talk to me about Barbara Pym

[MargaretMountford]

I caught a bit of 'Jane & Prudence' on R4 this week and also spotted the very lovely hardback Virago modern classics with their beautiful covers and thought, hmm,maybe I should give her a go ? anyone read her ? I believe she is greatly underrated from what I heard...

[MargaretMountford]

[MargaretMountford]

bump in case Marina might see this...

[FlossieTCake]

dovegreyreader had an article on Barbara Pym recently - sounded worth a look, certainly enough for me to put a couple on my list.

[MargaretMountford]

thank you flossie - will take a look

[Vulgar]

I heard a bit of "Jane & Prudence" as well. Excellent!

[yogabird]

listened too and thought the same as you

[WendyWeber]

I heard some too - about clearing out a dead woman's room while her widower wilted elegantly downstairs?

The fact that it was read by whatshername (total memory failure, sorry) contributed hugely to its appeal, I thought. The books read cold might be a bit drear.

[AlienSwampMonster]

I won one of her books on prize day at my West African primary. I remember it seemed very slow and weird to a 12-year-old.

[MrsSylar]

Oh my god! I absolutely LOVE Barbara Pym!! She is a very wry, observant writer. Nothing much happens in her books, but they are beautifully written, and fabulous in the details of the time. I thoroughly recommend "excellent women" "a glass of blessings" and "some tame gazelle". Enjoy!

[AlienSwampMonster]

Yes, it was Some Tame Gazelle .

[MargaretMountford]

Excellent Women is the copy with the nice Orla Kielty cover-
and it was Penelope Wilton narrating Jane & Prudence

[MrsJohnCusack]

ANother Barbara Pym lover
just as MrsSylar says, nothing much happens but the observation is fantastic, and they are just so lovely to read

[turquoise]

I have had Jane and Prudence in my 'to read' pile since christmas, I started the first few pages and wasn't grabbed - but will give it another try now.

I read somewhere that she is Jilly Cooper's favourite author - whether that is a good or bad thing is up to you!

[MargaretMountford]

and highly rated by Philip Larkin (even over Jane Austen)

[partaria]

Try Quartet in Autumn. Lovely to read while sitting outside on a warm evening with a glass of white wine.

[MargaretMountford]

thanks partaria !

[MadBadandDangeroustoKnow]

I read them all - there aren't many - about 20 years ago after one of the newspapers ran a feature about 'unjustly overlooked writers'. I think it tied in somehow with Philip Larkin's praise for her.

The books are beautifully written. They remind me somewhat of Anita Brookner, in that (as I remember it) there are lots of well-educated, well-brought up young women being thwarted in life and love and yearning for unresponsive men. Their lives are beautifully described, with lots of telling details (such as the musings in Jane and Prudence about the dress code for a whist drive). There's often too an underlying theme of religiosity or goodness - curates are often involved.

J&P on the radio has inspired me to re-read them!

[MargaretMountford]

I'm very excited now and must read one - I do have my eye on the Virago hardback as it's so pleasing, not too big and lovely cover.