'Our mother rather lost interest in us after the thirst got hold of her and, although our grandfather was vaguely fond of us, he certainly wasn't interested.'
Barbara Comyns Books
Barbara Comyns's early life was shaped by private tutors before she pursued art education in Stratford-upon-Avon and London. Raised in a large family home on the banks of the Avon in Warwickshire, she began writing fiction at the remarkably young age of ten. Her creative journey led her to explore diverse experiences, from working in advertising and dealing in antiques to breeding poodles and exhibiting art. This rich tapestry of life ultimately informed her distinctive literary voice, first showcased in her debut novel published in 1947.
"The four eccentric blue-haired ladies who make money by illegally entertaining elderly gentlemen rent the upstairs rooms at Amy Doll's house, until Amy decides its time for them to move on before they make an impression on her daughter"-- Provided by publisher
The Juniper Tree
- 192 pages
- 7 hours of reading
A modern reimagining of a classic fairy tale by one of most bewitching, idiosyncratic British writers of the twentieth century. Bella Winter has hit a low. Homeless and jobless, she is the mother of a toddler by a man whose name she didn’t quite catch, and her once pretty face is disfigured by the scar she acquired in a car accident. Friendless and without family, she’s recently disentangled herself from a selfish and indifferent boyfriend and a cruel and indifferent mother. But she shares a quality common to Barbara Comyns’s other heroines: a bracingly unsentimental ability to carry on. Before too long, Bella has found not only a job but a vocation; not only a place to live but a home and a makeshift family. As Comyns’s novel progresses, the story echoes and inverts the Brothers Grimm’s macabre tale The Juniper Tree. Will Bella’s hard-won restoration to life and love come at the cost of the happiness of others?
Our Spoons Came from Woolworths
- 224 pages
- 8 hours of reading
The story unfolds through the experiences of its resilient heroine, who shares her struggles with her friend Helen, leading to an emotional reaction. Despite the challenges she faces, the narrative maintains a beguiling charm, blending humor and poignancy. Barbara Comyns crafts a tale that, while touching on hardship, ultimately reveals the strength of the human spirit and the complexities of life.
The Vet's Daughter
- 176 pages
- 7 hours of reading
Barbara Comyns' witty and touching classic The Vet's Daughter tells the story of Alice, a young woman from Edwardian south London who is gripped by strange and mysterious powers.
At the beginning of June the river floods, ducks swim through the drawing-room windows and Ebin Willoweed rows his daughters round the submerged garden. But the flood is only the beginning of the village's troubles. All of a sudden the miller goes mad and drowns himself in the river. As the village is afflicted by a mysterious virus, the villagers begin dying one by one. The newspaper asks 'Who will be smitten by the fatal madness next?' Comyns' unique voice weaves a text as wonderful as it is horrible, as beautiful as it is cruel. Originally published in England in 1954, this overlooked small masterpiece is a twisted pandemic tragicomic gem
Sisters By A River
- 208 pages
- 8 hours of reading
Barbara Comyns' classic first novel weaves a vivid, funny tale - told in the unique style of her young narrator - of a chaotic and ultimately tragic childhood on the banks of the River Avon.
Set in Edwardian South London, the narrative follows Alice, a young woman with peculiar and mysterious abilities. As she navigates her unconventional life, the story blends wit and emotion, exploring themes of identity and the supernatural. Alice's journey is marked by her unique powers, which set her apart in a society that struggles to understand her, making for a captivating and poignant tale.