Reading the 20th Century discussion

Lynaia wrote: "I would like to nominate The Juniper Tree by Barbara Comyns."


Lynaia's nomination for a book set in, or about, the 1980s got me intrigued about Barbara Comyns. I know her name but that's about all.

Her biography on Wikipedia is very interesting and worth a read

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

Jane Gardam article...

https://www.spectator.co.uk/2013/07/j...

I am also inspired to read Our Spoons Came from Woolworths (1950) which sounds particularly interesting.

So. let's discuss, Barbara Comyns....

What do you think of her work?

What do you recommend?

Any titles to avoid?

Barbara Comyns Carr was educated mainly by governesses until she went to art schools in Stratford-upon-Avon and London. Her father was a semi-retired managing director of a Midland chemical firm. She was one of six children and they lived in a house on the banks of the Avon in Warwickshire. She started writing fiction at the age of ten and her first novel, Sisters by a River, was published in 1947. She also worked in an advertising agency, a typewriting bureau, dealt in old cars and antique furniture, bred poodles, converted and let flats, and exhibited pictures in The London Group. She was married first in 1931, to an artist, and for the second time in 1945. With her second husband she lived in Spain for eighteen years.

NYRB....

~BARBARA COMYNS
Barbara Comyns (1909–1992) was born in Bidford-on-Avon, in the English county of Warwickshire, one of six children of an increasingly unsuccessful Birmingham brewer. Living on the run-down but romantic family estate and receiving her education from governesses, she began to write and illustrate stories at the age of ten. After her father’s death, she attended art school in London and married a painter, with whom she had two children she supported by trading antiques and classic cars, modeling, breeding poodles, and renovating apartments. A second marriage, to Richard Comyns Carr, who worked in the Foreign Office, took place during World War II. Comyns wrote her first book, Sisters by a River (1947), a series of sketches based on her childhood, while living in the country to escape the Blitz, which is also when she made an initial sketch for The Vet’s Daughter (available as an NYRB Classic). This, however, she put aside to complete Our Spoons Came from Woolworths (1950) and Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead (1954). The Vet’s Daughter was published in 1959. Among Comyns’s other books are the novels The Skin Chairs (1962) and The Juniper Tree (1985; forthcoming from NYRB Classics), and Out of the Red into the Blue (1960), a work of nonfiction about Spain, where she lived for eighteen years.

https://www.nyrb.com/collections/barb...

There's a Backlisted podcast about her. (Haven't listened to it yet)

https://soundcloud.com/backlistedpod/...

Thanks for the prompt Storyheart - that's one of the few I have yet to listen to, and I will aim to put that right soon.

Backlisted is quickly becoming a favourite podcast. I'm glad you introduced me to it.

Hurrah - another satisfied customer


I'm glad you to discover you like it too

I enjoy Backlisted, but I wish they would spend more time discussing the book and less time talking about the books they are reading. As they are involved in publishing, I tend to suspect these are books they are plugging, rather than reading.

I have really liked the Barbara Comyns books I've read - I do tend to think of her as belonging to a much earlier period than the 1980s, even with her later books.

I'm not quite sure which titles by her I've read, as several were in pre-Goodreads days, but I've definitely read and loved Sisters by a River, Our Spoons Came from Woolworths and The Juniper Tree - and I see that I gave The Vet's Daughter 4 stars, though I don't remember it! She is a very quirky author with a unique voice.

Judy wrote: "I have really liked the Barbara Comyns books I've read - I do tend to think of her as belonging to a much earlier period than the 1980s, even with her later books.

I'm not quite sure which titles..."

I agree that she seems to be from an earlier period. I think maybe part of that is that even her later books seem to cover an earlier period in time. She definitely had a lot of material to write about from the first half of the century.

I recently read Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead which I loved. It's rather dark, but very funny at the same time, mixing the macabre with the everyday. Quirky seems to be frequently used to describe her writing; so far I'd say that's pretty accurate. I've ordered a copy of The Skin Chairs so hopefully I'll get to that one pretty soon.

I'm planning to read that one next too Tania, have an old Virago copy. She's a fascinating writer.

That's the one I've ordered. They are usually very pricey, but I found a copy for under a tenner. Happy days!

So great when that happens! : )

I love Comyns. Last year I ordered copies of all her books, most of which were out of print then so the books are rather beat up. Dorothy Press published Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead ten years ago and Daunt just published it. I hope nyrb publishes more of her, so far they’ve published The Juniper Tree, The Vet's Daughter, and Our Spoons Came from Woolworths. I’ve only read five of her books, all 5 star reads for me except The House of Dolls which was 4 stars for some reason I don’t now recall.

She’s another author that deserves to have all her titles reprinted (preferably in matching covers so the set looks good together on my shelf.)

I remember an online discussion a few Months back on publishing older novels in todays climate with some themes that would be offensive to modern day tastes. Simon Thomas, who is a consultant on the British Library Women Writers series had said that it was unlikely that The Skin Chairs would be re-published because although he loved it, it would be unlikely that any publisher today would want to put their name to it. I've not read it yet, so I don't know why but he did have an interesting discussion on his 'Tea or Books?' Podcast about re-publishing problematic books. I don't remember whether or not The Skin Chairs was mentioned in the podcast but here it is, http://www.stuckinabook.com/tea-or-bo...

Tania wrote: "I remember an online discussion a few Months back on publishing older novels in todays climate with some themes that would be offensive to modern day tastes. Simon Thomas, who is a consultant on th..."

Possibly the chairs, they're a memory from Comyns's own childhood, they're a relic of the Boer(?) war, trophies upholstered in human skin, some white, some black.

I wonder if it would be published, but with a different title? There are any number of novels published with horrible characters, events, etc.?

Thank you for the podcast link! I’m always looking for new book podcasts.

@ Alwynne. I wondered about that, I wasn't sure if it was human or animal skin.

@Wndy. 'Tea or Books' is my favourite, followed by 'Slightly Foxed' and 'Backlisted'. They're worth checking out if you haven't come across them before.

Thank you, Tania, I’ve known about Backlisted for awhile and learned about Slightly Foxed recently, but Tea or Books is new to me.

Great stuff! Going by you list of authors in the other thread, I'd say it will really appeal to you. I think they've all been covered to a greater or lesser exrent. ☺

I saw that! I’m really happy you made me aware of it.

There is a biography on Barbara Comyns coming out in the autumn by Avril Horner called 'Barbara Comyns: A Savage Innocence'

Tania wrote: "There is a biography on Barbara Comyns coming out in the autumn by Avril Horner called 'Barbara Comyns: A Savage Innocence'"

I just heard that it's currently scheduled for October. Can't wait! BC lived for some time on Twickenham Green, just down the road from me.

Nigeyb wrote: "Lynaia wrote: "I would like to nominate The Juniper Tree by Barbara Comyns."


Lynaia's nomination for a book set in, or about, the 1980s got me intrigued about [autho..."

Hi Nigeyb, sorry I've been off the forum for a while - forgotten password crisis! Hope you're very well. BC is terrific. She offers a very British and offbeat take on what is now sometimes called magic realism. One part quirky to two parts tragic. The only one I can't lay my hands on is Out of the Red... Would love to read it, being a big fan of all things Spain. Must have that pint in Soho/Fitzrovia in honour of Patrick Hamilton. Remember all that waiting for Monday Morning and Tuppence Coloured?!

Welcome back Martin - and thanks for your musings about BC


A pint in Soho/Fitzrovia is the most appropriate way to honour Patrick Hamilton

I don’t read a lot of biographies, foolish of me, I know, but I know just enough about Comyn’s childhood to guess that this will be an interesting book.

Nigeyb wrote: "Welcome back Martin - and thanks for your musings about BC


A pint in Soho/Fitzrovia is the most appropriate way to honour Patrick Hamilton"

Sorry, haven't been in here for a while - I just messaged you. Would be great to meet you and anyone else from this great group.

The biography mentioned above is now due out in March. Barbara Comyns: A savage innocence by Avril Horner. I'm looking forward to this one; in the meantime, I'm planning on starting A Touch of Mistletoe in a day or two.

Tania wrote: "The biography mentioned above is now due out in March. Barbara Comyns: A savage innocence by Avril Horner. I'm looking forward to this one; in the meantime, I'm pla..."

Thanks Tania, can't wait for this to arrive. I swapped messages with Avril a year or two age re. BC's connections to Twickenham.