Last week, at her Short Story Wednesday post, Patricia Abbott featured a short story collection by Muriel Spark, The Stories of Muriel Spark. Later my husband found this ghost story by Muriel Spark in one of his ghost story anthologies, The Literary Ghost: Great Contemporary Ghost Stories, edited by Larry Dark. Last night I read the first three stories in The Literary Ghost, including "The Portobello Road" by Muriel Spark.
Of the three stories, "The Portobello Road" was easily my favorite. In this story, the ghost is the narrator. For some reason, not described in detail, this ghost had more business to finish and had not left the earth. She often strolled down Portobello Road, checking out the marketers and their stalls on the pavement. On one of her strolls she sees two people she knows, Kathleen and George. She speaks to the man and he can see her, although the woman cannot. From this point the ghost tells the story of herself (nicknamed "Needle"), and three of her childhood friends, Kathleen, George and a boy named "Skinny." They are very close friends while in school, but after they graduate, they go off to other areas, even other continents. George goes to manage his uncle's farm in Africa, and Skinny and Needle end up visiting him there. Kathleen stays in London with her rich connections. George eventually ends up returning to Great Britain because he wants to marry Kathleen, which leads to Needle's eventual death. This is my kind of ghost story.
Per EBSCO Knowledge Advantage this story was first published in 1958.
The first story in the book, "The Lost, Strayed, Stolen," by M.F.K. Fisher did not appeal to me at all. I think that the ghost story may be a fine one, and it is spooky, but for my tastes there was not enough background to flesh it out.
The third story was "The Ghost Who Vanished by Degrees" by Robertson Davies. I thought it was pretty good. It was about a professor at a college who ends up trapped in a room with a ghost who wants to defend his Ph.D. thesis because he never got the chance to do that while alive. It was shorter than the others and on the humorous side. A light read but not silly.
I will be revisiting this anthology more this month, and in another post I will list all the stories and authors in the book.
17 comments:
Portobello Road does sound good, Tracy. It sounds like a look at the place and the people who work there as well as 'Needles'' own story. I ought to try some of Spark's short stories myself.
I agree with Margot, Portobello Road does sound good. I've not read anything by Muriel Spark at all, but it reminded me of a book I read about lighthouse keepers. A chap was staying with three on a lighthouse and they were great readers. One said to the other, 'How's that book by Muriel Spark going?' And the other one opened a window and chucked the book out of it. Not someting I would do, but it made me laugh.
I loved Robertson Davies once upon a time. I don't think I read his short stories though. Will look for Portobello.
This sounds like a fun collection for October reading! The cover is really cute, too. I've not read anything by Muriel Spark, but I have one of hers on my next CC list.
Margot, I was glad I read this story because it illustrates the range of short stories available. I have always avoided short stories and I should try more. And it was the first thing I can remember reading by Muriel Spark.
Cath, That is a funny story about the readers in the lighthouse. I would not throw a book out either but still amusing. I have only read this story by Muriel Spark but I am planning to read The Prime of Miss Jean Brody soon for my classics list. I enjoyed Spark's ghost story a lot. But it was not the spooky sort.
I agree with Kelly: this sounds like a fun collection for October reading!
Patti, I read about half of Fifth Business about 3 years ago and I liked it, but the edition I was reading had tiny print and I just could not finish it. I hope to find a better copy and get back to it someday.
Kelly, I thought this month was a good month to try some ghost stories and get over my aversion to them. So far it is going fine.
George, As I said to Kelly, so far so good. Many of the authors that have stories in the anthology will be interesting to read for the first time.
That book sounds good to me as well!
Sheila, I have been so busy lately that I have not read any more stories in the book; I hope to get back to it soon. I am inexperienced with ghost stories so I want to see what other types of stories are in the book.
I want this book.
I still need to read Muriel Spark. She's a writer who's long been on my TBR list. I hear she is top-notch, right?
Ryan, It is a very nice book. Glen has had his copy a long time and we don't even remember when or where he got it. I hope you run into a copy someday.
Susan, In general I think that Muriel Spark is a highly regarded author. I am planning to read The Prime of Miss Jean Brody soon for my classics list and I will see how it goes.
The first book by Spark I read, when I was twelve or so, was her fine (and first) collection THE GO-AWAY BIRD...I haven't read enough of her work since. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Go-Away_Bird_and_Other_Stories
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