Such a joy to read! Excellent Women is one of my all-time favorite novels and Pym one of my all-time favorite authors. Many of her main characters reappear in cameo appearances in her other novels and in that way you do find out who Mildred marries!
Mildred reappears at least by name in An Unsuitable Attachment which is one of my very favorites if not my favorite :) I can't remember if she's in any of the others. Also, I can't recall if I've mentioned this before but the tone in Pym's novels changes in the ones she wrote from 1970 on. They become much more melancholy. I always feel the need to warn people of this because if you go into one of the later ones like Quartet in Autumn or The Sweet Dove Died hoping for the same experience as Excellent Women, it may be a bit disorienting.
"...if she one day does marry, she will be holding out for an adult and excellent man." I hope so, too. 'Adult' men are so difficult to find THESE days, don't us women know that! Enjoyable read, again, Denise.
I read Excellent Women a couple years ago because several people told me it was a favorite. And I felt like I missed something. It was frustrating and sad and I got so annoyed on Mildred's behalf and I just wanted her to stand up for herself already. But I like the way you frame it in terms of class and real life Bertie Woosters.
Maybe it's a novel I need to re-read with fresh eyes and a different context. I didn't like Brideshead Revisited on the first read either, but then I read some commentaries on it and the second and third times I loved it.
I actually liked Quartet in Autumn more. It was melancholy, but somehow I felt I understood it better.
I had the same reaction as you did at first! I found it depressing and drab. But then I wondered if that wasn't a bit of genius on Pym's part. All these people who had been strictly confined to a certain social structure before the World Wars and suddenly the structure is no more, and no one quite knows what to do with themselves. Like they all grew up programed to be and act a certain way. Now that they are free, they sometimes go back to the old ways by sheer habit. Like freedom and self worth will need to be 'grown into' for lack of a better term. That is how I read it. Pym has been compared to Austen, but I think Austen was commenting on the structure when it was in full swing, and Pym was commenting on the structure as it began to implode. That is just my take. But I understand why you felt the way you did.
Now I want to go back and reread it while thinking about the cultural shifts in postwar Britain and class structures imploding. I think that’s really helpful as a framework.
This was a delight to read! I love this novel so much.
Barbara Pyms novels are such a delight! I first 'met' her last year and have been slowly making my way through her books.
I love how you mention Jeeves and Wooster. In fiction and film, they do make us laugh - but a real-life Bertie? No thank you.
Such a joy to read! Excellent Women is one of my all-time favorite novels and Pym one of my all-time favorite authors. Many of her main characters reappear in cameo appearances in her other novels and in that way you do find out who Mildred marries!
Ooh this is such motivation to read more Pym! What would you suggest next after Excellent Women?
Mildred reappears at least by name in An Unsuitable Attachment which is one of my very favorites if not my favorite :) I can't remember if she's in any of the others. Also, I can't recall if I've mentioned this before but the tone in Pym's novels changes in the ones she wrote from 1970 on. They become much more melancholy. I always feel the need to warn people of this because if you go into one of the later ones like Quartet in Autumn or The Sweet Dove Died hoping for the same experience as Excellent Women, it may be a bit disorienting.
Thanks for this! You do have a book recommendation charism :)
Now I am intrigued….WHO does Mildred marry???? No, no don’t tell me!!! 🙉
Ahh I want you to know and I want to know your thoughts on it! Haha!!
This made me want to reread this immediately. I read it several years ago and absolutely adored Mildred.
"...if she one day does marry, she will be holding out for an adult and excellent man." I hope so, too. 'Adult' men are so difficult to find THESE days, don't us women know that! Enjoyable read, again, Denise.
I would have bought that book for the cover! Another wonderful recommendation after I was wondering what to read next! Thank you!
I read Excellent Women a couple years ago because several people told me it was a favorite. And I felt like I missed something. It was frustrating and sad and I got so annoyed on Mildred's behalf and I just wanted her to stand up for herself already. But I like the way you frame it in terms of class and real life Bertie Woosters.
Maybe it's a novel I need to re-read with fresh eyes and a different context. I didn't like Brideshead Revisited on the first read either, but then I read some commentaries on it and the second and third times I loved it.
I actually liked Quartet in Autumn more. It was melancholy, but somehow I felt I understood it better.
I had the same reaction as you did at first! I found it depressing and drab. But then I wondered if that wasn't a bit of genius on Pym's part. All these people who had been strictly confined to a certain social structure before the World Wars and suddenly the structure is no more, and no one quite knows what to do with themselves. Like they all grew up programed to be and act a certain way. Now that they are free, they sometimes go back to the old ways by sheer habit. Like freedom and self worth will need to be 'grown into' for lack of a better term. That is how I read it. Pym has been compared to Austen, but I think Austen was commenting on the structure when it was in full swing, and Pym was commenting on the structure as it began to implode. That is just my take. But I understand why you felt the way you did.
Now I want to go back and reread it while thinking about the cultural shifts in postwar Britain and class structures imploding. I think that’s really helpful as a framework.