Katherine's Wish: A NovelIn her new novel, Linda Lappin (author of THE ETRUSCAN) explores the final years in the life of short story writer and literary figure, Katherine Mansfield, focusing on her relationships with Ida Baker and John Middleton Murry against the backdrop of her ceaseless journeys and changes of residence -- the South of France, London, Italy, Switzerland, and finally, Fontainebleau. The narrative incorporates modernist techniques used by Mansfield, Virginia Wolff, and D.H. Lawrence in their fiction. Though the book deals with tragic issues, it celebrates Mansfield's deep love of life, which never abandoned her, and its final message is a life-affirming one of joy and of wholeness achieved. "KATHERINE'S WISH is a beautifully observed novel [that] reveals a core truth: that Mansfield's was not so much a creative life cut short as one that flourished so long against all odds." -- Alexandra Johnson, author of THE HIDDEN WRITER "KATHERINE'S WISH, fifteen years in the making, is a dazzling bit of fictional sorcery, conjuring to life the bright and talented swirl of modern society in the 1920s... This novel is a must read, whether you have historical interests per se or only enjoy a story so compelling and moving that there's no putting it down. I certainly couldn't!" -- David Lynn, editor, the KENYON REVIEW Linda Lappin is the author of THE ETRUSCAN (Wynkin de Worde, Galway, 2004) hailed by critics as a new classic in American writing about Italy. Semi-Finalist for the 2000 Three Oaks First Novel Prize awarded by Story-Line Press in Oregon, THE ETRUSCAN was selected as a Book of the Week by BOOK VIEW IRELAND and praised by the LITERARY REVIEW as "compelling, haunting, intriguing," and by PRAIRIE SCHOONER as "gorgeously detailed, wickedly fun." She is also the author of PRISONER OF PALMARY, an experimental historical novel set in 18th century Italy, short-listed for the Mid-List First Novel Award in 1999. Her essays, poetry, reviews and fiction have appeared in a wide variety of US publications, from the KENYON REVIEW to the KANSAS CITY STAR. She has twice been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. The last chapter of KATHERINE'S WISH was short-listed for the Eric Hoffer short fiction award in 2007 and was published in BEST NEW WRITING 2007. She teaches Creative Writing for the U.S.A.C. Study Abroad program in Viterbo. She also directs the Writing Center of Centro Pokkoli www.pokkoli.org Her websites are www.lindalappin.net and www.theetruscan.com |
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ALEXANDRA JOHNSON arms asked Bandol Beatrice beneath breath Brett Carco chair chintz cognac cold Connie and Jinny coughed desk dinner doctor door dress eyes face father feel felt floor France Francis Carco garden gaze girl glanced glass gone Gurdjieff hair hand handkerchief head Ida's imagined Isola Bella Jack Jinny and Connie Jinny's John Middleton Murry Jones Katherine Mansfield Katie Katie's kitchen knew Lawrence leave letter lips London looked Madame Manoukhin Menton morning Murry Murry's never night nodded once Orage Ospedaletti Ouspensky Paris perhaps pink pocket pulled Rhodesia San Remo sanatorium seemed Sierre sitting slipped smell smiled Sorapure stairs stared stay stepped stood stories street Switzerland things thought took train tray turned villa Virginia Virginia Woolf waiting walking watch weeks window woman words writing