Margaret Drabble’s novels have illuminated the past fifty years, especially the changing lives of women, like no others. Yet her short fiction has its own unique brilliance. Her penetrating evocations of character and place, her wide-ranging curiosity, her sense of irony—all are on display here, in stories that explore marriage, female friendships, the English tourist abroad, love affairs with houses, peace demonstrations, gin and tonics, cultural TV programs; in stories that are perceptive, sharp, and funny. An introduction by the Spanish academic José Fernández places the stories in the context of her life and her novels. This collection is a wonderful recapitulation of a masterly career.
A Day in the Life of a Smiling Woman: Complete Short Stories
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"Smooth, reflective prose... Drabble's fans will savor these bite-sized examples of her humane intelligence."-Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
MARGARET DRABBLE is the author of The Sea Lady, The Seven Sisters, The Peppered Moth, and The Needle's Eye, among other novels. For her contributions to contemporary English literature, she was made a Dame of the British Empire in 2008.
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More About the Author
Margaret Drabble is the author of The Sea Lady, The Seven Sisters, The Peppered Moth, and The Needle's Eye, among other novels. She has written biographies of Arnold Bennett and Angus Wilson, and she is the editor of the fifth and sixth editions of The Oxford Companion to English Literature. For her contributions to contemporary English literature, she was made a Dame of the British Empire in 2008.
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Between 1964 and 2000 the great British novelist Margaret Drabble published 14 short stories. They are collected here for the first time and organized chronologically by date of publication, although it's suggested in the introduction that this is not necessarily the order in which they were written.
American readers will be treated to some interesting glimpses into the kinds of turmoil that's really going on behind some of those stiff upper lip English exteriors: a groom on his honeymoon in Morocco who'd rather starve than deign to ask if those tasty snacks he and his wife crave are included in the high price of drinks at their hotel or cost extra... an insecure teenager on a climbing date who's about to keel over from hunger and exhaustion but would never dream of suggesting they take a break and open the picnic basket...a much admired TV presenter whose "happy" marriage is sheer hell and whose gynecologist has just given her the very worst kind of news, who'll put on her smile and go on with her scheduled speech to her kids' school while blood runs down her legs and into her boots. Other character studies here include tales of people having extra-marital affairs, people considering having extra-marital affairs, people at parties pretending to have a good time, an unfortunate encounter between a mom out shopping for her beloved son's birthday present and a pair of do-gooders, a widow who leaves town immediately after the funeral so nobody will see how thrilled she is to be free of her hypercritical husband....
And...ta da! For fans of Jane Austen and "Persuasion" (although neither is ever mentioned and the academic who wrote the introduction to this book doesn't seem to have made the connection): there are two stories involving visits to Kellynch Hall. One tells of a young actress who rents the Kellynch Dower House and finds herself attracted to two modern day Elliot men; the other, the story of an English teacher nearing retirement who goes for a wander in Wordsworth-Coleridge territory only to sustain an injury and find herself at Kellynch as the guest of a modern day Anne Elliot.
American readers will be treated to some interesting glimpses into the kinds of turmoil that's really going on behind some of those stiff upper lip English exteriors: a groom on his honeymoon in Morocco who'd rather starve than deign to ask if those tasty snacks he and his wife crave are included in the high price of drinks at their hotel or cost extra... an insecure teenager on a climbing date who's about to keel over from hunger and exhaustion but would never dream of suggesting they take a break and open the picnic basket...a much admired TV presenter whose "happy" marriage is sheer hell and whose gynecologist has just given her the very worst kind of news, who'll put on her smile and go on with her scheduled speech to her kids' school while blood runs down her legs and into her boots. Other character studies here include tales of people having extra-marital affairs, people considering having extra-marital affairs, people at parties pretending to have a good time, an unfortunate encounter between a mom out shopping for her beloved son's birthday present and a pair of do-gooders, a widow who leaves town immediately after the funeral so nobody will see how thrilled she is to be free of her hypercritical husband....
And...ta da! For fans of Jane Austen and "Persuasion" (although neither is ever mentioned and the academic who wrote the introduction to this book doesn't seem to have made the connection): there are two stories involving visits to Kellynch Hall. One tells of a young actress who rents the Kellynch Dower House and finds herself attracted to two modern day Elliot men; the other, the story of an English teacher nearing retirement who goes for a wander in Wordsworth-Coleridge territory only to sustain an injury and find herself at Kellynch as the guest of a modern day Anne Elliot.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Margaret Drabble has been writing novels for 50 years or so. Observant, witty, compelling, well-structured, smart books mainly about people in intense situations experiencing intense emotions. She used the elbow room afforded by the novel very well. A few of her most recent novels were not as compelling as her best work but they were still worth reading. At the sentence level there's nobody better writing in the realist narrative mode. Her books always have a strong narrator's voice which sometimes intrudes into the narrative.
So how does she do when confined to a smaller scope? Pretty well, I'd say. Some of the stories read like intense novel excerpts, with all the backstory and denoument removed. Some are more self-contained, but still intense. Her ferocious wit and judgment are fully present. There's brilliance here, narrative skill, illuminating observation, casual references to English literature, and all the other Drabble pleasures and virtues.
One or two are a bit gimmicky, and not every one is a gem. The volume is slim, as Drabble didn't write all that many short stories over her career - the novel rather than the short story is her true medium.
But if you enjoy Margaret Drabble's mind and writing, this is worth your time.
So how does she do when confined to a smaller scope? Pretty well, I'd say. Some of the stories read like intense novel excerpts, with all the backstory and denoument removed. Some are more self-contained, but still intense. Her ferocious wit and judgment are fully present. There's brilliance here, narrative skill, illuminating observation, casual references to English literature, and all the other Drabble pleasures and virtues.
One or two are a bit gimmicky, and not every one is a gem. The volume is slim, as Drabble didn't write all that many short stories over her career - the novel rather than the short story is her true medium.
But if you enjoy Margaret Drabble's mind and writing, this is worth your time.
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Margaret Drabble is a well-known English novelist. I have read several of her books and have always enjoyed them. I had no idea that she was also a writer of short stories. A Day in the Life of a Smiling Woman: Complete Short Stories is the first compilation of her stories that has ever been published. They are presented in chronological order beginning in 1964 and ending in 2000. Like her novels, these stories often deal with the plight of women in their times, the socio-cultural aspects of marriage, and the difficulties that women find themselves in while trying to both raise a family and be successful in the business world. The stories are distinctively English and the countryside of England as well as the urban landscapes are vivid throughout. There is a span of thirty-six years between the first short story and the last, giving the themes a relatively large period of time in which to develop.
The first story is entititled `Les Liaisons Dangereuses'. Humphrey had met a man at a pub who invited him to a party and when he came to the door, the host acted like he didn't even know him. "It was the kind of party at which nobody got introduced." The party was comprised of clusters of people who all seemed to know one another and the conversations that Humphrey overheard were artistic and intellectual. Humphrey knew no one and no one tried to make his acquaintance. Humphrey sets his sights on a long-haired red-headed woman who is waxing pontifically to a group gathered around her. He never knew if it was accident or inspiration that caused him to set her hair on fire but this act gained him exalted entrance to the entourage.
In `A Voyage to Cythera' we watch Helen who loves to travel. Whether it's 30 miles or to another country, traveling is Helen's gift in life. She likes the feeling of moving, be it in a car, train, or plane. Traveling opens a new world for her - one of possible intimacy, adventure and the potential of becoming someone other than the lonely, bland person she is.
In `A Pyrrhic Victory', a young woman is adventuring with three others, trying to be what they want her to be. She represses her own needs and expectations. She finds herself taking on the weight and pain of acting according to what others want rather than risk being herself and seeming uncool or gauche.
`Crossing the Alps' is about two lovers who work together and are having an illicit affair. They are planning to travel from England to Yugosolavia. He comes down with a bad cold and sees her strengths and abilities as she cares for him. It is impossible for them to be together outside this week's vacation as he is married. He has a lot of difficulty understanding her strength and resourcefulness in the face of her difficult life.
`The Gifts of War' is about a woman who is in a joyless marriage with an abusive husband. Her son is her only solace, her pride and joy. As she sets off to get him an expensive and totally inappropriate birthday present, she reminisces about the time during the Vietnam War when she not only protested the war, but toys of violence.
A well-known female English playwright meets an even more well-known American literary figure in `A Success Story'. He is known for his womanizing and comes on to her at a party. This coming on means more to her than having an intellectual conversation. She is happily married and things don't go anywhere but she feels good that she is desired. The male character is based on the American novelist Saul Bellow.
`A Day in the Life of a Smiling Woman' is about a woman who gets a job with her husband's help at a television station. With time, she becomes very successful and gets to have her own show. Her husband becomes jealous and begins to despise her, sometimes even hitting her in her sleep. She carries herself well and usually has a smile on her face along with a look of success. Inside, however, she feels physically and emotionally ill. Her only solace is her children who she gets to see very little of because of her grueling work schedule.
`The Merry Widow' is about Elsa who has just been widowed. Her husband was a mean emotionally abusive spouse and Elsa is glad that he is dead. She goes on a vacation alone that they had planned together and has a wonderful time until an old man with a scythe starts working the land. She realizes over time that she has mistaken him for `death' when he's really a representative of `Father Time'. She is then able to enjoy herself again and look forward to the future.
Many of these stories are about the inner lives of women. The action takes place in their thoughts, hopes and dreams. It is very clear that what is seen on the outside is frequently very different from what is going on inside. Some of the stories seem like sketches for Ms. Drabble's novels, ways for her to work out the characterizations. As a fan of Ms. Drabble, I loved this collection and feel privileged to have read it. I hope that more of her short stories come to light.
The first story is entititled `Les Liaisons Dangereuses'. Humphrey had met a man at a pub who invited him to a party and when he came to the door, the host acted like he didn't even know him. "It was the kind of party at which nobody got introduced." The party was comprised of clusters of people who all seemed to know one another and the conversations that Humphrey overheard were artistic and intellectual. Humphrey knew no one and no one tried to make his acquaintance. Humphrey sets his sights on a long-haired red-headed woman who is waxing pontifically to a group gathered around her. He never knew if it was accident or inspiration that caused him to set her hair on fire but this act gained him exalted entrance to the entourage.
In `A Voyage to Cythera' we watch Helen who loves to travel. Whether it's 30 miles or to another country, traveling is Helen's gift in life. She likes the feeling of moving, be it in a car, train, or plane. Traveling opens a new world for her - one of possible intimacy, adventure and the potential of becoming someone other than the lonely, bland person she is.
In `A Pyrrhic Victory', a young woman is adventuring with three others, trying to be what they want her to be. She represses her own needs and expectations. She finds herself taking on the weight and pain of acting according to what others want rather than risk being herself and seeming uncool or gauche.
`Crossing the Alps' is about two lovers who work together and are having an illicit affair. They are planning to travel from England to Yugosolavia. He comes down with a bad cold and sees her strengths and abilities as she cares for him. It is impossible for them to be together outside this week's vacation as he is married. He has a lot of difficulty understanding her strength and resourcefulness in the face of her difficult life.
`The Gifts of War' is about a woman who is in a joyless marriage with an abusive husband. Her son is her only solace, her pride and joy. As she sets off to get him an expensive and totally inappropriate birthday present, she reminisces about the time during the Vietnam War when she not only protested the war, but toys of violence.
A well-known female English playwright meets an even more well-known American literary figure in `A Success Story'. He is known for his womanizing and comes on to her at a party. This coming on means more to her than having an intellectual conversation. She is happily married and things don't go anywhere but she feels good that she is desired. The male character is based on the American novelist Saul Bellow.
`A Day in the Life of a Smiling Woman' is about a woman who gets a job with her husband's help at a television station. With time, she becomes very successful and gets to have her own show. Her husband becomes jealous and begins to despise her, sometimes even hitting her in her sleep. She carries herself well and usually has a smile on her face along with a look of success. Inside, however, she feels physically and emotionally ill. Her only solace is her children who she gets to see very little of because of her grueling work schedule.
`The Merry Widow' is about Elsa who has just been widowed. Her husband was a mean emotionally abusive spouse and Elsa is glad that he is dead. She goes on a vacation alone that they had planned together and has a wonderful time until an old man with a scythe starts working the land. She realizes over time that she has mistaken him for `death' when he's really a representative of `Father Time'. She is then able to enjoy herself again and look forward to the future.
Many of these stories are about the inner lives of women. The action takes place in their thoughts, hopes and dreams. It is very clear that what is seen on the outside is frequently very different from what is going on inside. Some of the stories seem like sketches for Ms. Drabble's novels, ways for her to work out the characterizations. As a fan of Ms. Drabble, I loved this collection and feel privileged to have read it. I hope that more of her short stories come to light.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
One Wonders
Drabble is an important modern novelist--arguably the most important living female novelist (which is not meant as a slight given her subject matter or, for that matter, the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Patrick Odaniel
4.0 out of 5 stars
wonderful read for a quiet evening
Drabble's writing is like music in a wedding. Her wording and perception of life is unique. Age comes and we all see so much we still want to experience in life. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Geraldo Faria
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stories with relevance and meaning
A Day in the Life of a Smiling Woman is a compilation of short stories by English writer Margaret Drabble. Read more
Published 15 months ago by G. Dawson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Stories that Signify
These are elegant stories, quietly stated, and penetratingly observed, mainly about British women that "signify" (i.e count for something) and the men that interest them. Read more
Published 22 months ago by David R. Anderson
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not terrible. Not great, either.
I wasn't overly impressed with this collection of short stories from Margaret Drabble. True, I was not familiar with her work before reading this book (unlike most of the other... Read more
Published 24 months ago by Ladybug
4.0 out of 5 stars
Insouciant vignettes
I have not read a great deal of Margaret Drabble, but enjoyed these subtle and intimate interior tales of women (and men) trying to deal with the insecurities and uncertainties of... Read more
Published 24 months ago by Robert Holland
4.0 out of 5 stars
Smile and the world smiles with you.
I'm a Drabble fan and these stories didn't let me down. They are mostly set in the English countryside beginning from the `70's to the turn of the century. Read more
Published on April 25, 2011 by Cynthia
5.0 out of 5 stars
Evolution of women... Great character studies and more...
According to the literary community, author Margaret Drabble contributed so much to contemporary English literature that she was made a Dame of the British Empire in 2008. Read more
Published on March 4, 2011 by Betty L. Dravis
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent short stories from a master novelist
It is often the case that the author who is a fine novelist cannot master the short story form (and vice versa). But Drabble is an exception. Read more
Published on February 27, 2011 by mojosmom
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent collection
Margaret Drabble has written more novels than she has short stories. This collection includes her thirteen stories, all describing the interior lives of women; famous women,... Read more
Published on February 16, 2011 by Just_Karen
