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Part fiction, part essay, a revelation of what writing can do and a reaffirmation of Ali Smith´s unmatched literary powers

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Here, in book form, are four lectures given by Ali Smith at Oxford University, a tidal wave of ideas in four thematically organised bursts of thought: ´On Time´, ´On Form´, ´On Edge´ and ´On Offer and On Reflection´. Refusing to be tied down to either fiction or the essay form, Artful is narrated by a character who is haunted - literally - by a former lover, the writer of a series of lectures about art and literature. Full of both the poignancy and humour of fiction and all the sideways insights and jaunty angles you would expect from Ali Smith´s criticism, it explores form, style, life, love, death, mortality, immortality and what art and writing can mean. Shortlisted for the Man Booker prize and the Orange prize, and winner of the Encore Award and the Arts Council Scottish Book Award, Ali Smith is one of our most interesting writers at work today. Artful shows her at her most innovative, warm and generous best. ´Smith can make anything happen, which is why she is one of our most exciting writers today´ Daily Telegraph ´She´s a genius, genuinely modern in the heroic, glorious sense´ Alain de Botton ´A true and valuable British original´ Nick Hornby ´Smith´s love of language lights up all her books . . . she´s someone to relish´ The New York Times Book Review Ali Smith was born in Inverness in 1962 and lives in Cambridge. She is the author of There but for the, Free Love, Like, Hotel World, Other Stories and Other Stories, The Whole Story and Other Stories, The Accidental, Girl Meets Boy and The First Person and Other Stories.

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From the MAN BOOKER PRIZE-SHORTLISTED and BAILEYS PRIZE-WINNING author of How to be both and the critically acclaimed Seasonal quartet

´Artful is a revelation; a new kind of book altogether . . . it could have only been written by Ali Smith. An intimate study of grief that makes you glad to be alive´ Jackie Kay

´Playful and audacious´ Independent

´Powerful and moving´ London Review of Books

´Magical... Blending of criticism and fiction, Artful belongs in a genre of its own . . . Joyful for anyone interested in the art of writing, and living, well´ Anita Sethi, New Statesman

Based on four electrifying lectures given by the author at Oxford University, and exploring the explosive connections between art, story, memory and grief - Artful is a tidal wave of ideas to blast away the cobwebs and change how you see the world

Narrated by a character who is haunted - literally - by a former lover, Artful slips slyly between fiction and essay, guiding the reader thrillingly through a sequence of ideas on art and literature. With Smith´s trademark humour, inventiveness, poignancy and critical insight, this is unique experiment in form, style, life, love, death, immortality and what art can mean.

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