{"title":"Elaine Dundy","description":"\u003cp\u003eExplore the captivating world of Elaine Dundy, a renowned author celebrated for her wit, charm, and engaging storytelling. Dundy's works, particularly \u003cem\u003eThe Dud Avocado\u003c\/em\u003e, offer a delightful blend of humour and sharp social observations, making her a beloved figure in the realm of general fiction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eElaine Dundy's narratives are characterised by their vibrant characters and vivid settings, often reflecting her own adventurous spirit and unique perspective on life. Her writing invites readers to experience the whimsical and unpredictable nature of youth, capturing the essence of both personal growth and the cultural zeitgeist of the mid-20th century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eApart from her fiction, Dundy's life was as intriguing as her books, with experiences that deeply influenced her writing. Her works continue to resonate with readers today, offering timeless insights wrapped in delightful prose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDiscover Elaine Dundy's collection, where each book promises an enjoyable escape into her whimsical world, and see why she remains an enduring favourite among fans of classic general fiction.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-dud-avocado-by-elaine-dundy-9780349010373","title":"The Dud Avocado","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'One of the best novels about growing up fast' \u003cem\u003eGUARDIAN\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'One falls for Sally Jay Gorce from a great height from the first sentence' \u003cem\u003eOBSERVER\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e'Scandalous and entertaining . . . Both funny and true' \u003cem\u003eEVENING STANDARD\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Dud Avocado\u003c\/i\u003e gained instant cult status on first publication and remains a timeless portrait of a woman hellbent on living.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSally Jay Gorce is a woman with a mission. It's the 1950s, she's young and she's in Paris. Having dyed her hair pink, she wears evening dresses in the daytime and vows to go native in a way not even the natives can manage. Embarking on an educational programme that includes an affair with a married man (which fizzles out when she realises he's single and wants to marry her); nights in cabarets and jazz clubs in the company of assorted \"citizens of the world\"; an entanglement with a charming psychopath and a bit part in a film financed by a famous matador.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBut an education like this doesn't come cheap. Will our heroine be forced back to the States to fulfil her destiny as a librarian, or can she keep up her whirlwind Parisian existence?\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBooks included in the VMC 40th anniversary series include: \u003cem\u003eFrost in May\u003c\/em\u003e by Antonia White; \u003cem\u003eThe Collected Stories of Grace Paley\u003c\/em\u003e; \u003cem\u003eFire from Heaven\u003c\/em\u003e by Mary Renault; \u003cem\u003eThe Magic Toyshop\u003c\/em\u003e by Angela Carter; \u003cem\u003eThe Weather in the Streets\u003c\/em\u003e by Rosamond Lehmann; \u003cem\u003eDeep Water\u003c\/em\u003e by Patricia Highsmith; \u003cem\u003eThe Return of the Soldier\u003c\/em\u003e by Rebecca West; \u003cem\u003eTheir Eyes Were Watching God\u003c\/em\u003e by Zora Neale Hurston; \u003cem\u003eHeartburn\u003c\/em\u003e by Nora Ephron; \u003cem\u003eMemento Mori\u003c\/em\u003e by Muriel Spark; \u003cem\u003eA View of the Harbour\u003c\/em\u003e by Elizabeth Taylor; and \u003cem\u003eFaces in the Water\u003c\/em\u003e by Janet Frame.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46716401615084,"sku":"9780349010373","price":24.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/6557253482312.jpg?v=1754425197"},{"product_id":"the-dud-avocado-by-elaine-dundy-9780349020884","title":"The Dud Avocado","description":"\u003cb\u003e'Funny, funny, funny. She's wicked and wise' \u003c\/b\u003eGRETA GERWIG\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e'One falls for Sally Jay Gorce from a great height from the first sentence' \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eOBSERVER\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Scandalous and entertaining . . . Both funny and true'\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ci\u003eEVENING STANDARD\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e'One of the best novels about growing up fast'\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ci\u003eGUARDIAN\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eHere was all the gaiety and glory and sparkle I knew was going to be life if I could just grasp it . . . \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eSally Jay Gorce is a girl hellbent on living. It's the 1950s and she's an American in Paris: witty, headstrong and disaster-prone. She dyes her hair pink, wears evening dresses in the daytime and prowls the Left Bank in search of love, adventure and fame. But an education like this doesn't come cheap. Will our heroine be forced back to the States to fulfill her destiny as a librarian, or can she keep up her whirlwind Parisian existence? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAs effervescent as a champagne cocktail, \u003ci\u003eThe Dud Avocado\u003c\/i\u003e is a deliciously funny cult classic.\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eINTRODUCED BY RACHEL COOKE","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47288888066284,"sku":"9780349020884","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/2ded3156910dfbef2502388d5cd2ac42.jpg?v=1770603569"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/elaine-dundy.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}