SHELF LIFE
Laura Purcell, the author of acclaimed (and very spooky) gothic mysteries, talks us through the titles that made the most profound impression on her , and describes how she wrote her new novel, The Whispering Muse
Laura Purcell,
Black Beauty
by Anna Sewell
At the risk of sounding misanthropic, I have to admit that I’ve always shared a deeper affinity with animals than with humans. As a child, my ideal summer would be spent down the local riding stables, mucking out stalls, grooming horses and going for a hack in the surrounding countryside. My reading appetites echoed my interests, with Lassie Come Home and The Saddle Club being firm favourites. Then came Black Beauty. Looking back, I think seven years old was possibly a bit young to tackle the content of this novel, which deals more with cruelty and war than happy trotting ponies, but the story mesmerised me. Immediately after finishing it, I would start the book again. I believe Black Beauty played a huge role in developing my empathy for animals and people alike, but more importantly it was the first book that inspired me to write. Everyone in my class was asked to compose a poem; I chose the subject of war horses, based on Black Beauty’s experiences. Suffice to say this caught the teacher’s attention as an unusual theme for a child and my poem received top marks. That’s the first time I can remember feeling that my words might have some power.