Our book group choice for May 2009 is A Far Cry from Kensington by Muriel Spark. Mrs. Hawkins, the majestic narrator of A Far Cry from Kensington, takes us well in hand, and leads us back to her threadbare years in postwar London.
A Far Cry from Kensington is a 1961 novel by Muriel Spark. The novel is narrated by Agnes (known as Nancy) Hawkins, a young war widow lodging in a rooming house in South Kensington and working as an editor at a struggling publishing house. The story centres on Wanda, a highly strung Polish dressmaker who is receiving various threatening letters, and on Hector Bartlett, who appears to be stalking Agnes and through whom she loses her job. The story also features the pseudoscience of radionics.
The novel is set in London in 1954, nine years after the end of World War II. The city is still recovering from the war, and the atmosphere is one of austerity and uncertainty. The characters in the novel are all struggling to find their place in the world, and they are all affected by the sense of unease and instability that pervades the city.
Wanda is a particularly tragic figure. She is a talented dressmaker, but she is also deeply insecure and paranoid. She is convinced that she is being persecuted by the Polish government, and she is constantly receiving threatening letters. The letters are never signed, and they never make any specific threats, but they are enough to make Wanda’s life a misery.
Hector Bartlett is another troubled character. He is a wealthy businessman who is obsessed with Agnes. He follows her around, sends her flowers, and tries to get her to go out with him. Agnes is initially flattered by Hector’s attention, but she soon realizes that he is a dangerous man. He is manipulative and controlling, and he is determined to have Agnes for himself.
The novel also features a number of other memorable characters, including Milly, the landlady of the rooming house; Mr. Penrose, the publisher; and Miss Brodie, the radionics expert. These characters all add to the sense of absurdity and quirkiness that pervades the novel.
Themes
The novel explores a number of themes, including paranoia, obsession, and the search for identity. The characters in the novel are all struggling to find their place in the world, and they are all affected by the sense of unease and instability that pervades the city.
The novel also explores the theme of power. Hector Bartlett is a wealthy and powerful man, and he uses his power to manipulate and control Agnes. Wanda is also a victim of power, as she is being persecuted by the Polish government.
Style
The novel is written in a witty and ironic style. Spark’s prose is sharp and incisive, and she skewers her characters with a merciless wit. The novel is also full of memorable imagery, such as the image of Wanda’s “haunted eyes” and Hector Bartlett’s “leering smile.”
Discussion Questions
- What was your initial reaction to the book? Did it hook you immediately, or take some time to get into?
- What was your favorite quote/passage?
- What made the setting unique or important? Could the story have taken place anywhere?
- Did you pick out any key themes throughout the book?
- Which character did you relate to the most, and what was it about them that you connected with?
- Did the book change your opinion or perspective about anything? Do you feel different now than you did before you read it?
- How did you feel about the ending? What did you like, what did you not like, and what do you wish had been different?
- To whom would you recommend the book?
- What is the significance of the title, A Far Cry from Kensington?
- How does the novel explore the themes of envy, paranoia, and deception?
- What is the role of Mrs. Hawkins in the novel?
- What is the significance of the anonymous letters that Wanda receives?
- What is the relationship between Hector Bartlett and Agnes Hawkins?
- What is the symbolism of the rooming house in the novel?
- How does the novel depict the publishing industry?
- What is the significance of the novel’s setting in 1950s London?
- How does the novel use humor to explore serious themes?
- What is the novel’s message about the human condition?
- How does the novel challenge traditional notions of morality?
- What is the novel’s relationship to other works by Muriel Spark?
- How does the novel reflect the social and political climate of the 1950s?