The Magic Toyshop (Paperback, Reissue)

Carter's second novel, first published in 1967, is set against the oppressive backdrop of a most bizarre household, complete with toyshop and puppet theatre. Fifteen-year-old Melanie and her younger siblings are thrust into this bleak, isolated world of their uncle's house, in an obscure part of South London, and have to cope with their new surroundings. With an extraordinary and intense characterization the novel plunges the reader into a vivid tale of youthful innocence, power struggles and family kinship. Winner of the 1967 John Llewellyn Rhys Prize. (Kirkus UK)

This crazy world whirled around her, men and women dwarfed by toys and puppets, where even the birds are mechanical and the few human figures went masked... She was in the night once again, and the doll was herself.' Melanie walks in the midnight garden, wearing her mother's wedding dress; naked she climbs the apple tree in the black of the moon. Omens of disaster, swiftly following, transport Melanie from rural comfort to London, to the Magic Toyshop. To the red-haired, dancing Finn, the gentle Francie, dumb Aunt Margaret and Uncle Phillip. Francie plays curious night music, Finn kisses fifteen-year-old Melanie in the mysterious ruins of the pleasure gardens. Brooding over all is Uncle Philip: Uncle Philip, with blank eyes the colour of wet newspaper, making puppets the size of men, and clockwork roses. He loves his magic puppets, but hates the love of man for woman, boy for girl, brother for sister...

General

Imprint:	Virago Press Ltd
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Series:	Virago Modern Classics
Release date:	December 1981
Authors:	Angela Carter
Introduction by:	Carmen Callil
Dimensions:	198 x 127 x 14mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback - B-format
Pages:	199
Edition:	Reissue
ISBN-13:	978-0-86068-190-8
Categories:	Books > Fiction > General & literary fiction > Modern fiction
LSN:	0-86068-190-4
Barcode:	9780860681908

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