quick. Lewis s narnia series, during the time between the magicians nephew and the lion, the witch and the wardrobe. The child that books built francis spufford 97805746790. Just some of the memories and thoughts prompted by this simply brilliant book. It manages to echo and gently parody many of the tropes of 18th century fiction, while mixing it with enough hindsight to make it appeal to a modern audience, and despite the richness of the language it soon becomes a genuine.
It was built on the twentiethcentury magic called the planned economy, which was going to gush forth an abundance of good things that the lands of. He tells us that he did no research for the book and wrote at. This account of a lifelong unbelievers buried history of religious experience is radically open and undefended. May 24, 2016 francis spuffords welcome first volume of collected essays gathers an array of his compelling writings from the 1990s to the present. Golden hill, francis spuffords joyous romp through 18thcentury new york, has added the royal society of literatures prestigious ondaatje prize to its growing list of accolades. Be the first to ask a question about the child that books built. In march of 2019, it was reported that spufford had written a novel, the stone table, set in the universe of c. His first book, i may be some time, won the writers guild award for best nonfiction book of 1996, the banff mountain book prize, and a somerset maugham award. His first book, i may be some time, won the writers guild award for best. Spufford specialized in works of nonfiction for the first part of his career, but began a transition towards fiction in 2010 and published his first unambiguous novel in 2016. This is a place where things can get out of hand very quick. Ice and the english imagination, 1996 won literary prizes including the sunday times young writer of the year award, writers guild award for best. Francis spufford introduces his novel, red plenty unless otherwise stated, this interview was conducted at the time the book was first published, and is reproduced with permission of the publisher.
He reads again the books he read as a child, and in doing so, rediscovers and relates the influences that have contributed to his personal development, his nature, his identity. Spufford admits to being simultaneously obsessed, enslaved, and enraptured by the idea of fiction from the time he apprehended his first story from a picture book. A few weeks ago, narniawebbers were surprised and intrigued when writer frank cottrell boyce started tweeting excerpts from francis spuffords narnia fanfiction the stone table. It is francis spuffords confession that, after leaving his childhood faith to become an atheist for 20 years, he finds that life doesnt make sense without christianity. Golden hill, 2016 won the costa book award for a first novel, and the ondaatje prize. Or more creepilypick your metaphora product of the uncanny valley between the two, where things are not quite fully alive from the imaginative. Spiritual literature for atheists by francis spufford november 2015 t o say, as people do from time to time, that science is the only source of meaning available to human beings is to consign large swaths of everyday experience to insignificance. Francis spufford on the bedtime story books the guardian. Spufford uses profanity sparsely to make his hardest points about the messed up state of our world and of many churches and christians. The times london strange as it may seem, the gray, oppressive ussr was founded on a fairy tale.
Highly recommended for anyone interested in language and literature, to say nothing of thoughtful christianity or, curiously enough, the arctic. I can always tell when youre reading somewhere in the house, my mother used to say. Spufford cunningly maps out a literary genre of his own. Buy the child that books built new edition by francis spufford isbn. Early on, before we can measure what level of irony spufford operates on. It was followed by the child that books built, backroom boys, red plenty which was translated into nine languages, and most recently, unapologetic. May 29, 2016 francis spufford is the author of five books of nonfiction and has been long or shortlisted for prizes in science, historical, political and theological writing and writing evoking the spirit.
It is recipient of the costa first novel award, the ondaatje prize and the desmond elliott prize. As his first novel the tale of a young charmer in 18thcentury new york comes out, francis spufford says he wishes hed started writing fiction years ago skip to main content the. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Cottrell boyce was so thrilled after reading the novel, he asked spufford if he could share it online, posting the first two chapters online as a kind. The spectacular first novel from acclaimed nonfiction author francis spufford follows the adventures of a mysterious young man in mideighteenth century manhattan, thirty years before the american revolution, in a. Francis spufford quotes author of golden hill goodreads. Unlike many apologists, spuffords book focuses on the emotional and existential features of christianity.