Barbara pym - wikipedia

Barbara Pym - The Underrated Novelist
Barbara Pym was an English writer who was born in Oswestry, Shropshire. She received her education at Queen's Park School, a private girls' school, and later attended Huyton College near Liverpool from the age of twelve. During her time at school, she led the literary society. Pym furthered her studies in English at St. Hilda's College.

Service in the Women's Royal Naval Service
During World War II, Pym served in the Women's Royal Naval Service.

The Struggle for Recognition
In her literary career, Barbara Pym faced a significant hiatus from 1963 to 1977 when she struggled to find a publisher for her new books, written in a humorous genre, despite her previous popularity and success. A turning point for Pym came when an article in the Literary Supplement of The Times referred to her as the most underrated novelist of the century, as stated by two well-known figures in literary circles, Philip Larkin and Lord David Cecil. Pym and Larkin maintained a close correspondence for many years.

The Return to Success
Her comeback novel, "Quartet in Autumn" (1977), was nominated for the Booker Prize. The novel tells the story of four elderly people, two women and two men, who are forced to share an office as they "sit out" their final days until retirement. Despite the ordinary lives they lead, the novel delves into their passions and experiences. Another of Pym's novels, "The Sweet Dove Died," which had been rejected by several publishers, was immediately published and well-received by critics. Some of her earlier works were published posthumously. However, her most successful novel remains "Excellent Women."

Life and Legacy
Pym worked at the International African Institute in London and dedicated a significant amount of time to editing its scientific journal, "Africa." This is why anthropologists often appear in her novels. Barbara Pym never married, although she had close relationships with men throughout her life, notably her Oxford classmate Henry Harvey and future politician Julian Amery. After retiring, Pym moved to Finstock, Oxfordshire, where she lived in her own cottage, Barn Cottage, with her younger sister Hilary. Barbara Pym passed away from breast cancer in 1980 at the age of 66. Following her sister's death, Hilary continued to manage Barbara's literary works. In 1993, she founded the Barbara Pym Society. Hilary Pym died in February 2005. In 2006, a blue plaque was installed on Barbara Pym's house. Both sisters actively participated in village life and are buried in the local churchyard.

A Glimpse into Her Personal Life
After her death, Barbara Pym's diaries were published under the title "A Very Private Eye" (1985).