The Albatross
 First edition (collection) | |
| Author | Susan Hill |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Social realism[1] |
| Publisher |
Hamish Hamilton (collection) Penguin Books (standalone) |
Publication date | Feb 1971 / Nov 2000 |
| Media type | Print & audio |
| Pages | 192 / 96 |
| Awards | John Llewellyn Rhys Prize |
| ISBN |
0-241-01976-1 (collection) ISBN 0-14-029330-2 (standalone) |
The Albatross is a novella written by Susan Hill, first appearing in the collection The Albatross and Other Stories published by Hamish Hamilton in 1971. It won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize in 1972.[2] It appeared as a standalone book published by Penguin Books in 2000.[3] It is studied in GCSE English as an example of the best of modern women's writing.[4]
Plot introduction
The Albatross centres around Duncan, an intellectually disabled 18-year-old who has grown up with his domineering wheelchair-using mother[1] in Heype, a Suffolk seaside town based on Aldeburgh.[5] Duncan finds it difficult to cope with anything outside his daily routine, but is forced to interact with the wider world when his claustrophobic relationship with his mother reaches breaking point.
Inspiration
The story was partly inspired by local composer Benjamin Britten's opera Peter Grimes.[5]
Publication history
- 1971, UK, Hamish Hamilton, ISBN 0-241-01976-1, Pub date 11 Feb 1971, Hardback
- 1973, UK, Penguin, ISBN 0-14-003649-0, Pub date 25 Oct 1973, Paperback
- 1975, US, E.P. Dutton, ISBN 0-8415-0383-4, Hardback
- 1978, UK, Hamish Hamilton, ISBN 0-241-10090-9, Pub date Dec 1978, Hardback
- 1994, UK, Soundings, ISBN 1-854-96951-X, Audio cassette,[6] Read by Patricia Gallimore
- 1995, UK, Isis, ISBN 1-85695-383-1, Pub date Jun 1995, Large print
- 2000, UK, Penguin, ISBN 0-14-029330-2, Pub date 30 Nov 2000, Paperback
References
- 1 2 The Albatross Summary - Susan Hill - Masterplots II: Short Story Series, Revised Edition on ENotes Retrieved 2011-07-17.
- ↑ Freeman, Hadley (2003-10-18). "Cotswold chameleon". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
- ↑ http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/edition/?isbn=0140293302 Retrieved 2011-07-07.
- ↑ The Albatross - Study Texts S. (Book) by Susan Hill, et al. (1990): Waterstones.com Retrieved 2011-07-17.
- 1 2 Author's afterword in the 2000 Penguin edition of the book
- ↑ The Albatross / Susan Hill. (sound recording) / - Version details - Trove Retrieved 2013-01-02.
- ↑ www.fantasticfiction.co.uk Retrieved 2012-11-18.
External links
- review of collection from Saturday Review Pub Date: Aug. 18th, 1975