In this episode, we ask whether or not offensive books should be republished – you might remember the same conversation happening here on StuckinaBook a while ago, and it was interesting to visit it with Rachel. In the second half, we pit two Barbara Pym novels against each other – Crampton Hodnet and A Glass of Blessings.
Sorry it’s been a while – we actually recorded this a couple of weeks ago but it’s been too hot for me to edit a podcast. I know that doesn’t make sense, but I’m sticking to it.
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The books and authors we mention in this episode are:
The Adventures of Miss Barbara Pym by Paula Byrne
Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne
I Ordered a Table for Six by Noel Streatfeild
Saplings by Noel Streatfeild
Miss Linsey and Pa by Stella Gibbons
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
O, The Brave Music by Dorothy Evelyn Smith
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
Excellent Women by Barbara Pym
Some Tame Gazelle by Barbara Pym
The Sweet Dove Died by Barbara Pym
Jane and Prudence by Barbara Pym
Philip Larkin
An Academic Question by Barbara Pym
A Few Green Leaves by Barbara Pym
Quartet in Autumn by Barbara Pym
Walter Pater
Good Behaviour by Molly Keane
Emma by Jane Austen
Tension by E.M. Delafield
Thank Heaven Fasting by E.M. Delafield
Thanks for the alert about this as I often listen to cultural podcasts when I’m out for a solo walk, and this particular episode sounds right up my street. I shall take it for a walk around the common later this week!
Really interesting discussion, and I stand by my comments on your post I think, and also Rachel’s comments which I think are balanced and sensible. The point about erasing so much and creating the impression that human history was always lovely is a really strong one – we definitely need to be considering the past and learning from it. Certainly, sexism in *any* kind of older literature seems to be ok to leave in so we need to be a little more consistent I feel… Are we going to erase the Beats or rewrite them without the misogyny???
I particularly enjoyed the Pym discussion as I reread A Glass of Blessings recently. I’m surprised you’re not a more devoted fan of Barbara Pym, Simon. I feel the same way about Margery Sharp, an author that many people love. I’ve read four of her novels and am just lukewarm about them. It’s sometimes hard to see what others see in a book or author.
I know, I’m always surprised myself!
If you do not like a published book don’t read it! But everyone has the freedom to speak and write their thoughts.