Book Review: The Private Lives of Hertfordshire Writers
| Published: 3rd December 2007 15:54 |
Get 10% off The Private Lives of Hertfordshire Writers (normally £12.99) at Eric T Moore, Hitchin - simply mention AboutMyArea SG4 & SG5.
Review by Sharon McCafferty, member of the Hitchin Library Reading Group
The author states that The Private Lives of Hertfordshire Writers is ‘intended as a general introduction for readers who know very little about the authors' - criteria it covers rather well. I myself had never heard of many of the writers, and the few of whom I had heard of I was interested in reading more about.
I feel that the book would be an excellent reference source and not just to English literature students who will find references to authors such as George Chapman who first translated Homer into English and was viewed as a respectable contemporary of authors such as Marlowe, Shakespeare and Spencer, as well as being well regarded in his time. Pub quiz authors might find some surprising points of interest that would stump even the better-educated participants, as well as general knowledge quirks such as John Le Carre's real name. Students of history, both local and social, will no doubt also enjoy this book as the list of writers covers a large period from mediaeval times, ie Matthew Paris (1200-1259), to current authors on this year's bestseller lists such as Ken Follett, plus it notes some social quirks and scandals of the writers' times.
I was fascinated to note how many writers appear to be from or have lived in Berkhampstead and I am now interested in visiting Berkhampstead and reading Alec Waugh's Pleasure in an attempt to understand why this is so. I shall also have to read Biggles having learned that these books were banned from the public library in 1963 due to being politically incorrect. Another point of interest that I am now intrigued to look further into is the possible plagiarism by Dickens in his Martin Chuzzlewit of Fanny Trollope's The Refuge.
I do have a few points of criticism however. My main criticism is that I found some parts of the writers' biographies confusing - the many characters associated with the writers often created the need to re-read passages in order to be sure who was the subject of discussion. There is also the minor point regarding Mark Lewisjohn who has only a question mark for his date of birth and very little personal details. As Mark has twelve books listed against his name this raised the question, ‘Does this person actually exist?' I therefore wikipediad the culprit and found that he was born in 1958 and is presumably alive and well.
I also feel that an index allowing readers to go straight to their chosen writer plus a map of Hertfordshire, possibly printed on the inside cover of the book, would have been beneficial to the reader and added to the book's desirability, but these issues were no doubt out of the author's hands.
Shields has in my opinion written an interesting book bringing many writers, some long forgotten, back to life whilst also acknowledging the current writers who reside in Hertfordshire. Despite the few irritations described above, I would recommend the book as I feel that it encourages readers to expand their knowledge in so many different avenues and that it would be a welcome addition to many a bookcase. I myself know of a few friends and colleagues who would appreciate this book and I will no doubt be purchasing a copy for them and one for my own bookcase.
Details of the Hitchin Library Group can be found within the AboutMyArea SG4 & SG5 Clubs & Organisations pages.
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