Two new British Library Women Writers titles are out YESTERDAY in the UK – Sally on the Rocks by Winifred Boggs and The Love Child by Edith Olivier, which are both up there among my favourites in the series so far. I was going to do one of my posts about them, but realised that I’d never actually done BLWW number 9, Mamma (1956) by Diana Tutton. (You can see my posts on all the series at the blww tag.)
I first read Mamma in the Bodleian, after loving the extraordinary Guard Your Daughters but not being able to track down her other books. Older copies of Mamma do turn up now and then, but obviously this new edition is available to everyone easily!
When I read Mamma, I was a bit taken aback at first. Guard Your Daughters had been an instant favourite – almost from the first page. It was lively and funny and chaotic. Mamma is a much quieter book – it’s about Joanna, whose daughter Libby moves in with her to save money. She brings along her new husband Stephen, whom Joanna doesn’t know. He is much older than Libby – indeed, he is only a few years younger than Joanna. And gradually Steven and Joanna develop feelings for one another…
It sounds very sensational, whenever you try to describe it, but it really isn’t. It is such a gentle, thoughtful, and unsensational book – just looking at what might happen in this situation, between three decent people who don’t want to hurt each other.
When it came to writing my afterword, I ended up writing about sex – I always seem to veer into this for the series, and I’m worried that people will be alarmed. But the levels of discretion writers did or didn’t have about sex does seem to shift so much in the period – in fact, there’s a novel I’m hoping we’ll do next year that is very interesting on the topic, writing much less discreetly than you’d imagine for the era…
In Mamma, it’s all tied up with psychology and changing norms – particularly around celibacy before marriage.
“I don’t see,” said Elizabeth, smiling, “how anyone at all young can live without sex and not get warped.”
Steven’s feelings changed abruptly. Of all the tactless remarks! But Joanna answered peacefully: “Quite a lot do.”
“Well, they all get a bit peculiar.”
“I don’t think that’s altogether true.”
“Janet says it comes out in all sorts of funny little ways.”
“Well, good Lord, we’ve all heard that one,” said Steven impatiently. “But it’s by no means universal.”
“Even if it’s not visible,” calmly continued Elizabeth, “it’s still there. In fact if you can’t see if it’s probably worse.”
“Darling,” said Joanna, looking, as Steven gratefully noticed, not hurt, but amused, “we’ve all heard that, too.”
“Often,” added Steven.
“Oh, all right!” said Elizabeth, not at all offended. “But all the same, Janet says – ”
“A course in so-called psychology,” said Steven nastily, “doesn’t guarantee a profound knowledge of human nature.”
I’ve been interested to see some people preferring this novel to Guard Your Daughters – I still think that’s Tutton’s masterpiece, and one of my all-time favourite novels, but Mamma is such a different type of novel that they don’t really compare. Now we just need to decide if there is an appetite for her third and final novel, about brother/sister incest…
You’re right, Simon, the Tutton books *are* very different in tone, although I recall “Guard Your Daughters” building gradually until the underlying issues came out. “Mamma” is perhaps more subtle but really handled very well, and the topics covered are surprisingly frank for the age. Tutton always takes an interesting angle on things!
Yes, GYD definitely got darker as it went… such an interesting writer
This one just made its way to the top of my TBR pile, the last of the ladies batch to read. I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the hopeful conclusion. She deals kindly with her characters, which I like very much. How nice that there are now two more to order.
I recently gave Father to a friend who does read, but not that much and is hard to suit, and she loved it. A great success!
We also met someone who knew you at the BA conference this week, lots of appreciation of you being aired if your ears were burning!
Oh I am so glad to hear this Gill – about it getting to top of tbr and about Father :D
Ooo who was at the BA conference who knows me??
I thought this was brilliantly subtle and as you say unsensational. Very different to Guard Your Daughters, but excellent too. I do love these BL women writers novels.
Thanks Ali! Looking forward to seeing what you think about the new ones.
Will the new releases be available as ebooks?
Yes I think so!
Yes, this was so unsensational indeed, I loved it, but also loved Guard Your Daughters. Not sure I fancy the last of the three … And I’m very excited about the two new ones that dropped through my letterbox on Friday!
I am jealous because mine still haven’t come :D
Oh I must read this. Absolutely loved Guard Your Daughters and your Persephone afterword Simon!
Btw, glad you loved Mary Lawson, too.
Thank you Nicola! And oh yes, Mary Lawson is a likely candidate to become a firm favourite.