Spring (novel)

Spring is a 2019 novel by Scottish author Ali Smith, first published by Hamish Hamilton.[1] It was long-listed for the Orwell Prize (2020).[2]

Spring
First edition UK hardcover
AuthorAli Smith
Audio read byJuliette Burton
Cover artistDavid Hockney
Late Spring Tunnel (2016)
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
SeriesSeasonal Quartet
PublisherHamish Hamilton (UK), Pantheon Books (US)
Publication date
March 28, 2019
Media typePrint, ebook, audiobook
Pages352
ISBN978-0241207048
(1st ed UK hardcover)
OCLC1039630979
823/.914
LC ClassPR6069.M4213 S67 2019
Preceded byWinter 
Followed bySummer 

Plot

Each novel in Smith’s seasonal series is juxtaposed with a work of Shakespeare – in this one, it is Pericles. All of the books also examine everyday life in Britain. Spring follows a string of characters and explores themes like immigration and human nature in general, as well as the aftermath of the EU referendum and growing tensions in the UK.

The novel has two central narratives, the first is the story of Richard, an older man who is dealing with the loss of someone close to him. He boards a train to Scotland, with no particular destination in mind, to try and escape or solve his emotional turmoil. The second narrative is that of Brittany, or Brit as she is named in the book. Brit works at a detention centre for migrants where she unexpectedly meets a young girl named Florence. Like Richard, Brit and Florence also happen to board a train up north to Scotland. All of the characters in the novel eventually meet at Kingussie station.

Release

Spring was first released in hardback and e-book format in the United Kingdom on 28 March 2019 through Hamish Hamilton, an imprint of Penguin Books.[3] It was given a release in the United States via Pantheon Books on 28 March 2019, also in hardback and e-book format.[4] The novel received a paperback release in the United Kingdom on 12 March 2020 via Penguin and in the United States on 7 April 2020, through Anchor Press.[5][6]

Spring also received an audiobook adaptation narrated by Juliette Burton that was published by Recorded Books.[7]

Reception

Spring received reviews from multiple outlets. Rebecca Makkai of The New York Times compared the novel favorably to Ulysses while Justine Jordan of The Guardian called it "a powerful vision of lost souls in a divided Britain".[8][9] The Independent also reviewed Spring, writing that it was "a bold and brilliant experiment".[10]

References

  1. Smith, Ali. Spring. Retrieved 2020-11-13. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  2. "Spring". The Orwell Foundation. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  3. Smith, Ali, 1962- (2019). Spring. [London]. ISBN 978-0-241-20705-5. OCLC 1039630979.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. Smith, Ali, 1962- (30 April 2019). Spring (First United States ed.). New York. ISBN 978-1-101-87077-8. OCLC 1041762461.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. Smith, Ali, 1962- (2020). Spring. U.K. ISBN 978-0-241-97335-6. OCLC 1108165985.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. Smith, Ali, 1962- (7 April 2020). Spring (First Anchor Books ed.). New York. ISBN 978-1-101-96996-0. OCLC 1184686179.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. Smith, Ali, 1962-, Spring, Burton, Juliette,, Recorded Books, Inc., Prince Frederick, Md., ISBN 978-1-5019-4232-7, OCLC 1101397039, retrieved 2020-11-14{{citation}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. Makkai, Rebecca (2019-05-06). "Spring Cleaning, Ali Smith Style (Published 2019)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  9. Jordan, Justine (2019-03-30). "Spring by Ali Smith review – a beautiful piece of synchronicity". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
  10. "Spring by Ali Smith, review: A timeless novel that burns with moral urgency". The Independent. 2019-03-29. Archived from the original on 2022-05-24. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
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