Henry Green is one of my "mean to read soon" authors who I just haven't quite gotten around to yet. He wrote nine novels and a memoir while also working in his family's engineering firm. Interestingly he went to school at Eton where he became friends with Anthony Powell (whose quartet of books I had set out to read this year...and didn't accomplish--still would like to get back to them), and was a friend and literary rival of Evelyn Waugh who he met at Oxford. He seems to be part of that literary milieu that I am so interested in--writing between the wars and into the 1940s.
John Updike wrote the introduction to my copy of Living Loving and Party Going and Green seems to be an author he greatly admires--not only was he a great writer but a "revealer of what English prose fiction can do in this century". His novels are chronicles of the mundane yet Updike says they are unlike any others.
"And they have become, with time, photographs of a vanished England. Their substantive content, in human psychology, in social mores, in what can be seen and heard by a man alive in a place and time, is as rich as their formal design is intricate, rounded and pleasing. They are among the most contemplated novels of an age, not long ago, when novel-writing came easy, because 'simply everything has importance, if it happens'."
I like the sound of an author who not only gives pleasure but can instruct. And I love that he can give a window onto the world of a long gone England. Why have I not yet read him? My library has all of his novels, and I own an omnibus edition of three of them, which I am assuming are either considered his best or are his most popular? I shouldn't probably count him as a lost in the stacks author as his works are in print still (most are published by Dalkey Archive Press who I consider to be a publisher of high quality literature), but when I was scanning the library shelves for an interesting book and I saw those lovely little Hogarth Press editions, I had to slide one of them off the shelf.
I opted for Concluding, which was published in 1948. Henry Green considered it one of his best novels. It's set in a girls' school where two students have gone missing. The story takes place over the course of a day as the administrators try and hush up the disappearance while they look for the students. It sounds like the sort of story where not a lot happens, yet so much is revealed by the smallest actions.
Maybe Henry Green should be my next classic choice!
Just saw that Hogarth Press colophon and had to stop. Know nothing of Henry Green except what I just picked up here but you have me very curious. "The most contemplated novels of an age." Hmm.
Posted by: Frances | October 14, 2011 at 05:57 PM
Frances--This was published in the 1960s by Hogarth Press--several of the books by him we have are Hogarth editions, which are really lovely little books that fit so nicely in the hand. I don't really know much about Green either, though I've had one of his books to read for ages--he seems to be well respected, though I'm not sure how much he's read these days.
Posted by: Danielle | October 14, 2011 at 10:47 PM
He should, he should! I have read Loving and Party Going and they are absolutely great -- I've yet to read Living but I shall soon. As for this, which I'd never even heard of, it's obviously got to be the next on the list. Please read him soon -- he is a remarkable writer.
Posted by: Harriet | October 15, 2011 at 02:02 AM
I keep on confusing him with the French writer Julien Green.
He does sound interesting, I agree.
Posted by: Caroline | October 16, 2011 at 01:08 AM
I don't recall having heard of this author before!
Posted by: MargReads | October 16, 2011 at 04:38 AM
This sounds so interesting. I have such books sitting on my shelves that I keep meaning to read. I think, sometimes, the book is just waiting for the right time to call out.
Posted by: Penny | October 16, 2011 at 07:26 AM
I don't think I've heard of him, either, but his work sounds wonderful. I'll have to see if my library his books. (I love your Lost in the Stacks posts!)
Posted by: Kathy | October 16, 2011 at 09:10 AM
Harriet--I think I may have to scoot him up the pile after reading your comment! He seems very much like someone I'd like--I've been looking forward to reading Living Loving and Party Going--I imagine it doesn't matter where I start with his books.
Caroline--I was actually looking for a book by Graham Greene at the library and spotted him sitting next to Greene on the shelf!
Marg--I don't seem to see him much talked about online these days so he seems like a good author to investigate.
Penny--I have far too many 'mean to read' books on my shelves. I should stop buying books and pay more attention to those I already own! But sometimes you just have to wait for the right moment to pick up a book.
Kathy--It's really fun browsing my library's fiction shelves--I hope I don't bore people too much by my meanderings but it's fun to share my finds.
Posted by: Danielle | October 16, 2011 at 04:48 PM
Oh Henry Green is one of those authors I KEEP meaning to read, and then instantly forget about. I don't know why I can't retain him my my memory! I must put together a proper list of authors I want to try (it may turn out too huge to be of use though!).
Posted by: litlove | October 17, 2011 at 02:47 AM
I am embarrased to admit that I hadn't heard of Henry Green until I read your post.
He certainly sounds interesting though so I will make a point of looking out for his books.
Posted by: Liz F | October 17, 2011 at 03:44 AM
Even more embarrassed that I mispelled embarrassed! I clearly haven't had enough coffee this Monday morning!
Posted by: Liz F | October 17, 2011 at 03:46 AM
I don't think I have ever heard of Henry Green. He sounds good though. And I would totally pull the Hogarth Press edition off the shelf too.
Posted by: Stefanie | October 17, 2011 at 11:25 AM
I can't recall now, whether it was Jane Smiley's or Francine Prose's book on reading/writing that smacked his name onto my TBR list, but it was one of those (both wonderful if you're looking to add to your own TBR list...haha). Haven't gotten to him yet, but I definitely understand why you'd want to!
Posted by: BuriedInPrint | October 17, 2011 at 12:36 PM
Litlove--Too many good books and authors to remember them all! One look through my shelves and I am constantly rediscovering someone I 'mean to read'! I really do want to read Henry, though.
Liz--Mondays are just like that...and I didn't even realize your mistake until I read your second comment--so I had that same bleary eyed look to me as well! I love discovering new authors--I bet he will be fairly easy to find in the library, too!
Stefanie--There were several Hogarth editions of his books on the shelf--they looked so pretty there--just the right size and weight! Now I see where the wolves group takes their name and logo!
BuriedinPrint--So glad to hear he is recommended by such distinguished authors--I have the Prose book so will have to check it out (haven't yet read it, of course). Whenever an author recommends another author as someone who writes well, I am very curious. And he writes about subjects that I like reading about--that particular era in history so I must get around to reading him soon!
Posted by: Danielle | October 17, 2011 at 09:47 PM
I have six of Green's novels... and have read none. Two are by my bed, waiting for me to read him. I'm almost certain I'll love him. So why on EARTH have I read nothing by him yet!?
Posted by: Simon T | October 18, 2011 at 06:16 AM
Simon--Wow, you have practically the whole set! :) I think I will like him, too, and he sits on my own pile and my library pile so I hope to read him very soon. It's so hard when so many books are calling for attention--and I do my best to squeeze in as many as I can!
Posted by: Danielle | October 18, 2011 at 08:35 PM