Lost in the Stacks: Airs Above the Ground

Mary Stewart is an author who probably needs no introduction from me, but as my library has a number of her books which have sadly not circulated much or at all in the last decade (or longer) I'm afraid she's become lost in the stacks.  Most of her books are still in print, however, so perhaps readers are buying rather than borrowing her work? 

I read her Merlin Trilogy years ago (according to the Wikipedia, however, there are actually five books not just three?).  They were my introduction to the King Arthur legend--the sorts of books you start and can't put down and eagerly move on to the next.  Several years later I read The Ivy Tree, which I liked but with reservations.  It left me with a favorable impression, however, as I've always meant to read more of her work, and as a matter of fact have just started reading My Brother Michael!  (I know with looming due dates it's the last thing I should do, but what can I say, I lead a decadent life).  I suppose it was this more than anything that made me think I needed to bring home one of her books from the library. 

Airs Above the Ground has been on my wishlist for a long time thanks to its Austrian setting. "Vanessa March never thought to look for her missing husband in Vienna -- until she saw him in a newsreel shot there at the scene of a deadly fire. But her hunt for answers only leads to more sinister questions in a mysterious world of beautiful horses.  And what waits for Vanessa in the shadows is more terrifying than anything she has ever encountered."  The novel was published in 1965, but I'm not sure whether she uses a contemporary setting for her story (am guessing so).  I'm very fortunate as I lived outside of Vienna for nearly a year when I was younger and have always loved the city.  It seems like the sort of place that would serve as the perfect setting for novels left and right, but I rarely seem to come across it when looking.  

Mary Stewart's novels combine exotic locales with suspense and romance and I believe she's noted for this sort of story.  Airs Above the Ground was on the NYT bestseller list in both 1965 and 1966, but the paper didn't formally review her book.  It seems as though she didn't need the additional press coverage.  This is what a reviewer had to say about the book in a "new and notable" column:

"There are some books that it seems almost pointless to review: they are infallibly going to be best sellers even if no reviewer prints a single notice.  I am sure that all of your have already ordered the latest Mary Stewart novel from your bookstore or reserved it at  your library; and it's already on this week's best-seller list but still I'd like, even if needlessly, to express my own delight in Airs Above the Ground, if only out of gratitude to Miss Stewart for so charmingly brightening one day in a reviewer's life (and a day when I had to visit the dentist, at that)."

"As this column (with many others) has often observed, nobody sets forth the romantic feminine thriller with such grace and humor and vigor has Mary Stewart.  This time her setting is Styria, and her theme is the legend-begetting beauty and perfection of the superbly bred and trained Lippizzaner horses--which ties in with many other colorful factors, including life in a small traveling circus and two superb chases, one (not for acrophobes) over the roof of a schloss and one along the track of a rack railway (and if you don't know what that is, let Miss S. enlighten you).  This is one of Stewart's best--which means escape fiction at its most enchanting."

I wonder if Mary Stewart's books are enjoying something of a renaissance with the lovely new cover illustrations from Hodder & Stoughton in the UK?  I've yet to get my hands on any of them, but I think I'll splurge at some point.  A number of her books are published in the US by Chicago Review Press in equally nice (and atmospheric) editions.  Or you could check the shelves at your local library, too!

Comments

[Kim Simpson]

Hi Dani -
Hope all is well. Just stopping by. Mom headed home yesterday, had a good time. Was really sad to see Borders close. I see you're keeping up with all your reading. Talk to you soon.
Hugs,
Kim

[Sarah]

I LOVED Mary Stewart when I was younger, and I haven't picked her up in a while. There was one that I loved about a girl named Gillian who was a witch...something wood? I have to look that one up and read it again.

[LindaY]

I have AIRS...bought it years ago off a bargain spinner...very attracted by the Lipizzaner subplot.

As for the Merlin books...there is only one "Merlin Trilogy." CRYSTAL CAVE, HOLLOW HILLS, LAST ENCHANTMENT--I used to have separate editions, but bought the omnibus edition some time ago so that I could have them all in one easy carry...my idea of a desert island book! There is a fourth book, THE WICKED DAY, which is the end of the story, but is told by Mordred. Merlin is barely mentioned. There is also another Arthurian story, but I don't remember the name. I believe it's a young adult title. Again, not about Merlin.

[Danielle]

Kim--Not sure I'm keeping up but I am never at a loss for something to read. Glad Mom had a good time--I'll talk to her this weekend. It is too bad about Borders! Hope all is well. xo.
Sarah--I'm not familiar with all Mary Stewart's stories, but that one does sound interesting. I'm enjoying My Brother Michael so far...
Linda--I splurged and ordered this with the new cover--can't wait to get it, though I Could just read the library copy. That explains it about the Merlin trilogy--it really is a trilogy--the wikipedia entry confused me. I think I'd rather reread those Merlin books again before trying another.

[bibliolathas]

I've not read any Mary Stewart and I keep hearing her name pop up. Frustrating! I've now got hold of *This Rough Magic* so I can join the 'club'.

[Caroline]

Oh my, another author I have to put on a list, especially for the Arthurian books. I'll need to read your older reviews as well.

[catharina]

As you surely will know by now, as I cannot help mentioning her name every month or so, I am one of those persons who bought all her books over the last few years after reading them years ago. I started rereading from the first one and next month This Rough Magic is due, after That Airs Above the Ground lies waiting. I even have her one volume of poetry, but not read that yet.
Hope you'll enjoy My Brother Michael.

[litlove]

what a coincidence - I've just finished The Ivy Tree. It was good and I enjoyed it, but you're right that it doesn't absolutely engage the reader. Still, I bought a set of 10 of her novels cheap and I'm looking forward to reading more. They are undemanding and relaxing and there are many days when that's all I want!

[Teresa]

I just read The Ivy Tree a couple of weeks ago and thought it was good fun. Not my favorite book of this type, but definitely good enough to make me want to try some of her other suspense books. I was already a big fan of the Merlin/Mordred books.

[AJ]

Oh my oh my -- reading this post was just a delightful trip down memory lane for me ... I first read Stewart right around the time I picked up my first Georgette Heyer ... and Airs Above the Ground was the first one I read. I liked that one but my favorites turned out to be This Rough Magic and The Gabriel Hounds. I am a sucker for exotic locations and clever banter.

PS -- I looked around for an online university level Italian course that was free but was unsuccessful. Sorry! I got some good news though in the search -- Carnegie Mellon has recently put up French II and I am plunging back in.

[Margaret Powling]

I loved AIRS when I read it more than thirty years ago. Hope it's stll as readable today. I have a few Mary Stewarts, some with the new livery, some original (TOUCH NOT THE CAT being one of them) still to read.

[Danielle]

Bibliolathas--I am late to the game as well. Though I did read her Merlin books some years ago, I've not read many of her suspenseful stories which seem much loved by many readers. I need to look for This Rough Magic, too!
Caroline--I think I have only written about The Ivy Tree as the Merlin books were pre-blogging days. If you like the Arthur stories I recommend her trilogy--she was my introduction to Arthur/Merlin.
Catharina--When you mention her I want to immediately pick up one of her books and now I have! :) I think I might well end up collecting her novels and have ordered this one (though I suppose I should read the library copy...). I know I have one or two others on hand as well and need to dig them out. I love the setting of My Brother Michael and can't wait to get more into the story.
Litlove--She ranks up there with Heyer for me--a good read that is a nice bit of escapism. I love those new UK reissues--not sure if they were your set. Not all her books are in print here (well, I don't think so), but I will slowly collect them, I'm sure. :)
Teresa--I wonder if I read The Ivy Tree now whether it would engage me more--I did like it, but I was reading Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier at the time and that's such a gripping read. Still, I liked it enough to know I want to read more so am hoping My Brother Michael is a better fit.
AJ--Stewart and Heyer, though writing such different books are the same sort of good, comfort reads for me. And it's nice to have those sorts of books on hand as lately that seems to be all I can concentrate on! I love exotic locales, too. My Brother Michael is set in Greece--am going to add This Rough Magic and Gabriel Hounds to my list! Pity about the Italian course not being online--am still looking, but I'm glad you'll be able to continue with French!
Margaret--I hope it is as good as it sounds, too. I've not read anything set in Austria for a long time so this sounds really good to me. I sort of like some of the old covers, too. I wanted to show more of this one in my post but it was hard finding some to cut and paste that were the right size. I'll have to check out Touch Not the Cat--sounds suspenseful, too.

[Rebecca]

Mary Stewart is one of my favorite romantic suspense writers, and I think Airs Above the Ground is among her best. I can still vividly remember some of the scenes. I really liked that it featured a married couple in conflict rather than a young heroine falling in love; in general she seems to have more variety in her books than other writers in this genre.

The UK covers are very tempting. I'm glad she's still in print.

[Linda]

The only thing "wrong" with the Merlin trilogy is that it's completely spoiled me for any other version of the Arthurian legend. Her version is so "right" to me and the characters all so believable that I can't get into the more fantasy-oriented Arthurian books or films.

[carolinareads]

Thanks for intruducing this author to me.

[Beachreader]

I haven't kept many books from my younger years, but do still have the first editions of the Merlin Trilogy and The Wicked Day. I am going to have to check out the 5th book though. I think I am going to have to revisit my books. Thanks for the reminder of one of my favorite authors when I was younger.

[Kailana]

I really need to read Mary Stewart one of these days.

[iliana]

I still can't believe I've never read one of her books. They seem like the sort of type I'd really enjoy. One day...

[Danielle]

Rebecca--I'm so glad to hear this is one you liked and is perhaps one of her better stories. It very much appeals to me! Her stories do seem very different from each other--at least such different settings. I'll be reading a few in the near future I hope. And I like those UK covers, too.
Linda--Now that I think of it, her is perhaps the only Merlin books I've read as well. I have a few other Arthurian tales but I don't think I've read any of them. I keep saying I am going to have to read a few different versions and maybe even the original, but so far it hasn't happened.
Carolinareads--She seems to have quite a following and I've not yet read many of her books, but she is on my list!
Beachreader--She is another of those authors who I missed when I was young, but I am glad I have read a few as an adult and will read a few more now. She seems a good dependable author to have on hand when the mood strikes.
Kailana--If you like Arthurian stories, I think you would like her very much--well, I did anyway.
Iliana--I bet you could find her in your library if she appeals. I'm drawn to her exotic locales at the moment!

[Liz F]

Airs Above The Ground was the first of her non-Merlin books that I read and had me hooked.
I still have all my 1970's editions tucked away - no matter how many books I finally clear out (and I am going to have to be ruthless!) the Stewarts will remain!
I'm interested to see other people's views on The Ivy Tree - it is the only one of her books that I haven't re-read at any time as it really didn't appeal to me as much as all the others.
Maybe it wasn't just me...

[Katrina]

I've read lots of her books but the Arthurian ones are my favourites. I just realised recently that there is a 4th and 5th. I've now read the 4th - The Wicked Day but didn't love it as much as the others. I want to read The Ivy Tree as she based it on Josephine Tey's Brat Farrar.

[Stefanie]

You know, I know who Mary Stewart is but I have never read any of her books, not even the Arthur ones. And I am embarrassed to admist, I didn't even know she wrote non-fantasy books! I really have to look her up at the library!

[Kathy]

I LOVE Mary Stewart, though I've never read the Merlin books! Might have to remedy that at some point. Airs Above the Ground is lovely, though not my favorite despite the horse angle. My Brother Michael is right up there (and I got to visit some of the places in that book a few years ago!). I periodically reread these, and I haven't picked one up for a while--and none of my library hold books are coming in...hmmm...might have to hunt out one of my favorites. I love Stewart's descriptions of place, as well as the pacing of her books and her very likable characters. She's really one of my very favorite authors.

[Inkslinger]

What a comfort Mary Stewart novels are! Just to be able to sink into reliably interesting and well-worded adventures. And what a wonderful post! It's inspired me to get back to some Stewart reading. :)

[Danielle]

Liz--I think Mary Stewart would likely be the sort of author I'd keep on hand as well! She reminds me of Georgette Heyer in the way she can transport me somewhere else for a while. I liked The Ivy Tree, but I think Josephine Tey did the same sort of story so well with Brat Farrar that I was a little spoiled. She has plenty of others that I'm sure I'll love, though!
Katrina--The Ivy Tree is very similar to Brat Farrar--I'd be curious to know what you think of them! I might have to reread her Merlin books sometime,though it sounds like those last two aren't necessarily part of the Merlin story.
Stefanie--My introduction to her were the Merlin books and at some point I discovered she had written these other romantic suspense-type stories. They seem very fun if you like that sort of escapism!
Kathy--I really enjoyed her Merlin trilogy--they are worth reading if you like King Arthur stories. And now I get to read more of her other books, which I am looking forward to. I'm glad to hear so many good things about Mary Stewart and her books. I just need more time to sit and read My Brother Michael. May have to take an afternoon off from work to read! :)
Inkslinger--I like having authors like this around as you can tell. I love a good adventure story--the ones from the 40s-60s seem particularly appealing to me. Do you have a favorite?