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Post by janetandjohn on Aug 14, 2017 13:48:04 GMT
Elsewhere readitswapit.freeforums.net/thread/1301/christopher-fowler-quirkly-new-subject I posted about a particular book by a particular author. Then it set me to thinking. Virago and Persephone are both publishers who lead in finding and republishing out of print books. And with all the lists we have looked at recently, and our own 1,000 best RISI reads, I started to think about books that should not have been forgotten. One of the "not forgottens" on mine and my sister's lists is The Snake Pit by Mary Jane Ward, first published in 1946. It is a novel, but based on Ward's own experiences of mental illness and the treatment at that time. I've read it twice, my sister three times. It is out of print now, but from time to time there are copies available out there. What about you? Do you recall something special that is out of print now?
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Post by Kat2011 on Aug 23, 2017 10:35:36 GMT
This isn't in the same way, but I sometimes when looking through my shelf, I find a book that I forgot I bought lol and was excited at the time to get
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anzee
Agatha Christie Whodunnit
Posts: 284
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Post by anzee on Aug 24, 2017 16:46:34 GMT
I agree that Virago and Persephone books are a wonderful place to find good reads. In particular, Edith Wharton wrote a whole host of novels that appear to have been forgotten, apart from her most famous works, such as 'The Age of Innocence.'
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anzee
Agatha Christie Whodunnit
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Post by anzee on Aug 25, 2017 11:25:03 GMT
I should have added that two works by Edith Wharton that I'd particularly recommend are 'The Children' and 'Summer.' The latter is a companion piece to 'Ethan Frome' (originally titled 'Winter').
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anzee
Agatha Christie Whodunnit
Posts: 284
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Post by anzee on Aug 27, 2017 13:11:08 GMT
Today's Telegraph had an interesting article by Jake Kerridge on novels by politicians. Referring to Benjamin Disraeli, he said it's a shame that his writings, such as the novel 'Lothair,' have been forgotten, apart from the quote about the two nations of rich and poor in 'Sybil.' Disraeli's epigrammatic style apparently influenced Oscar Wilde, who rated him above Dickens.
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Post by mandyj on Aug 27, 2017 17:30:39 GMT
Having just waded through Sybil, I feel Disraeli's novels could quite justifiably be forgotten! It was one of the worst novels I've ever read! Not sure where Oscar Wilde was coming from with that remark - I shall share with my Victorian Novel book group - quite sure they won't be convinced! There are just so many novels that have sadly been forgotten. There's a wonderful group on Facebook called Undervalued British Women Novelists 1930-1960 and I have discovered so many new authors to explore. I've put The Snake Pit on my wishlist - thanks for the recommendation
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anzee
Agatha Christie Whodunnit
Posts: 284
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Post by anzee on Aug 27, 2017 18:57:52 GMT
Re Victorian novelists, Elizabeth Gaskell is one who was forgotten or at least underappreciated for a long time, but has been rediscovered in recent years due to TV and radio adaptations of some of her best works, such as 'Cranford,' 'North and South,' 'Wives and Daughters.'
As for Undervalued Female Novelists 1930-1960, I think Winifred Holtby is possibly the best example. 'South Riding' is her most famous work, but she wrote other novels and short stories, reprinted by Virago and Persephone, which are worth reading. Like Jane Austen, she died tragically young and one can only wonder what she would have gone on to achieve had she lived longer.
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anzee
Agatha Christie Whodunnit
Posts: 284
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Post by anzee on Aug 27, 2017 19:03:17 GMT
Re Victorian novelists, Elizabeth Gaskell is one who was forgotten or at least underappreciated for a long time, but has been rediscovered in recent years due to TV and radio adaptations of some of her best works, such as 'Cranford,' 'North and South,' 'Wives and Daughters.' As for Undervalued Female Novelists 1930-1960, I think Winifred Holtby is possibly the best example. 'South Riding' is her most famous work, but she wrote other novels and short stories, reprinted by Virago and Persephone, which are worth reading. (Admittedly, some were written prior to 1930.) Like Jane Austen, she died tragically young and one can only wonder what she would have gone on to achieve had she lived longer.
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Post by mandyj on Aug 28, 2017 11:55:18 GMT
Oh yes, Winifred Holtby, excellent writer
One of my favourites is Dorothy Whipple, love all her books
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Post by janetandjohn on Aug 28, 2017 12:14:26 GMT
Oh yes, Winifred Holtby, excellent writer One of my favourites is Dorothy Whipple, love all her booksYay! Brilliant author - most of hers available on Persephone.
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anzee
Agatha Christie Whodunnit
Posts: 284
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Post by anzee on Aug 28, 2017 12:21:23 GMT
Having just waded through Sybil, I feel Disraeli's novels could quite justifiably be forgotten! It was one of the worst novels I've ever read! Not sure where Oscar Wilde was coming from with that remark - I shall share with my Victorian Novel book group - quite sure they won't be convinced! There are just so many novels that have sadly been forgotten. There's a wonderful group on Facebook called Undervalued British Women Novelists 1930-1960 and I have discovered so many new authors to explore. I've put The Snake Pit on my wishlist - thanks for the recommendation According to Jake Kerridge, Disraeli's 'best novels have the same sparkling dandyish quality as his personality.' Quotation from 'Lothair' - “My idea of an agreeable person is a person who agrees with me." That sounds pretty Wildean to me, as does Disraeli's statement “When I want to read a novel I write one." I love his description of Gladstone: "A sophisticated rhetorician, inebriated with the exuberance of his own verbosity," which is one of the few things I remember from A-Level History. Queen Victoria disliked Gladstone, complaining that he addressed her as if she were a public meeting, but liked Disraeli, who flattered her. "Everyone likes flattery; and when you come to Royalty you should lay it on with a trowel." His epigrams have certainly proved longer lasting than his novels.
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anzee
Agatha Christie Whodunnit
Posts: 284
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Post by anzee on Sept 2, 2017 11:13:05 GMT
I swapped a couple of old paperbacks by R.F. Delderfield recently and it occurred to me that he's another forgotten author. A few of his books were dramatised on TV years ago. Surely his works are due for a revival, perhaps more TV adaptations (he specialised in sagas), just as Poldark has been brought back to the screen.
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Post by eightlegs on Sept 2, 2017 17:29:20 GMT
I swapped a couple of old paperbacks by R.F. Delderfield recently and it occurred to me that he's another forgotten author. A few of his books were dramatised on TV years ago. Surely his works are due for a revival, perhaps more TV adaptations (he specialised in sagas), just as Poldark has been brought back to the screen. I loved the Delderfield books, I have a vivid memory of taking a book token to buy Diana by him, chosen because it was a good chunky book at 676 pages (according to Amazon!) so I felt like I was getting good value! Another I'd suggest is A J Cronin, loved many of his when I was younger
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anzee
Agatha Christie Whodunnit
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Post by anzee on Sept 2, 2017 18:44:58 GMT
Ooh, yes. I too loved A.J, Cronin, especially 'Hatter's Castle' and 'The Citadel.' The latter was dramatised on TV in the 80s, as I recall. Surely another author ripe for TV adaptations.
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anzee
Agatha Christie Whodunnit
Posts: 284
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Post by anzee on Oct 26, 2017 16:43:43 GMT
To update this thread, A.J. Cronin's 'The Citadel' is the daily serial on Radio 4 next week.
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