Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #212501 in Books
• Published on: 1994-04-14
• Binding: Paperback
• 112 pages

Book Jacket
A leathery bog-man transforms an old love affair; a sweet, gruesome gift is sent by the wife of an ex-lover; landscape paintings are haunted by the ghost of a young girl. This dazzling collection of 10 short stories takes us into familiar Atwood territory to reveal the logic of irrational behaviour and the many textures lying beneath ordinary life.

Synopsis
These short fictions and prose poems are beautifully bizarre: bread can no longer be thought of as wholesome comforting loaves; the pretensions of the male chef are subjected to a loght roasting; a poisonous brew is concocted by cynical five year olds; and knowing when to stop is of deadly importance in a game of Murder in the Dark.

Customer Reviews

Classic Atwood
This collection forms a convenient middle ground between Atwood’s novels and her poetry. The assortment comprises very short fictions and (to quote the book jacket) ‘prose poems’ which I think best sums up much of the work.

Atwood takes little snippets of experience, objects, gestures or memories and muses on or explores their possible meaning and potential. There are four sections in total being loosely arranged according to theme; for example, the first section is more overtly autobiographical (‘Horror Comics’, ‘Making Poison’, ‘Boyfriends’), the second is a stand alone tale ‘Raw Materials’, while the third part deals with commentary on a more general basis (‘Women’s Novels’, ‘Bread’, ‘The Page’). The final section focuses on more abstract concepts (‘Iconography’, ‘Hopeless’, ‘Everlasting’). Naturally there is some overlap, but this seemed to me the most suitable way to categorise the divisions.

The tales range from amusing, to poignant to socially satirical. Atwood’s prose is superbly subtle and deceptively undemanding. The works are deceivingly short, as Atwood’s skill in creating a whole world and back-story to these fragments is ultimately successful. It is difficult to give some indication of the plot of these tales as they are so numerous and varied, but what I can say is that despite their length, they are potent fragments of narrative, diverse and insightful.

If you enjoy all things Atwood, I doubt you will be disappointed and if you are not that familiar with her work then I don’t see why this wouldn’t encourage you to be!

_Murder in the Dark_ is a moving collection, well crafted and exquisitely conceived.

Brilliant.
A book written to play with your mind and change your view of the world, Brilliantly written and definetly worth the read.
Margret Atwood shows us the very deepest of her thoughts.
A perfect book for all those who like to think deeply about our place in life.