Unforgettably astounding and a joy to read, Memento Mori is considered by many to be the greatest novel by the wizardly Dame Muriel Spark. In late 1950s London, something uncanny besets a group of elderly friends: an insinuating voice on the telephone informs each, "Remember you must die." Their geriatric feathers are soon thoroughly ruffled by these seemingly supernatural phone calls, and in the resulting flurry many old secrets are dusted off. Beneath the once decorous surface of their lives, unsavories like blackmail and adultery are now to be glimpsed. As spooky as it is witty, poignant and wickedly hilarious, Memento Mori may ostensibly concern death, but it is a book which leaves one relishing life all the more.
Muriel Spark
Muriel Spark was a Scottish novelist, best known for her satirical and darkly humorous writing style. Her most notable works include "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie," "The Driver's Seat," and "Memento Mori." Spark's novels often explore themes of power, identity, and morality, with sharp wit and keen insight into human nature. She is credited with revitalizing the psychological novel and pushing the boundaries of traditional storytelling techniques. "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" remains her most famous work, portraying the complex character of a charismatic and controversial schoolteacher. Spark's contributions to literature have solidified her as a key figure in 20th-century fiction, influencing generations of writers with her unique voice and storytelling prowess.