Happy publication day to The Little Broomstick which has been re-issued today! It is so good to see The Little Broomstick flying out once more and with a new cover. I am reminded of Mary Stewart’s pleased reaction to reprints of her books during her lifetime, as recounted by her niece in this Herald article about the reprint of The Wind Off the Small Isles:
She loved reprints, and would always say, ‘I’m still alive, I’m still around.’
Well, let’s be thankful that her heart-stutteringly suspenseful books, written so exquisitely, are ‘still around’.
The Little Broomstick is a children’s novel but I would urge adults as well as children – everyone who enjoys good writing – to read this classic, magical tale. I summarised The Little Broomstick previously (and by typing the book-title in the Mary Queen of Plots search box I see that this book features in twenty (!) blogposts in discussions of everything from the film ‘Mary and the Witch’s Flower’ to the differences between the UK and US editions) but now I have also posted a short review on my other blog, The Three Rs Book Blog, in hopes of reaching readers who are not (yet) dedicated fans of Mary Stewart’s writing. You can read that review here: The Little Broomstick.
Lastly, I hope to be able to offer a book giveaway next week. Watch this space!
Mary Queen of Plots 
Allison, is The Little Broomstick going to be available in the United States? I have wanted it for years, but the prices for it have been prohibitive. I have all of Mary Stewart’s books except for Broomstick and Ludo and the Star Horse.
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Hi Diane, thanks for getting in touch. I had assumed that TLB would be re-issued in the US to co-incide with the film release, I wonder whether the US publisher is waiting to see how the book performs in the UK?
A solution others have found is to buy the UK edition via Book Depository – this would mean buying the UK edition which is the original version as Mary Stewart intended (her US publisher deleted minor characters, allusions etc) – would this work for you?
It sounds as though you have a great Mary Stewart collection – good luck in completing it!
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Book Depository is a great resource. Free shipping to the US and I believe the new edition of The Little Broomstick cost me less than $7 US. Third party sellers are offering it on the US Amazon, but for about $10 when last I checked. No sign as yet that US publishers are doing a new edition. But with Book Depository, I don’t need a US publisher.
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Really useful info, Jerri – thanks!
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Thank you, Allison. I will definitely check out Book Depository. I would prefer to have the UK edition anyway.
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Excellent, Diane, I hope you get a copy easily and quickly and that you enjoy The Little Broomstick – once you have read it, I’d love to know your thoughts on it!
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Book Depository says my copy has shipped. Estimate says 2 to 5 days delivery from the UK to US. Then I will check for differences between US and UK text. I can hardly wait. And about a month till I get my copy of Mary and the Witch’s Flower.
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Hi Jerri, that is so fast – I can’t wait to learn what you make of the differences between editions, and I hope you’ll love the film. I’m going to a preview screening next week which is the Japanese subtitled version – I’m sure my eyes will get a great workout reading the words while trying to miss nothing of the animation!
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I’ve never read The Little Broomstick – must have missed it somehow as a child – and am now delighted to think that there is still another Mary Stewart waiting out there for me. I think I might try and find an old copy of the UK edition on Ebay. Is there an edition you particularly recommend, Allison? I know you have a passion for different MS dustjackets!
best wishes, Annabel
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Hi Annabel, you have a treat in store! I recommend a UK edition since the US version was pruned of minor characters etc. Because of the film adaptation, I think second-hand copies might be quite rare and expensive: it might be easier and as cheap to buy the new paperback? However you read it, I hope you will enjoy The Little Broomstick!
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I found a hardback copy of The Little Broomstick at our friends of the library book sale last week. Perfect condition! Published in 1972. For one dollar I consider this quite a find!
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Fantastic price!
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