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Bliss
Bliss
Dec 2, 2025 9:02 PM

Author:Katherine Mansfield

Bliss

Introducing Little Clothbound Classics: irresistible, mini editions of short stories, novellas and essays from the world's greatest writers, designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith.

Celebrating the range and diversity of Penguin Classics, they take us from snowy Japan to springtime Vienna, from haunted New England to a sun-drenched Mediterranean island, and from a game of chess on the ocean to a love story on the moon. Beautifully designed and printed, these collectible editions are bound in colourful, tactile cloth and stamped with foil.

Katherine Mansfield's perceptive and resonant writing helped to define the modern short story, observing apparently trivial incidents to create quietly devastating revelations of inner lives. Graceful, delicate and burning with emotion, Mansfield's stories were integral in shaping the Modernist movement and redefined a genre. This collection contains some of Mansfield's most celebrated stories, including 'Bliss', 'The Garden Party' and 'The Daughters of the Late Colonel'.

'The only writing I have ever been jealous of.' - Virginia Woolf

Reviews

Strong and immersive. Well-worth plucking from the pile of chiton-lit

—— The Times

Vivid with fury, passion and strength, this is a fabulous myth retelling. A powerful, thought-provoking portrayal of a fascinating and complicated woman framed in beautiful prose. I loved it

—— JENNIFER SAINT, bestselling author of ARIADNE and ELEKTRA

Wow! What a powerhouse of a novel. Savage, passionate and absolutely spellbinding. The recreation of Sparta is astonishing - you feel you are with Clytemnestra, completely immersed in the brutal world she inhabits with her siblings, whose complex relationships are drawn with skill and tenderness. Clytemnestra's rage, heartbreak and determination radiate off the page. I was utterly gripped

—— Elodie Harper, bestselling author of THE WOLF DEN & THE HOUSE WITH THE GOLDEN DOOR

A blaze of a novel, fiery and furious - and alight with murderous revenge. Like Madeline Miller and Jennifer Saint, Casati offers the female perspective on the old, patriarchal tropes of the Greek myths

—— Daily Mail

Rivals House of the Dragon in conspiracies and feminine brutality. Here is a complex and courageous woman, all flesh and blood, simmering with passion. Facing the grimmest of betrayals, Clytemnestra's ruthless desire for revenge powers a thrilling plot. This is an electrifying read that shocks and fascinates in equal measure

—— LIZ FREMANTLE, the critically acclaimed author of QUEEN'S GAMBIT

A heroine of fierce spirit caught in a world ruled by men, finding a way through with a sharp, unquenchable courage. With the fire and spark of Madeline Miller and the depths of Mary Renault, Clytemnestra will keep you reading well into the small hours, and your dreams will be of worlds where women reach for the gods

—— MANDA SCOTT

A passionate picture of a fiercely patriarchal society and her heroine's refusal to be bound by its
rules

—— Sunday Times

Clytemnestra, whose name has come to epitomise female wickedness, has found a worthy advocate in Costanza Casati and this fascinating Greek myth retelling . . . Casati brings the blood-soaked world of Greek mythology fully alive in this powerful novel

—— Woman & Home

Costanza Casati renders a singularly vibrant Ancient Greece, absolutely alive with emotion and suspense. Casati reveals a Clytemnestra we've never met before: fiercely intelligent, passionate, and loving - and willing to do anything to avenge the ones she loves

—— Naomi Krupitsky, New York Times bestselling author of THE FAMILY

A swift-paced telling of the story of Clytemnestra, the fierce but loving princess of often-brutal Sparta . . . The easy-to-follow storytelling and well-rounded characters in the novel really draw in the reader

—— i

Ablaze with moments of deep tenderness and visceral ferocity, Casati's Clytemnestra gives the phrase 'fight like a girl' its rightfully heroic and empowering meaning! Beautifully told in a style that pays nimble homage to classic Greek mythology, Clytemnestra is a rich and compelling read, and even more so for every woman who has ever had to fight to reclaim her power. A must-read!

—— Buki Papillon, author of AN ORDINARY WONDER

Bold and elegant, this novel deconstructs Clytemnestra's infamy and then, with tremendous empathy and wisdom, reconstructs her into an enthrallingly complex figure filled with passion and spirit. This fiery tale of revenge and desire really is the stuff of legend

—— Sarah Priscus, author of the critically-acclaimed GROUPIES

Powerful and sympathetic, Clytemnestra shines a light on Helen of Troy's overshadowed sister. Crafted with page-turning suspense, Casati spins a mesmerizing story of an ambitious warrior queen who must use all her skill to protect herself and those she loves from men who view women not as equals, but as pawns to be sacrificed upon the altars of lust, greed, and fame. An ancient and intriguing tale made fresh for today's 21st century battles

—— Liz Michalski, author of DARLING GIRL: A NOVEL OF PETER PAN

A thrilling reimagining of an infamous Greek figure

—— RED

A thrilling tale of power and prophecies, and the fierce Queen who fought back at those who wronged her

—— COSMOPOLITAN, 'The best books to look forward to in 2023'

If magical mythological books call your name, Clytemnestra is the one for you

—— Glamour UK

Swift-paced, straightforward storytelling, richly imagined characters. Timeless

—— Scotsman

As moving as it is funny. And it's very funny

—— Romesh Ranganathan on The Funny Thing about Norman Foreman

He's wheedled his way into my heart, and I suspect I'll have a Norman-shaped hole there forever

—— Clare Pooley on The Funny Thing about Norman Foreman

Funny, sparking and moving

—— Wendy Holden, Daily Mail on The Funny Thing about Norman Foreman

A gorgeous book that will warm the cockles of your heart

—— Sun on The Funny Thing about Norman Foreman

Smart, funny, big-hearted

—— SUNDAY TIMES

A fabulous novel. Compelling, satisfying, a real page-turner

—— NINA STIBBE

Witty, inspiring and a joy

—— I-NEWSPAPER

Feminism is the catalyst that makes [Lessons in Chemistry] fizz like hydrochloric acid on limestone. Elizabeth Zott does not have 'moxie'; she has courage. She is not a 'girl boss' or a 'lady chemist'; she's a groundbreaker and an expert in abiogenesis. . . To file Elizabeth Zott among the pink razors of the book world is to miss the sharpness of Garmus's message. Lessons in Chemistry will make you wonder about all the real-life women born ahead of their time - women who were sidelined, ignored and worse because they weren't as resourceful, determined and lucky as Elizabeth Zott. She's a reminder of how far we've come, but also how far we still have to go

—— NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

Lessons in Chemistry is a breath of fresh air - a witty, propulsive, and refreshingly hopeful novel populated with singular characters. This book is an utter delight - wry, warm and compulsively readable

—— CLAIRE LOMBARDO, author of THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD

A proper page turner which really made me giggle. It's so dry. The humour has a gorgeous lightness of touch. I really enjoyed it

—— STEVE WRIGHT, BBC RADIO TWO BOOK CLUB

Original, fresh, tender, funny and warm. The story dances and swirls, captivating the reader from the first page. Elizabeth Zott is the most wonderful character. Just fantastic

—— SINEAD MORIARTY

Strikingly relevant. . . Darkly funny and poignant. . . Lessons in Chemistry's excellent experiment is quirky and heartwarming

—— THE ATLANTIC

A funny, thought-provoking revenge story. Elizabeth Zott is ahead of her time. This is such a great book, everyone should read it!

—— SHAPARAK KHORSANDI

Garmus has made feminism not just palpable, but delicious

—— I-NEWS

A truly involving and uplifting book! Bonnie Garmus addresses serious topics with humour that is genuinely funny. I especially liked the dog. Mine only appears to know one word, which is 'supper', but there again she is a Labrador. I'm sure this is going to be a great success, and deserves to be

—— ANNE YOUNGSON, Costa Book Award-shortlisted author of MEET ME AT THE MUSEUM

This incredible novel has EVERYTHING - an unforgettable heroine, wry humour, love, family and bucketloads of optimism and female empowerment. It's WONDERFUL

—— HANNAH BECKERMAN

An energetic debut ... A more adorable plea for rationalism and gender equality would be hard to find

—— KIRKUS (starred review)

Bold, smart and often hilarious look at so-called women's work

—— REAL SIMPLE, US

Charming and emboldening tale with a vintage sheen... A thoroughly entertaining and emboldened look at gender in the 1960s. A must read!

—— MAGIC RADIO, BOOK CLUB READ

Garmus delivers an assured voice, an indelible heroine and relatable love stories

—— WASHINGTON POST

Elizabeth is a woman who challenges the norms of a woman in the 60s...her perseverance to succeed is enthralling. The fight to do what she really wants, and that alone, is one that'll have you rooting for her throughout

—— STYLIST

Indefatigable and formidable, Elizabeth pushes the bounds of how women and their work are perceived in this thoroughly engaging debut novel

—— BOOKLIST

A kicky debut, this book tackles feminism, resilience, and rationalism in a fun and refreshing way

—— BUZZFEED

Every bit as brilliant as everyone is saying. Funny, clever, full of heart and wonderful characters. I loved it

—— A J PEARCE

Unforgettable ... Elizabeth Zott is intelligent, fearless, determined and utterly inspiring

—— CULTUREFLY

An absolute delight. Zott is a cracking protagonist - strikingly single-minded, socially awkward, fiercely determined to forge her own path

—— FINANCIAL TIMES, Best Audio Books

Witty, fast-paced and unabashedly amusing' Lessons in Chemistry is 'written with charm, verve and piercing insight ... a future classic

—— LITERARY REVIEW

The best book I've read recently. I loved it

—— SARA COX, BBC 2 Between the Covers

I loved it. You don't want to finish it. You don't want to put it down. It's wonderful to hear a voice that has total honesty and clarity. I love that Elizabeth Zott is funny and hasn't got a clue that she's funny

—— DEBORAH MEADEN, BBC 2 BETWEEN THE COVERS

I loved everything about it. There were so many things I could relate to

—— STEPHEN BAILEY, BBC 2 BETWEEN THE COVERS

i couldn't put it down. It was so easy to read: hilarious, heartfelt. With all of the issues that we are still dealing with right now. Heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measure

—— SUKH OJLA

Laugh-aloud funny, witty and provocative, LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY recreates the rampant sexism of America just before Betty Friedan's THE FEMININE MYSTIQUE and the bonfire of the bras

—— THE TIMES, audiobook of the week

A funny, big-hearted read

—— THE TIMES, Summer Reading Choice

I adored this confident, witty portrait of an unforgettable woman and her time

—— DAILY MAIL, Summer reading recommendations

One of the smartest and funniest novels to appear this year

—— THE NEW EUROPEAN

We guarantee you will love this charming debut

—— HELLO MAGAZINE

This smart, uproarious, emotional page-turner...has been the year's runaway hit. Rightly so

—— SUNDAY TIMES, Books of the Year

Irresistible, a gorgeous tribute to resilience and the many types of love that sustain us

—— OPRAH DAILY

Sharp and deliciously readable. Brings bite as well as charm to the tale of a super-rational scientist navigating sexism in early 60s America.

—— GUARDIAN, Books of the Year

The idiosyncratic wit of this year's blockbuster debut is instantly appealing, but it's also a narrative with real bite. Uplifting and irresistibly zany

—— THE MAIL, Books of the Year

I fell for Elizabeth Zott immediately. A wonderfully entertaining and empowering read

—— GOOD HOUSEKEEPING, Books of the Year

A wonderful novel - polished, pacy, funny, witty, warm, life-affirming, and thought-provoking

—— SUNDAY MAIL, SCOTLAND

Witty and sometimes hilarious. The CATCH-22 of early feminism

—— STEPHEN KING

Enchanting, clever, funny and packed with deeply engaging characters. I still think about it a lot

—— INDIA KNIGHT's Book of the Year, SUNDAY TIMES

As with all the best stories, there is a timelessness to this book. One senses it will be read in ten or twenty years' time

—— IRISH TIMES

Biting and cheering in exactly the right measure

—— JOJO MOYES

The TV cook bit hooked me right in and it did not disappoint. This book is Charming, witty and clever

—— NADIYA HUSSAIN
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