The Merry Spinster

"Empowering, subversive. . . . Lavery twists fairy tales into elegant garrotes . . . There's not a single weak link in the cat's-breath chain of this collection." —The New York Times Book Review

Adapted from the beloved "Children's Stories Made Horrific" series, The Merry Spinster takes up the trademark wit that endeared Daniel M. Lavery to readers of both The Toast and the bestselling Texts from Jane Eyre. Sinister and inviting, familiar and alien all at the same time, The Merry Spinster twists traditional children's stories and fairy tales with elements of psychological horror, emotional clarity, and a keen sense of feminist mischief.


Unfalteringly faithful to its beloved source material, The Merry Spinster also illuminates the unsuspected and frequently alarming emotional complexities at play in the stories we tell ourselves, and each other, as we tuck ourselves in for the night.


"A wholly satisfying blend of silliness, feminist critique, and deft prose makes this a collection of bedtime stories that will keep you up at night for all the right reasons." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review


"Lavery's sly, scathing renditions . . . strike directly at the heart. . . . The book brings the shock of the new and the shock of recognition into play at the same time; it's a tour de force of skill, daring, and hard-earned bravura." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)


"Dark and dreadful and persistently clever. Lavery bloodily turns familiar tales inside out." —Rainbow Rowell, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Carry On

"Subversive fun." —Ms Magazine


"Twisted tales that will shock and delight you." —Esquire


"Feminist fairy tales? Just what the doctor ordered." —ELLE


"Primordial, oppressive, and funny." —Boris Kachka, New York Magazine