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Loitering with Intent

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Loitering with Intent

By: Muriel Spark
Narrated by: Nadia May
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"How wonderful to be an artist and a woman in the twentieth century," Fleur Talbot rejoices. Loitering about London in 1949, with intent to gather material for her writing, Fleur finds a job "on the grubby edge of the literary world", as secretary to the odd Autobiographical Association. Are they a group of mad egomaniacs, hilariously writing their memoirs in advance, or poor fools ensnared by a blackmailer? Rich material, in any case.

But when its pompous director, Sir Quentin, steals the manuscript of Fleur's new novel, fiction begins to appropriate life. The association's members begin to act out scenes exactly as Fleur herself had already written them in her missing manuscript. And as they meet darkly funny, pre-visioned fates, where does art start or reality end?

©1981 Copyright Administration, Ltd. (P)2002 Blackstone Audiobooks Women Feel-Good Witty Thought-Provoking
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Critic reviews

"I read this book in a delirium of delight. In Loitering with Intent, Miss Spark returns to the early flawless form of Memento Mori and The Comforters....Robust and full-bodied, a wise and mature work, and a brilliantly mischievous one." (The New York Times Book Review)

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If you like Muriel Spark, as I do, you will enjoy it. But if you’ve never read a book of hers I wouldn’t start with this one. I’m not sure what to say about it except it’s typical BUT I have enjoyed others much more. It lacks a certain something which the others have but I can’t put my finger on it. It’s less authentic somehow. Narrated very well.

Good

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The audible is well narrated and brings out Spark’s wicked wit. The second book in two days I’ve read set in the late 1940s. As someone who knows a lot about Catholicism the JH Newman references interested me. Since those days he has become a saint. I also know people who have worked for ‘our lady of Ransome’. Lots of gems about that time including the use of Dexedrine for slimming and other issues such as rationing. A brilliant author who writes great characterisations.

Loitering with a cardinal

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I came to Muriel Spark, thinking it was Muriel Gray!?! But this was a very happy accident.

It was published in 1981, yet based in 1950, it felt it had been written then. Farcical novel style. It was a riotousness of class and restrictions of post war times.

Lady Edwina a delight, whom I awaited to enter stage left! A true accomplice and backbone of the novel.

Favourite line, "wipe their ass with death certificates"

Narrator was brilliant!

happy accident

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You might be a little put off by the narrator’s voice, but do persist. This is a very enjoyable and funny novel. It’s not one of Muriel Spark’s best, but it is very amusing skit on plagiarism and a riff on the old-fashioned detective story.

Great Fun

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Adored the wonderful Miss Talbot, and everyone needs an Edwina in their lives. If you want to jump back to the 40s with a little kickarse heroine this is for you.

Delightful

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