Spring: 'A dazzling hymn to hope' Observer

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 28 March 2019
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Discover Ali Smith's mesmerizing, once-in-a-generation series, the Seasonal Quartet, a powerful quartet of novels that explore love, time, art, politics, and the essence of our contemporary lives.

All four installments of this remarkable quartet are now available for purchase in paperback and ebook formats: Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer.

Her most exceptional work to date, this dazzling hymn to hope seamlessly weaves together the past and present, creating a chorus of voices that resonate with readers of all ages.

The Observer hails it as an astonishing accomplishment, a book that transcends seasons and speaks to the collective soul of the nation.

The Independent praises Smith's state-of-the-nation novels, recognizing that the nation is not just a geographical entity but a collective experience shared by all of us.

The Times praises Smith's captivating storytelling, noting that her voice is impossible to resist, drawing readers into her narratives with an irresistible allure.

What unites Katherine Mansfield, Charlie Chaplin, Shakespeare, Rilke, Beethoven, Brexit, the present, the past, the north, the south, the east, the west, a man mourning lost times, a woman trapped in modern times?

Spring, the great connector. With a keen eye to the migratory nature of stories across time, and drawing inspiration from Pericles, one of Shakespeare's most resilient and vibrant works, Ali Smith weaves an impossible tale of an impossible time.

In a time of walls and lockdown, Smith opens the door, inviting us to explore the changing nature of our era.

The time we live in is evolving, shaping the very fabric of our existence.

But hope springs eternal, for as the seasons change, so too does the potential for storytelling to evolve and adapt to the ever-changing world around us.

The Seasonal Quartet has been longlisted for the Highland Book Prize 2019, receiving widespread praise for its transcendental writing on art, death, political lies, and the myriad dimensions of love.

Deborah Levy, in her review of Autumn, describes it as "transcendental writing about art, death, political lies, and all the dimensions of love. It's a case not so much of reading between the lines as of being blinded by the light between the lines—in a good way."

Olivia Laing, in her review of Autumn, hailed it as the novel of the year, noting that it managed the remarkable feat of making sense out of post-Brexit Britain.

So, immerse yourself in this captivating series and discover the power of storytelling as it reflects and shapes our world. The Seasonal Quartet is a testament to Ali Smith's exceptional talent and a must-read for anyone seeking a profound and thought-provoking literary experience.

Weight: 474g
Dimension: 144 x 222 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780241207048