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A True Account of the Curious Mystery of Miss Lydia Larkin and the Widow Marvell
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128 pages, ebook
First published January 31, 2011
20 people want to read
About the author
Joolz Denby
13 books76 followersJoolz Denby has been a professional writer of poetry and fiction, spoken-word artist, illustrative artist and photographer for over thirty years.
* Add Joolz as a Friend on Facebook: look for Joolz Denby.
* This year will be Joolz' 25th year as a spoken-word artiste at Glastonbury Festival: with over 100 performances of her writing at the festival, she is one of Glastonbury's most prolific performers.
*Joolz latest spoken word album, Spirit Stories, with music by Justin Sullivan is now available for download/mail order: please visit The Shop @ www.newmodelarmy.org Buyer Reviews: 'Two listens now. Still got gooseflesh. Poetry to touch the soul. And that voice. Hell, Joolz could read the phone book and leave you entranced. The music just provides the backdrop, but Joolz' voice is the main instrument here.' Ifran. '(the track) Boy You Need the Road - WOW.' St Alfonzo. (reviews taken from the Noticeboard at www.newmodelarmy.org). Magazine Reviews: 'Joolz Denby remains one of the real treasures of the British literary scene and "Spirit Stories", her new album, is quite simply an essential listen. . . Mesmerisingly atmospheric throughout. 'Bubblegum Slut Fanzine. Issue 32.
*She is an award-winning, multi-nominated novelist; for her debut novel Stone Baby (HarperCollins) Joolz won the Crime Writer's Association New Crime Writer Of The Year and was shortlisted for the John Creasey Award. She was also awarded the audio book industry's prestigious 'Earphone Award' (USA) for her brilliant unabridged recording of Stone Baby. Her third novel, Billie Morgan (Serpent's Tail) was shortlisted for the 2005 Orange Prize and also the Crime Writer's Association Dagger In The Library award.
*Her last novel Borrowed Light (Serpent's Tail) was released in February 2006 to enormous critical acclaim and her latest collection of poetry and short fiction Pray For Us Sinners (Comma Press), released in late 2005, is already in its second re-print. She has recently finished her new - as yet unpublished - novel, 'Wild Thing' (www.myspace.com/wildthingjoolzdenby) and has started working on another novel (working title) 'Midnight At The Rat N' Roses' and a new collection of poetry and short stories.
*Joolz tours the world giving highly acclaimed dramatic readings of her work (both poetry and prose). She is noted for the emotive, musical quality of her voice and the skill with which she presents the characters she has written about. She won the prestigious US audio book industry Earphone Award for her unabridged recording of her novel 'Stone Baby' and is considered to be the UK's premier woman spoken-word artist ('the Queen Of British Spoken Word'). In Britain she reads throughout the year at venues ranging from The Royal Albert Hall and the House of Commons to rock music festivals (twenty-two years as a performer at Glastonbury) arts centres, Universities, rock clubs and coffee houses. She is highly respected for her work with prison inmates.
* Joolz is an expert in the field of commissioned public poetry, having written poetry for Yorkshire Forward, The Royal Armouries, Alchemy Asian Arts, Yorkshire Museums Service, Bradford Capital Of Culture Bid and The Captain Cook Museum amongst others.
*Joolz is an extremely experienced and valued broadcaster, having worked regularly for radio of all kinds such as BBC Radio Four (including many broadcasts for Woman's Hour) and BBC Radio One. She has also a
* Add Joolz as a Friend on Facebook: look for Joolz Denby.
* This year will be Joolz' 25th year as a spoken-word artiste at Glastonbury Festival: with over 100 performances of her writing at the festival, she is one of Glastonbury's most prolific performers.
*Joolz latest spoken word album, Spirit Stories, with music by Justin Sullivan is now available for download/mail order: please visit The Shop @ www.newmodelarmy.org Buyer Reviews: 'Two listens now. Still got gooseflesh. Poetry to touch the soul. And that voice. Hell, Joolz could read the phone book and leave you entranced. The music just provides the backdrop, but Joolz' voice is the main instrument here.' Ifran. '(the track) Boy You Need the Road - WOW.' St Alfonzo. (reviews taken from the Noticeboard at www.newmodelarmy.org). Magazine Reviews: 'Joolz Denby remains one of the real treasures of the British literary scene and "Spirit Stories", her new album, is quite simply an essential listen. . . Mesmerisingly atmospheric throughout. 'Bubblegum Slut Fanzine. Issue 32.
*She is an award-winning, multi-nominated novelist; for her debut novel Stone Baby (HarperCollins) Joolz won the Crime Writer's Association New Crime Writer Of The Year and was shortlisted for the John Creasey Award. She was also awarded the audio book industry's prestigious 'Earphone Award' (USA) for her brilliant unabridged recording of Stone Baby. Her third novel, Billie Morgan (Serpent's Tail) was shortlisted for the 2005 Orange Prize and also the Crime Writer's Association Dagger In The Library award.
*Her last novel Borrowed Light (Serpent's Tail) was released in February 2006 to enormous critical acclaim and her latest collection of poetry and short fiction Pray For Us Sinners (Comma Press), released in late 2005, is already in its second re-print. She has recently finished her new - as yet unpublished - novel, 'Wild Thing' (www.myspace.com/wildthingjoolzdenby) and has started working on another novel (working title) 'Midnight At The Rat N' Roses' and a new collection of poetry and short stories.
*Joolz tours the world giving highly acclaimed dramatic readings of her work (both poetry and prose). She is noted for the emotive, musical quality of her voice and the skill with which she presents the characters she has written about. She won the prestigious US audio book industry Earphone Award for her unabridged recording of her novel 'Stone Baby' and is considered to be the UK's premier woman spoken-word artist ('the Queen Of British Spoken Word'). In Britain she reads throughout the year at venues ranging from The Royal Albert Hall and the House of Commons to rock music festivals (twenty-two years as a performer at Glastonbury) arts centres, Universities, rock clubs and coffee houses. She is highly respected for her work with prison inmates.
* Joolz is an expert in the field of commissioned public poetry, having written poetry for Yorkshire Forward, The Royal Armouries, Alchemy Asian Arts, Yorkshire Museums Service, Bradford Capital Of Culture Bid and The Captain Cook Museum amongst others.
*Joolz is an extremely experienced and valued broadcaster, having worked regularly for radio of all kinds such as BBC Radio Four (including many broadcasts for Woman's Hour) and BBC Radio One. She has also a
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 25, 2011
A True Account of the Curious Mystery of Miss Lydia Larkin and the Widow Marvell is a delightful tale of magic lingering in the modern world. Elderly Miss Larkin is thrilled to finally buy an ordinary house in London's suburbs despite the neighbours fairy lights and dubious reputation of the area. She settles in nicely along with her oversized black cat quickly befriending the Widow Marvell. Yet Miss Larkin hides a secret that she is careful to protect until Joey, one of the children who roams the street, is threatened first by an abusive step father and then by his mother's fanatical worship of the strange Ray Lokey.
I really enjoyed this novella which is beautifully crafted and written. The story is imaginative and entertaining, effortlessly blending Olympian magic and urban reality. The protagonists are charming and Joey is sympathetic.
If you are looking for a quick, enjoyable read then A True Account of the Curious Mystery of Miss Lydia Larkin and the Widow Marvell is a great choice for readers who enjoy magical realism.
March 2, 2011
After the wonderful Wild Thing never found a publisher, Joolz, in true punk rock form, set up her own publishing company and published this little gem herself. And it's beautiful. Read it :)
April 25, 2012
A lovely book. Denby's previous works have always put her for me in the 'powerful, and usually harrowing' category, but in this one, she does charming.
January 31, 2015
This is an old fashioned story. Each word is captured mid air – then savored. Each word draws a picture. A picture-story about two middle-aged women with a secret to keep and the children who help them keep it.
The cast of characters do not work one without the other: inevitable that Lydia Larkin and the Widow Marvell were fated to meet and forge an alliance; especially simpatico is the relationship between Lydia and Dion, a rather large black cat; and not surprising that the three of them go to the mat to save one small boy. In the house where Ms. Lydia lives, *“….is a parallel domain, where the spirits of imagination, truth and beauty are given free reign — and just as well, for darker shades are drawing in on the inhabitants of Croyd Terrace.” *(in part – back cover)
**“So in general, the Mystic Arts remain the twilight Province of silly young Goths in cheap crushed velvet costumes and big shoes, or patiently ridiculous older women in quasi-robes and stiffly hennaed hair selling ‘magical’ trinkets in tiny, incense-smelling over-priced New Age Boutiques.” **(in part – pg 1, Prologue)
Funny thing, I actually remember those Goth girls and their ‘big shoes’, and having met my share of those older women, who in retrospect weren't that old, I can attest to the truth of the matter. Oh, and by the way? Just the thought of Patchouli sets my memory afire!
After I finished, I had to randomly re-read this book. I like that I liked these characters. They got inside my head. My only too-bad-so-sad critique about this book is that it should have been longer. Some parts left me wishing that Denby would have taken care to expand some of the scenes as they felt a little too rushed to me.
You’ll do yourself a favor by leaving your analytical cap in the closet when you read this one. Sit back, sip Darjeeling tea, burn some incense, light a few of those fairy lights you have over there in front of your book shelves, and keep a keen eye on Dion.
https://blacknightblues.wordpress.com/
The cast of characters do not work one without the other: inevitable that Lydia Larkin and the Widow Marvell were fated to meet and forge an alliance; especially simpatico is the relationship between Lydia and Dion, a rather large black cat; and not surprising that the three of them go to the mat to save one small boy. In the house where Ms. Lydia lives, *“….is a parallel domain, where the spirits of imagination, truth and beauty are given free reign — and just as well, for darker shades are drawing in on the inhabitants of Croyd Terrace.” *(in part – back cover)
**“So in general, the Mystic Arts remain the twilight Province of silly young Goths in cheap crushed velvet costumes and big shoes, or patiently ridiculous older women in quasi-robes and stiffly hennaed hair selling ‘magical’ trinkets in tiny, incense-smelling over-priced New Age Boutiques.” **(in part – pg 1, Prologue)
Funny thing, I actually remember those Goth girls and their ‘big shoes’, and having met my share of those older women, who in retrospect weren't that old, I can attest to the truth of the matter. Oh, and by the way? Just the thought of Patchouli sets my memory afire!
After I finished, I had to randomly re-read this book. I like that I liked these characters. They got inside my head. My only too-bad-so-sad critique about this book is that it should have been longer. Some parts left me wishing that Denby would have taken care to expand some of the scenes as they felt a little too rushed to me.
You’ll do yourself a favor by leaving your analytical cap in the closet when you read this one. Sit back, sip Darjeeling tea, burn some incense, light a few of those fairy lights you have over there in front of your book shelves, and keep a keen eye on Dion.
https://blacknightblues.wordpress.com/
Want to read
April 25, 2012'We were so chuffed with how much you enjoyed it that we created a digital version for the technophiles amongst you
who prefer to do their reading on a Kindle.
'And then, while we were on a roll, we also created a digital version of Joolz’ novel Billie Morgan which was shortlisted for the Orange Prize in 2005.
And we made it cheap as literary chips.
And put a lovely new cover on it.'
http://stevepottinger.co.uk/ignite-bo...
That is cute as a button, seriously. LITERARY CHIPS.
who prefer to do their reading on a Kindle.
'And then, while we were on a roll, we also created a digital version of Joolz’ novel Billie Morgan which was shortlisted for the Orange Prize in 2005.
And we made it cheap as literary chips.
And put a lovely new cover on it.'
http://stevepottinger.co.uk/ignite-bo...
That is cute as a button, seriously. LITERARY CHIPS.
June 24, 2012
A True Account of the Curious Mystery of Miss Lydia Larkin and the Widow Marvell is beautiful from start to finish. Joolz has a wonderfully winding way with words. Magical, quite literally, is what this book is. Magical from start to finish. Trust me, you'll be under the spell of this book within the first 2 pages!
November 17, 2013
I've been waiting to read this book for ages. It arrived yesterday so I took it to work to read in the gallery and read it in one sitting. Joolz has some lovely turn of phrases. Unlike her novels that I've read, this was much lighter and positive but still with strong,likeable female characters. I really hope that there are more adventures for Miss Lydia Larkin and the Widow Marvell.
April 12, 2012
Joolz is as much a magician with her words as Miss Larkin is with her garden in this novel. I particularly enjoyed Joolz's descriptions of the houses and places in this novel,which I recognise as places in Bradford. It's a soft, delicate novel,I read it very quickly (and I am a slow reader!).
December 26, 2013
A stunning book, gentle, delightful and full of wit, shimmering imagery, cake and tea. A real joy. I read this on Christmas Day, lent by a friend and it was the perfect read. More please!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews