Publisher's Weekly
The peerless author of A Far Cry from Kensington brings to her latest work a comedian's split-second timing and a classical fascination with fatality. Ten stylish Londoners assemble for a dinner party: as Charterhouse, the all-too-well-named butler, offers each course, Spark serves up a mercilessly economical history of the two hosts, their various guests and the distinguished Hilda Damien, who is expected ''to look in'' after dinner. But early on Spark has privileged the reader with information that might be shocking were it not so shrewdly incorporated: ''But Hilda Damien will not come in after dinner. She is dying, now, as they speak.'' Polished and witty, the narrative cuts from the banquet to episodes in the recent past that link Hilda's death to her associations with the other characters. Especially scrutinized is odd young Margaret, Hilda's new daughter-in-law, whose proximity to the victims of apparently unrelated and bizarre murders engenders the suspicions of even her fond father. Spark's exquisitely balanced tone proves that the richest comedy is that which explores the darkest themes.
Library Journal
Despite the title, no meeting of minds takes place in Spark's astringent new novel. There is, however, a smart London dinner party at which the threads of her narrative simultaneously come together and unravel. Guests of honor are Hilda's son William and his louche bride Margaret, but Hilda herself, a rich widow with doubts about her new daughter-in-law, is inexplicably absent. When the police finally arrive with grim news, Margaret is aghast--''It shouldn't have been till Sunday!''--and the help are very anxious to leave. Nothing is what it seems in Spark's world, and her treatment is so fast and furious that readers new to her work may not know what hit them. A delight, but mainly for fans. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 8/90.-- Grove Koger, Boise P.L., Ind.
The peerless author of A Far Cry from Kensington brings to her latest work a comedian's split-second timing and a classical fascination with fatality. Ten stylish Londoners assemble for a dinner party: as Charterhouse, the all-too-well-named butler, offers each course, Spark serves up a mercilessly economical history of the two hosts, their various guests and the distinguished Hilda Damien, who is expected ''to look in'' after dinner. But early on Spark has privileged the reader with information that might be shocking were it not so shrewdly incorporated: ''But Hilda Damien will not come in after dinner. She is dying, now, as they speak.'' Polished and witty, the narrative cuts from the banquet to episodes in the recent past that link Hilda's death to her associations with the other characters. Especially scrutinized is odd young Margaret, Hilda's new daughter-in-law, whose proximity to the victims of apparently unrelated and bizarre murders engenders the suspicions of even her fond father. Spark's exquisitely balanced tone proves that the richest comedy is that which explores the darkest themes.
Library Journal
Despite the title, no meeting of minds takes place in Spark's astringent new novel. There is, however, a smart London dinner party at which the threads of her narrative simultaneously come together and unravel. Guests of honor are Hilda's son William and his louche bride Margaret, but Hilda herself, a rich widow with doubts about her new daughter-in-law, is inexplicably absent. When the police finally arrive with grim news, Margaret is aghast--''It shouldn't have been till Sunday!''--and the help are very anxious to leave. Nothing is what it seems in Spark's world, and her treatment is so fast and furious that readers new to her work may not know what hit them. A delight, but mainly for fans. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 8/90.-- Grove Koger, Boise P.L., Ind.
Used availability for Muriel Spark's Symposium
See all available used copies of this book at: Abebooks UK or Abebooks US
Hardback Editions
May 1993 : Hardback
| Title: Symposium Author(s): Spark Muriel ISBN: 0-517-10398-2 / 978-0-517-10398-2 (USA edition) Publisher: Haynes Publications Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
June 1991 : Hardback
| Title: Symposium (Thorndike Large Print Cloak and Dagger Series) Author(s): Muriel Spark ISBN: 1-56054-164-4 / 9781560541646 (USA edition) Publisher: Thorndike Pr Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
May 1991 : Hardback
| Title: Symposium Author(s): Muriel Spark ISBN: 1-85089-473-6 / 9781850894735 (UK edition) Publisher: ISIS Large Print Books Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
November 1990 : Hardback
| Title: Symposium Author(s): Muriel Spark ISBN: 0-395-51101-1 / 978-0-395-51101-5 (USA edition) Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (T) Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
1990 : Hardback
| Title: Symposium Author(s): Muriel Spark ISBN: 0-09-469660-8 / 978-0-670-83672-7 (UK edition) Publisher: Constable Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
1990 : Hardback
| Title: Symposium Author(s): Muriel Spark ISBN: 0-670-83672-9 / 978-0-670-83672-7 (USA, AU, or UK edition) Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
Paperback Editions
October 2006 : Paperback
| Title: Symposium: A Novel (New Directions Classics) Author(s): Muriel Spark ISBN: 0-8112-1659-4 / 978-0-8112-1659-3 (USA edition) Publisher: New Directions Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
September 2006 : Paperback
| Title: Symposium Author(s): Muriel Spark ISBN: 1-84408-247-4 / 9781844082476 (UK edition) Publisher: Virago Press Ltd Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
1992 : Paperback
| Title: Symposium Author(s): Spark. Muriel Publisher: Penguin Availability: Amazon UK More details... |
1992 : Paperback
| Title: SYMPOSIUM. Author(s): Muriel. Spark ISBN: 0-380-71553-8 / 978-0-380-71553-4 (USA edition) Publisher: P/B Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
October 1991 : Paperback
| Title: Symposium Author(s): Muriel Spark ISBN: 0-14-012309-1 / 978-0-14-012309-8 (UK edition) Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd Availability: Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
September 1991 : Paperback
| Title: Symposium Author(s): Muriel Spark ISBN: 0-14-015222-9 / 978-0-14-015222-7 (UK edition) Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 1990 : Paperback
| Title: Symposium Author(s): Muriel SPARK Publisher: Unknown Availability: Amazon More details... |
January 1988 : Paperback
| Title: Symposium Author(s): Muriel Spark Publisher: Resource Publications (CA) Availability: Amazon More details... |
Audio Editions
October 2007 : Audio CD
| Title: Symposium Author(s): Muriel Spark ISBN: 0-7531-2757-1 / 978-0-7531-2757-5 (UK edition) Publisher: ISIS Audio Books Availability: Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
October 2007 : Audio Cassette
| Title: Symposium Author(s): Muriel Spark ISBN: 0-7531-3782-8 / 978-0-7531-3782-6 (UK edition) Publisher: ISIS Publishing Availability: Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
Other Editions
1990 : Unknown
| Title: SYMPOSIUM. Author(s): Muriel. Spark Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company, Availability: Amazon More details... |
1990 : Unknown
| Title: Symposium Author(s): Muriel Spark Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Boston 1990 Availability: Amazon More details... |
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