Where to Look....
The good news is
that many of Sharp's novels are still widely available, though
having been long out of print.
Cluny Brown, as a
case in point, could most likely be considered the author's most
popular work, and by far the most available. Figures show that,
by 1946, it had sold 1,310,160 copies in America alone. Since
then there have been paperback reprints, as well. Thus it is easy
enough to trip over a copy in any used bookstore, or hunt up a
couple hundred of them on the web, should you choose to do so.
'The Nutmeg Tree', as well, has had several reprints and multiple
editons. The book was honored in 1951 by being included in the
'St. James Library', published by the house of Collins in London.
The purpose of the Library, as stated by the publishers, 'is to
make permanently available, in a uniform series, books of recognized
merit, both fiction and non-fiction, handsomely produced, yet
moderately priced.' The Nutmeg Tree, in this edition, is difficult
to find, but readily available in others.
Rhododendron Pie,
by contrast--the author's first work--is extremely rare and collectible.
This the consequence of having only 1500 copies printed by the
venerable (and cautious) London publishing house Chatto and Windus.
An American publisher did do a printing of 'Pie', but very few
copies, and those few rarely see the light of circulation.
Rare book note! A copy of 'Rhododendron Pie', complete with dust jacket in reasonably good condition, is now listed as available at oldscrolls.com.
Below are
some links that have been helpful to me in acquiring books by
Margery Sharp.
Laura at Anglophilebooks.com can
help you navigate your way through the world of collectible books.
She specializes in works by Margery Sharp, Angela Thirkell, Barbara
Pym, D.E. Stevenson, and other British writers. She is very knowledgeable
about the various editions of the Sharp books, and has a good
supply of them listed on her wonderful site. Visit oldscrolls.com, a fascinating resource for antiquarian books, as well as articles on 'Authors of the Past' and other topics. Other
resources would include book listings and search engines, such
as: alibris.com as well
as abe.com. and
others.
|
Here are some other
links to sites that might interest the possessor of an Anglophile
taste in literature--other booksellers of new and wonderful books,
as well as information sites on other writers. |
Can't get enough of the British wit
and style in literature? To discover another author of the same
era as Margery Sharp, go visit The
Angela Thirkell Society home page. There you can find information
on Angela Thirkell, find out about joining the society of other
enthusiasts, download a listing of Angela Thirkell's books, and
print a pretty poster reproduction of one of her covers. Also,
fans of the Angela Thirkell 'Barsetshire' series have an added
bonus--the publishing house of Moyer Bell is doing reprints. Find
out more at www.moyerbell.com.
If you're wishful of a fantastic resource
for Jane Austen Knowledge, Pemberley
is a wonderful place to start.
Also along the more romantic line,
take a trip over to a lovely site that describes the fiction of
D.E.
Stevenson, (1892-1973) another British writer of pastoral
fiction and charming, amusing characters.
At The
Common Reader, you'll find a serendipitous selection of uncommon
books--chosen for their 'staying power' in the world of literature.
Of special interest: Books by Miss
Read (aka Dora Saint) can be found here. In case you want
to refine your Miss Read collection with the addition of UK firsts--you
can do no better than D.B.
Waters--a Miss Read specialist in England--and carry on transatlantic
transactions in a delightful style that will make you feel like
you're re-living 84 Charing Cross Road.
The deliciously witty perspectives
of E.M. Delafield--the Diaries
of a Provincial Lady' series can be found at The Common Reader,
as well.
The Bas
Bleu catalog bookstore is one of my favorite resources for
a bibliophile--bas bleu is French for 'blue stocking',
of course--or a woman who reads too many books! They also offer
other interesting paraphernalia for the booklover.
My own contribution, as a writer, to
the genre of 'classic' fiction is entitled 'A Garden for Allegra'. Described by the publishers as "Cinderella meets Anne of Green Gables" (and I would add 'meets Marie Curie') 'A Garden for Allegra' is a classic coming of age tale with a few delightful twists. Come
visit us over at Allegra's site and see if her story (she's something
of a blue-stocking, herself) appeals to you. You can also find the book at www.amazon.com.
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lejardin graphic and background courtesy of Jeremie
Chretien
