An Academic Question

Description

INTRODUCED BY KATE SAUNDERS 'I'm a huge fan of Barbara Pym' RICHARD OSMAN 'My favourite writer . . . I pick up her books with joy' JILLY COOPER In a provincial university town, Caro Grimstone, a dissatisfied faculty wife, becomes the unwilling accomplice to her husband Alan's ambitions. When she volunteers to read to a blind, esteemed anthropologist in a nursing home, Alan seizes the opportunity to steal his papers - research that could both advance his reputation while refuting the findings of a respected colleague. A delightful comedy of manners with a touch of mystery, An Academic Question is prime Barbara Pym territory. 'She is the rarest of treasures; she reminds us of the heartbreaking silliness of everyday life' ANNE TYLER 'Beneath the gentle surfaces of her novels is a slow-building comedy, salt wit in a saline drip' NEW YORK TIMES

Barbara Pym (1913-80) was born in Shropshire and educated at St Hilda's College, Oxford. When in 1977 the TLS asked critics to name the most underrated authors of the past 75 years, only one was named twice (by Philip Larkin and Lord David Cecil): Barbara Pym. Her novels are characterised by what Anne Tyler has called 'the heartbreaking silliness of everyday life'.

Beneath the gentle surfaces of her novels is a slow-building comedy, salt wit in a saline drip -- NEW YORK TIMES My favourite writer . . . I pick up her books with joy -- JILLY COOPER She is the rarest of treasures; she reminds us of the heartbreaking silliness of everyday life -- ANNE TYLER I am a huge fan of Barbara Pym -- RICHARD OSMAN A splendid humorous writer -- John Betjeman A modern Jane Austen -- Alexander McCall Smith There is a thrill of humanity through all her work -- Shirley Hazzard