The Little Black Book of Stories [Hardcover]

Five new stories from the author of Possession, A Whistling Woman, Angels and Insects and many other celebrated novels. The word 'black' in the title draws attention not just to an attractive feature of the cover design (austere black books stand out well in a display with all their gaudy display of competing designs), but also to a darkening of thematic tone, a lowering of the lights, as Byatt places her characters in a dark wood, has them argue about death and body parts, and introduces a particularly unforgettable evening class. A new collection from one of our most distinguished writers and critics. A major event, of course, and the literary world will sit up and take notice.

'Little Black Book of Stories is a showcase of Byatt's talents-the ideal primer for anyone who has not yet discovered A S Byatt, and a delight for those who have' Daily Telegraph --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

This title contains five stories, which are funny, spooky, sparkling and sad. Two women walk into a forest, as they did when they were girls, confronting their childhood fears and memories. An innocent member of an evening class turns out to have her own decided views on how to use "raw material".

'These little stories by one of Britain's foremost grandes dames of the writing world are a delightful surprise, packing a much greater punch than many full-length novels...They are moving, thought-provoking, witty and shocking all at once.' Sunday Telegraph

A new collection of stories from A.S Byatt is always a winner, and this one takes an unexpected turn, bringing shivers as well as delights. Leaves rustle underfoot in a dark wood: two middle-aged women walk into a forest, as they did when they were girls, confronting their fears and memories and the strange thing they saw in their childhood - or through they saw - so long ago. A man meets the ghost of his living wife; a woman turns inexorably to stone. Little Black Book of Stories hold its secrets, adding a dark quality to Byatt's famous skill in mixing folk and fairy tale with everyday life.

'Little Black Book of Stories is a cabinet of curiosities...glitteringly beautiful. Byatt is a vivid colourist.' Sunday Times

'As ever, Byatt's language has the clear intensity of a poem.' Daily Mail

'Each story resembles a novel in miniature...there is a unique, experimental feel to this engaging, unsettling collection.' Scotland on Sunday

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

A. S. Byatt is internationally acclaimed as a novelist, short story writer and critic. Educated at York and Newnham College, Cambridge, she taught at the Central School of Art and Design, and was Senior lecturer in English at University College, London, before becoming a full-time writer in 1983. She was appointed CBE in 1990 and DBE in 1999. Her most recent novel is A Whistling Woman, the conclusion of the famous 'Frederica' quartet.

The Thing in the Forest

There were once two little girls who saw, or believed they saw, a thing in a forest. The two little girls were evacuees, who had been sent away from the city by train, with a large number of other children. They all had their names attached to their coats with safety-pins, and they carried little bags or satchels and the regulation gas-mask…The two girls had not met before, and made friends on the train. They shared a square of chocolate and took alternate bites of an apple. Their names were Peggy and Primrose…Neither of them knew where they were going, nor how long the journey might take. They did not know even why they were going, since neither of their mothers had quite known how to explain the danger to them. How do you say to your child, I am sending you away, because enemy bombs may fall out of the sky, because the streets of the city may burn like forest fires of brick and timber, but I myself am staying here, in what I believe may be daily danger of burning, burying alive, gas, and ultimately perhaps a grey army rolling in on tanks over the suburbs, or sailing its submarines up our river, all guns blazing?
So the mothers (who did not resemble each other at all) behaved alike, and explained nothing, it was easier. Their daughters they knew were little girls, who would not be able to understand or imagine.