Thank you for the wonderful response to my decision to host a Beryl Bainbridge Reading Week in June.
Some of you aren’t so familiar with her books, so I thought I’d post a bibliography and give an idea of the subject for each of them, in time for you to find copies of those that interest you in time to join in. I’m posting it in two parts.
I normally include my affiliate links at the bottom of a post but on this occasion, please forgive me – click on the book title and it’ll take you to the most readily copies available on Amazon UK. (It’s taken me three and a half years of blogging to accumulate £25 in commissions, so it isn’t a big money-spinner!)
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Harriet Said
(1972). Two schoolgirls are on holiday in a Northern resort. One becomes interested in an unhappily married, middle-aged man. She and her friend Harriet begin a plot to humiliate him. But their fantasy merges into reality, with shocking and unexpected results.
The Dressmaker
(1973) Titled The Secret Glass in the USA, Beryl’s second novel gained her, her first Booker shortlist nomination. Set in wartime Liverpool, Rita falls in love with Ira, a GI. Her aunts Nellie and Margo aren’t convinced though. Billed as darkly comic.
The Bottle Factory Outing
(1974) Won the Guardian fiction prize and achieved a second Booker shortlisting, this novel is an train-wreck waiting to happen. Brenda and Freda work for an Italian wine importer and are organising a works outing. Complex, very black comedy, superb.
Sweet William
(1975) Ann throws over her fiancé Gerald for William – a serial womaniser. Can’t live with him, can’t live without him – what is she to do?
A Quiet Life
(1976) A post-war family drama set in the 1950s – Everyone in Alan’s family has something to hide, they’re all hanging on in quiet desperation, to quote Pink Floyd.
Injury Time
(1977) Edward is throwing a dinner party with his mistress, Binny. However, some awkward guests arrive and Edward isn’t home yet … a painful comedy.
Young Adolf
(1978) A young Adolf Hitler turns up to stay with his brother in Liverpool. Artist Adolf is a slacker who gets into trouble easily though – how will he turn out? Sounds like Beryl is at her wickedest in this novel of high farce!
Another Part of the Wood
(1968, revised 1979) Her second novel, but revised and republished in 1979. Joseph takes his mistress, son and some friends to stay in a cabin in deepest Wales for the weekend. It won’t work, will it?!
Winter Garden
(1980) Douglas takes a mistress, Nina, but soon he’s not able to cope with being an adulterer. Telling his wife needs a break, she packs him off fishing in the Highlands, but instead he goes to Moscow with Nina. Uh-Oh! Things will go wrong…
A Weekend with Claude
(1967, revised 1981) Another early novel revised and republished. A weekend in the country goes very wrong and ends up with someone being shot. (Until my copy ordered arrives, I don’t know much more about this one).
Watson’s Apology
(1984) The first of Beryl’s historical novels, this book recounts the story of a clergyman who, in 1851, bludgeoned his wife to death. Based on a real case, she presents a portrait of how this terrible crime might have come to happen.
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So there we have it. Part one of Beryl’s books – Maybe one of these titles will pique your interest. In part two early next week, I’ll survey her later novels, short story collections and non-fiction books.
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I found a very disreputable looking early seventies copy of Harriet Said for 50c yesterday so that will be my first read for the week.
Is it not the case that The Dressmaker was her fourth published novel, after A Weekend with Claude, Another Part of the Wood and Harriet Said? My copy of Harriet Said says that it was the first written but was turned down for publication because “the presentation of the two schoolgirls was indecent and unpalatable. One publisher wrote ‘what repulsive little creatures you have made the two central characters, repulsive almost beyond belief!'” It was then published in “today’s more enlightened climate”.
If I find copies, I like the idea of reading the original version and revised version of one of the first two novels.
You’re right – but so am I sort of, Seamus! Several sources put the two early novels in the timeline in their revised versions, so that’s where I left them, as these are the editions that are most available.
I’ve now managed to acquire a full set of novels, photo of the stack next week. I’ll be starting to read them soon in preparation as host.
I posted a picture of the very 1970s copy of Harriet Said that I got plus the full story from inside was to why it wasn’t published initially, back in the 50’s.
http://theknockingshop.blogspot.com/2012/05/beryl-bainbridge-reading-week.html
Thanks so much — this is really helpful. Only one problem — I want to read them all! I have ordered Harriet Said… (needless to say) but I can see I will be ordering a lot more.
Thanks for taking the time to do this. I’m a Beryl fan. Thought I’d read most of ’em but there are a couple of names on the list I’d missed. Have to correct that
Part Two will follow next week Col… there’s more gems in there!
This is really helpful to. Bainbridge-newcomer like me. I’ll use it to trawl the bookshops of Manchester this weekend (actually going to attend a wedding but will fit that in around Beryl searching as the priority!)
Do enjoy the wedding 🙂 Part 2 of bibliography to follow next week…
This is really helpful to a Bainbridge-newcomer like me. They all sound like theyll be well worth reading so this list is perfect! It’s also perfectly timed as I’ll use it to trawl the bookshops of Manchester this weekend (actually going up to attend a wedding but will fit that in around Beryl searching as the priority!)
I ve two one from library and I brought injury time for 20p this week ,looking forward to taking part as first time I ve tried her ,all the best stu
Well done Stu. Fingers crossed!
One the Cafe reading groups read ‘The Bottle Factory Outing’ earlier this year and it excited animated discussion – the best type of book group read. I must see if any member is interested in joining in with this.
We have a lot in my library, so it is now a matter of choosing one… This list is so very helpful – thank you. Looking forward to part II. [bibliolathas]