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Virago Modern Classics to publish 50th anniversary edition of Carrie’s War
To mark the 50th anniversary of Carrie’s War by Nina Bawden (Victor Gollancz), Virago Modern Classics will publish a celebratory hardback edition with a new foreword by Emma Carroll, with a new audio edition read by Katherine Parkinson, on 14th April 2023.
Carrie’s War is described by the publisher as “one of the most beloved 20th-century children’s classics".
It goes on: “For half a century this evacuee story has been a favourite of so many readers, but it has particular resonance today. An international bestseller, this enduring novel has been adapted twice for TV and for the theatre. This new edition has been designed by Little, Brown art director, Nico Taylor, and is sure to be a treasure passed on to future generations.”
Nina Bawden’s son, Robert Bawden, said he was “thrilled” by the “wonderful new edition of my mother’s book”, adding: “My mother created Carrie from her experience of evacuation in the Second World War. Wars and climate change make continuing displacement of children from their homes and families inevitable. Carrie’s War continues to be a story of our time."
Donna Coonan, editorial director, described Carrie’s War as “one of the jewels of children’s literature, a true classic that is as resonant today as when it was first written.”
She said: “I have returned to it many times over the years since I first read it, full of admiration at Bawden’s subtlety, skill and empathy. She convincingly steps into the mind of a child navigating the adult world, and brings to life such vivid, unforgettable characters.
“I’m so proud to publish Carrie’s War – I don’t think my 11-year-old self would have believed it! – and am absolutely thrilled that Emma Carroll, one of today’s finest children’s writers, has written the foreword. She was herself inspired by Carrie’s War, and we couldn’t have asked for a more passionate champion. I hope this stunning new edition will inspire readers young and old to discover and revisit Carrie’s world.”
Carroll added: “For me, Carrie’s War epitomises the lifelong relationship we form with the books we love in childhood. It was such an honour to be invited to reflect on 50 years of this dark, brilliant story which, as long as conflict exists in the world and with it our need for hope, will go on being a relevant, treasure-house of a book.”
