Angela Carter

Posted on | February 16, 2010 | 51 Comments

Angela Carter died eighteen years ago today from cancer; to say that her death was a loss to literature is an understatement. At the time of her death she was working on a sequel to Jane Eyre that followed the older Adèle Varens, Jane’s stepdaughter; only a synopsis of this work survives and that is a loss in itself. I have found no other writer -the only ones whom I can compare with Carter are also favourites of mine, Salman Rushdie and Gabriel Garcia Marquez- whose prose is as rich and luxurious as Carter’s; she played wonderfully witty games with language and I luxuriate in it whilst trying to spot all of her literary allusions and appreciate her symbolism as well as being immersed in her colourfully-crafted plots.

I have read all of her short stories and all but two of her novels; I have been rationing those as once I have read them then it’s over … I have no more Angela Carter fiction to experience. Her non-fiction, her journalism, is also sublime and I do have that to fall back on and The Sadeian Woman, her treatise on moral pornography; furthermore there are her dramatic works and her libretto for an opera of Orlando by Virginia Woolf yet to read and the plethora of secondary material on Angela Carter is enough to keep me reading long into my old age. I have been saving some of these for a rainy day and there may be one or two April showers on the forecast…

In April 2010 I am hosting an Angela Carter month and all you have to do to participate is read at least one book by Angela Carter. I know some of you have been wanting to read her and I have been laying the groundwork for this feature for some time, planning it behind-the-scenes and planting the seed in some of my favourite bloggers’ heads that you have to read one of her books (I jest; although I have been recommending her here and there since I began blogging, it has been with no ulterior motive other than that I think her books are wonderful). Whether you read the surreal The Magic Toyshop; the bizarre The Passion of New Eve; the revolutionary Nights at the Circus; the Shakespearean Wise Children; the revisionist The Bloody Chamber, I do hope that you read her and that you enjoy my posts in April celebrating this unique, trail-blazing author.

I shall be hosting give-aways (with thanks to Virago Press and Vintage Books) in the lead up to and during Angela Carter month but in the meantime here is one to start us off and commemorate the anniversary of Angela Carter’s death. To win a copy of The Bloody Chamber, a collection of short stories that are feminist reworkings of fairy tales (that make perfect reading for Carl’s annual Once Upon a Time Challenge) all you have to do is tell me which fairy tale or revised fairy tale is your favourite and why? The draw is open worldwide and you have until Tuesday 23rd at twelve noon GMT to enter*.

***This draw is now closed***

Category: Angela Carter Month, Challenges, Competitions
Tags: Angela Carter > Vintage Books > Virago

Comments

51 Responses to “Angela Carter”

uberVU - social comments
February 16th, 2010 @ 11:24 am

Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by paperbk_reader: Today marks eighteen years since Angela Carter died and I have a tribute of my own: http://paperback-reader.co.uk/2010/02/16/angela-carter/...
Verity
February 16th, 2010 @ 11:32 am

What a beautiful collection of books. Very inspiring! As you know, my experiences with AC have been mixed, but I agree with Vintage on twitter today that they would bring colour to February.

I have two more ACs to read for my VVV (Fireworks and Several Perceptions) so I shall endeavour to read them in April.
Nymeth
February 16th, 2010 @ 11:33 am

Beautiful tribute, Claire. I didn’t know she was working on a Jane Eyre sequel at the time of her death. Oh, that would have been wonderful

No need to enter me (LOVE The Bloody Chamber, as I’m sure you could have guessed), but excellent giveaway!
Annabel (gaskella)
February 16th, 2010 @ 11:44 am

What a wonderful idea. I’ve only read Nights at the circus, which I admit I did find difficult. She is an author I’ve been meaning to get to grips properly with for some time though – which should I read?
A Bookish Space
February 16th, 2010 @ 12:52 pm

I’ve not read any Angela Carter so will be looking forward to your Angela Carter month. My favourite fairy tale is the Little Mermaid, as when I was younger I adored the Disney film of the same name.
Rachel
February 16th, 2010 @ 1:05 pm

Wonderful post! I read The Magic Toyshop at university and have another couple of her books knocking about at home but have never picked them up. I love her writing style and agree that she died far too young; a great loss to literature, and a sadly underrated one at that. So count me in – I’ll dig out my copies of her books in time for April.

I’d love to be entered into the draw! My favourite fairytale is Cinderella, because everybody gets what they deserve and true love wins out!
Jackie (Farm Lane Books)
February 16th, 2010 @ 1:42 pm

Your not so subliminal messages have been getting through to me! I now own Nights at the Circus and The Magic Toyshop, but haven’t actually read any of her books yet. I’m tempted to read both for your special month, but which one should I start with?
Rebecca Reid
February 16th, 2010 @ 1:44 pm

I haven’t read any Angela Carter, so I’d love to be entered for this giveaway.

I love a lot of fairy tales. Last year I read a long collection of Grimm’s tales. I liked one about a person that was turned in to a swan but I can’t remember the details about it and I can’t find it now! I also like the Fisherman and his Wife. And The Goose Girl — I haven’t read the retelling by Shannon Hale but I want to!
Kirsty (Other Stories)
February 16th, 2010 @ 1:52 pm

I read ‘Wise Children’ last year and loved it, and I also have a first edition of ‘Nights at the Circus’. Looking forward to Carter Month!
Eva
February 16th, 2010 @ 2:06 pm

I wasn’t a huge fan of The Bloody Chamber; I loved half the stories, but felt ‘meh’ about some of the other ones. I do have two of her books on my TBR shelf, though: Nights at the Circus & The Infernal Machinations, etc., etc. So I’ll definitely join you in April!
Steph
February 16th, 2010 @ 2:32 pm

I have the collected short stories of Carter, so no need to enter me for this giveaway! I also have a copy of Wise Children, but admit that I haven’t made the time to read it yet. I think I will wait until April to do so – it’s just the push I’ve been looking for!
kiss a cloud
February 16th, 2010 @ 6:07 pm

Well of course I’ll join you for Angela Carter month. Comparing her to Rushdie and Garcia Marquez makes her even more tempting. No need to enter me as I think I’ll opt to read a novel instead of stories. Thinking of The Magic Toyshop or Wise Children or Nights at the Circus. Or maybe Love. How did you find Love, in comparison to her more popular titles?
Carl V.
February 16th, 2010 @ 6:43 pm

What a wonderful collection. I haven’t had the pleasure of reading anything by Carter except The Bloody Chamber, which I loved. I’ve read it, read stories out of it again to myself, and read some of them aloud to my wife. Brilliant work. I plan to read more of her work in the future.
Jo
February 16th, 2010 @ 9:15 pm

I have never read anything by Angela Carter, but I am always intrigued by retellings of fairy tales. My favorite is Beauty and the Beast. I love the original (Beauty is the least selfish of her father’s daughters, she must go to the Beast to keep her father’s bargain, and before dying (and transforming), the Beast confesses all to Beauty), and I love the Disney version (I am still firmly convinced that the gift of a library is the BEST and most romantic of gifts!).
Aimee
February 16th, 2010 @ 10:38 pm

Oh my goodness, great idea! I am so in. And please enter me for the giveaway!

x
Aimee
Aimee
February 16th, 2010 @ 10:42 pm

Oh crap, I didn’t put in my favourite fairytale. I would have to say that my favourite fairy tale is ‘The Donkey Skin’. I remember reading it, and was astounded that a princess could turn ugly. By the end of it, even though the princess got her beauty back, she was transformed under the donkey skin and understood that looks arent everything – what a great moral.

x
Aimee
Mae
February 17th, 2010 @ 12:51 am

What a wonderful idea! I love Angela Carter and have coincidentally just ordered her translation of Charles Perrault’s fairytales. I think her work is timeless and, of course, I enjoy the feminist aspect of it.

My favourite revisionist fairytale would have to tie between Bluebeard and Red Riding Hood. It just oozes sexuality.
Claire (The Captive Reader)
February 17th, 2010 @ 12:58 am

I’ve never read any Angela Carter and a month devoted to her seems a perfect way for us to be introduced! Looking forward to it!

My favourite fairy tale has always been Cinderella. The version my Czech grandmother told me as a child took place over three nights, rather than one, and had three walnuts, each containing a dress. When my grandmother told it, she would always let me describe the dresses – I always had some very detailed outfits thought out, long before bedtime.
Mrs.B
February 17th, 2010 @ 3:19 am

Fabulous idea Claire! Now I have no excuse not to read the two Angela Carter books I have on my TBR pile.

By the way, no need to enter me in this contest as I already have a copy of the Bloody Chamber.
Paperback Reader
February 17th, 2010 @ 11:40 am

Verity, I do love my Angela Carter shelf; it is very colourful and her books would definitely brighten up a dull February (I want to read something now as opposed to waiting until April!) I hope that you enjoy the two VMCs of hers that you have left.

Thank you, Ana. I think of how much I love Wide Sargasso Sea and feel cheated by nature that AC’s vision of a JE sequel wasn’t fulfilled. I had a feeling that you loved The Bloody Chamber!

Annabel, which aspects of Nights at the Circus did you find difficult? It is quite postmodern so I can appreciate that there are difficulties to be found in it. Since you are such a fan of fairy tale elements then I would suggest The Bloody Chamber. Good luck!

A Bookish Space, I love The Little Mermaid too.

Rachel, The Magic Toyshop is a popular university text. I’m so pleased that you will be joining in during April and appreciate Carter’s writing style and contribution to literature. She is far too underrated and is deserving of a month’s focus!

Jackie, Nights at the Circus is my favourite and for that reason (and others – including Annabel’s comment) I suggest starting with The Magic Toyshop. I’m nervous about you reading her! There is plot in her novels but I’m not sure if there is enough to sustain your interest… we shall see.

Rebecca, consider yourself entered! I love Grimm’s fairy tales and dip in and out of my copy a lot; I enjoyed reading The Fisherman and his Wife recently whilst reading To the Lighthouse (it was mentioned in the text so I referred to the original).

Kirsty, Wise Children is fabulous and I am envious of your first edition of Nights at the Circus! I own a couple of her other books in firsts but that one is my favourite.

Eva, I’m so glad that you will be joining in! I adore The Bloody Chamber but do agree that some of the stories are stronger than the others (the case with the majority of short story volumes). The Infernal Desires… is one of the two novels that I haven’t read and the one I plan on reading in April.

Steph, I’m delighted that I could provide that push! I hope you love Wise Children; it is a brilliant homage to Shakespeare and was her last novel.
Paperback Reader
February 17th, 2010 @ 12:01 pm

Yay, Claire! Love is curious; it is shorter than others; evocative of the 1960s; wonderful examination of relationships; owes a lot to Carter’s interest in Poe (the main characters are named Annabel and Lee!) I am going to try and reread as much of her work as possible for April but Love is top of the list.

Carl, would the future extend to April? There are others from her oeuvre that would apply to your challenge as well as The Bloody Chamber. I love your enthusiasm for the collection and share it; I often reread a story from it here and there.

Jo, I think you would be interested in Carter’s retelling of Beauty and the Beast (in fact, if you look at my favourite short stories on the right, click on “The Company of Wolves” and then scroll up, you will be able to read it -”The Courtship of Mr Lyon”).
The gift of the library in the Disney adaptation is THE best gift! I love the movie.

Aimee, thanks for your interest in participating and the enthusiasm! Angela Carter also retells Donkey Skin in another volume of her short stories.

Mae, I love the providential ordering of the translation of Perrault tales! I have those too. I wholeheartedly concur with you that she is timeless.

Have you read the story “Bluebeard’s Egg” by Margaret Atwood? That’s a clever revisionist and feminist story.

Claire, I hope that you enjoy the introduction in April. Another vote for Cinderella and also a favourite of mine. That’s a lovely recollection about your grandmother telling you the Czech version; I think that story may be in a Maria Tatar collection that I own.

Mrs. B. no excuse at all! Hee, glad you’ll be joining in.
anothercookiecrumbles
February 17th, 2010 @ 11:21 pm

That sounds like a fantastic month – I’ll definitely be joining in! Completely unaware that it was eighteen years ago yesterday that she died, but, I did pick out Several Perceptions from my shelf, and am reading it at the moment – head start for April, maybe?

As for my favourite fairy tale… umm, Rumpelstiltskin or, Beauty and the Beast. I was once Snow White in a school play though…

Beauty and the Beast was probably because I loved the soundtrack of the Disney movie. Rumpelstiltskin simply because it was so different from any of the other fairy tales I read. Not only was the ending grossly disturbing (definitely not child-friendly), but I think there was a fair bit of symbology present in the story – what/who is Rumpelstiltskin? The inner demon? The easy way out? The devil reincarnate? It’s a good story!
Paperback Reader
February 18th, 2010 @ 11:13 am

Head start indeed, anothercookie! how coincidental, even fated…

I love Rumpelstiltskin and it was my favourite as a child; I had a Ladybird copy of the tale with amazing illustrations. I was also a big fan of “The Three Spinners” by the Brothers Grimm.
Michelle (su[shu])
February 19th, 2010 @ 9:12 am

I bought The Bloody Chamber about a month ago, so no need to enter me for this either. But I haven’t read it yet. I’ll try to fit it in for April this year, (it’s going to be a super busy month for me this year). But definitely heard good things about her, and looking forward to April. =)
Paperback Reader
February 19th, 2010 @ 9:44 pm

Michelle, I hope you will be able to fit in The Bloody Chamber during the Carter month. I forgot that I shall be away for a long weekend at the end of April but hoping it won’t impact too heavily on my plans.
Kate Barber (katebarber1)
February 20th, 2010 @ 5:57 pm

I haven’t read any Angela Carter yet, although the idea of fairy tales being retold means I have even more of an excuse to watch the films!

My favourite fairy story is most probably Beauty and the Beast, I love the whole story! And as a kid I was obsessed with the Disney film, especially Belle’s dress!
Vasilly
February 20th, 2010 @ 6:12 pm

I think an Angela Carter month is a great idea! I’ll definitely be joining you. I already have The Bloody Chamber so no need to enter me in the contest. Favorite fairy tale: Little Red Riding Hood.
Paperback Reader
February 20th, 2010 @ 7:46 pm

Hi Kate, thanks for commenting for the first time. I do love watching fairy tales and love all things fairy in general. Beauty and the Beast is one of my favourites too and definitely my favourite Disney film.

Vasilly, thanks for joining in – I’m looking forward to it! Little Red Riding Hood is a fantastic tale and I adore the revisions of it, especially Carter’s.
Amanda
February 21st, 2010 @ 2:17 am

Hi Claire! Thanks for letting me know about your giveaway here. Let’s see…my favorite fairy tale retelling is probably Tender Morsels because I didn’t realize it was a retelling. I would have preferred never to know, honestly. But if I have to pick from ones I’ve known were retellings, Matchless by Gregory Maguire was nice.
Amanda
February 21st, 2010 @ 2:18 am

Oh, I suppose I should have answered the question about favorite original fairy tale, but I don’t really have one. Most of the fairy tales I”ve read are the disney-fied versions and I don’t like them much. When I was little I had a Thumbilina book I loved, though…I didn’t really know the story, but it’s the first thing that comes to mind.
Paperback Reader
February 21st, 2010 @ 11:34 am

Amanda, it seemed only fair considering that I was recommending it! By revised fairy tale I meant retelling too so your original examples are more than adequate. I find your implied aversion to retellings intriguing; I personally love them providing that they are well-done as in the case of Carter, Gaiman, Atwood and, according to others, Lanagan.
Martine
February 21st, 2010 @ 2:50 pm

My favourite fairy tale as a child was the Snow Queen as it was so sad when the boy gets splinters of mirror in his eye so is trapped by the Snow Queen.
sherieannb
February 21st, 2010 @ 5:31 pm

My favorite fairytale is Little Red Riding Hood, although it is a little bit scarey wheen I look back at it.
Congrats on getting all your followers, I am a newbie as I just found you via twitter @sherieannb x
Paperback Reader
February 21st, 2010 @ 5:57 pm

Hi Martine, thanks for commenting on my blog and entering my draw. I don’t think I have read that version of “The Snow Queen”.

Hi Sherie, thanks for your comment, congratulations and message on Twitter; I’ve added you to the draw.
Little Red Riding Hood is a scary tale but it’s a fabulous one, especially the re-tellings in The Bloody Chamber.
Katherine
February 21st, 2010 @ 6:05 pm

My favourite fairy tale growing up was Princess and the Pea. My parents had given me a 2 book set collection of fairy tales and as my reading was not very strong yet, I would just flip through and look at the pictures. Princess and the Pea was the shortest, hence became my favourite to read over and over again!

Now I am reminded that the set of books is long gone and that I should look into recollecting it. This Angela Carter collection of reworkings sound great too; I have never read such stories before!

Cheers, Katherine
Paperback Reader
February 21st, 2010 @ 8:04 pm

Hi Katherine, thanks for commenting and entering my give-away. The Princess and the Pea is a beautiful story and was one of my favourites as a child too.
I had an amazing collection of fairy tales that one of my teachers borrowed from me and never returned; I wish I could recollect it! The Bloody Chamber is a wonderfully original collection of stories.
zoe
February 22nd, 2010 @ 3:28 pm

I have not read any of angela carters work but would be very interested in doing so.

My favourite fairytale growing up was cinderella purely because its a classic and one you can read over and over again.
Paperback Reader
February 22nd, 2010 @ 6:31 pm

Hi Zoe, thanks for commenting and entering my draw. I can’t recommend Angela Carter highly enough so if you don’t win then please be sure to read her work at some point!

Cinderella is a classic and a tale that is so ingrained into present-day culture.
mee
February 23rd, 2010 @ 7:49 am

Your seed has indeed been planted in my head! I’ve been trying to look for Angela Carter’s books in my libraries to no avail. Apparently she’s not as well-known in Australia. I hope to join you in April, but I’m gonna first need to acquire her book somehow!

I love fairy tales and their retellings, but I can’t choose a favorite on top of my head now. Perhaps the Fables series? I haven’t yet read Gregory Maguire’s Confession of an Ugly Stepsister, but I’ve read his Wicked and watched the Ugly Stepsister movie–the plot is great. Also Disney’s rendition of Cinderella is my favorite cartoon ever! Oh please enter me into the giveaway
Paperback Reader
February 23rd, 2010 @ 11:21 am

Well, there’s every chance that you will acquire a copy of this for April. You have been entered

I bought the first couple of volumes of Fables for my boyfriend for Christmas and I can’t wait to read it myself! I’m a big fan of anything even remotely fairy tale like in tone.
Sasha
February 23rd, 2010 @ 11:28 am

That’s a beautiful collection–I love how they’re from different editions, so lovely.

Please enter me in the draw? My favorite fairytale would have to be this strange little story called Vassilissa the Beautiful. It was given to me as a child, and it haunts me to this day, haha. Not a lot of people know about it, though.

I remember reading Carter’s reconstruction of Little Red Riding Hood–it was required reading for freshman year of college, and it just blew me away. It was just so charged!
Lija (writer's pet)
February 23rd, 2010 @ 11:40 am

I also love Rumpelstiltskin. In fact, I approve of all fairy tales that are also scary – most of of the classics have a darker version if you dig a little. Snow White is one of the grossest, with the queen wanting to eat her organs.
Paperback Reader
February 23rd, 2010 @ 12:08 pm

Hi Sasha, thanks for commenting and participating in the give-away. I will be drawing the winner shortly.
I love my Carter collection although I had no choice about the different editions!
I don’t know your story either but I will have to seek it out; I do love stories that haunt.
A link to Carter’s reconstruction of Little Red Riding Hood can be found on the right-hand side of my site and is my favourite; it is so original and so, as you say, charged.

Lija, the original fairy tales are incredibly dark. I took a fairy tale elective at uni and it was fascinating; the history of fairy tales is rich and they are such a cultural tradition.
Lija (writer's pet)
February 23rd, 2010 @ 12:15 pm

I did a similar uni class (but it was children’s lit in general and just touched on fairy tales). Sometimes we were a little resistant to viewing our favourite childhood stories in such a violent or sexual light!

The only original fairy tale I couldn’t quite enjoy was The Little Mermaid, because by the time I read it I was already too attached to the Disney version. Ariel!
Paperback Reader
February 23rd, 2010 @ 12:36 pm

Lija, I understand the resistance! It taints the innocence of childhood somewhat.

I felt likewise about The Little Mermaid – I love the Disney version! There’s no Flounder or Sebastian in the Christian Anderson original
The Bloody Chamber Draw | Paperback Reader
February 23rd, 2010 @ 12:48 pm

[...] you to everyone who entered the draw attached to my commemorative Angela Carter post. I am pleased to see so much interest in discovering Carter’s work and or exploring it [...]
Reading Journal: March in Review « 1330v
April 1st, 2010 @ 4:02 am

[...] on this, especially with the ROOB (Read Your Own Books) game, Dewey’s 24-Hour Read-a-thon, the Angela Carter celebration, and spring break all taking place. Plus April is National Poetry Month. I don’t think there’s [...]
Angela Carter Month | Paperback Reader
April 1st, 2010 @ 1:55 pm

[...] first day of the Angela Carter month that I am hosting. This is not a challenge, but more of a celebration, where I will be revisiting Angela Carter’s work, reading that which is new to me, and [...]
Magic Toyshops | Paperback Reader
April 8th, 2010 @ 2:26 pm

[...] it temps me as a bibliophile. My Angela Carter collection makes up one shelf, double-backed (as seen in this post), but it did use to be larger with duplicate and triplicate copies of each of her [...]
Showing Fervour for Fevvers | Paperback Reader
April 18th, 2010 @ 6:09 pm

[...] advocate for reading her; I would encourage everyone to read at least one of books. If you read this post or any that I have written this month, it should be apparent why, but simply put: I am a firm [...]
Monday Meanderings : another cookie crumbles
August 1st, 2010 @ 9:20 pm

[...] for some time, and I fully intend to lose myself in the anthology next month, as Claire hosts the Angela Carter Month. Thanks very much, Claire. Love it – cover and the lovely note that goes with it. [...]