3-book collection: Excellent Women / Jane and Prudence / An Unsuitable Attachment

by Barbara Pym

"In 1977, on the occasion of its 75th anniversary, The London Times Literary Supplement asked a number of prominent British writers to name the most underrated writer of the century. Only one author was named twice as having been too long neglected: Barbara Pym. Because of this, the late English novelist, whose books were out of fashion in the 1960s and early '70s, is now having a new popularity as a brilliant stylist whose comedies of manners have been compared to the works of Jane Austen." (from rear cover)

Genres: Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1984

About the author

People know British writer Barbara Pym for her comic novels, such as Excellent Women (1952), of English life.

After studying English at St Hilda's College, Oxford, Barbara Pym served in the Women's Royal Naval Service during World War II. From 1950 to 1961, she published six novels, but her 7th was declined by the publisher due to a change in the reading public's tastes.

The turning point for Pym came with a famous article in the 1975 Times Literary Supplement in which two prominent names, Lord David Cecil and Philip Larkin, nominated her as the most underrated writer of the century. Pym and Larkin had kept up a private correspondence over a period of many years. Her comeback novel, Quartet in Autumn, was nominated for the Booker Prize. Another novel, The Sweet Dove Died, previously rejected by many publishers, was subsequently published to critical acclaim, and several of her previously unpublished novels were published after her death.

Pym worked at the International African Institute in London for some years, and played a large part in the editing of its scholarly journal, Africa, hence the frequency with which anthropologists crop up in her novels. She never married, despite several close relationships with men, notably Henry Harvey, a fellow Oxford student, and the future politician, Julian Amery. After her retirement, she moved into Barn Cottage at Finstock in Oxfordshire with her younger sister, Hilary, who continued to live there until her death in February 2005. A blue plaque was placed on the cottage in 2006. The sisters played an active role in the social life of the village.

Several strong themes link the works in the Pym "canon", which are more notable for their style and characterisation than for their plots. A superficial reading gives the impression that they are sketches of village or suburban life, with excessive significance being attached to social activities connected with the Anglican church (in particular its Anglo-Catholic incarnation). However, the dialogue is often deeply ironic, and a tragic undercurrent runs through some of the later novels, especially Quartet in Autumn and The Sweet Dove Died.

Reviews

[David Sheward · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend lent me a paperback copy of this three-novel omnibus of Pym's work which I devoured quickly. Pym's comedies of manners are fun and fast to read and, after the some sadness of Quartet in Autumn, these were a delightful laugh. But they also had a hint of sorrow. I liked Excellent Women best. My favorite character was the eccentric and ill-tempered Mrs. Bone who was always angry and had a thing about birds attacking people long before Hitchcock's film came out. The main plot revolves around Miss Lathbury whose life is centered on her church. She is in danger of becoming what was then called a spinster, but she seems fine with that. There are men in her life, but like Varya in The Cherry Orchard, they never ask for romance only reassuring cups of tea when their relations with other, more glamorous, less self-abasing women go wrong.
Jane and Prudence and An Unsuitable Attachment also follow the amorous machinations of church communities with humor and humanity. Reading these novels was like watching a cosy Masterpiece Theater series with a nice cup of tea.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is the book which began my love for this author. I adopted her as a sort of best friend and always find her stories comforting and witty. She writes about British people after the war when many were living rather drab modest lives. I especially like her description of the minister; not a caricature. She compares women's lifestyles, married or single, and everyone very human.

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished Excellent Women for the ??? time. Delish!

[Franziska Self Fisken · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all the Barbara Pym books but this is one of my favourites.
Funnily enough I've read all the Barbara Pym books and also a biography of her life. My father, mother and I were all fans of her. She lived mainly in either Cambridge or Oxford. Many of her characters appear in her other books. And, when young, a bit like Charlotte Bronte, she did fall in love with a man who crops up as a character (Henry?) in many of her books and in real life they remained lifelong friends and I believe she visited him when he was dying.
And like Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte she lived with her sister.
The first novel she wrote when young was about two middle aged sisters living together. And that's what happened to her.
Excellent Women was a favourite. But I liked all her books.
Some people have remarked that her novels are a bit reminiscent of Jane Austen, and I agree with that.

[Stephanie McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara Pym is brilliant. Absolutely incomparable in presenting Post-war Britain in a highly entertaining way. I re-read these books on a rotation every few years. She's amazing.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay, not what I usually read but the story drew me in.

[Shivvers · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent lovely read

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cozy bedtime read.