I hear that the title of this post is the case. I am simply delighted if this is so and look forward to many of her titles being reprinted and more easily available. Diary of a Provincial Lady remains one of my all time favourite books which I re-read constantly with equal delight every single time. I gather that there are to be new editions of this title and simply cannot understand why as it is so easily available. We need to get hold of those difficult-to-track-down-and-even-if-you-do-they-cost-a-fortune books.
Over the years, since discovering DOPL, I have rummaged through book sales, book fairs and jumble sales, second hand bookshops et al and have managed to get hold of some treasures. I have guarded these jealously and seethed when others have titles I do not possess and I look at them with murderous intent. I glow with pride knowing that I had fairly rare books on my shelves and my finest moment came a few years ago when I received a phone call from my daughter Helen, who was researching her Phd at the time. Recommended reading was Faster Faster by one EM Delafield. She called me to ask if I knew of this title. Oh yes said I. She said did I know where I could track down a copy. 'oh no worries' I replied carelessly and in an off hand manner 'I have a copy you can borrow'. My street cred shot through the roof and this remains a fond and happy memory.
Mem: Being a Mother is hard but knowing that I have raised a daughter who reads EM Delafield and loves Wagner proves I am on the right track. Having another daughter who adores cricket is also proof to me that my life's work has Not been in Vain.
OK, stop wittering.
Bloomsbury have several Delafields on their e-list which repays attention as they have other wonderful stuff on there as well. Some of them are also available in paperback. Among those available are:
- The Way Things Are
- Late and Soon
- Thank Heaven Fasting
- No-one will Know
- Faster Faster
I believe they also have The War Workers on their list as well which I read and reviewed the other year. My review is here.
I am currently embarking on a re-read or a new read on my Delafield titles. It is a long time since I have looked at them, with the exception of DOPL, and this year I have already got through Tension and Humbug and hope to write about them soon. I really feel we need a new biography of this wonderful author. I can only trace one which I read and found rather poor. Anybody out there contemplating this I wonder.
If you are new to Delafield then of course I have to recommend Diary of a Provincial Lady as a first choice as starter. Virago have an edition containing Provincial Lady, Provincial Lady goes Further, Provincial Lady goes to America and Provincial Lady Goes to War. There is also another the Provincial Lady goes to Russia but I gather this was written by her as a journalist and then remarketed as another PL book. Whichever way it was done, I loved it and all the others.
So if you are a Delafield newbie have a wonderful time discovering her. If you already love her, then join me in a rediscovery in 2014.
Leave a Reply