From theMAN BOOKER PRIZE-SHORTLISTED and BAILEYS PRIZE-WINNINGauthor ofHow to be bothand the critically acclaimedSeasonalquartet

'Artfulis a revelation;a new kind of book altogether . . . it could have only been written by Ali Smith. An intimate study of grief thatmakes you glad to be alive' Jackie Kay

'Playful and audacious'Independent

'Powerful and moving'London Review of Books

'Magical... Blending of criticism and fiction,Artfulbelongs in a genre of its own . . . Joyful for anyone interested in the art of writing, and living, well' Anita Sethi,New Statesman
Based on four electrifying lectures given by the author at Oxford University, and exploring the explosive connections between art, story, memory and grief -Artfulis a tidal wave of ideas to blast away the cobwebs and change how you see the world

Narrated by a character who is haunted - literally - by a former lover,Artfulslips slyly between fiction and essay, guiding the reader thrillingly through a sequence of ideas on art and literature. With Smith's trademark humour, inventiveness, poignancy and critical insight, this is unique experiment in form, style, life, love, death, immortality and what art can mean.