Women's Classic Literature Enthusiasts discussion

South Riding was written in the last 2 years of Winifred's life. She had been diagnosed with kidney disease and knowing she had not long to live she devoted herself to finishing some of the things she had started. Her final 2 works, this one and 'Pavements at Anderby' were published posthumously by her literary executor and long time friend and fellow feminist, Vera Britten.

Testament of Friendship was written by Britten after Holtby's death and remains a vibrant portrait of Winifred by the person who probably knew her best, as well as a moving record of a literary friendship.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winifre...

The book South Riding is based on Winifred's childhood home of East Riding of Yorkshire. There is in fact no South Riding since "riding" comes from the Anglo-Saxon word "thriding", meaning a third. There is a West, East and North Riding. I myself was born and grew up in the South Riding of Yorkshire and so for me reading and discussing this book is almost like discussing one of my own.

Reading Schedule: The books has 8 parts so we will read 2 per week:

Jan1-7: book I-II
Jan 8-14: Book III-IV
Jan 15-21: Book V-VI
Jan 22-28: Book VII-VII

I look forward to discussing this book by my fellow Yorkshire woman.

Thanks for leading the discussion this month. I got the book out of library yesterday, so I hope to contribute to the discussion.

I am not sure which is most exciting; a New Year or a new book. Being a bookish person like me I am sure you understand the thrill you can feel on meeting a new author and book.
Winifred Holtby is a new author to me who I came to find through Vera Britten's works.
In my copy of this book, the one by Virago Classics (I love that publisher) there is a preface by Shirley Williams, daughter of Vera, and an introduction by Marion Shaw.

In the preface, Shirley says:

'South Riding...was born of 2 powerful factors in her (Winifred's) life: her deep roots in the Yorkshire countryside and her fascination with the comedies and tragedies of local government,'

'It is the great epic of local government, a monument to the tens of thousands who serve their fellow human beings at the grassroots where things grow.'

When we have finished reading the book I would like to return to these quotes and see if we agree with Shirley:
1. Is this book full of the Yorkshire countryside?
2. Did local government concern Winifred and are these people shown to be important/influential, for good or bad?

In the introduction Marion Shaw states something that Winifred told Vera; she said she had received 'a very nice letter from Virginia Woolf asking if I would like to write an autobiography for Hogarth Press.'
Imagine that!

Winifred was one of the most prolific and successful journalists writing in London at the time. She was a well known feminist and anti-war propagandist. She had lectured for years for The League of Nations Union.

Not surprisingly, this novel is dominated by the destinies of women. Remember, that at the time in Britain, women outnumbered men by 1.5 million with a consequent increase in the number of unmarried women.

Winifred bequeathed the royalties on any manuscripts published after her death to endow a scholarship at Somerville College, Oxford for mature students.

So if you have purchased this book you are helping some one who may be your favourite author of the future. Who knows? Is this the sort of grassroots support Winifred was concerned with?

Let us begin...

Thank you, Tracey, for this useful information. I am certainly going to enjoy this novel and probably watch the movie (1938) after reading it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9y96....

In 1974 a series of 71 episodes was made that you can also find on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg_3s...

Happy reading!

Marga wrote: "Thank you, Tracey, for this useful information. I am certainly going to enjoy this novel and probably watch the movie (1938) after reading it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9y96....

I..."

Thanks for that Marga, I will enjoy watching it after reading the book.