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In the Spirit of Spark
In November 2017 Ali Smith gave the annual Muriel Spark Lecture to kick off the Muriel Spark centenary celebrations. Those lucky enough to get tickets were treated to an invigorating, joyous call-and-response between two of our best writers, both supremely talented in the playful interrogation of truth, power, art and living. In Spark, Smith finds the most formidable inspiration. In Smith, Spark has a formidable champion, one who shows us how Spark's work resonates now more than ever. If you want to read a regenerative blast in praise of how and why fiction matters, start here, and, as Spark writes, `Hear me to the end.'
53 pages, Paperback
First published July 5, 2018
2 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
Ali Smith
154Ìýbooks5,178ÌýfollowersAli Smith is a writer, born in Inverness, Scotland, to working-class parents. She was raised in a council house in Inverness and now lives in Cambridge. She studied at Aberdeen, and then at Cambridge, for a Ph.D. that was never finished. In a 2004 interview with writing magazine Mslexia, she talked briefly about the difficulty of becoming ill with chronic fatigue syndrome for a year and how it forced her to give up her job as a lecturer at University of Strathclyde to focus on what she really wanted to do: writing. She has been with her partner Sarah Wood for 17 years and dedicates all her books to her.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 20, 2023
3.5 stars
November 24, 2020
Een tussendoortje voor deze die-hard Ali Smith fan die schrik heeft om 'Summer' te lezen, want stel dat die zou ontgoochelen, dan is 2020 helemaal om zeep. Dus 'In the spirit of Spark' en het enige dat om zeep is, is mijn nog-te-lezenlijst die toch opnieuw boven de 1000 uitkomt.
January 20, 2019
Informative and wonderfully playful.
April 14, 2023
3.5 Stars �
May 15, 2019
Ali Smith is a big fan of Muriel Spark and it's a pleasure to 'hear' her explain what's so great about her. Thanks to her envangelism (while promoting Winter), I have now read two of Sparks' novels and intend to read more.
November 21, 2019
I reckon this was good, but I read it on a train and I can remember absolutely nothing of it.
January 14, 2023
Love Muriel Spark. Love Ali Smith. Wish I could've attended this lecture. Want to read all the rest of Spark's books asap.
February 8, 2024
Makes me want to read all the Spark I haven't read: and reread the Spark I have.
December 29, 2024
bought this in st andrews because i’ve been trying to get into ali smith for a while and also am interested in reading muriel spark’s work and when in scotland! it was only a lecture summary basically, but it was charming and very timely and convinced me to read muriel spark eventually
January 2, 2021
One of my favourite living authors talking about one of my favourite dead ones. What, as they say, is not to like?
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
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