Homage to Mary Stewart

The novels of Mary Stewart were among the first full-length adult books I ever read. Lovingly handed down to my sister and me by our mother, they immediately became some of our favorite reads. We've been Mary Stewart devotees ever since. I think this is partly due to nostalgia, but mostly because they are wonderful books. We recently splurged at Alibris, so that we now have our own hardcover copies of every Mary Stewart. I love the old-fashioned jacket illustrations.



Mary Stewart is probably best known for her Merlin trilogy, which starts with The Crystal Cave. I've never really gotten into those, but rather love her stand alone romantic suspense novels.

Here they are listed from my most favorite to least:

1. This Rough Magic
2. Nine Coaches Waiting
3. The Ivy Tree
4. The Moonspinners
5. My Brother Michael
6. Touch Not the Cat
7. Madame, Will You Talk?
8. Airs Above the Ground
9. The Gabriel Hounds
10. Thunder on the Right
11. Wildfire at Midnight
12. Thornyhold
13. Stormy Petrel
14. Rose Cottage

Mary Stewart is one of those natural born storytellers. I think most writers learn the craft of writing over their careers, and you can see progress over the body of their work. Mary Stewart's novels are brilliant from her very first, Madame, Will You Talk?, which was published in 1954. She is one of the most consistent writers I've ever read. Her most recent novels (published in the '90s) are rather tame; I think her age took some of the edginess off her characters. But if they lack the exciting thrills of her earlier books, they are at least cozy and sweet.

Her novels always have a delicious setting, most in England, but also France, Greece, and Syria. It is always summer and the heroine is usually on vacation or at least traveling to a new place. Each enchanting setting is vividly described, and it's almost as good as traveling there for real.

I was recently at the Strand and found a beautifully preserved hardcover copy of my favorite, This Rough Magic. When I opened it up a little pamphlet fell out--the Literary Guild Review pamphlet that came with the book when the original owner received it in 1964. I did a little happy dance right there in the store. It contains an interview with Stewart and a summary illustrated with these fantastic drawings. I had some fun with Photoshop and added in little excerpts of the text.



Lucy meets Sir Julian Gale.



Oh, Max. *Swoon*



Such great adventures.

If you like to buy new, Harper has also recently reissued many of these books in mass market editions with very pretty covers. Every booklover should go out immediately and buy them. All. You'll love them.