James Bailey
@drjamesbailey.bsky.social
Writer from Manchester. LIKE A CAT LOVES A BIRD, my biography of Muriel Spark, out now! 🐈⬛ https://lnk.to/LikeaCatLovesaBird Instagram.com/drjamesbailey
I’m in The Times today! I've written about Muriel Spark's The Driver's Seat, obeying your own 'queer dictatorial sense’, and scaring yourself to death while writing. Scarier still, I've just taken off my cap to find I’ve been left with a hairstyle reminiscent of Dido in her early-00s heyday.
As a lifelong devotee of Ms Spark, it was incumbent of me to stock this fabulous volume, once my wife and I took ownership of our indie bookshop - good work James. Muriel was polite enough to reply to my eager teenaged letter back in my 'dole years'. Image pinned in bio.
James Bailey@drjamesbailey.bsky.social · 4mo agoMy book, LIKE A CAT LOVES A BIRD: THE NINE LIVES OF MURIEL SPARK, is out today!
I have long enjoyed writing to my literary heroes. No more so than as a romantic book-mad 20year-old, pre library employment. Muriel Spark was quick to recommend the library as a source for her further reading faves to save me 'dipping into my dole'. How I treasure this letter #libraries
On my Reading List:
Amber Elizabeth@amberelizabeth.bsky.social · last wk.Been absolutely pinned to this for the past few days. THIS is the book to introduce anyone to my Muriel Spark, the author I have so long adored. Complex, compelling, challenging, and an utter joy - impossible to pin down to a single definition. @drjamesbailey.bsky.social understands her implicitly.
Been absolutely pinned to this for the past few days. THIS is the book to introduce anyone to my Muriel Spark, the author I have so long adored. Complex, compelling, challenging, and an utter joy - impossible to pin down to a single definition. @drjamesbailey.bsky.social understands her implicitly.
@drjamesbailey.bsky.social She hasn't been able to put it down. She's even bought it out with her. She days it's brilliant.
In other news I treated myself to a couple of new books 😊📚
It was such a pleasure talking to @drjamesbailey.bsky.social for this - and such a fascinating book! Unputdownable!
The History of Literature Podcast@holpod.bsky.social · 2w agoIn Episode 818, @jackewilson.bsky.social talks to author James Bailey about his critically acclaimed biography Like a Cat Loves a Bird: The Nine Lives of Muriel Spark. #books #literature @princetonupress.bsky.social
In Episode 818, @jackewilson.bsky.social talks to author James Bailey about his critically acclaimed biography Like a Cat Loves a Bird: The Nine Lives of Muriel Spark. #books #literature @princetonupress.bsky.social
818 Muriel Spark (with James Bailey) | My Last Book with J. Mich…
Jacke talks to author James Bailey about his critically acclaimed biography Like a Cat Loves a Bird: The Nine Lives of Muriel Spark. PLUS J. Michael Lennon, friend …
historyofliterature.com
Started listening to @drjamesbailey.bsky.social’s Muriel Spark autobiography Like a Cat Loves a Bird while on feeding and changing duty for the twins. I love how someone as precise with words as Spark was reduced to a microblogging style exclamatives in the face of Victoria Falls.
I’ve just been to this event - really interesting conversation about an uncompromising writer and her unconventional life. Looking forward to reading the book, which I *left the shop without paying for*. Will shamefacedly return tomorrow, pleading a heat-addled brain, and cough up. Sorry, James!
Marie-Anne McQuay@m-amcq.bsky.social · 4w agoLooking forward to @drjamesbailey.bsky.social talking about Muriel Spark at @waterstoneslpl.bsky.social The book is phenomenal and his cat badges even better www.waterstones.com/events/james...
The perfect match day build-up here from @drjamesbailey.bsky.social - six pack of aphorisms and a sharing bag of salt and vinegar epistemology
« My experience of men is that they resent it if you are successful — and I never had the slightest intention of not being as successful as I could be. » lithub.com/an-intellect... #murielspark
An “Intellectual Monster…” Why Muriel Spark Never Remarried
High in the Tuscan hills, a light grilling is underway. “Sexually, probably, I could be faithful,” seventy-two-year-old Spark is in the middle of explaining, “though that’s not th…
lithub.com
I’m on the wrong continent for this, but if you’d can get to Liverpool, this sounds like a good time!
James Bailey@drjamesbailey.bsky.social · last mo.Hello, I’ve an event for my Muriel Spark biography next Weds (15th) at Waterstones Liverpool. We’ve sold barely any tickets, however, and it might be cancelled as a result. Please get a ticket if you’re nearby - it’ll be a lot of fun, and I’ll bring badges! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/waterstone...
I did quite a lot of reading on holiday. (Not pictured, at least 300+ issues of various X-men comics). 4 wonderful Muriel Spark novels. 1 terrific biography of La Spark by @drjamesbailey.bsky.social 1 masterpiece adapted into another masterpiece of desperation actressing, THE HOURS!
@livunienglish.bsky.social PhD graduate Jess White will be in conversation with James Bailey about his new biography of Muriel Spark, this Wednesday 15th July at Waterstones Liverpool. Discussion starts at 6:30pm and will be followed by a Q&A and book signing. Tickets here: tinyurl.com/4f6r33dw
Waterstones Liverpool Welcomes James Bailey
James Bailey joins us to discuss his sparkling biography of Muriel Spark Like A Cat Loves A Bird - The Nine Lives of Muriel Spark
eventbrite.co.uk
A BBC Book to Read This Year @drjamesbailey.bsky.social's Like a Cat Loves a Bird: The Nine Lives of Muriel Spark is a spiky and delicious new literary portrait of the great twentieth-century British author. Out now! Order yours: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco... #MurielSpark #Biography
Redacteuren delen drie van hun huidige geheimtips en culturele obsessies. Deze week was redacteur Charlotte Remarque gegrepen door een thema: de dood. Ze tipt een biografie van Muriel Spark, het nieuwe aquarium van Artis en een tentoonstelling die een andere kant laat zien van Aat Veldhoen.
Drie cultuurtips over de absurditeit van de dood
Redacteuren van De Groene delen drie van hun huidige geheimtips en culturele obsessies. Deze week was redacteur Charlotte Remarque gegrepen door een thema: de dood. Ze tipt een biografie van Muriel…
groene.nl
Look at this quality signature! You could get a signed book of your own by attending this event. Too far away for me sadly but if you're in or near Liverpool, check it out! 📚💙
James Bailey@drjamesbailey.bsky.social · 4w agoTicket sales have nudged up a fraction, which is great. I’d really love for next week to go ahead, so do snap up a ticket if you’re dithering. I do a pretty decent signature, too, if you like that sort of thing… www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/waterstone...
i've got my ticket. time to get yours.
James Bailey@drjamesbailey.bsky.social · last mo.Hello, I’ve an event for my Muriel Spark biography next Weds (15th) at Waterstones Liverpool. We’ve sold barely any tickets, however, and it might be cancelled as a result. Please get a ticket if you’re nearby - it’ll be a lot of fun, and I’ll bring badges! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/waterstone...
Liverpool peeps, get your Spark on
James Bailey@drjamesbailey.bsky.social · last mo.Hello, I’ve an event for my Muriel Spark biography next Weds (15th) at Waterstones Liverpool. We’ve sold barely any tickets, however, and it might be cancelled as a result. Please get a ticket if you’re nearby - it’ll be a lot of fun, and I’ll bring badges! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/waterstone...
I've been following the progress of this book, and am excited that it's finally out in the world. I can't make it to Liverpool in time for the event. Please go if you can.
James Bailey@drjamesbailey.bsky.social · last mo.Hello, I’ve an event for my Muriel Spark biography next Weds (15th) at Waterstones Liverpool. We’ve sold barely any tickets, however, and it might be cancelled as a result. Please get a ticket if you’re nearby - it’ll be a lot of fun, and I’ll bring badges! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/waterstone...
I can't go to this but everyone in Liverpool should not miss a chance to get to know this brilliant woman, who wrote razor-sharp, diabolically funny novels and gave one of my favourite BBC interviews *ever* in 1961: youtu.be/Zz-FfQ5SZ3c?...
1961: MURIEL SPARK at the BRONTË HOME CEMETERY | Bookstand | Writers & Wordsmiths | BBC Archive
YouTube video by BBC Archive
youtu.be
James Bailey@drjamesbailey.bsky.social · last mo.Hello, I’ve an event for my Muriel Spark biography next Weds (15th) at Waterstones Liverpool. We’ve sold barely any tickets, however, and it might be cancelled as a result. Please get a ticket if you’re nearby - it’ll be a lot of fun, and I’ll bring badges! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/waterstone...
Looking forward to @drjamesbailey.bsky.social talking about Muriel Spark at @waterstoneslpl.bsky.social The book is phenomenal and his cat badges even better www.waterstones.com/events/james...
James Bailey Discusses Like A Cat Loves A Bird - The Nine Lives of Muriel Spark | Events at Waterstones Bookshops | Waterstones
Events at Waterstones get you closer to the books and authors you admire most. Find information and tickets about James Bailey Discusses Like A Cat Loves A Bird - The Nine Lives of Muriel Spark today...
waterstones.com
Honestly, what better way to spend your Wednesday evening than listening to @drjamesbailey.bsky.social talk about his fab new book?!
James Bailey@drjamesbailey.bsky.social · last mo.Hello, I’ve an event for my Muriel Spark biography next Weds (15th) at Waterstones Liverpool. We’ve sold barely any tickets, however, and it might be cancelled as a result. Please get a ticket if you’re nearby - it’ll be a lot of fun, and I’ll bring badges! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/waterstone...
Liverpool #BookSky folks, here’s an event to check out.
James Bailey@drjamesbailey.bsky.social · last mo.Hello, I’ve an event for my Muriel Spark biography next Weds (15th) at Waterstones Liverpool. We’ve sold barely any tickets, however, and it might be cancelled as a result. Please get a ticket if you’re nearby - it’ll be a lot of fun, and I’ll bring badges! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/waterstone...
Enjoyed his talk in Chester last month, so this will be a fun event. And send you down the Muriel rabbit hole. . .
James Bailey@drjamesbailey.bsky.social · last mo.Hello, I’ve an event for my Muriel Spark biography next Weds (15th) at Waterstones Liverpool. We’ve sold barely any tickets, however, and it might be cancelled as a result. Please get a ticket if you’re nearby - it’ll be a lot of fun, and I’ll bring badges! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/waterstone...
