Is English literature since 1918 really such a man’s world?

A new book celebrating the best writing of the past century follows a well-worn script when it comes to equalityI’ve been dipping in and out of DJ Taylor’s fat new book, The Prose Factory, a pleasingly gossipy history of literary life in England since 1918, and so far as it goes, it’s very enjoyable: the bits about money certainly put the writers-must-be-paid-to-appear-at-festivals debate in some perspective. But still, I have to ask: where are all the women?Taylor gives Virginia Woolf and Iris Murdoch quite a lot of attention. Also, for reasons that are perhaps less clear, AS Byatt, Margaret Drabble and Brigid Brophy. Edith Sitwell, Penelope Fitzgerald and Lorna Sage are treated sympathetically, and merit several paragraphs, as do a few others. But it’s the omissions that strike you, the many excellent and important female writers who are referred to only in passing, or not at all. Doris Lessing is mentioned just four times, and Muriel Spark and Angela Carter only twice; ditto Elizabeth Taylor. Among those left out entirely are: Sybille Bedford, Anita Brookner, Barbara Comyns, Olivia Manning, Antonia White and – this last truly amazes me – Stevie Smith. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2016-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #doris lessing #muriel spark #angela carter

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Bookselling Profile: The King’s English Bookshop

A quarter-century after Crosby, 55, left his native Utah for California, he quit his job as executive director of the California Independent Booksellers Alliance and returned to become co-owner, as of July 1, of the Salt Lake City literary icon. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-08-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Balls, Evaristo and Rani to headline Ilkley Literature Festival

Ed Balls, Bernardine Evaristo and Anita Rani will headline the Ilkley Literature Festival this October.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-19 01:03:49 UTC ]
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Discovering a World of Wonder: Spotlight on Explorer Academy

Nat Geo’s Explorer Academy series blends fact, fiction, and breathless adventure to deliver a unique reading experience. (Sponsored) Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-08-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Madrid’s ‘Desperate Literature’ Short Fiction Prize: Paige Cowan-Hall

The fourth outing of the award produced by the Desperate Literature bookshop in Madrid features work centered on colonial oppression. The post Madrid’s ‘Desperate Literature’ Short Fiction Prize: Paige Cowan-Hall appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-08-13 21:40:40 UTC ]
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How ‘petrodollars’ rearranged the world

The rise of oil money led to fundamental shifts in U.S. relationships, David Wight argues. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-08-13 12:00:00 UTC ]
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England’s South Asian Desiblitz Literature Festival Plans a Hybrid Edition

The third staging of the Desiblitz Literature Festival in Birmingham will feature both published authors and workshop programming. The post England’s South Asian Desiblitz Literature Festival Plans a Hybrid Edition appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-08-09 19:04:35 UTC ]
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Denne Michele Norris Takes the Helm at 'Electric Literature'

Denne Michele Norris has been named editor-in-chief of 'Electric Literature' starting on August 10. She succeeds Jess Zimmerman, who had held the role since 2017 before stepping away earlier this summer. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-08-09 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Napoleon Bonaparte, gardener? Yes, says a new book, the dictator found solace in the natural world

“Napoleon: A Life Told in Gardens and Shadows” and “Empire’s Eagles: The Fate of the Napoleonic Elite in America” show unexpected sides of the military upstart Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-08-04 14:00:00 UTC ]
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Area man hangs on to dream, reopens bookstore after 25 years.

Well, this is kind of heartwarming. A full quarter-century after shuttering his old store in Bloomington, Indiana, Rick Morgenstern has opened what suddenly becomes the state’s largest independent bookstore. The reboot of the eponymous store has been in the works for years and is reopening in a... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-07-28 18:29:10 UTC ]
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It can’t match ‘Wolf Hall,’ but ‘Love and Fury’ captures an English figure with bravura

Samantha Silva’s novel brings to life Mary Wollstonecraft: feminist, novelist and mother of Mary Shelley Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-07-17 13:00:00 UTC ]
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Judy Chicago’s memoir settles old scores with the art world

Chicago’s memoir, “The Flowering,” looks back at the uphill battle to make it in the art world as a woman. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-07-15 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Engaging English

There’s a feeling of real energy and momentum to the Lit in Colour: Diversity in Literature in English Schools report released this week, from research conducted by Penguin Random House as part of the wider Lit in Colour campaign. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-07-03 02:17:46 UTC ]
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The Most Bookish Cities in the World

Here are some of the most bookish cities in the world, from the city with the most libraries to the best city for writers to live. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-07-02 10:38:00 UTC ]
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On Memory and Literature

Now we're all possessors of personal super computers that can instantly connect us to whole libraries — there can seem little sense to make iambs and trochees part of one's soul. The post On Memory and Literature appeared first on The Millions. Continue reading at The Millions

[ The Millions | 2021-06-30 09:59:22 UTC ]
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World Refugee Day Observances: Book Aid Highlights Its Outreach

The United Kingdom's Book Aid International has made donations of more than 160,000 books in nine countries to refugee youngsters. The post World Refugee Day Observances: Book Aid Highlights Its Outreach appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-06-29 20:02:19 UTC ]
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10 Arabic titles that should be translated into English

With Sharjah as London Book Fair’s guest of honour in 2022, the time is nigh – nay, now – for publishers to acquire Arabic titles for translation. But where to start? Unlike other languages such as Korean or Swedish, which have robust agenting infrastructure, very few Arab authors have agents to... Continue reading at British Council global

[ British Council global | 2021-06-29 14:19:46 UTC ]
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Just 0.7% of GCSE English Lit students study writers of colour, PRH research shows

Research commissioned by Penguin Random House has revealed only 0.7% of English Literature GCSE students in England study a book by a writer of colour while only 7% study a book by a woman. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-06-28 22:57:04 UTC ]
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Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Elif Shafak headline English PEN's 100th celebrations

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Elif Shafak and Max Porter are among the authors and activists headlining English PEN’s centenary celebrations at the Southbank Centre this autumn. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-06-20 20:24:24 UTC ]
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Zakiya Dalila Harris: ‘Publishing is such a spoofable world’

The author of a debut novel about diversity in the workplace on how black people act around white people, embracing her hair, and what’s changed a year after George Floyd’s murderZakiya Dalila Harris was born and raised in Connecticut and is currently based in Brooklyn. Now a full-time writer,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-06-05 17:00:15 UTC ]
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International Literature Showcase: emerging UK writers

What is the International Literature Showcase?The International Literature Showcase is a partnership between the National Centre for Writing and British Council. It aims to showcase amazing writers based in the UK to programmers, publishers and teachers of literature in English around the world.... Continue reading at British Council global

[ British Council global | 2021-06-03 11:39:08 UTC ]
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