A Far Cry From Kensington

<p><i>I can't help it. Sometimes the words just come out and I can't stop them. It feels like preaching the gospel.</i><br><br>When publishing assistant and war widow Nancy Hawkins tells Hector Bartlett he 'urinates frightful prose', the repercussions are swift. Losing not one, but two, much-sought-after literary jobs, Mrs Hawkins finds herself embroiled in a mystery involving anonymous letters, quack remedies and blackmail. Years later, and a far cry from Kensington, she looks back with a sharp and mischievous eye at the cost of telling the truth. <br><br> <b>Introduced by Ali Smith.</b><br><b><br>'Mercurially funny, playful and mischievous' Ali Smith</b><br> <b><br> 'I was in heaven reading this book. . . just blissful' Stephen Fry</b><br><b><br>'Funny, astringent, shrewd, her take on life is wonderfully bracing' William Boyd</b><br><b><br>'Wonderfully entertaining' <i>Sunday Telegraph</i></b><br><br><b>'An outstanding novel . . . <i>A Far Cry From Kensington </i>has an effortless, translucent grasp of the spirit of the period' <i>Observer</i></b><br><br><b>'The divine Spark is shining at her brightest . . . Pure delight' Claire Tomalin</b></p>