Lolly Willowes: or, the loving huntsman

By Sylvia Townsend Warner

Book Overview

A woman slips quietly from the shadowy confines of London society into the wild heart of rural England, exchanging drawing rooms for tangled woods and the suffocating gaze of family for the exhilarating solitude of the countryside. In a world where the ordinary collides with the uncanny, she discovers that freedom sometimes wears the guise of witchcraft, and that true independence may demand a pact with the unknown. Set against the evocative backdrop of interwar period England, this modernist English novel pulses with a wit and subtle rebellion that once drew comparisons to Virginia Woolf and captivated Rebecca West readers. Its pages shimmer with the ache and promise of women and independence, as one woman's quiet revolt against conformity becomes both a personal awakening and a sly commentary on the strictures of her age. Long out of print and now republished by Alpha Editions, this feminist classic fiction has been restored for today's and future generations. It is not just a reprint - it's a collector's item and a cultural treasure, inviting new readers to experience a literary fiction gem that once risked being lost to time. The novel's vivid depiction of countryside village life and its deft weaving of witchcraft and folklore offer a rich tapestry for book club favourites and English literature syllabus selections alike. Its subtle yet radical exploration of autonomy, set amidst the rolling hills and secretive lanes of rural England, continues to resonate with anyone who has ever longed to break free from the roles imposed upon them. This is a story that lingers, its gentle yet subversive humour and haunting atmosphere ensuring its place among the most cherished works of twentieth-century English literature. For casual readers seeking a fresh classic, or collectors intent on preserving the milestones of literary history, this restored edition stands as an enduring testament to the power and necessity of choosing one's own path.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9374123541
• ISBN13: 9789374123546
• Release Date: March 2026
• Publisher: Alpha Edition
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Superb Feminist Classic

I also cannot believe that just because the heroine (spoiler warning..) abandons her relatives, runs off to the forest, dances with the devil, adopts a black cat, and becomes a witch they put this in horror. That's an outrage. This is one of the classic pieces of women's literature of all time and when I went to college it was required reading at the UW (Washington, not Wisconsen). The book, besides having obvious overtones of individuality and escape from oppression/societal norms, deals with a wider array of controversial (still, but especially then) topics than can be easily summarized. (For instance, book could be read as very existentialist because it's never quite certain that she didn't dream it all) Suffice it to say that the book is an extraordinary read. Also, it is a small book, sparsely written, episodic, plot-driven, but with just enough sparkling detail to keep the reader transfixed. And it is funny. My favorite part is when she meets the satan-cat and realizes the cat is the devil but she is, though mildly alarmed at first, too impressed by his "Satanic playfullness" to worry.

An astonishing edition of an astonishing novel

These new little NYRB editions are just honeys--I have yet to read one that wasn't absolutely spectacular (the editors have superb taste), and the editions themselves are little gems--they FEEL so nice in your hands because they're made of gorgeous high quality paper and set in a lovely font.Warner's novel is fantastic--its rhythms are slow but musical, and it takes quite a while to determine what awaits Laura in Great Mop. A very, very funny book that also comments movingly on the condition of "odd women" in the generation before Suffrage... I couldn't put this down!

Academy Chicago Publishers does it again

Lolly Willowes is the spirited story of a woman searching for herself. The themes in this book are as applicable now as they were when it was written. Thank you to Academy Chicago for bringing us this beautiful edition with an insightful introduction (they also use the original cover art).

Amusing, offbeat book about living your own life.

Lolly Willowes escapes a confining life as the dependent relation, the spinster, of an earlier era. However, her need to shuck a rigid identity, whether externally or self-imposed, is one we can all still understand. Her new home in an obscure English village is as much a surprise to her as to the reader. A not entirely welcome cat moves in with her, and she finds that the Devil can be rather an attractive neighbor. I wish this book would be reprinted.

A story of rebellion and liberation.

What's this doing in the Horror section! It's a beautifully written story of a woman who rebels and finds her own unique sort of contentment after a lifetime of meeting other people's wishes and expectations. Profoundly subversive and very memorable.