F-/F-. 8vo. original greenboards gilt (a trifle rubbed, leaf edges slightly marked, faintly canted, else clean & bright throughout) in dustwrapper (price-clipped, slightly rubbed); pp. [ii (last blank)], 188 (last blank). A near fine copy.

Seller Inventory # 025939

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Bibliographic Details

Title

The Beginning of Spring

Publisher

Flamingo, London

Publication Date

1988

Language

English

ISBN 10

0002232618

ISBN 13

9780002232616

Binding

Hard Cover

Edition

First Edition.

Condition

F-

Dust Jacket Condition

F-

Seller catalogs

Literature - Modern

About this title

Synopsis

Set in Moscow in 1913, this novel concerns Frank Reid, whose wife suddenly leaves him without explanation to return to London. The author goes on to depict the Reid household, the expatriate community, Frank's colleagues, friends and children and the Russians with whom he comes into contact. This is set against the background of the life of the city itself, hardly aware of the upheaval about to break upon it. The author has also written "Innocence" and "Offshore".

Review

‘Reading a Penelope Fitzgerald novel is like being taken for a ride in a peculiar kind of car. Everything is of top quality – the engine, the coachwork and the interior all fill you with confidence. Then, after a mile or so, someone throws the steering-wheel out of the window.’ Sebastian Faulks

‘Wise and ironic, funny and humane, Fitzgerald is a wonderful, wonderful writer.’ David Nicholls

‘For the life of me I can’t decide how properly to respond to this book. Whether it contains a latent moral or allegorical message, or whether it is simply a tour de force of craft and imagination I have not the faintest idea. I only know that it is one of the most skilful and utterly fascinating novels I have read for years. I cannot imagine any kind of reader who would not get a thrill from this gloriously peculiar book.’ Jan Morris, Independent

‘Penelope Fitzgerald has produced a real Russian comedy, at once crafty and scatty. She has mastered a city, a landscape and a vanished time. She has written something remarkable, part novel, part evocation, and done so in prose that never puts a foot wrong. She is so unostentatious a writer that she needs to be read several times. What is impressive is the calm confidence behind the apparent simplicity of utterance. “The Beginning of Spring” is her best novel to date.’ Anita Arookner, Spectator

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Store Description

Established in 2001, Arapiles Mountain Books is the only specialist mountaineering bookseller in Australia. We carry a large stock of fine, rare and out of print mountaineering and adventurous travel books, with a particular emphasis on British, Australian, New Zealand and Himalayan climbing narratives and guides. We have an especially wide selection of early - mid 20th travel books in dustwrapper, signed books and expedition memorabilia. On-line catalogues can be browsed on this website. The proprietor, Andrew Long, has climbed the world over since 1980, and has spent much of his time over the (last few) years, collecting and reading climbing and travel narratives by more intrepid writers. He will be happy to answer any queries or provide advice on condition, approximate value, rarity or just plain readability free of charge. A booksearch service is available. Although we are a mail order store, visitors are most welcome to browse our stock by making an appointment. I have a bricks and mortar bookshop in Central Victoria ('Mount of Alex', 273 Barker Street, Castlemaine), which is open 11am - 5pm Saturday and Sundays (excluding public holidays). Note that internet listed books are not stored in the shop, but can be brought in by request. Appointments to view the stock may be made by calling Andrew on +61 410 650 923 or by email to araps@alassoc.com.au.

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Arapiles Mountain Books - Mount of Alex
VIC, Australia

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