A Lot to Ask: A Life of Barbara Pym [Mass Market Paperback]

Hazel Holt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1995

This official biography of Barbara Pym, the writer, describes her upbringing in Oswestry and her life in Oxford. The author talks about the successes as well as the dark years in the writer's life when she was unpublished.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This biography by the late Pym's literary executor is the first complete life of the once ignored, now widely read British novelist. Photos.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Plume (February 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452268222
• ISBN-13: 978-0452268227
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,281,325 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a splendid background for Pym's splendid work; biography, July 18, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Lot to Ask: A Life of Barbara Pym (Hardcover)

The restraint and economy with which the author approaches her subject only enhance the richness of the work. With a wealth of detail,Hazel Holt sets the jewel of Pym's works in the setting of her life. For example, paraphrasing: "Hilary and I reckoned up the reasons people had left our parish church: Rome, Death, and Umbrage. Umbrage, of course, removed the greatest number." Those who have enjoyed Pym's work would do well to read this book before other secondary sources.