Barbara Pym facts for kids

Barbara Pym (born 2 June 1913 – died 11 January 1980) was an English writer. She wrote many novels, especially known for her funny stories about everyday life in the 1950s. Her most famous books from that time are Excellent Women (1952) and A Glass of Blessings (1958).

Later in her life, in 1977, her writing career became popular again. Two famous people, Lord David Cecil and Philip Larkin, said she was one of the most underrated writers of her time. Her novel Quartet in Autumn (1977) was even nominated for a big award called the Booker Prize. She also became a member of the Royal Society of Literature.

Who Was Barbara Pym?

Her Early Life and Education

Barbara Mary Crampton Pym was born on 2 June 1913 in Oswestry, England. Her father was a lawyer. Barbara was the older of two daughters.

She went to a girls' school in Oswestry and later to Huyton College near Liverpool from age 12. Her parents loved music and theatre, and they encouraged Barbara to be creative from a young age. When she was nine, she even put on her first play, The Magic Diamond, with her family and friends.

In 1931, Barbara went to St Hilda's College, Oxford, to study English. At Oxford, she became good friends with Robert Liddell, who also became a writer. He often read her early stories and gave her helpful advice. She finished her degree in English in 1934.

Working During World War II

Before World War II started, Barbara wanted to work in publishing, but no jobs were available. When the war began, her plans changed. In 1941, she started working for the Censorship Department in Bristol. This department checked letters and other communications.

Later, she joined the Women's Royal Naval Service, which was part of the navy. From 1943, she worked in naval postal censorship, checking mail. She was even sent to Naples, Italy, for her work.

Life After the War

In 1946, Barbara started a new job at the International African Institute in London. She became the assistant editor for a scholarly journal called Africa. She worked there until she retired in 1974.

Her job at the Institute, which focused on studying different cultures (anthropology), inspired her. She often included characters who were anthropologists in her novels, like in Excellent Women and Less than Angels.

Barbara never married or had children. She lived with her sister Hilary for many years in London.

Barbara Pym's Writing Journey

Starting Her Career as a Novelist

Barbara Pym wrote her first novel, Some Tame Gazelle, in 1935. However, many publishers turned it down at first. She kept writing, completing other novels like Civil to Strangers (1936) and Crampton Hodnet (around 1940), which were published after her death.

After revising Some Tame Gazelle, it was finally accepted and published in 1950. The poet Philip Larkin really liked it, comparing it to Pride and Prejudice. The book tells the story of two middle-aged sisters living in an English village.

Her second novel, Excellent Women (1952), was very popular. Her third, Jane and Prudence (1953), received mixed reviews. Less than Angels (1955) didn't sell as well, but it was her first book published in the United States.

A Quiet Period in Her Career

After 1961, Barbara Pym faced a difficult time in her writing career. In 1963, her seventh novel, An Unsuitable Attachment, was rejected by her publisher. They told her that her writing style was old-fashioned and that readers were no longer interested in stories about single women and vicars in small towns.

This meant Barbara didn't publish any new books from 1962 until 1977. Even though her books weren't being published, she kept writing novels and short stories. She also continued her job at the International African Institute. During this time, some of her older novels were reprinted because people still wanted to read them in libraries.

Barbara Pym wrote 27 short stories in total, but only six were published while she was alive. The rest are kept in her archives at the Bodleian Library.

Her Amazing Comeback

On 21 January 1977, something special happened. A newspaper called the Times Literary Supplement asked famous writers and academics to name their most underrated authors. Barbara Pym was chosen by two important people: Philip Larkin and Lord David Cecil. She was the only writer picked by two different people!

Because of this article, publishers became interested in Barbara Pym's work again after 16 years. She chose a new publisher, Macmillan, who agreed to publish Quartet in Autumn that same year. They also decided to publish The Sweet Dove Died, a novel she had written years earlier. Her old publisher, Cape, even reprinted her earlier novels.

The BBC also interviewed her for a show called Tea with Miss Pym. Reviews for Quartet in Autumn were very positive, and it was nominated for the 1977 Booker Prize. Although she didn't win, her career was back on track.

Her books also became popular in the United States for the first time. She was elected as a member of the Royal Society of Literature. She was even featured on a radio show called Desert Island Discs in 1978.

Her Final Years and Legacy

In 1977, Barbara started working on her last novel, A Few Green Leaves. Sadly, in January 1979, she was diagnosed with cancer. She continued to write while undergoing treatment, trying to finish her novel before she died.

Barbara Pym passed away on 11 January 1980, at the age of 66. After her death, her sister Hilary worked hard to keep her memory and books alive. The Barbara Pym Society was created in 1993 by her fans.

Several of her novels that were written earlier but not published, like Crampton Hodnet and An Unsuitable Attachment, were released after her death. Her diaries and letters were also published as A Very Private Eye, giving readers a closer look at her life.

What Are Barbara Pym's Books About?

Barbara Pym's novels are known more for their interesting characters and writing style than for their complex plots. They often show funny and detailed pictures of village or London life, especially focusing on social events connected to the Anglican church.

She often explored how women and men relate to each other, including feelings that aren't returned. She was also one of the first popular writers to show gay characters in a kind and understanding way, especially in A Glass of Blessings.

Her books often have clever and subtle humor. While many of her early novels are light-hearted, some of her later ones, like Quartet in Autumn, have a more serious and thoughtful tone.

Barbara Pym's novels also often refer to other English poems and books. Another cool thing about her books is that characters from one novel sometimes appear or are mentioned in another, creating a kind of shared world for her readers. For example, a couple from Excellent Women later appear as married and happy in other books.

Barbara Pym's Novels

• Some Tame Gazelle (1950) ISBN: 1-55921-264-0
• Excellent Women (1952) ISBN: 0-452-26730-7
• Jane and Prudence (1953) ISBN: 1-55921-226-8
• Less than Angels (1955) ISBN: 1-55921-388-4
• A Glass of Blessings (1958) ISBN: 1-55921-353-1
• No Fond Return of Love (1961) ISBN: 1-55921-306-X
• Quartet in Autumn (1977) ISBN: 0-333-22778-6
• The Sweet Dove Died (1978) ISBN: 1-55921-301-9
• A Few Green Leaves (published after her death, 1980) ISBN: 1-55921-228-4
• An Unsuitable Attachment (written 1963; published after her death, 1982) ISBN: 0-330-32646-5
• Crampton Hodnet (written around 1940, published after her death, 1985) ISBN: 1-55921-243-8
• An Academic Question (written 1970–72; published after her death, 1986)
• Civil to Strangers (written 1936; published after her death, 1987)

Books About Barbara Pym

• Barbara Pym – A Very Private Eye: An Autobiography in Diaries and Letters, edited by Hazel Holt and Hilary Pym (1984)
• Hilary Pym and Honor Wyatt – A la Pym: The Barbara Pym Cookery Book (1988)
• Hazel Holt – A Lot To Ask: A Life of Barbara Pym (1990)
• Yvonne Cocking – Barbara at the Bodleian: Revelations from the Pym Archives (2013)
• Paula Byrne − The Adventures of Miss Barbara Pym (2021)