Léna's Lit.Life

Léna (me): Lit, as in literature, Lit, as in light, Lit, as in a little kooky: Life.

"Well, the question is, what do you want to believe? Do you want to live in a world where things are possible, or in one where they aren't?" Cin, Edges.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Madeleine L'Engle's And Both Were Young


I'm adding an extra special blog post today to let you all know that my grandmother's first YA book And Both Were Young, is available at your local bookstore (and the other usual suspects) today! First published in 1949, and then later by Delacort Press in 1983, it is a thrill that Farrar, Sreaus Giroux have republished it as a beautiful hardback, with an introduction by moi! (I was going to cheat and post the whole introduction here, but I won't. I hope that all of you die hard Madeleine L'Engle fans out there will buy the book anyway.)

And Both Were Young is a sweet story set in the 1940's at a boarding school in Switzerland, and, to quote myself, "meeting Philippa Hunter ("Flip") again was like meeting a long-lost friend: she leaped from the pages as if she were a version of my grandmother's younger self." They sure don't write 'em like this anymore!
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17 comments:

  1. I am so grateful to your grandmother too. She set me on a journey that has lasted 25years...so far :)

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  2. This blog brought tears to my eyes because you are so right, they don't write like this anymore! This book came out the year I was born, but I did not read it until a few years ago. I enjoyed its sweetness, its honesty.

    Although I had a decent family, warts and all, I love the families in your grandmother's books (warts and all). Now with so much of my family gone, I can reach to my bookshelves where your grandmother's books are and find a family for a short while when I need one.

    I love the cover on this new book!

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  3. I can't wait to go get this one. I just got home from UF today, and now I have something to read.

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  4. Thanks guys! I'm pretty jazzed about it too, and I love the love fest for my Gran, and Bookie, as usual, you move me!

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  5. Congrats -- and how lovely that you wrote the intro! xox

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  6. This has made my morning! Thank you so much for posting! "And Both Were Young" was the first book I ever read twice. I can't wait to read it again!

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  7. Hi.
    I just found your blog and am so happy to get to know you and your writing. Actually I came across your blog because I was missing my grandmother today. Although less famous than yours, she was a magnificent person. Unfortunately she died pretty suddenly a few months ago. One of the things she and I shared was a love for Madeline L'Engle. I was listening to the audiobook of The Joys of Love today and both the book itself and your comments made me ache for my grandmother.

    And Both Were Young has always been one of my favorites and I cant wait to check out the new edition.

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  8. Thank you Courtney and Lucy! And M - what a happy coincidence that thinking about your grandmother brought you to my grandmother . . . and to me! Thank you so much for sharing, and oh how I understand the ache for the grandmother!

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  9. What a wonderful treat to have a newly published work by your grandmother. At least, new to people who missed it the first couple times around.

    By the way, thank you for stopping by my blog earlier today. :)

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  10. I read this book as a teenager, and I think it's about time to read it again (at age 39). :) Thanks for letting us know about the new release. I love the new cover, too.

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  11. I'm really looking forward to getting the audiobook version that amazon.com indicated will be released later this year. I hope they don't change their minds about releasing that like with the Austin Family series of audiobook.

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  12. Found it in my 20's... had read an excerpt in a book on non verbal learning disabilities.... "fitting in". At 31, it remains a favorite (sits in my night stand drawer). In so many ways I can relate to the "old" Flip, and look for a man with Paul like qualities! (Am debating with a friend; how old is Flip? She says 12, I say 13),,,,
    Thanks to your Grandmother, you (for new forward) and publishers for a new edition.

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