The Orchard on Fire. First Edition. Signed by Author

Mackay, Shena

ISBN 10: 0434000671 / ISBN 13: 9780434000678

Published by London. William Heinemann Ltd, 1995

About this Item

London. William Heinemann Ltd. 1995. First Edition. First Printing. Hard Cover. Black cloth boards with gilt titles. Unclipped dust wrapper and book are as new. 215pp. Flat signed by the author to the title page without dedication; this is a superb copy of this title. Set in the celebratory yet suspicious atmosphere of England during Coronation year, this is a funny, tragic and magical novel by a unique writer. When April's parents move from London to rural Kent she makes her first best friend. With flame haired, fearless Ruby, April shares secrets, dares and laughter. But Ruby has secrets of her own, bruises that she hides. Also seeking April's friendship is old Mr Greenidge, immaculate in his linen suit, with eyes like blue glass. He follows her around the village with his beguiling dachshund, and wants to learn everything about he.

Seller Inventory # OXF042

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Orchard on Fire. First Edition. Signed by Author
• Publisher: London. William Heinemann Ltd
• Publication Date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0434000671
• ISBN 13: 9780434000678
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: As New
• Dust Jacket Condition: As New
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • fiction, signed, first

About this title

Synopsis

When April Harlency and her parents move from Streatham to The Copper Kettle Tearoom in Kent April's whole life changes. Through her eyes we witness her rite of passage from childhood to adolescence. With her best friend, the wonderfully exciting but dangerous Ruby, they discover an idyllic secret world in the orchard. However, their lives are permeated with a sense of menace which is mainly centred on Mr Greenidge who befriends April and involves her in a sinister and uncomfortable relationship that will eventually lead to trouble for all her family.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

About the Author

Shena Mackay was born in Edinburgh in 1944 and grew up in Kent and London, where she now lives. She left school at the age of 16 after winning a poetry competition in the Daily Mirror Her first book, published in 1964 but written when she was still a teenager, consists of two novellas, Dust Falls on Eugene Schlumburger and Toddler on the Run. Her first novel, Music Upstairs was published in 1965 and was followed by Old Crow (1967), An Advent Calendar (1971), Babies in Rhinestones (1983), A Bowl of Cherries (1984), Redhill Rococo (1986) -- winner of the Fawcett Prize -- Dreams of Dead Women' Handbags (1987), the widely admired Dunedin (1992) and The Laughing Academy (1993). Both Dunedin and The Laughing Academy won Scottish Arts Council Book Awards. The Orchard on Fire was shortlisted for the 1996 Booker Prize and the McVities Prize. The Artist's Widow was published in 1998 and her latest book, The World's Smallest Unicorn, a collection of short stories, was published in 1999.

Shena regularly writes stories for the BBC and others, and reviews books and theatre for a variety of publications. She has been a Booker Prize judge and has also been made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.


From the Trade Paperback edition.