Since it’s International Women’s Day, I thought I’d commemorate the occasion by… ranking books by women! Yes, putting successful women up against each other probably isn’t the MOST #IWD thing, but it’s really a celebration because all these books are brilliant.
Obviously I’ve read (and reread and reread) all the British Library Women Writers series, but I’ve decided to stick to a top 15 – because it wouldn’t be the best advertisement for the series to put something in last place, especially when I think they’re all very good. So if something from the BLWW series is missing from the list, then I still like it, just not as much as these 15 marvellous books. Ranking was VERY hard, since they’re basically all 10/10 reads in my opinion.
I’d love to know your thoughts – from the ones you’ve read, how would you rank them?
15. Mamma (1956) by Diana Tutton
Guard Your Daughters may be Diana Tutton’s masterpiece, but she is on more sombre form with Mamma. It’s a love triangle between a woman, her daughter and her son-in-law – but the least shocking version of that premise. Beautiful, almost elegiac, and very human.
14. Introduction to Sally (1926) by Elizabeth von Arnim
Elizabeth von Arnim is so good at finding relatable humour in absurd situations. Sally is like a Greek goddess come alive, but with a ‘common’ accent and working in a shop – von Arnim takes this idea and turns it into a novel with pathos, as well as a great deal fo humour.
13. The Home (1971) by Penelope Mortimer
A spiritual sequel to Mortimer’s much-loved The Pumpkin Eater, this novel is based on the author’s own separation from her husband and re-establishing her life. It’s strange, funny, poignant and expertly written.
12. Which Way? (1931) by Theodora Benson
This forgotten novel gets a little boost up the charts for its brilliant Sliding Doors premise: Claudia has to choose between three weekend invitations. The next three sections of the novel follow, in turn, the very different lives she’d live depending on which invitation she accepts.
11. Tea Is So Intoxicating (1950) by Mary Essex
Some of the books in the series are beautifully writen works of significant literature. Some are just silly, delightful fun. None comes sillier or more delightful than Mary Essex’s Tea Is So Intoxicating, following a couple in their ill-advised attempts to open a tea garden.
10. One Year’s Time (1942) by Angela Milne
Another one that had truly disappeared, despite Milne’s famous uncle – the novel follows a year in the life of Liza, particularly focusing on her romantic and work lives. It feels so modern and fresh, and it makes the top 10 because of the sparkling dialogue.
9. A Pin To See The Peepshow (1934) by F. Tennyson Jesse
I’d argue A Pin To See The Peepshow is the best book in the series – but, of course, best doesn’t always equate to favourite. It is very closely based on the Thompson/Bywaters murder case, with very evident sympathies for Edith Thompson – who, in FTJ’s hands, is an eloquent, compassionate, creative woman. Incidentally, the afterword is perhaps the one I’m proudest of.
8. Keeping Up Appearances (1928) by Rose Macaulay
Macaulay seems to be best-remembered for The Towers of Trebizond, but I much prefer her in witty, lively 1920s mode. Keeping Up Appearances is about two very different sisters – and a lot about middlebrow vs highbrow culture at the time. A constant delight.
7. Dangerous Ages (1921) by Rose Macaulay
And this novel slightly nudges above the other – perhaps because she covers so many generations of women, in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 60s, and 80s, if memory serves. Very, very funny on things like the free love movement and Freudianism, while also surprisingly poignant on the topics of ageing and trying to return to the workplace after raising children.
6. Strange Journey (1935) by Maud Cairnes
I love a high-concept novel that retains heart and humour – and few do it better than this 1935 body-swap comedy, which is really about class, as a titled lady and a middle-class housewife find they are inadvertently switching places.
5. Tension (1920) by E.M. Delafield
It’s a crime that Delafield is only known for a handful of novels when she wrote so many brilliant books. I think Tension is one of her funniest, as well as having one of the all-time great monsters in Lady Rossiter, who sets out to destroy another woman’s life in the name of morality.
4. Father (1931) by Elizabeth von Arnim
Another well-known author with an unjustly neglected book: Jen is one of the ‘surplus women’, expected to look after her father’s household until he marries a much younger woman and turfs her out. I love Father because of Jen: such a spirited, fun, naive, joyful creation.
3. The Love Child (1927) by Edith Olivier
I wrote quite a lot of DPhil thesis on this novella, so of course I love it: Agatha accidentally conjures up her childhood imaginary best friend, and this miracle turns into something rather darker as a power battle develops. This is a tour de force in quiet form – an extraordinary work of imagination with a lot to say about the perils facing unmarried women in the 1920s.
2. Sally on the Rocks (1915) by Winifred Boggs
Another one that gets so high up for its heroine. Sally is a delight – funny, feisty, going after what she wants. She ends up in a love triangle, fighting for the hand of a man she despises but can offer security. What makes Sally on the Rocks so ahead of its time is that both women in the love triangle are amicable and even friendly: there’s no maligned ‘other woman’ here.
1. O, The Brave Music (1943) by Dorothy Evelyn Smith
My number one BLWW title is also one of my favourite ever novels. We follow Ruan from 7 to the cusp of childhood, finding freedom from a repressive home by exploring the moors and befriending a wise older boy, David. The novel has such heart and, even though many sad things happen, it feels full of hope of possibility.
I still have a lot of reading to do, clearly…
Happy reading!
Wholeheartedly agree with your no. 1 Simon. An absolute treasure. Have read some of the others but you remind me to go to those other Macaulay novels. A wonderful list. Thank you.
Thank you, Sue!
I agree with you, the BLWW are all wonderful – I have loved all of them I’ve read (and there’s only 3 I think that I haven’t read yet – The Tree of Heaven, A Pin to see the Peepshow and One Year’s Time still to look forward to).I think I liked Mama more than you and Sally on the Rocks not quite as much. It was great to read your post and be reminded of these so lovely books!
P.S Just wondering – are you and Rachel still going to do tea or books this year? I hope so but I totally understand how busy life is and how things move on.
I’m so glad you’re enjoying them, Sarah, and gosh you’ve read so many!
Yes, Rachel and I are absolutely continuing this year – I hope you’ve found our episodes from Jan and Feb? We’re recording the March episode this weekend!
Hooray! – I shall look forward to the March episode next week. Thanks Simon. Hope the book launch with Esther goes well tonight. I really want to get my hands on her new book. It does sound wonderful from what I have heard and read already.
Such a wonderful range of writers in the series! I would have Peepshow high on my list, but frankly would hate to have to choose!
They’d definitely all get 5 stars for me, so it was only marginal differences between them that made this ranking
“Keeping Up Appearances is about two very different sisters – and a lot about middlebrow vs highbrow culture at the time.”
Was this the inspiration for Hyacinth Bucket?? Must read it.
Ha! It wasn’t, but it does sound like it when I phrase it like that…
Fantastic list. My favorite BLWW so far isn’t even on it—Elizabeth Berridge’s Sing Me Who You Are, which I really loved for its atmosphere and its physically large yet clearly sexy protagonist/heroine, and the fascinating 1960s take on WWII prisoner-of-war trauma. I didn’t love either The Love Child (sorry!) or Tea Is So Intoxicating (it is very charming and silly, and to be fair, doesn’t seem to desire to be anything more than that). Based on this, I think my next three might be A Pin to See the Peepshow, Sally on the Rocks, and O the Brave Music…
Yes, I’d found people either respond to the charm of Tea Is So Intoxicating or find it all a bit much, and I can understand either viewpoint! I like Sing Me Who You Are, of course, but I think my heart will never be as pulled as strongly in the direction of postwar literature.
Really hope you enjoy that trio you’re considering, if you end up getting them!
I’m going to save this post so when I get to the UK next time, I’ll have a list of books to buy! Thanks.
Excellent!
I also agree with your #1, a real gem, and have a few more to read. I am eager to read all of them but especially One Year’s Time and Sing Me Who You Are.
I have loved seeing people’s response to OTBM so much! Hope you enjoy OYT and SMWYA :)
So interesting to see your rankings! I still haven’t read most of these so now I know how to prioritize approaching them. The very different publications schedules have made it frustrating to track down copies but I’m learning patience (looking forward to getting my own copy of Introduction to Sally when it releases in June here).
Ah yes, I have lost all track of non-UK publishing schedules, but hope they all turn up at some point! I especially would like your take on Angela Milne, after the integral role you played in making sure we could publish.
Lovely! (I’ve said before and I’ll say it again, these unnecessary rankings of yours are totally necessary – they’re always so interesting to see.)
I’ve yet to read two of your top five, but Tension and Father are up there for me. That said, my favourite is Tea is So Intoxicating for its charming comedy and delightful setting!
Thanks Jacqui! I’m glad they’re proving not-too-unnecessary :D
I loved your review of TISI so much, and often think of it when defending it to people who find the book too silly!
Thanks for this post – I ordered 5 of the titles from Blackwell’s – can’t wait to get them
Oh that’s brilliant – do let me know how you find them!
I’ve read almost all of them and I agree with your top four and would put One Year’s Time in position 5.
Lovely! I am so glad that we managed to get this back into print.