The new decade is still very young, but I’ve been busying myself with buying books… These aren’t all from the same shop, but represent trips to a couple of old reliable shops and a couple of books I bought online. The reliables are the bookshop in Wantage and Notting Hill Book Exchange. They’re both shops I’ve been to time and again, and they always turn up affordable gems. But the first two came from the great wide internet…
Proud Citadel by Dorothy Evelyn Smith
When I wrote about the wonderful O, The Brave Music by Dorothy Evelyn Smith, Sarah said that she’d read and loved Proud Citadel. And so I had to have it, didn’t I? Watch this space.
Another Year by R.C. Sherriff
Every Sherriff novel I’ve read has been amazing, and so obviously I need to track down as many as I can. Watch this space AGAIN. Just keep watching spaces.
Return Journey by Barbara Goolden
I’ve already read and reviewed this one, so you know what I think about it and why I bought it!
Sing For Your Supper by Pamela Frankau
I loved A Wreath For The Enemy so much, and have been stockpiling Frankau ever since – but have yet to read any of the others on my shelves (though did read one in the Bodleian). Let’s throw another on the pile. Anybody read this one?
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way by Nancy Spain
I’ve been keeping eyes out for this autobiography for a while because apparently it includes an account of meeting A.A. Milne. She was also a fascinating person for many reasons, so it’ll be fun to find out more about her from her own mouth.
Authenticity by Deirdre Madden
You know how much I loved Molly Fox’s Birthday, and I’ve now bought a couple of Madden novels to try next – the title is intriguing in a Milan Kundera sort of way.
Vestal Fire by Compton Mackenzie
I definitely said I wouldn’t be buying any more Mackenzie novels until I’d read some of the ones I own. When I saw this, I thought ”I won’t buy this unless it was published in the 1920s”. And I picked it off the shelf and saw it was from 1927. The decision was OUT OF MY HANDS.
The Brickfield by L.P. Hartley
I have so many unread Hartleys and I don’t know anything about this Hartley novel, but it was only a quid so why not.
Present Indicative by Noel Coward
I’ve seen this one around a few times, and finally succumbed. Will Coward be as funny in his autobiography as he is in his plays?
Embers by Sandor Marai
I don’t know anything about this but I’m trying to read more translated fiction, after my all-time record of eleven last year. And this one looked interesting.
The Shadow of a Sorcerer by Stella Gibbons
Continuing the theme of this post, I have so many Gibbons novels I haven’t read – but it felt like quite a coup to stumble across one I haven’t even heard of. And there’s surprisingly little info about it online…
Have you read any of these? Any that should race up my tbr pile?
Such an interesting collection. I haven’t read any Sherriff and looked up my database to see if we (ex-secondhand book sellers) had Journey’s End. Instead I found this interesting piece of ephemera.
Sherriff, R.C. (Adapted from the famous stage play by) ‘Journey’s End’
Publisher: David Manners as Lieut. Raleigh and Colin Clive as Cap. Stanhope. (Sydney: Jno. Evans and Son Printing Co. for The State Theatre (Sydney): no date) Suggest 1931. Pictorial wrappers (that is, paper covers) pp. 20. The State Review magazine to accompany ‘the speaking screen version of “Journey’s End”, now showing at the State.’ Incorporating a detailed programme which includes Will Prior’s State Symphony Orchestra … presenting Atmospheric Musical Scena ‘Menin Gate at Midnight’, as well as popular war songs during intermission, and culminates in the screening of ‘Journey’s End’, a film which inspired Union Theatres to launch an anti-war essay competition for Australian students.
Interesting! It’s the one that has endured, and was made into a film recently, but I haven’t seen or read it.
I haven’t read any of these Simon, but I share your joy in finding things you didn’t know existed, and I wouldn’t have been able to stop myself either…
I love RC Sherriff. The only LP Hartley I’ve read is The Go-Between, which was one of the very few school set books that I enjoyed. I remember writing what I thought very clever essays about the summer heat and the heated passions – quite embarrassing now!
The only Compton McKenzie I’ve read is the one about women living on a Greek island – can’t remember the title but I did like it.
So far this year I’ve bought several old Viragos (mainly EH Young) – our Barnardo’s bookshop is excellent for this sort of thing. I’m glad I didn’t even try to have a buying embargo this year!
Oh Young is wonderful! And I really recommend The Boat by Hartley, which is long and slow but in a brilliant way.
Lovely finds, Simon and I haven’t read *any* of them – though I think the Nancy Spain would be great fun and I’ll look forward to hearing what you think of it, as well as the Sherriff. I really should read the other Sherriffs I own…
Thanks Karen! And yes, I think Sherriff might have subtly snuck into my favourite writers – he’s so reliably brilliant.
I really enjoyed Sing for Your Supper, it’s the first in a trilogy. The second book is Slaves to the lamp and the third is Over the Mountains. The middle one is a little odd, but still enjoyable. Overall I enjoyed the trilogy, which follow the fortunes of a group of siblings.
Ah, thanks for the warning that it’s the first of a trilogy – might start somewhere else with my unread Frankaus in that case!
I recommend Marai Sandor – it’s a kind of elegy to a vanished world (although also a story about a long lost friendship). A bit like Roth or Miklos Banffy… and very atmospheric.
I’ve not read any Roth or even heard of Banffy, but I will give it a go nonetheless!!
I bought Embers after reading about it in (I think) one of Susan Hill’s books about books. Haven’t read it though!
Ah, maybe that is why it meant something in the back of my mind!
When I was thirteen I wrote Pamela Frankau a letter, as I so loved A Wreath for the Enemy. She wrote me back a fourteen page hand-written letter! I have read all her books and love them all. I’ve been dipping back into Rumer Godden as well. Pure heaven. And Rebecca West. At the beginning of 2020 I thought I’d read the old classics – the Russians, Moby Dick and so forth. I started with a Russian and although the writing was great, I realized I didn’t want to spend what may well be a dark year, in the minds of men. I am making an effort to read more indigenous writing, especially Canadian indigenous.
Oh Jan, that is so wonderful! What a treasure to have. I’m finding it impossible to find her earlier books anywhere, but will keep hunting.
You’ve been busy! I remember seeing Embers everywhere in the early 2000s and thinking it sounded like something I would enjoy, so of course I’ve never even come close to reading it.
Haha! Of course
Embers is a lovely book about two old friends who meet up after a long time. The title refers to an issue that has been smoldering all this time between them… Do they resolve it?… :-) It’s a really good read but not one to be rushed. Good choice!
Thanks Liz! That sounds very promising.
Embers is not my Classics TBR! But before going to Hungary, right now I’m bingeing on Natsume Soseki and his Sanshiro trilogy to start with
I do not know him,but hope it’s great! I’ve only read one Hungarian novel, Skylark, which was brilliant.
I’m amazed to find that I’ve read one of this lot – but, alas I found that Embers wasn’t for me. Too slow, but I know I’m in a minority on that one!
I’ll save it for the right mood…
A Noel Coward autobiography? I’d read that! And as for the Mackenzie… you can’t buck destiny, right?
You definitely can’t buck it!
This kind of post reassures me that I’m not alone in buying new books when I have stacks of them already yet unread.
I’m very envious of the riches you find in those bookstores. We’re not well served here in South Wales with only one second hand bookstore remaining in Cardiff.
You’re definitely not alone! I can never pass a charity shop without a ‘quick’ browse….
Oh, of course!!
Great books and all within your collection development policy, I’d say!
Haha! Yes, I think just about…
I have just ordered the ~Sherriff book from Abebooks … there are LP Hartley volumes on the shelves here going back to seeing the film of The Go-Between, reading the book & thinking him wonderful … cannot recall if I have read any of the others … must have look …
Hope you enjoy it!
I just saw a Noel Coward play for the first time this month, Present Laughter. It was so funny! I don’t know much about him at all except that he’s a side character in a mystery series I loved called Her Royal Spyness. I hope Present Indicative is good!
I have not actually any of these, but will surely go on my list of ones to read 😊 good collection