Barbara Pym.

[Atheist]

Any Barbara Pym fans here?

[Jackdaw33]

Is this from Peyton Place?

[Mamyalynne]

I haven't read any of her work Atheist, should I?

[middlemarch]

Yes, Pym was a wonderful writer. One of my favourites.

[Jackdaw33]

I've got the wrong woman, soz.

[shaneystar2]

Yes, I've read some of her books. Very witty and a tad ironic with sharply observed characters. I wouldn't say I was a fan but it's light reading about a different world to what we live in now .Excellent Women was my favourite out of the few I read.

[Atheist]

Mamy; try her and see. I find her very funny and lovely to read (and so did Philip Larkin - he of "They tuck you up, your mum and dad" fame). But it's all a matter of taste. I just finished reading Quartet in Autumn, and really enjoyed it.

[Mamyalynne]

Thanks for bringing her to my attention.

[Atheist]

Mamy; she didn't write hundreds of books, but if you like her there are quite a few to enjoy. Other good lady writers are Elizabeth Taylor, and Elisabeth von Arnem.

[middlemarch]

Well, Atheist, you've mentioned another two of my favourite authors. Both Pym and Elizabeth Taylor are under-appreciated in my view, Von Arnim less so. Pym was very saddened when her novels went out of fashion and I was glad she lived to see a revival thanks to Larkin and Lord David Cecil.