One Book Always Leads to Another

Although I like to have some sort of reading plan, I quickly get off track as one book  always leads to another.  I've started reading a very unusual novel.  I had heard about it before, but I was recently reminded that I wanted to find a copy.  Since there is no way I am going to pay upwards of $50-60 for a used copy of Rachel Ferguson's The Brontes Went to Woolworths, I resorted to my oft-used and very reliable ILL department to find a copy I can at least read, if not own.  I'll still be watching for a copy (and if anyone happens upon any less expensive copies anywhere, I'd be appreciative to be pointed in the right direction).  No doubt I'll happen upon a copy when I'm not looking for one.

I've only read the first few chapters, but it is incredibly eccentric and highly imaginative.  I may have to reread it in order to sort out what's real and what's fantasy. 

"The Carne girls--Diedre, Katrine, and Sheil--live with their mother and Sheil's governess.  Dierdre is a journalist.  She once declined a proposal of marriage, being in love with Sherlock Holmes at the time.  Katrine is at dramatic school, elocuting Shakespearian indecencies. They live like other middle-class London families in the 1920s, except that mealtimes are attended by a cloud of witnesses.  There's Ironface the doll who converses in French; the pierrot Dion Saffyn; Pipson, a music-hall comic, and a ballet troupe, 'The Kensington Palace Girls'.  And Judge Toddington, with his jam-tart yawn and small pomposities, is quite the most delectable thing.  Then one day Diedre goes to a charity bazaar, to be opened by none other than Lady Mildred, Toddy's real-life wife..."

A little strange, eh?  I'm saving the introduction by A.S. Byatt for later, but I did have to take a little peek at what she wrote about it.  She said she read it "when I was far too young--or just the right age", which I got a kick out of.  She calls it whimsical and fey, "but that doesn't seem to matter too badly".   I'll let you know how it turns out.  And don't you love the cover?

So, when I said one book leads to another...when I read about the Ferguson book, another tempting title was mentioned that I was lucky enough to find on the shelves at work.  The Feminine Middlebrow Novel, 1920s to 1950s: Class, Domesticity, and Bohemianism by Nicola Humble looks chalk full of interesting information, much along the lines of Nicola Beauman's A Very Great Profession: The Woman's Novel, 1914-39.  Rachel Ferguson is mentioned in both books.  I've started on the introduction and it makes for fascinating reading.  I even relish reading the footnotes, if that tells you anything, and I need to keep pen and paper handy for more reading ideas (while reading both books!).

I also spotted on the shelf a two-volume set edited by Harold Bloom, British Women Fiction Writers: 1900-1960.  This may or may not prove to be useful.  He covers only a handful of authors.  Each section starts with a short biography, and includes a bibliography.  The main purpose of the book is to give excerpts of literary criticism on each author's work.  It might serve as a nice jumping off place if I find something especially informative.  I can always go and look for the original source of criticism.  I'm particularly interested in the sections on Daphne du Maurier and Elizabeth Taylor, though all the authors sound interesting.  Can I mention one more resource I recently discovered?  (Yes, I've been busy...just how many books can I read at once...?).  Elaine Showalter's A Literature of Their Own: British Women Novelists from Bronte to Lessing.  Apparently the founders of Virago Press were guided by this hugely influential text.  Not a single one of these books are mine, but I want to own them all, of course.  There is all sorts of books on this period of women's writing in terms of British authors, but I wonder what their American counterparts were up to?  I'm a bit one-sided in my reading, but there doesn't seem to be the same sort of effort made over here when it comes to women authors from that period.  Or am I just not looking in the right places.  Perhaps that will be my next big project. 

Comments

[Kitty]

The Rachel Ferguson book is SO MUCH FUN -- one of my favorite books of all time. It manages to be both funny and, at one point, very unsettling. I hope you like it as much as I do -- it's one of my everysooften re-reads.

[Kitty]

Oh, and regarding American writers, there is a book called "Middlebrow Moderns: Popular American Women Writers of the 1920s". It's by Joan Shelley Rubin, and I've been trying to get my hands on a copy; it sounds fascinating! My library doesn't have it, so I may have to break down and buy a used copy. Unlike the Ferguson book, it's quite cheap.

[yolande]

Have you read "Our Spoons Came From Woolworths" by Barbara Comyns, an incredible Virago classic? Or, "Sisters By a River", the first novel by the same author.

[SFP]

I loved The Brontes Went to Woolworths--I had to resort to ILL to get it, same as you. I lucked upon an affordable copy (about $15, I think) via abe.com back in January, so don't give up!

[Dorothy W.]

Those literary history books sound great! I love that kind of book -- the kind that teaches you something about history and then adds to your novel-reading list!

[Stefanie]

What yummy books you are reading! The Brontes went to Woolworth sounds quirky and fun and those other books are sure to make you TBR list grow!

[Danielle]

Kitty--I do like it, though am still trying to sort out what's read and what's not. I do like her cleverness and the 'voice' of the narrator. Have you read any of her other books? I wonder if they are the same style. And thanks for the book suggestion--my library has a copy, so I'll be grabbing it off the shelf today! These NF books are so interesting I think I'll also be looking for used copies!
Yolande--I have heard of it, but I've not yet come across a copy. I will add both titles to my list! It's an intriguing title, isn't it?! Thanks for recommending it.
Susan--Thank heavens for ILL--I've been using it a lot lately. It's sad so many of these books are OOP. I would even be happy to find it on Project Gutenberg if nothing else. I'm willing to pay up to $20 for a copy, but the bookstores selling it for well over $100 are Insane!! Do people actually pay that much for a paperback??
Dorothy--I don't generally read books like that--probably a bit more academic than I usually go for, but the topic is of such an interest to me that I find it all totally interesting. I want to mark up the book, but as it's not mine (and I'm even the first person to check it out), I will stick to turning down pages or using sticky notes. It really is quite insightful.
Stefanie--They are indeed yummy. I can never decide what to pack in my bookbag every day! And I love books that point me in the direction of more interesting books!!

[Isabel]

You are getting a Master's Degree in Brit Literature without even going to classes.

I think that you probably would know more than the profs.

It's ok to have a speciality in reading. Or, is it a preferance?

[Lisa]

I love it when one book leads to another and you find yourself reading everything, fiction and nonfiction, about a topic or person or time period. That's one of the great joys of reading. You just never know where a book will take you. Wow, that really sounds like a librarianish thing to say doesn't it? :)

[Kitty]

I second the Barbara Comyns recommendation... LOVE HER. As for Rachel Ferguson, I read one other book of hers called "A Child in the Theater" which I sadly didn't like; it felt very dated and didn't grab me. I know Persephone has recently published another book of hers, though, and I'm planning to give that one a try.

[Danielle]

Isabel--I am doing my own little course of study, aren't I?! I think I have a long, long way to go before I ever know half as much as the profs at the unversity though! I'll keep reading though. I think this is my preference for the moment anyway!
Lisa--It does sound Librarian-ish--but in the best way! You really never do know where you'll end up, but that's what I love about reading.
Kitty--I found a cheap copy of the Comyns book, so I ordered it. I'm glad to hear it's good. I'm getting into The Brontes Went to Woolworths--it has suddently clicked for me. I think I am going to try the Persephone book that they published of hers, too. I'm not sure when I'll get to it, but I'll steer clear of the theatre one (I've plenty to read otherwise, anyway!).

[Litlove]

That looks like wonderful reading you have there, Danielle! I'd love to learn more about what our American counterparts were doing at the same time. Someone must have written something, surely? I can't even think which writers would be active around then - Flannery O'Connor?

[Danielle]

Litlove--I was wondering the same thing and couldn't hardly think of any writers either. How terrible is that. I really need to read more of a variety. And I've found some books in the library that talk about American middlebrow lit, so will be posting on that next week! I think I may find some more books to read...

[Cera]

I am new to the world of book blogs & thus new to the joy of seeing someone discovering some of my favourite books! The Rachel Ferguson novel is a joy; I've read it twice now, and the second time through was definitely helpful for figuring out what level of reality the various events were happening on.

The Beauman & the Humble are both fantastic resources, although I seem to remember finding Humble's analysis more interesting & insightful. I'm also fond of the Showalter, although I haven't read it in a few years; it's such a foundational text for the resurgence of interest in Braddon, which is near & dear to my heart. I look forward to hearing more of your adventures with all of them -- and yes, do expect to come away with a huge book list, since almost everything either Humble or Beauman mention I ended up wanting to read. (But that's another story!)

[Cera]

Litlove: Good question! I've been racking my brain to think of American female authors in the period; there's Ellen Glasgow, but she's more 'high lit' (I think) and the majority of her work was out before 1930. There's also Anne Green, who is definitely in the lighter, more popular category -- I'd guess she'd count as middlebrow, but I'm not really certain, since I only came across her by accident & I don't really know what to make of her novels.

Oh, and Dorothy Canfield Fisher! Now her books are fascinating and definitely middlebrow and idealistic and (due to historical perspective) heartbreaking -- all the things she dreaded in her novels came to pass.

[Danielle]

Cera--I'm really enjoying the Ferguson book. I was a bit confused at first, but I'm actually sorting it out now I think. Still, I'm curious about where such imaginative situations come from. My copy is a library copy, but I hope to eventually find it used as I'd love to be able to reread it. From what little I've read of the Humble and Beauman I think you're right. The Beauman is almost more of a survey, but still wonderful. I didn't realize the Showalter book talked about ME Braddon--I haven't gotten to that one yet, but now I definitely will. I already know I'm going to want the books the authors talk about. I've already been getting myself into too much trouble with book ordering lately!

[tara]

Great post Danielle, and so many great books here to explore. I managed to get a copy of the Showalter book from paperbackswap - I had read the same as you, that it was a huge resource for virago. I'm also wondering about American women autors. Good point.

[Danielle]

Tara--I am looking for a cheap used copy of the Showalter to buy--I just want to make sure it is the later edition. Or I could keep renewing it from the library...There are loads of books from this period I want to read--I'm so glad I discovered these books!

[tara]

Which is the later edition? Mine has a 1977 copyright - though the book doesn't look like it could possibly be that old. It is from Princeton press.

[tara]

Oh, now I see yours says 'expanded edition'. What does that mean?

[Danielle]

Tara--I have a 1999 edition. I'm not sure what the difference is--the introduction may be new or they may have added chapters. I think I am going to have to just buy a copy. I was hoping to find a really cheap one, but so far they haven't been as cheap as I would like them to be!