One of the best things about social media is how it allows us to share our enthusiasms and discover new ones.
Over on Twitter just lately I have been very much enjoying the #NeglectedLadyNovelists tweets from writer Judith Kinghorn – and the conversations resulting from them. Now I do like a good bit of Twitter banter.
I found the World cup of #NeglectedladyNovelists particularly good fun. Several rounds and a semi-final have come and gone – with Twitter folk having to vote for who they consider the most neglected of the lady novelists in each round. Now, I have always taken my democratic responsibilities very seriously – and so I naturally thought very carefully over my choices. For women writers of a certain period – whether neglected or not – are very much my thing. It was really, really hard – and sparked a bit of debate – for instance in group 1 we had Elizabeth Taylor pitted against Anita Brookner, Jean Rhys and Rosamond Lehmann, while in group 3 the choice was between Sylvia Townsend Warner, Flora Mayor, Storm Jameson and EM Delafield, to me it seemed quite impossible to choose. In each group there were at least two writers I wanted to vote for. In all seriousness I want all these writers to enjoy a resurgence in popularity, that is why I love Persephone books and the VMC publications of the 1980 and 90s so much.
I began to wonder how people were voting – surely if we were looking for those women writers who have become truly neglected then I would have expected the likes of Flora Mayor, EH Young or May Sinclair to have made it through to the final. May Sinclair made it to the semi-finals but neither of the other two did terribly well. It’s hardly surprising that people ended up voting for writers they loved most – and I was guilty of this myself. I couldn’t help but vote for Sylvia Townsend Warner and Rosamond Lehmann as I love them so much. I do, also consider them to be rather neglected, however in truth some of their novels are still in print. Virago still publish three or four Rosamond Lehmann titles – and Selina Hastings’ biography of her is also available. VMC print on demand editions of some Sylvia Townsend Warner novels are available – as well as some NYRB editions (though why they felt it necessary to change the title of Mr Fortune’s Maggot is a mystery) – so are these writers truly neglected? Knowing all this I cast my votes – perhaps wrongly. In truth it is perhaps those writers who work is only to be found on second hand book sites, and on the shelves of (very good) second hand bookshops that are truly neglected – so in some rounds I voted with my heart and not my head. I do feel a little guilty – but at least it has got us all talking about these wonderful women writers, and that can’t be a bad thing. I didn’t vote for Elizabeth Taylor despite my great love of her writing because I can’t honestly say she is as neglected as she once was – that is definitely a good thing. How many of these writers’ works can be found in high street bookshops though is another matter – easily bought from a certain online seller perhaps – but how many times do readers get a chance to idly pick up Sylvia Townsend Warner or Rosamond Lehmann in their local branch of Waterstones I wonder?
When I start thinking about the list of #Neglectedladynovelists I would compile – it begins to get very long. Two writers I have been enjoying during this past week would definitely be on the list; Pamela Frankau and Pamela Hansford Johnson, both very good writers and excellent storytellers.
Many of the other novelists considered under that hashtag however – are exceptionally good writers, women who really did have something to say – they were not merely the tellers of good stories – although they did that too. When I consider the likes of Rebecca West, Olivia Manning, Antonia White and Winifred Holtby and others I am reminded what amazing, varied lives, they all lived. They each had so much to tell us – worlds to show us, so much to say – of course I want more people to read them.
I have wondered before how it is that some writers fall out of favour – while others endure – fashion and tastes change I suppose, and new writers come along. It is sad how many wonderful writers get forgotten during that process – when it comes to books I might sometimes be swayed by a pretty new edition, but I don’t much care about fashions. It is probably unrealistic to expect lots of these writers to be re-issued in shiny new editions – the cost for a publishing company would I suspect be prohibitive.
Still no reason why we who love these #NeglectedLadyNovelists shouldn’t continue to scour the bookshelves of second hand bookshops and celebrate our finds on our favourite social media sites. That way these wonderful voices will still be heard – at least by some of us.
Should you still want to get involved in the chat – the final of the world cup of #NeglectedLadyNovelists is at the end of the week. Make sure you are following @Judithkinghorn if you don’t want to miss it.
The original list has now been whittled down to Sylvia Townsend Warner and Jean Rhys – both truly wonderful writers – but I wonder if you can guess where my vote will be going? If neither of them take your fancy (and why wouldn’t they) who would be your choice of most NeglectedLadyNovelist?
(Incidentally, Sylvia Townsend Warner will be the Libraything Virago Group’s author of the month in December – and I am going to be re-reading Lolly Willowes as I have persuaded my very small book group to read it in December.)
heavenali 
A lovely summary, Ali. While I’ve seen a few of the tweets, I haven’t had time to follow the process in detail. Elizabeth Taylor is my favourite lady novelist in the list (although I agree she is better known than some of the other writers featured here). Olivia Manning would probably get my vote – out of interest, how did she fare in the final pecking order?
I have read a few Olivia Manning this year. I don’t think she got past the first round.
THE DOVES OF VENUS by Manning is the most common second hand Virago i have seen over the years.
What a shame. I think she is hugely underrated.
She is, superb writer.
Most of these novelists are easy to buy or borrow.I can think of 2 that are genuinely forgotten and out of print.
Yes, thankfully we can get hold of books by most of these writers fairly easily.
Love your photo and the tweet series sounds fab! I agree that your two Pamelas are neglected, and also poor old Barbara Comyns – I’m still reeling from reading in print that she’s “little-read”, how damning is that!
Yes Barbara Comyns would be on the list, thankfully some of her books are in print.
I just read two Barbara Comyns novels: Our Spoons Came from Woolworth’s and The Vet’s Daughter. I I had never heard of Comyns until a Backlisted podcast featured the latter. A very original, dark writer, but enjoyable despite the grimness.
Please could you name all the author photos from left to right?
May Sinclair, Sylvia Townsend Warner, Rebecca West, EHYoung Rosamond Lehmann, Olivia Manning (top) Jean Rhys (bottom).
I remember reading everything I could get my hands on of Rosamund Lehmann’s when green Viragos were in almost every bookshop. Long time ago! I haven’t followed this hashtag but I did notice Lolly Willowes popping up on Twitter a few weeks ago.
Lolly Willowes, is a great read, highly recommended.
I have to admit i enjoy Barbara Pym, ElizabethTaylor and EH Young but cannot “get on with” Willa Cather, Pamela Frankau, Rebecca West and Storm Jameson.I feel better for admitting this.Maybe they are intellectual giants and i am an intellectual pygmy?
Somehow I’ve missed this conversation on twitter, thanks for alerting me to it, i’ll go and have a look!
There’s some lovely comments and reading suggestions, do take a look at it.
Really interesting post, Ali, and I tend to agree with you that the authors being highlighted are not completely neglected. For example, someone like Stella Benson, currently being championed by Mike Walmer, probably is much more neglected than the names being featured on Twitter. Jean Rhys, in particular, has had much attention recently. However, I’m all for bigging up women writers – more power to them! 🙂
Oh yes Stella Benson is very neglected, and a writer I have yet to try.
I’ve just finished Monica Dickens’ The Winds of Heaven’. Told my online book group & someone commented ‘is she not very dated?’ Well of course she isn’t, not at all – but maybe thoughts like these stop people reading these wonderful novels?
Absolutely, The Winds of Heaven is a lovely book.
It will be Jean Rhys for me. A few years ago, I was lucky enough to visit Dominica where she was born and they have a small exhibit devoted to her in their museum. We also tried to track down the house where she was born but unfortunately there was nothing to formally identify the spot.
Jean Rhys is a superb writer. What a wonderful place to have visited. What a shame her house isn’t identifiable.
I have Good Morning, Midnight on my Classics Club list so I must remember to add some photos I took during my visit when I publish my review.
Oh, I missed this, I love finding new brilliant authors! Although I couldn’t help asking myself how many countries you need to include before you call it a word cup?
Well the world cup thing is just a play on a series of other world cup of…(all sorts of things) started by TV personality Richard Osman on Twitter.
I know and found it a brilliant idea. I just wondered what the list would look like if it was made as a true world cup.
This was a good summary. The whole thread has made me think of revisiting many of my old Viragos. I loved Antonia White when I first read her so might go back and re visit. Also Mary Renault and Mary Hocking are definately worth consideration and what about Molly Keane , I could go on.
My championing of Mary Hocking is probably quite well known, never read Mary Renault though. I have enjoyed a number of Molly Keane novels too.
I used to read Hocking decades ago.Once i found a slip in a book that invited me to ring up her publishers to make an appointment to interview her.My most enjoyable of these authors must be Antonia White and Rosamond Lehmann.
Intriguing blog on what all authors face, but especially “ladies”.
Good point about the lack of presence of so many of these authors in high street book stores. Ther was a time you could buy new Virago editions that way – it’s how I came to read Anthonia White. Sadly you’d be hard pushed to find many of the authors you mention today in these stores.
I so wish these authors were available on the high street. It would make a difference to their popularity I’m sure.
Have you seen the fiction book displays in ASDA?I do not think these literary women would fit in.A great pity of course.
Absolutely agree Ali. Thank goodness for publishers like Persephone and Honno
Lovely summation! And what an interesting idea in terms of trying to find a balance between writers who are recognisable to us but not on every bookstore shelf VS writers who are not at all recognisable but unlikely to draw attention with their name in a poll (too neglected). Rhys and Lolly Willows and Brookner all are featured in discussions on the “Backlisted” podcast, if you’re looking for additional debate about their works. Have you found your TBR growing throughout the discussion?
Well yes in some ways – but then my tbr is always growing. 🙂
Great to be reminded of all these wonderful novelists, and of particularly popular titles.
I’m not participating because I think they are all worth reading, and because the idea of *lady*novelists is naff.
But thanks to participants for the exposures
Caroline
Well yes I take your point – and I didn’t come up with that particular phrase.
I haven’t read any of them, which speaks volumes about how neglected they have been by English studies cirricula in both Spain and the UK. Time to do some research!
Sylvia Townsend Warner! “Kingdoms of Elfin” will haunt me forever, and “Lolly Willowes” and “Mr. Fortune’s Maggot” are profoundly satisfying, each in its own way.
I’ve yet to read Kingdoms of Elfin. I have found everything of hers I have read very good indeed.
Who won this vote??
Jean Rhys won. Not sure I consider her as neglected as some, but still a superb writer.
I read all of Jean Rhys in the late seventies. Somewhat a strange choice for a college girl in her late teens, but I felt so much empathy for her lonely, broke female characters. Except for teaching Wide Sargasso Sea a while back, I haven’t thought of her for decades. But I recently listened to a wonderful discussion of her on the Backlisted Podcast (which I urge all of you to listen to if you haven’t discovered it yet) and on the strength of that discussion and this thread will pick up Rhys again.
I never seem to find time for those podcasts which are great.
[…] and elsewhere about #Neglectedladynovelists (not my hashtag or definition) which I wrote about here. There were many people who named May Sinclair as being one of their number. So neglected, is May […]