The Matisse Stories

A S Byatt

Byatt writes literary fiction in the form of novels and short-story collections and is also a distinguished critic and essayist.

Her best-known book is Possession (winner of the 1990 Man Booker Prize). Other notable novels include The Biographer's Tale, The Children's Book, and The Shadow of the Sun. She also wrote the Frederica Potter quartet: The Virgin in the Garden, Still Life, Babel Tower, and A Whistling Woman.

Her short-story collections include Sugar and Other Stories, The Matisse Stories, The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye, Elementals, and Little Black Book of Stories.

Yes. The Frederica Potter novels form a quartet best read in order: The Virgin in the Garden (Book 1), Still Life, Babel Tower, and A Whistling Woman.

For a single, acclaimed novel start with Possession. For a shorter introduction try one of her story collections (for example The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye or Little Black Book of Stories). If you want a series, begin with The Virgin in the Garden.

Yes. Possession won the 1990 Man Booker Prize, and Byatt was appointed CBE in 1990 and DBE in 1999.