The Ladies of Grace Adieu and Other Stories
Susanna Clarke
Language: English
Pages: 224
ISBN: 1596912510
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
Following the enormous success of 2004 bestseller and critics' favorite Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Susanna Clarke delivers a delicious collection of ten stories set in the same fairy-crossed world of 19th-century England. With Clarke's characteristic historical detail and diction, these dark, enchanting tales unfold in a slightly distorted version of our own world, where people are bedeviled by mischievous interventions from the fairies. With appearances from beloved characters from her novel, including Jonathan Strange and Childermass, and an entirely new spin on certain historical figures, including Mary, Queen of Scots, this is a must-have for fans of Susanna Clarke's and an enticing introduction to her work for new readers. Some of these stories have never before been published; others have appeared in the New York Times or in highly regarded anthologies. In this collection, they come together to expand the reach of Clarke's land of enchantment-and anticipate her next novel (Fall 2008).
She jumped up. There was a little scrap of a looking-glass hung upon the opposite wall and there she saw herself, face all bruises and hair pulled this way and that. The shock was so great that she cried out loud. As she remembered nothing of what had happened to her it was left to Fanny to tell her - with many digressions and exclamations - that she had been found earlier in the day wandering in a lane two or three miles from Piper by a young man, a farmer called Purvis. She had been in a state
the meantime I have been thinking that there is no doctor nearer than Buxton and it seems to me that I could not do better than advertise my services as a physician. I dare say you have heard reports that I attended Mrs Hollyshoes." "Who is Mrs Hollyshoes?" asked Mrs Edmond. "The wife of the gentleman who owns Allhope House." "I do not understand you, Mr Simonelli. There is no Allhope House here." "Whom do you mean, Mr Simonelli?" asked the eldest Miss Gathercole. I was vexed at their
they treat you here?" "Oh! sir. How can you ask such a question? Do you not see this golden chair set with diamonds and pearls? And this room with pillars of crystal and rose-coloured velvet curtains? At night - you will not believe it, sir, for I did not believe it myself - I sleep on a bed with six feather mattress one atop the other and six silken pillows to my head." I said it sounded most pleasant. And was she given enough to eat and drink? Roast pork, plum pudding, toasted cheese, bread
particular nature to ask you." We went to the library where he poured two glasses of wine. He said, "Cousin, I have been meaning to ask you about that family of women who live upon my English estates and make themselves so important at my expense. I have forgot their name." "Gathercole?" said I. "Gathercole. Exactly," said he and fell silent for a moment with a kind of thoughtful half-smile upon his dark face. "I have been a widower seven weeks now," he said, "and I do not believe I was ever
I believe that someone has recently built an iron bridge in Shropshire. Quite astonishing. Perhaps an iron bridge can be erected very quickly. Or a wooden bridge? There is a wooden bridge at Cambridge . . ." Just then Lucy appeared, white-faced and frightened. "Oh, there you are!" said Mr Winstanley. "Where is your mistress?" "What is the matter, Lucy?" asked David. "What in the world has happened to you?" "Oh, sir!" cried Lucy. "I ran up the high street to find my mistress, but when I