A 2014 World Book Night selection.
When this and its sequels first came out in the early 80s it predated HIV and AIDS and reading this now I think one must remember that. They are set in an imaginary world which centres round the inhabitants of 28 Barbary Lane. With the feel of a serial novel we follow many characters in short, easy sections through their young city lives in San Francisco. It made a wonderful TV series in the 90s but the seven books give you so much more. I love them.
August 2011 Guest Editor Deborah Lawrenson on Armistead Maupin...
Armistead Maupin. I just adore the Tales of the City series with its great, exuberant cast of lovable characters. Maupin writes pin-sharp prose that can capture an ambiance or a foible in a finely-tuned phrase. The fog rolling in across the San Francisco Bay presses itself against a window “like a fat lady in ermine”.
A "Piece of Passion" from the publisher...
‘I feel jealous of anyone discovering this series for the first time, they have so much fun ahead of them. This is the first volume and introduces us to our hero Michael Tolliver, the naïve but ambitious Mary-Anne Singleton, the eccentric and loveable Mrs Madrigal and the magical, chaotic city of San Francisco in the late seventies. Witty, poignant, moving, life-affirming, a literary soap opera, this book is a total joy to read, you will love these characters and want to keep going back to Maupin’s later books for more instalments. This is book for anyone and everyone, and is totally addictive.' Judith Welsh, Managing Editor at Transworld
| Primary Genre | Romance / Relationship Stories |
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