Refuting critics such as richard dawkins, sam harris, and the new atheist crowd, spufford, a former atheist and fellow of the royal society of literature, argues that christianity is recognizable, drawing on the deep and deeply ordinary vocabulary of human feeling, satisfying those who. Francis spufford has tonight been named as the winner of the 2016 costa first novel award for his historical debut golden hill. Francis spufford, a former sunday times young writer of the year 1997, has edited two acclaimed literary anthologies and a collection of essays about the history of technology. Francis spuffords unapologetic is a wonderfully pugnacious defense o. Francis spuffords first book, i may be some time, won the writers guild award for best nonfiction book of 1996, the banff mountain book prize and a somerset. Francis spufford s unapologetic is a wonderfully pugnacious defense of christianity. Books by francis spufford francis spufford average rating 3. Refuting critics such as richard dawkins, sam harris, and the new atheist crowd, spufford, a former atheist and fellow of the royal society of literature, argues that christianity is recognizable, drawing on the deep and deeply ordinary vocabulary of human. Refuting critics such as richard dawkins, sam harris, and the new atheist crowd, spufford, a former atheist and fellow of the royal society of literature, argue. Love of fiction often fades with age, but it hasnt yet for spufford. It was followed by the child that books built, backroom boys, and most recently, red plenty. He tells us that he did no research for the book and wrote at. Aug 02, 2012 what a wonderful world we live in where a book like francis spuffords red plenty can be published.
Why, despite everything, christianity can still make surprising emotional sense, and more on. Francis spufford primary author only author division. Unapologetic, has been translated into three languages. Professor francis spufford goldsmiths, university of london. Explore books by francis spufford with our selection at. Unapologetic by francis spufford overdrive rakuten. This interview may not be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the holder. The first session of the st pauls forum autumn series the case for god held under the dome of st pauls cathedral. Spufford does not, of course, use coarse language all the time. Unapologetic is a book for believers who are fed up with being patronized, for nonbelievers curious about how faith can possibly work in the twentyfirst century. For me, red plenty was a genuine compromise between fiction and nonfiction. Spuffords prose rejoices in elegant pastiche as the story of a mysterious stranger and his unexplained fortune gathers pace.
Set in 18thcentury new york it was written over three years in a. Francis spuffords books cover a wide variety of subjects, from polar exploration to his childhood reading to a blend of fiction and nonfiction about soviet russia in red plenty, which dwight garner named one of his 10 favorite books of 2012. And not just a reader, but a fictionobsessed reader. Francis spufford books list of books by author francis spufford. July 10, 2017 francis spuffords historical novel is set in 1746 lower manhattan, a world of spies, thieves, card sharks and crooked bankers. The child that books built by francis spufford and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Peter thiel, hulk hogan, gawker, and the anatomy of intrigue, 2018, etc. Refuting critics such as richard dawkins, sam harris, and the new atheist crowd, spufford, a former atheist and fellow of the royal society of literature, argues that christianity is recognizable, drawing on the deep and deeply ordinary vocabulary of human feeling, satisfying those who believe in it by. Francis spufford discovers both delight and sadness, in this widely celebrated memoir of a boy who retreats into books, faced with a tragedy in his family. Oct 15, 20 besides, writes spufford red plenty, 2012, etc.
His first book, i may be some time, won the writers guild award for best nonfiction book of 1996, the banff mountain book prize and a somerset maugham award. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. An anthology of the finest writing on the arctic and the antarctic.
Spufford adds to the diversity of his bibliography, this time. Spufford knows how to write, but he also teaches writing for a living, and it shows. Dec 22, 2010 the child that books built ebook written by francis spufford. I need fiction, he writes early in the child that books built. It beautifully articulates the formative nature of childhood literary exploration. Francis spufford introduces his novel, red plenty unless otherwise stated, this interview was conducted at the time the book was first published, and is reproduced with permission of the publisher. Francis spufford is the author of five highly praised books of nonfiction. Francis spuffords books francis spufford average rating. Sep 18, 2012 the first session of the st pauls forum autumn series the case for god held under the dome of st pauls cathedral. A beautifully composed and wholly original memoir, sounding the classics of childrens literature. Francis spuffords unapologetic is a wonderfully pugnacious defense of christianity. The first chapter is a relentless, highvolume monologue, but thanks be. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the child that books built. Francis spuffords new book, unapologetic, is much more personal and polemical than anything he has written before.
Why, despite everything, christianity can still make surprising emotional sense francis spufford. Spufford adds to the diversity of his bibliography, this time mounting an impassioned argument for, as. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. In 2007 he was elected a fellow of the royal society of literature. Golden hill by francis spufford new york in the 18th century is brought brilliantly to life in francis spuffords debut novel. He is the son of the late social historian professor margaret spufford 19352014 and the late economic historian professor peter spufford 19342017. Why, despite everything, christianity can still make surprising emotional sense main by francis spufford isbn.
Francis spufford is an english author born in 1964 and primarily known for writing nonfiction. Spuffords language isnt exactly aquinian or augustinian, but it gets to the pointto several points, in fact. America failed to produce a single instance great or otherwise until around 1790, a full seven decades after robinson crusoe. Mar 07, 20 the author, francis spufford, pulls no punches and rips through the bulls that often attends the debates around the christianityatheist divide. Why, despite everything, christianity can still make surprising.
Golden hill possesses a fluency and immediacy, a feast of the senses, without ever being pedantic. It came out in the uk in 2010 and it has just been published in a new us edition. Spufford previously a writer of nonfiction books, including a memoir of childhood reading and a dramatic history of the soviet union has created a complete world, employing his archivist. Golden hill by francis spufford the washington post. And though james fenimore cooper and nathaniel hawthorne wrote historical novels about the days before the revolution, it wasnt until the arrival of postmodernism that we got a. It was followed by the child that books built, backroom boys, red plenty which was translated into nine languages, and most. The child that books built is the title of a memoir by francis spufford which explores the impact of books read in childhood by interspersing an account of spuffords own reading with excursions into history, philosophy and psychology. Unapologetic by francis spufford, 9780062300454, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. An exploration of the importance of clarity through calmness in an increasingly fastpaced world. After more than 20 years dealing with nonfiction subjects as diverse as polar exploration, the soviet economy and childrens literature, francis spufford has written a novel.
An interview with francis spufford commonweal magazine. The first chapter is a relentless, highvolume monologue, but thanks be to mozart, the tone varies in the. His first book, i may be some time, won the writers guild award for best nonfiction book of 1996, the banff mountain book prize, and a somerset maugham award. We personally assess every book s quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. What a wonderful world we live in where a book like francis spuffords red plenty can be published. How francis spuffords new york novel echoes cervantes. In his first book i may be some time, 1997, journalist spufford won acclaim for examining the english imagination. His second, the child that books built, gave neil gaiman.
Spufford admits to being simultaneously obsessed, enslaved, and enraptured by the idea of fiction from the time he apprehended his first story. There is a high fourletter quotient throughout unapologetic, a symptom of the prose being pitched to sound young. He studied english literature at trinity hall, cambridge, gaining a ba in 1985. Oct 15, 20 francis spufford s unapologetic is a wonderfully pugnacious defense of christianity. See all books authored by francis spufford, including golden hill, and unapologetic. A flawlessly executed homage to the buccaneering fiction of fielding and sterne, golden hill presents an embryonic new york in the mideighteenth century, and a fastmoving plot of intrigue, adventure and lastgasp plot twists. Jul 14, 2017 spufford has immersed himself in the 18thcentury quotidian world on either side of the ocean. Or more creepilypick your metaphora product of the uncanny valley between the two, where things are not quite fully alive from the imaginative. Shop amongst our popular books, including 15, three californias, red plenty and more from francis spufford. Ice and the english imagination, was awarded the writers guild award for best nonfiction book of 1996 and a somerset maugham award. Unhampered by niceness, this is a book for believers who are fed up with. His second book, the child that books built was described as witty, compelling and elegant by the new statesman. Francis spufford books list of books by author francis. The novel may have risen in the 18th century but it didnt really spread.
Jul 27, 2012 francis spufford s new book, unapologetic, is much more personal and polemical than anything he has written before. Francis spufford is currently considered a single author. Oct 23, 2012 spufford knows how to write, but he also teaches writing for a living, and it shows. Margaret was a social historian while peter specialized in economic history. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over.
To call the author bookish is to call a python a mere reptile. Jun 17, 2016 spufford previously a writer of nonfiction books, including a memoir of childhood reading and a dramatic history of the soviet union has created a complete world, employing his archivist. Golden hill possesses a fluency and immediacy, a feast of. Dec 12, 2017 july 10, 2017 francis spuffords historical novel is set in 1746 lower manhattan, a world of spies, thieves, card sharks and crooked bankers. I love the fact that the author is raw and earthy, using language thats right on the edge of decency to get his point across.
And though james fenimore cooper and nathaniel hawthorne wrote historical novels about the days before the revolution, it wasnt until the arrival of. Spufford was born to professor margaret spufford and professor peter spufford. In his new book, francis spufford has made a significant contribution to the genre. The most recent, unapologetic, has been translated into three languages. Francis spuffords book unapologetic is published in the us by harperone. The most recent, unapologetic, has been translated into. The child that books built by francis spufford books on. Spufford has immersed himself in the 18thcentury quotidian world on either side of the ocean. Austinbased speaker and strategist holiday conspiracy.
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