I’ve been meaning to write this post for a few weeks, so please don’t take delay as a sign of lack of excitement – because Guard Your Daughters by Diana Tutton has been reprinted by Persephone – and I’ve been quoted in it!!
I’ve suggested a lot of books to Persephone over the years, and I think that they’re happy to hear reader thoughts. They’ve almost all been turned down on various grounds – unsurprising, given how selective they are – but I’ve also had the joy of seeing them published by other companies instead: Miss Hargreaves, The Lark, and the various books that Bello have published. I’m always slightly suspicious (but in a delighted way) that they read my blog when looking for recommendations, having brought Edith Olivier, Richmal Crompton, E.M. Delafield, Vita Sackville-West, and more back to life. AND A.A. Milne’s Mr Pim Passes By, as Meredith kindly pointed out in the comments to my previous post.
Anyway, the same looked to be happening with Guard Your Daughters – which Persephone weren’t sure about, and which briefly looked like it might be snapped up by another reprint publisher. Fast forward a year or two and it is – oh joy! oh bliss! – between dove grey covers. It’s such a perfect Persephone, and I’m thrilled.
If you don’t know about it – let me direct you to my review and the podcast episode we did partly on it. It’s a funny, warm, and surprisingly haunting novel – almost within a page I knew it would be a lifelong favourite. I have my friend Curzon to thank for recommending it to me – thank you Curzon!
AND in this Persephone edition, they decided to put together contemporary and modern reviews (positive and negative) instead of an introduction. Lots of my favourite bloggers make appearances, and kicking them all off… it’s me! One of the things I’ve always wanted to achieve, but never really thought likely, was writing a Persephone introduction. I reckon this is just as exciting. I’ve been reading them since 2003 or ’04, my entire adult life really, and this is a dream come true.
If you haven’t read Guard Your Daughters yet – please get a copy. If you haven’t bought stocking fillers for the bookish people in your life – ditto.
I’m glad Persephone are so selective, it keeps them special, so it was exciting to have Guard your Daughters re-issued by them. To be quoted inside was a bonus. I really need to fit in a re-read.
Oh well done, Simon! Wonderful to think how influential your blog has become. Keep up with the suggestions of unusual books – I loved Guard your Daughters but would never have heard of it without your recommendation. xxx
I bought it for 50p about 15 years ago in a Salvation Army shop.
Isn’t it exciting! And all the popularity of the book is down to you and your rediscovery and your championing of it – so you deserve to be in the book! Well done! :)))
Brilliant news – well done for giving this gem a new lease of life. I managed to get a copy after reading your post and loved it too.
Fabulous, how exciting! I wish I’d known this when I was in The Shop, as I’d have shouted about knowing you!! I am super-excited to know that I have this coming to me for Christmas. And yes, as Kaggsy says, very well-deserved.
I was wondering if you had anything to do with the reprint of Lark! will look for Guard Your Daughters and the introduction…
I should say that I don’t – that was all Scott’s doing, and he introduced me to it in the first place! Other publishers taking my Persephone suggestion rejects is usually a coincidence…
What exciting news for you! I have a copy of Guard Your Daughters that I bought after reading your review ages ago. It is still sitting on the shelf unread. I must do something about that.
We need the other 2 or 3 books by Tutton re printed…………
Well done.
That is so cool, Simon. How exciting!
You are so right, this is a perfect choice for Persephone. I still love I Captured the Castle more, but Guard Your Daughters is pretty great.
And congratulations on being quoted in the afterword! You’re a star!
How lovely! Definitely one to read for me too when not distracted by the shiny new stuff.
I’m another of those who found a copy of this after reading your review, and I loved it. I found it surprisingly haunting as well, the deeper I was drawn into the story. I’m happy to hear that Persephone is re-issuing it.
I’d never heard of this, it sounds right up my street. I shall add it to my TBR list forthwith. And congratulations on getting into the Introduction. Fame indeed!
How exciting to have your review quoted in a Persephone edition! I would be chuffed for days.