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Virago has unveiled the jackets for its collection of some of Rumer Godden’s most celebrated titles, which it will be releasing for the first time later this year and into 2014.
Fifteen titles from the writer, who is most commonly associated with India and south-east Asia, are being released over the next two years as paperback editions and e-books.
Three of her most famous adult stories, Black Narcissus, which was adapted into a 1947 Oscar-winning film, Kingfishers Catch Fire and Breakfast with the Nikolides are published on 7th February 2013. All three books will feature special introductions from author Rosie Thomas as well as new covers.
The books, previously published by Pan Macmillan, were out of print when Virago editor Donna Coonan negotiated the deal with agent Anna Davis at Curtis Brown, representing the Godden estate.
Coonan said: “We wanted to create a series style and capture the exotic locations of the books. The sights and sounds of India are brought to life in her brilliantly evocative descriptions and her characters are written with great empathy and understanding, whatever their culture and whatever their point of view.”
Five other titles are to be released on 7th February 2013 and the rest will follow in 2014. The collection aims to create two separate markets, as four of the novels acquired are children’s books for those aged 10 and above. Launching the Virago Young Adult list, two of these, Thursday’s Children and Listen to the Nightingale, are released on 4th April this year, followed by An Episode of Sparrows and The Dark Horse on 3rd April 2014 (all children’s novels will be £6.99).