Marina Warner is an internationally acclaimed cultural historian, critic, novelist and short story-writer writer.

I've long been a fan of Marina's extensive study of fairytales-from their origins to later reworkings by the likes of Anglea Carter.(From the Beast to the Blonde is an absolute must-read for anyone interested in what came before Disney)In her new work Stranger Magic she discusses how magic is not simply a matter of the occult arts, but a whole way of thinking, of dreaming the impossible. Magic used to be associated with wisdom, understanding the powers of nature, and with technical ingenuity that could let men do things they had never dreamed of before.As part of her exploration into the prophetic enchantments of the Arabian Nights Marina Warner retells some of the most wonderful and lesser known stories. Warner discusses in this groundbreaking book how magic, in the deepest sense, helped to create the modern world, and how profoundly it is still inscribed in the way we think today.

.................................................................................................................... COMPETITION: Win 1x Pair of tickets to attend Marina Warner's talk at The Richmond Literature Festival 26th November. To claim your tickets, send an email to Katie at katie@run-riot.com with the correct answer in the ‘subject’ box. The winner will be randomly selected.

Q: Which of these was NOT written by Marina Warner?

A: 1)From the Beast to the Blonde 2)In a dark wood 3)Sleeping Beauty 4)Alone of all her sex