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The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye
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About the Author

A. S. Byatt was the author of numerous novels, including The Children’s Book, The Biographer’s Tale, and Possession, which was awarded the Booker Prize. She also wrote two novellas, published together as Angels & Insects, five collections of short stories, and several works of nonfiction. A distinguished critic and author, and the recipient of the 2016 Erasmus Prize for her “inspiring contribution to ‘life writing,’” she died in 2023.

Reviews

"A storyteller who could keep a sultan on the edge of his throne for a thousand and one nights." —The New York Times Book Review

"A dreamy treat. . . . It is not merely strange, it is wondrous." —Boston Globe

"Alternatingly erudite and earthy, direct and playful. . . . If Scheherazade ever needs a break, Byatt can step in, indefinitely." —Chicago Tribune

"Byatt's writing is crystalline and splendidly imaginative. . . . These [are] perfectly formed tales." —Washington Post Book World

"Those new to the world of Byatt might well begin here, with these tales-within-tales, which one can read as anything from contemporary allegories—such as the superb Dragon's Breath, evoking every idyll that ever fell foul of war or famine—to sheer celebrations of storytelling itself." —Vogue

"The familiar elements of fairy story come to life under A.S. Byatt's touch . . . with lightness, precision, grace." —Observer

"A cerebral extravaganza, bristling with ideas." —Spectator

"The fairy story is obviously a form that fascinates A.S. Byatt, it suits her spare, cool prose and this collection enables her to create very different effects . . . a beautifully produced book." —Financial Times

"As with all of Byatt's work, there is a fierce intelligence at play, and beautifully nuanced prose." —Publisher's Weekly

The enjoyment of fairy tales comes from new ways of telling old themes. The underlying stories are predictable‘innocence is tested, a mission accomplished, a lesson learned, and an adult finally born‘but the characters, adventures, and outcome vary with each telling. However, every once in a while this pattern gets bent or broken, as in Byatt's collection of five previously published stories. Each story is refreshingly different, eloquently detailing the story's setting, and each contains developed characters and dialog that make them truly enjoyable. The last and title story is the length of a small novella and is itself a collection of stories within a story. Readers who can keep up will have a fascinating adventure wandering from story to story as a modern middle-aged woman is granted three wishes by a highly personal and experienced genie. More than a play on words, this piece is a play on storytelling. Byatt has redesigned the fairy tale, breathing new life into old themes, and has done it with talent to spare. For all collections. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 7/97.]‘Laurel Duda, Marine Biological Lab., Woods Hole, Mass.

"A storyteller who could keep a sultan on the edge of his throne for a thousand and one nights." -The New York Times Book Review

"A dreamy treat. . . . It is not merely strange, it is wondrous." -Boston Globe

"Alternatingly erudite and earthy, direct and playful. . . . If Scheherazade ever needs a break, Byatt can step in, indefinitely." -Chicago Tribune

"Byatt's writing is crystalline and splendidly imaginative. . . . These [are] perfectly formed tales." -Washington Post Book World

"Those new to the world of Byatt might well begin here, with these tales-within-tales, which one can read as anything from contemporary allegories-such as the superb Dragon's Breath, evoking every idyll that ever fell foul of war or famine-to sheer celebrations of storytelling itself." -Vogue

"The familiar elements of fairy story come to life under A.S. Byatt's touch . . . with lightness, precision, grace." -Observer

"A cerebral extravaganza, bristling with ideas." -Spectator

"The fairy story is obviously a form that fascinates A.S. Byatt, it suits her spare, cool prose and this collection enables her to create very different effects . . . a beautifully produced book." -Financial Times

"As with all of Byatt's work, there is a fierce intelligence at play, and beautifully nuanced prose." -Publisher's Weekly

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