Barbara Pym

Date of Birth: June 2, 1913

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Date of Death: January 11, 1980

Biography

Barbara Pym was an acclaimed English novelist known for her comical and sharply observed portrayals of everyday life. Born in Oswestry, Shropshire, her full name was Barbara Mary Crampton Pym. She attended Huyton College and later studied English at St Hilda’s College, Oxford. Pym’s literary career was marked by a series of novels that, while initially overlooked, later gained significant recognition for their warm and witty exploration of the lives of ordinary people, particularly focusing on women and their social interactions. After World War II, Pym worked at the International African Institute in London, which provided her with material for some of her novels. Her first novel, “Some Tame Gazelle,” was published in 1950, and she went on to write several more novels throughout the 1950s and early 1960s. However, her work fell out of favor with publishers in the 1960s, leading to a period of obscurity. It wasn’t until the late 1970s, following a revival of interest in her writing led by prominent literary figures, that Pym enjoyed a resurgence in popularity. She continued to write until her death in 1980.

5 Interesting Facts about Barbara Pym

1. Barbara Pym’s novels often feature recurring characters, creating a rich tapestry of interconnected lives across her body of work.

2. She was discovered posthumously by a new generation of readers and critics who appreciated her subtlety and wit.

3. Pym’s diary and correspondence reveal a deep, often humorous insight into her personal life and the world around her.

4. Despite facing rejection in the 1960s, she continued to write diligently, believing in the value of her work.

5. Her novel, “Quartet in Autumn,” was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1977.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Barbara Pym

1. “The small things of life were often so much bigger than the great things… the trivial pleasures like cooking, one’s home, little poems especially sad ones, solitary walks, funny things seen and overheard.”

2. “It is a pity that doing one’s best does not always answer.”

3. “It is rather a sort of looking out of windows at things that are happening, rather than actually being involved in them.”

4. “An inexperienced young woman cannot possibly be a good judge of men.”

5. “Virtue is an excellent thing and we should all strive after it, but it can sometimes be a little depressing.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Barbara Pym’s highest net worth is not well-documented, but she achieved moderate success during her lifetime and posthumous recognition significantly boosted the sales of her books.