tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post7445432675941717560..comments2024-03-28T12:00:55.653-07:00Comments on FURROWED MIDDLEBROW: UPDATE: Intriguing womenFurrowed Middlebrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12065110409019861653noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-59601173740060442022015-07-05T14:51:22.358-07:002015-07-05T14:51:22.358-07:00The "legions of the lost" include many f...The "legions of the lost" include many fascinating personal stories of artistic struggle. I'm glad you are resuscitating those of the female persuasion. They had an approach to life which teaches us a lot about the changing nature of emotion (joy and suffering) through the years (especially after WWI). They also often suffered the slings and arrows of the critics, an issue you have touched upon in your blog.<br /><br />On another topic, Gwen Raverat was also a leading wood engraver, another mainly male endeavor. <br /><br />Paul Darbynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-7219027021463941962015-07-05T10:07:18.278-07:002015-07-05T10:07:18.278-07:00Thanks, Paul. I know Balloons is one of the ones a...Thanks, Paul. I know Balloons is one of the ones available from the Hathi Trust, so I'm looking forward to reading it. How interesting that you wrote her biography, and I already learned from a blurb about your book that Bibesco spent most of WWII in Romania, which I hadn't known before.Furrowed Middlebrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12065110409019861653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-46181385177259421362015-07-05T05:33:28.054-07:002015-07-05T05:33:28.054-07:00I'm glad to see another "book geek" ...I'm glad to see another "book geek" who has discovered Elizabeth Bibesco. I've written a short biography of her which you can read online (Pilgrimage: The Life of Elizabeth Bibesco by Paul Darby). It includes contemporary comment on all her books. The stores in Balloons and The Whole Story are her best. Paul Darbynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-22892056500198560542015-01-15T00:17:40.818-08:002015-01-15T00:17:40.818-08:00Thanks, Jerri. You've definitely sold me now....Thanks, Jerri. You've definitely sold me now. I had no idea there was a WWII connection to be made here!Furrowed Middlebrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12065110409019861653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-79936087741754786682015-01-11T13:55:16.871-08:002015-01-11T13:55:16.871-08:00Scot, you really need to read I Leap Over the Wall...Scot, you really need to read I Leap Over the Wall, since she leaves the convent in 1941, just as WWII is in full bloom. Since she had left "the world" in 1914, there were a LOT of changes for her to experience. And the "home front" WWII. And as I recall, she reads at least one Thirkell novel. I own what I believe is a US first edition, published in 1950 by Rinehart & Co, who at that time were publishing DEStevenson's novels. Much more subdued cover.<br /><br />JerriAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-77126857943323637762015-01-09T07:09:01.784-08:002015-01-09T07:09:01.784-08:00In all honesty, Gil, I have sometimes been tempted...In all honesty, Gil, I have sometimes been tempted to hold off on mentioning a particularly interesting book until I've found a copy. But alas, I just have too much integrity, so the competition is on! :-)Furrowed Middlebrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12065110409019861653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-45308102100553441432015-01-08T08:30:26.153-08:002015-01-08T08:30:26.153-08:00The Called and the Chosen was a favourite book of ...The Called and the Chosen was a favourite book of mine when young. And I leap over the Wall is still on my shelves .....<br /><br />But what a surprise about Fanny Cradock - I remember her TV programmes very well but had no idea she had another career as an author. I can't say I am moved to read her books though. Not a pleasant lady from all one hears....<br /><br />I am now in competition with you for The First Rebellion, Scott!Cestinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03050699324845479257noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-13354750748498089972015-01-08T06:18:06.620-08:002015-01-08T06:18:06.620-08:00Happily, Olivier's book is back in print now f...Happily, Olivier's book is back in print now from Bello Books, and the Kindle edition is quite cheap. It's a lovely memoir, even apart from the mention of the Versailles incident, and Olivier has her own tale of possibly supernatural happenings at Stonehenge as well. One of my favorites.Furrowed Middlebrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12065110409019861653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-53349894922689212572015-01-07T21:26:30.377-08:002015-01-07T21:26:30.377-08:00You're right, Grace. I could have made a thema...You're right, Grace. I could have made a thematic post on literary connections to the corridors of power! So interesting to see that the Baldwin book was rather widely read.<br /><br />I hope your convent school didn't have those stereotypical mean nuns with a flare for corporal punishment! :-)Furrowed Middlebrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12065110409019861653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-12257891259007769512015-01-07T21:15:17.393-08:002015-01-07T21:15:17.393-08:00Of course I had to have a look at the new cover, L...Of course I had to have a look at the new cover, Lyn. Oh dear. I have to say even the reprint cover I used above is more enticing to me than the nun with a straw (if she's left the convent why on earth is she in a habit?!).Furrowed Middlebrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12065110409019861653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-83673068784154932222015-01-07T21:09:22.227-08:002015-01-07T21:09:22.227-08:00And now you've taught me something too, Tom. I...And now you've taught me something too, Tom. I had no idea there was a Thirkell connection!Furrowed Middlebrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12065110409019861653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-64789467265207930682015-01-07T10:09:26.784-08:002015-01-07T10:09:26.784-08:00As Tom says above, Monica B was the niece of Briti...As Tom says above, Monica B was the niece of British Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin and as Elizabeth Bibesco was the daughter of the earlier Prime Minister Herbert Asquith, both writers have connections with 10 Downing Street. I read I Leap over the Wall years ago and don't remember it sparkling, but like you, Scott, have a fascination with convent life (in my case, because of gojng to a convent school). Thanks for the Hathi Trust tip. Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11871344153749710528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-63897949577162540172015-01-07T05:39:00.613-08:002015-01-07T05:39:00.613-08:00I too am fascinated with the events of that hot su...I too am fascinated with the events of that hot summer afternoon in the gardens of Versailles, did worlds overlap or was it just Montesquiou and his crew up to some hijinks? I would love to read that Olivier book, it will go on the list. Back in the 90s I found a book about the incident that contains independent accounts by both the participants, so many interesting possibilities! It was called Ghosts of the Trianon ISBN 978-0850307740.gina in alabamanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-33240113400738067602015-01-07T00:56:44.269-08:002015-01-07T00:56:44.269-08:00Monica Baldwin's memoir is about to be reprint...Monica Baldwin's memoir is about to be reprinted but the cover is awful (a nun drinking tea through a straw!). I preferred my old Pan paperback but I loaned it to a friend of my sister's & never saw it again. I didn't know she'd written a novel though, must investigate...lynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04509400868331534237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5595702824833504762.post-65979915375052788152015-01-06T14:16:42.812-08:002015-01-06T14:16:42.812-08:00I had heard of Monica Baldwin through the Angela T...I had heard of Monica Baldwin through the Angela Thirkell Society, as there was a Thirkell/Baldwin connection through her mother and one of her aunts - who went on to marry Stanley Baldwin. I knew of her memoir, but thank you for calling our attention to her novel. I always learn something from your columns! TomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com