'The subtlest of her books - the sparkle on first acquaintance has been succeeded by the deeper brilliance of established art' Philip Larkin '[Pym] makes me smile, laugh out loud, consider my own foibles and fantasies, and above all, suffer real regret when I reach the final page. Of how many authors can you honestly say that?' Mavis Cheek 'Barbara Pym is the rarest of treasures' Anne Tyler 'My favourite writer ... I pick up her books with joy, as though I were meeting an old, dear friend who comforts me, extends my vision and makes me roar with laughter' Jilly Cooper
Barbara Pym was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1978 and is the quintessential VMC author. Following on from the huge success of JANE AND PRUDENCE, this novel was loved by Philip Larkin who declared it 'the subtlest of her books'.
Barbara Pym (1913-80) was born in Shropshire and educated at St Hilda's College, Oxford. When in 1977 the TLS asked critics to name the most underrated authors of the past 75 years, only one was named twice (by Philip Larkin and Lord David Cecil): Barbara Pym.
The subtlest of her books - the sparkle on first acquaintance has been succeeded by the deeper brilliance of established art - Philip Larkin [Pym] makes me smile, laugh out loud, consider my own foibles and fantasies, and above all, suffer real regret when I reach the final page. Of how many authors can you honestly say that? - Mavis Cheek Barbara Pym is the rarest of treasures - Anne Tyler'My favourite writer . . . I pick up her books with joy, as though I were meeting an old, dear friend who comforts me, extends my vision and makes me roar with laughter - Jilly Cooper
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