The wonderful Mary Stewart has passed away. I've written about her previously here and here, but I just wanted to say that I'm . . . I'm so sad. The first line of the first Stewart book I read (which happened to be her very first book as well) reads, "The whole affair began so very quietly." I spent the summer after my freshman year of college devouring anything of hers I could get my hands on. One year, for my birthday, my husband tracked down beautiful copies of every one of her books. I went into my library last night and ran a finger along their beloved spines. And as I type this now I'm stepping off the plane in Paris with Linda, navigating the twisted streets of Provence with Charity, climbing the sun-dried ruins of Delphi with Camilla, and I think—my, what a legacy.
I remember seeing that Mary Stewart shelf of yours and wondering who that author is. I need to thank you for recommending her books! I don't think I would have picked them up otherwise.
ReplyDeleteOh, I remember reading her books in high school and loving them. So sorry to hear she has died. Thank you for posting this. She has a wonderful legacy with all her books. And what a wonderful gift your husband gave you.
ReplyDeleteI saw this this other day too and immediately thought of you :) And although mine is a more recent discovery, I did the same thing when I heard though, went and looked over all my Mary Stewart books and gave a little sigh. I think I've only got about 5 more of her books left that I haven't read yet and I'm a bit sad about finishing once and for all. Such a perfect storyteller.
ReplyDeleteI do love your shelf though!
My pleasure, Chachic. She's an author whose work I find so charming, I always want to pass it on.
ReplyDeleteIt really was a wonderful birthday. Definitely one for the books. Some of those original hardcovers with dust jackets are just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSigh. I know the feeling. I still haven't read Lloyd Alexander's last published book because I get weepy thinking I'll never have a new one.
ReplyDeleteOh wow, I hadn't heard.
ReplyDeleteAngie, thank you for this post. You put into words what I felt - sad. Her books had a tremendous influence on how I see the world.
ReplyDeleteI know. So sad.
ReplyDeleteThat's lovely to hear, Pam. Her novels have been around a long time. I hope they continue to be read and discovered for years to come.
ReplyDeleteI thought of you when I saw that Mary Stewart had died. What a lovely tribute.
ReplyDelete:) Thanks, JoLee.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful tribute to Stewart. Like you, I discovered Stewart young: first the Arthurian books, which I discovered in ninth grade, and then my mother's few romantic suspense novels. Like you, I fell in love with her books and devoured everything of hers I could find. I've got almost all her books, though admittedly not in such lovely condition as yours; I haunted used bookstores for years to collect them. I am saddened to hear of her death, but yes: what a lovely legacy she leaves behind, in her books and in all of us who were influenced by them.
ReplyDeleteI love the thought of all those mothers with Mary Stewart collections just waiting for their daughters to discover them. :) And the haunting of the used bookstores . . . one of my favorite pastimes ever.
ReplyDeleteI've introduced my now-college-age daughter to the books, via Airs Above the Ground. I think I've got her interested in reading the others. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI wanted to let you know that I'm linking to your tribute in my News & Notes post for 5/31/14. I thought about it, but I couldn't say it any better than you already had. Thank you.
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