Barbara Pym - Wikipedia - Recent changes [en]

Pym wrote her first novel, ''[[Some Tame Gazelle]]'', in 1935, but it was rejected by numerous publishers including [[Jonathan Cape]] and [[Victor Gollancz Ltd|Gollancz]].<ref>Pym 1984, p. 56</ref> She wrote another novel, ''Civil to Strangers'', in 1936 and several novellas in the following years, which were collectively published as ''[[Civil to Strangers]]'' after Pym's death. In 1940, Pym wrote the novel ''[[Crampton Hodnet]]'', which would also be published after her death.<ref>Pym 1984, p. 97</ref>

Pym wrote her first novel, ''[[Some Tame Gazelle]]'', in 1935, but it was rejected by numerous publishers including [[Jonathan Cape]] and [[Victor Gollancz Ltd|Gollancz]].<ref>Pym 1984, p. 56</ref> She wrote another novel, ''Civil to Strangers'', in 1936 and several novellas in the following years, which were collectively published as ''[[Civil to Strangers]]'' after Pym's death. In 1940, Pym wrote the novel ''[[Crampton Hodnet]]'', which would also be published after her death.<ref>Pym 1984, p. 97</ref>

After some years of submitting stories to women's magazines, Pym heavily revised ''Some Tame Gazelle'', which this time was accepted by Jonathan Cape for publication in 1950.<ref name="Fowler">[https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/invisible-ink-no-68--barbara-pym-2240300.html Christopher Fowler, "Invisible Ink: No. 68"], ''The Independent'', 13 March 2011, accessed 30 September 2011</ref> The poet [[Philip Larkin]] regarded ''Some Tame Gazelle'' as Pym's ''[[Pride and Prejudice]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Weld |first=Annette |date=1992 |title= Barbara Pym and the Novel of Manners |location=New York |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |page=58 |isbn=9781349216925}}</ref> The novel follows the lives of two middle-aged [[spinster]] sisters in an English village before the War, who are both given the possibility of love. That year, Pym also had a [[radio play]] – ''Something to Remember'' – accepted by the [[BBC]].<ref>Holt 1990, p. 145</ref>

After some years of submitting stories to women's magazines, Pym heavily revised ''Some Tame Gazelle'', which this time was accepted by Jonathan Cape for publication in 1950.<ref name="Fowler">[https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/invisible-ink-no-68--barbara-pym-2240300.html Christopher Fowler, "Invisible Ink: No. 68"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924105443/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/invisible-ink-no-68--barbara-pym-2240300.html |date=24 September 2015 }}, ''The Independent'', 13 March 2011, accessed 30 September 2011</ref> The poet [[Philip Larkin]] regarded ''Some Tame Gazelle'' as Pym's ''[[Pride and Prejudice]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Weld |first=Annette |date=1992 |title= Barbara Pym and the Novel of Manners |location=New York |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |page=58 |isbn=9781349216925}}</ref> The novel follows the lives of two middle-aged [[spinster]] sisters in an English village before the War, who are both given the possibility of love. That year, Pym also had a [[radio play]] – ''Something to Remember'' – accepted by the [[BBC]].<ref>Holt 1990, p. 145</ref>

Pym's second novel, ''[[Excellent Women]]'' (1952), was well received, but her third, ''[[Jane and Prudence]]'' (1953), received more mixed reviews.<ref>Holt 1990, p.164</ref> Her fourth novel, ''[[Less than Angels]]'' (1955), had poorer sales than the previous three,<ref>letter from Wren Howard to Barbara Pym, December 1955, published in ''A Few Green Leaves: The Journal of the Barbara Pym Society'', Vol 9, No. 2, November 2003</ref> but it attracted enough attention to be Pym's debut novel in [[the United States]]. A representative from [[Twentieth Century Fox]] came to England with an interest in securing the film rights, but this ultimately fell through.<ref>Holt 1990, p.171</ref>

Pym's second novel, ''[[Excellent Women]]'' (1952), was well received, but her third, ''[[Jane and Prudence]]'' (1953), received more mixed reviews.<ref>Holt 1990, p.164</ref> Her fourth novel, ''[[Less than Angels]]'' (1955), had poorer sales than the previous three,<ref>letter from Wren Howard to Barbara Pym, December 1955, published in ''A Few Green Leaves: The Journal of the Barbara Pym Society'', Vol 9, No. 2, November 2003</ref> but it attracted enough attention to be Pym's debut novel in [[the United States]]. A representative from [[Twentieth Century Fox]] came to England with an interest in securing the film rights, but this ultimately fell through.<ref>Holt 1990, p.171</ref>

==="Wilderness years"===

==="Wilderness years"===

In 1963, Pym submitted her seventh novel – ''[[An Unsuitable Attachment]]'' – to Cape. Editor [[Tom Maschler]], who had recently joined the firm, rejected the manuscript, on the advice of two readers.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Miss Pym's Day Out |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi8Zezov9RQ |access-date=26 April 2020 |series=Bookmark |station=[[BBC]] |date=19 February 1992 |season=9 |number=8 |minutes=36 |language=en}}</ref> Pym wrote back to protest that she was being unfairly treated, but was told (sympathetically but firmly) that the novel did not show promise.<ref>Holt 1990, pp.192–197</ref> Pym revised the manuscript and sent it to several other publishers, but with no success. Pym was advised that her style of writing was old-fashioned, and that the public were no longer interested in books about small-town spinsters and vicars. She was forced to consider finding a new authorial voice, but ultimately felt that she was too old to adapt to what publishers considered popular taste.<ref>https://barbara-pym.org/about-barbara-pym-and-her-writings/finding-a-voice/ Pym, Barbara, ''Finding a Voice'', radio talk given 4 April 1978 on [[BBC Radio 3]], archived at The Barbara Pym Society website, accessed 26 April 2020]</ref> Pym was told that the minimum 'economic figure' for book sales was 4,000 copies, whereas several of her books from the 1950s had not achieved that number.<ref>Holt 1990, p.204</ref>

In 1963, Pym submitted her seventh novel – ''[[An Unsuitable Attachment]]'' – to Cape. Editor [[Tom Maschler]], who had recently joined the firm, rejected the manuscript, on the advice of two readers.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Miss Pym's Day Out |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi8Zezov9RQ |access-date=26 April 2020 |series=Bookmark |station=[[BBC]] |date=19 February 1992 |season=9 |number=8 |minutes=36 |language=en |archive-date=27 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327124730/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi8Zezov9RQ |url-status=live }}</ref> Pym wrote back to protest that she was being unfairly treated, but was told (sympathetically but firmly) that the novel did not show promise.<ref>Holt 1990, pp.192–197</ref> Pym revised the manuscript and sent it to several other publishers, but with no success. Pym was advised that her style of writing was old-fashioned, and that the public were no longer interested in books about small-town spinsters and vicars. She was forced to consider finding a new authorial voice, but ultimately felt that she was too old to adapt to what publishers considered popular taste.<ref>https://barbara-pym.org/about-barbara-pym-and-her-writings/finding-a-voice/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726152834/https://barbara-pym.org/about-barbara-pym-and-her-writings/finding-a-voice/ |date=26 July 2020 }} Pym, Barbara, ''Finding a Voice'', radio talk given 4 April 1978 on [[BBC Radio 3]], archived at The Barbara Pym Society website, accessed 26 April 2020]</ref> Pym was told that the minimum 'economic figure' for book sales was 4,000 copies, whereas several of her books from the 1950s had not achieved that number.<ref>Holt 1990, p.204</ref>

As a result, Pym did not publish anything from 1962 until 1977. Regardless, she continued writing novels and short stories, and refining existing works, while she continued her professional career at the International African Institute. Pym never fully forgave Cape, or Tom Maschler. She and her sister invented a dessert called "Maschler pudding", which was a combination of [[lime (fruit)|lime]] [[Gelatin dessert|jelly]] and milk.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Miss Pym's Day Out |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi8Zezov9RQ |access-date=26 April 2020 |series=Bookmark |station=[[BBC]] |date=19 February 1992 |season=9 |number=8 |minutes=35 |language=en}}</ref> In 1965, she wrote in a letter, "I really still wonder if my books will ''ever'' be acceptable again".<ref>Pym 1984, p.234</ref> Pym wrote ''[[The Sweet Dove Died]]'' in 1968 and ''[[An Academic Question]]'' in 1970. She submitted ''Dove'' to several publishers but it was again rejected. However, her earlier novels were reprinted during this period because of popular demand in public libraries.<ref>Pym 1984, p.254</ref> Pym wrote 27 short stories, of which only six were published during her lifetime. The remainder are stored in the Pym archives at the [[Bodleian Library]].<ref>''A Few Green Leaves: The Journal of the Barbara Pym Society'', Vol 11, No. 1, May 2005</ref>

As a result, Pym did not publish anything from 1962 until 1977. Regardless, she continued writing novels and short stories, and refining existing works, while she continued her professional career at the International African Institute. Pym never fully forgave Cape, or Tom Maschler. She and her sister invented a dessert called "Maschler pudding", which was a combination of [[lime (fruit)|lime]] [[Gelatin dessert|jelly]] and milk.<ref>{{Cite episode |title=Miss Pym's Day Out |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi8Zezov9RQ |access-date=26 April 2020 |series=Bookmark |station=[[BBC]] |date=19 February 1992 |season=9 |number=8 |minutes=35 |language=en |archive-date=27 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327124730/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mi8Zezov9RQ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1965, she wrote in a letter, "I really still wonder if my books will ''ever'' be acceptable again".<ref>Pym 1984, p.234</ref> Pym wrote ''[[The Sweet Dove Died]]'' in 1968 and ''[[An Academic Question]]'' in 1970. She submitted ''Dove'' to several publishers but it was again rejected. However, her earlier novels were reprinted during this period because of popular demand in public libraries.<ref>Pym 1984, p.254</ref> Pym wrote 27 short stories, of which only six were published during her lifetime. The remainder are stored in the Pym archives at the [[Bodleian Library]].<ref>''A Few Green Leaves: The Journal of the Barbara Pym Society'', Vol 11, No. 1, May 2005</ref>

In 1961, Pym began a correspondence with Philip Larkin, as he was preparing to write a review article of her novels.<ref>Pym 1984, p.214</ref> They continued a constant series of letters for 19 years, right up to her death. They met for the first time in April 1975, at the [[Randolph Hotel, Oxford]].

In 1961, Pym began a correspondence with Philip Larkin, as he was preparing to write a review article of her novels.<ref>Pym 1984, p.214</ref> They continued a constant series of letters for 19 years, right up to her death. They met for the first time in April 1975, at the [[Randolph Hotel, Oxford]].

Several strong themes link works in the Pym [[Canon (fiction)|canon]], which are more notable for their [[Style (fiction)|style]] and [[characterisation]] than for their plots. A superficial reading gives the impression that they are [[Sketch story|sketches]] of village or London life, and [[comedy of manners|comedies of manners]], studying the social activities connected with the [[Anglican]] church, [[Anglo-Catholic]] parishes in particular. Pym attended several churches over her lifetime, including [[St Michael and All Angels Church, Barnes]], where she served on the Parochial Church Council.

Several strong themes link works in the Pym [[Canon (fiction)|canon]], which are more notable for their [[Style (fiction)|style]] and [[characterisation]] than for their plots. A superficial reading gives the impression that they are [[Sketch story|sketches]] of village or London life, and [[comedy of manners|comedies of manners]], studying the social activities connected with the [[Anglican]] church, [[Anglo-Catholic]] parishes in particular. Pym attended several churches over her lifetime, including [[St Michael and All Angels Church, Barnes]], where she served on the Parochial Church Council.

Pym closely examines many aspects of relations between women and men, including unrequited feelings of women for men, based on her own experience. Pym was also one of the first popular novelists to write sympathetically about unambiguously gay characters, notably in ''[[A Glass of Blessings]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10071305/Philip-Hensher-toasts-the-novelist-Barbara-Pym.html|title=Philip Hensher toasts the novelist Barbara Pym|author=Philip Hensher|date=2 June 2013|website=The Telegraph|access-date=29 July 2018}}</ref> She portrayed the layers of community and figures in the church through church functions. The dialogue is often deeply [[irony|ironic]]. A tragic undercurrent runs through some of the later novels, especially ''Quartet in Autumn'' and ''The Sweet Dove Died''.

Pym closely examines many aspects of relations between women and men, including unrequited feelings of women for men, based on her own experience. Pym was also one of the first popular novelists to write sympathetically about unambiguously gay characters, notably in ''[[A Glass of Blessings]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10071305/Philip-Hensher-toasts-the-novelist-Barbara-Pym.html|title=Philip Hensher toasts the novelist Barbara Pym|author=Philip Hensher|date=2 June 2013|website=The Telegraph|access-date=29 July 2018|archive-date=29 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729230419/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10071305/Philip-Hensher-toasts-the-novelist-Barbara-Pym.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She portrayed the layers of community and figures in the church through church functions. The dialogue is often deeply [[irony|ironic]]. A tragic undercurrent runs through some of the later novels, especially ''Quartet in Autumn'' and ''The Sweet Dove Died''.

More recently, critics have noted the serious engagement with anthropology that Pym's novels depict. The seemingly naive narrator Mildred Lathbury (''Excellent Women''), for example, actually engages in a kind of participant-observer form that represents a reaction to the [[structural functionalism]] of the Learned Society's focus on kinship diagrams.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Watson|first1=Tim|title=Culture Writing: Literature and Anthropology in the Midcentury Atlantic World|location=Oxford|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2018|pages=49–76}}</ref> Tim Watson links Pym's acute awareness of the social changes in the apparently cosy world of her novels to a critique of functionalism's emphasis on static social structures.

More recently, critics have noted the serious engagement with anthropology that Pym's novels depict. The seemingly naive narrator Mildred Lathbury (''Excellent Women''), for example, actually engages in a kind of participant-observer form that represents a reaction to the [[structural functionalism]] of the Learned Society's focus on kinship diagrams.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Watson|first1=Tim|title=Culture Writing: Literature and Anthropology in the Midcentury Atlantic World|location=Oxford|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2018|pages=49–76}}</ref> Tim Watson links Pym's acute awareness of the social changes in the apparently cosy world of her novels to a critique of functionalism's emphasis on static social structures.

==Popular culture and reputation==

==Popular culture and reputation==

Forewords to her novels have been written by [[A. N. Wilson]], [[Jilly Cooper]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3669659/The-Insider-Jilly-Cooper-on-Barbara-Pym.html|title=The Insider: Jilly Cooper on Barbara Pym|date=2 December 2007|website=The Telegraph|access-date=24 April 2019}}</ref> and [[Alexander McCall Smith]].

Forewords to her novels have been written by [[A. N. Wilson]], [[Jilly Cooper]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3669659/The-Insider-Jilly-Cooper-on-Barbara-Pym.html|title=The Insider: Jilly Cooper on Barbara Pym|date=2 December 2007|website=The Telegraph|access-date=24 April 2019|archive-date=24 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424071749/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3669659/The-Insider-Jilly-Cooper-on-Barbara-Pym.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Alexander McCall Smith]].

[[Philip Larkin]] said, "I'd sooner read a new Barbara Pym than a new [[Jane Austen]]". [[Shirley Hazzard]] was a fan of Pym's work, which she described as "penetrating, tender, and... greatly daring".<ref name="Holt 1990, p.275"/> The novelist [[Anne Tyler]] wrote about her work:<ref>Holt 1990, p.276</ref>

[[Philip Larkin]] said, "I'd sooner read a new Barbara Pym than a new [[Jane Austen]]". [[Shirley Hazzard]] was a fan of Pym's work, which she described as "penetrating, tender, and... greatly daring".<ref name="Holt 1990, p.275"/> The novelist [[Anne Tyler]] wrote about her work:<ref>Holt 1990, p.276</ref>

}}

}}

On 19 February 1992, the British television series ''Bookmark'' broadcast an episode entitled ''Miss Pym's Day Out'', written and directed by [[James Runcie]]. The film follows Pym (played by [[Patricia Routledge]]) from dawn to evening on the day she attended the 1977 Booker Prize awards, for which ''Quartet in Autumn'' was nominated. The script includes excerpts from Pym's letters and diaries. Appearances by real-life figures including Hilary Pym, [[Hazel Holt]], [[Jilly Cooper]], [[Tom Maschler]] and [[Penelope Lively]] are contrasted with adapted excerpts from Pym's novels performed by actors.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://barbara-pym.org/about-barbara-pym-and-her-writings/miss-pyms-day-out/| title = The Barbara Pym Society, accessed 26 April 2020}}</ref> The film was nominated for a [[British Academy Film Awards|BAFTA]] [[Huw Wheldon]] award for Best Arts Programme<ref>{{cite web| url = http://awards.bafta.org/keyword-search?keywords=Huw%20Wheldon%20Award| title = BAFTA Awards website, accessed 27 April 2020}}</ref> and won the Royal Television Society award for Best Arts Programme.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Broadcasting/Archive-BBC-IDX/IDX/90s/BBC-Year-Book-1992-OCR-Page-0032.pdf| title = American Radio History website, accessed 27 April 2020}}</ref>

On 19 February 1992, the British television series ''Bookmark'' broadcast an episode entitled ''Miss Pym's Day Out'', written and directed by [[James Runcie]]. The film follows Pym (played by [[Patricia Routledge]]) from dawn to evening on the day she attended the 1977 Booker Prize awards, for which ''Quartet in Autumn'' was nominated. The script includes excerpts from Pym's letters and diaries. Appearances by real-life figures including Hilary Pym, [[Hazel Holt]], [[Jilly Cooper]], [[Tom Maschler]] and [[Penelope Lively]] are contrasted with adapted excerpts from Pym's novels performed by actors.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://barbara-pym.org/about-barbara-pym-and-her-writings/miss-pyms-day-out/| title = The Barbara Pym Society, accessed 26 April 2020| access-date = 26 April 2020| archive-date = 26 July 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200726141914/https://barbara-pym.org/about-barbara-pym-and-her-writings/miss-pyms-day-out/| url-status = live}}</ref> The film was nominated for a [[British Academy Film Awards|BAFTA]] [[Huw Wheldon]] award for Best Arts Programme<ref>{{cite web| url = http://awards.bafta.org/keyword-search?keywords=Huw%20Wheldon%20Award| title = BAFTA Awards website, accessed 27 April 2020| access-date = 27 April 2020| archive-date = 26 July 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200726141359/http://awards.bafta.org/keyword-search?keywords=Huw%20Wheldon%20Award| url-status = live}}</ref> and won the Royal Television Society award for Best Arts Programme.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Broadcasting/Archive-BBC-IDX/IDX/90s/BBC-Year-Book-1992-OCR-Page-0032.pdf| title = American Radio History website, accessed 27 April 2020}}</ref>

==Novels==

==Novels==