A. S. Byatt wrote one of my favorite novels: Possession. Possession went on to win the 1990 Booker Prize. It’s the story of a pair of academics trying to solve a literary mystery.
Byatt’s Medusa’s Ankles: Selected Stories presents a cross-section of her work. From realistic stories like “Raw Material”–a story about a creative writing teacher who actually finds a student whose writing is genuinely creative–to “A Stone Woman” where a woman is literally turning to stone, these tales tantalize and surprise.
The two stories I enjoyed the most would probably fall into the category of Fantasy. “The Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye” is the longest story in Medusa’s Ankles; it’s almost 100 pages. The story involves a professor of narratology, Gillian Perholdt, who attends an academic conference in Turkey after her husband leaves her and says good-bye through a fax. Gillian Perholt buys a beautiful bottle and guess what? Yes, a djinn (aka, genie) appears and grants her three wishes. Plenty of humor and pathos follow. “The Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye” is a master class in story telling and narratology.
My second favorite story is “Cold.” In a kingdom long ago, the Queen–after giving birth to 12 boys–finally gives birth to a girl. The girl is “fragile” and wan. But, her tutor starts to formulate a theory of her health. When he spies the Princess dancing in the snow, he realizes her true nature. But, when the Princess marries, she’s confronted by the consequences of her true nature.
A. S. Byatt is a marvelous writer. Her stories, whether realistic or fantastic, will sweep you away! GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
INTRODUCTION By David Mitchell — vii
The July ghost — 3
Sugar — 21
Precipice-encurled — 55
Racine and the tablecloth — 85
Medusa’s ankles — 117
The Chinese lobster — 131
Dragons’ breath — 155
The Djinn in the nightingale’s eye — 165
A Lamia in the Cévennes — 263
Christ in the house of Martha and Mary — 281
Cold — 289
Heavenly bodies — 325
Raw material — 335
A stone woman — 359
The narrow jet — 391
Dolls’ eyes — 415
The lucid dreamer — 429
Sea story — 437
I love POSSESSION—it’s like a literary mystery-romance. I’ve had lesser success with some of her other work, although I liked ANGELS AND INSECTS and THE VIRGIN IN THE GARDEN. Incidentally, Byatt is Margaret Drabble’s sister and, apparently, there has been bad blood between them since childhood. They tend to snipe at each other through literary works and references.
Like Olivia and Joan?
Things I didn’t know: Byatt (Dame Antonia) is 85, Drabble (Dame Margaret) is 82. Drabble’s first husband was the late Clive Swift, best known as the long-suffering Richard Bucket (“It’s Bou-quet!”) in KEEPING UP APPEARANCES.
Jeff, as Deb notes, the sisters have feuded their entire lives. There must be a good story there somewhere…
Deb, I’ve heard about the Byatt vs. Drabble feud. I prefer Byatt’s writings to Drabble’s, but they are both excellent writers.
Narratology is a class? I never heard of it. Sounds like something I might like, though 100 pages stories are not my favorite.
Jeff, “The Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye” flies by. It seems more like 30 pages.
Loved POSSESSION too. But on the whole , I liked Drabble more.
Patti, I’ve read more Byatt than Drabble so I should try to remedy that in 2022.
Believe it or not, I read Drabble’s biography of Arnold Bennett in the ’70s.
Jeff, I have some Arnold Bennett on my book shelves and plan to finally read one in 2022!
100 pages is closer to a novelette than a short story, isn’t it?
Rick, the definitions of novelette, novella, and short story have a lot of wiggle room.
It’s certainly a novella, but in our novel-obsessed lit culture, all shorter fiction can get lumped together as Lesser.
Todd, as I get older, I’d rather read a good short story than what Henry James called “large, loose, baggy monsters”–novels.
That’s been true of me for most if not all my literate life. I can enjoy a novel, but will never see shorter forms as inferior without a rather abrupt turnaround.
This book definitely sounds interesting, George. Also the novel, Possession. I have no experience reading anything by A.S. Byatt. But I had heard about the feud with Margaret Drabble. I haven’t read anything by her either.
Tracy, you have plenty of great reading ahead of you if you try Byatt and Drabble! POSSESSION is one of my favorite books of all time.
I have bought a number of Byatt’s books, but have read very little. I have read “A Stone Woman,” which I liked a lot.
This is at least the second book of hers with a Matisse cover. I don’t imagine a lesser writer could manage that.
Jeff, hope your recovery is going well! Byatt obviously has a thing for Matisse!