Dorothy Whipple

[DuchessofMalfi]

I picked up a copy of her short stories - The Closed Door And Other Stories, from the library and started reading it yesterday. It's excellent.

I'm really enjoying literature from or set in the early part of the 20th century at the moment and this fits the bill completely.

Has anyone else read her work? Ridiculously delighted to find another author I love :)

[RhodaBull]

Good idea.

I found a whole batch of Persephone books in a charity shop for 49p !!!!! They were untouched - spines unbent and bookmarks present. Clearly a bit of a dud present for someone (probably a mil ).

[MermaidofZennor]

Rhoda - I started the thread under an old NN :) I'm (very) slowly building up my collection of Persephone books as and when I find them second hand. They are gorgeous. I must revive my search for Dorothy Whipple novels at the library - have been reading too much stuff set in medieval and Tudor Times. 1920s/30s sounds ideal. Perhaps we should have a Persephone fan club on here and add our favourites?

[RhodaBull]

Hello - can I revive this thread? (I did post before but with an old name.)

I love Dorothy Whipple so much I ration myself to one DW a year (hope I don't go under a bus before I've read them all....). I have just finished Because of the Lockwoods. Heavenly! Every character was awful - including the "heroine". The very worst though was that namby-pamby mother, Mrs Hunter. Utterly spineless creature.

I really wish there was an unofficial Persephone Books appreciation society, one whose members could do the crumpets by the fire chat thing. I feel that if I attended an official PB event I would be sweating with discomfort and standing round looking terribly awkward as approved people were all merrily discussing book characters.

[ilovemyteddy]

Resurrecting this thread to give you all a heads-up that Persephone have just published Dorothy Whipple's Because of the Lockwoods.

I have my copy on order from Waterstones and can't wait to read it.

[penguinpaperback]

I love Dorothy Whipple, have all the Persephone editions. Also discovered Mollie P-Downes via the Persephone catalogue and my absolute favourite, Tea with Mr Rochester, short stories by Frances Towers. A bit disappointed with the forthcoming Spring titles, would think most Persephone readers have read The Diary of a Provincial Lady. I'm hoping they have some gems in the pipeline. I would love to visit the shop one day but I'm not so sure now.

[MrsBartlet]

Definitely worth it! If you like Dorothy Whipple you will love it. I wish they would print more of Richmal Crompton's adult books. She wrote loads and most of them are out of print, sadly.

[Lomaamina]

Thanks for the recommendation. It's been on my list to order from the library for a while, but I wasn't sure if it was for me... Worth the 60p gamble, either way!

[MrsBartlet]

Just finished reading Richmal Crompton's "Family Roundabout" (Persphone) - would thoroughly recommend it to Dorothy Whipple fans as it is very similar in style, content etc.

[Pukkapik]

And why not!

[Lomaamina]

Ha! Sorry to disappoint you, but no. Slunk into work after nasty session at the dentist and chickened out from leaving my desk, even for a Mumsnet mission.

Still, I was thinking of booking a lunch date important work meeting with a colleague who's also a friend. Perhaps we should saunter down Lamb’s Conduit way?

[Pukkapik]

Lomaamina - Did you visit the Persephone shop today? (in blue stockings or thigh high boots?!) How did you get on?

[MrsBartlet]

I got They Were Sisters for Christmas and I loved it - definitely my favourite Dorothy Whipple so far. It was my birthday earlier this week so I now have several Persephone books in my to read pile by my bed. including The Priory and High Wages.

DH went to the shop last week to buy presents for me and he said the person who served him was very friendly. However, he did have to ask for help. I have managed a couple of bookshops and I would indeed be mortified to see such dire feedback. It is so disappointing when people are so passionate about their books but feel so let down by the shop.

[Anatana]

Oh I love Dorothy Whipple! My sister bought me a subscription to Persephone for my birthday one year and I discovered her then, and have since pressed copies upon numerous others. I wonder why she's never been adapted. You'd think she'd be perfect for a Sunday night mini series.

Shan't go to this shop, though. Sounds bloody awful!

[MooncupGoddess]

What a shame - someone should email this thread to them.

I avoided Dorothy Whipple's novels for years after reading Carmen Callil's unkind comment that she wouldn't consider anything for Virago that was 'below the Whipple line'. Then I saw They Were Sisters in the library last week, borrowed it and stayed up till 1 am until I'd finished it

[Graceparkhill]

Me too Pukkapik. I felt inches high when I made the pilgrimage . The staff were very aloof and I felt like a provincial old fool. Dreams shattered. I thought we would have toasted crumpets whilst discussing our favourite Persephone books instead they couldn't even pretend to be interested in me.

[Lomaamina]

carlajean that only works if you can carry off the thigh-high-black-boots look. Not quite the bluestocking image they want to convey.

[carlajean]

Exactly pukkapik. I was so annoyed that I felt like doing a Pretty Woman on them (walking back with a whole pile of books in my arms and saying 'remember when you couldn't be bothered to serve me? BIG mistake')

[Lomaamina]

Sorry to hear your disappointment Pukkapik is the same as most of the others on this thread. I wonder if anyone from the shop ever monitors social networks to see conversations such as this one? If I owned the business, I'd be mortified to be reading this thread.

Funnily enough I was planning to go by the shop on Thursday just to test the water again as I'll be in the area. I may just do so and report back.

(Off to dig out suitably posh clothes)

[Pukkapik]

I love Persephone books (esp Mollie Panter Downes and DWhipple) and went out of my way to find the shop...I was disappointed and did not find the staff friendly at all. I felt I'd walked in on a private office and interrupted them.

[Lomaamina]

Ha! I doubt it on all counts. Maybe taller...

[carlajean]

Try it! I'll be interested to hear how you get on (perhaps you're younger/posher/thinner than me )

[Lomaamina]

Oh poor you carlajean! I was wondering what had made this thread come alive and I've had Persephone on my mind again as they're having a film showing of 'Still Missing' next month, but I haven't got my act together about booking. Just not sure if I've the guts to go on my own and you've sort of confirmed my decision.

[carlajean]

I've reanimated this thread to say how disappointed I was by the bookshop. I love Persephone books, and walked over from the other side of the river with mounting excitement, my only worry being that I might buy too many books. My god, it was like walking into a stranger's coffee morning. 3 young women chatting away in the corner, who obviously saw themselves above shop work, who didn't even make eye contact, let alone ask if they could help.

[Lomaamina]

Oh yes, I'd still like to see it! I've searched high and low though, to no avail.

[Bloodybridget]

thanks Lomaamina. You're right, film adaptations are usually a disappointment, but I can imagine it being a good film nonetheless.