Valerie Grosvenor Myer’s Followers (2)

Valerie Grosvenor Myer

Born

in Lower Soudley, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, The United Kingdom

April 13, 1935

Died

August 09, 2007

Genre

Biography, Fiction, History

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Valerie Winifred Grosvenor, later Myer, was born in Lower Soudley in the Forest of Dean on 13 April 1935 to parents who were second cousins. The family lived in a cottage that apparently had no electricity, sanitation or running water, which, according to Sue Limb who wrote her obituary, led her to remark later in life that "The organic life isn't all it's cracked up to be."

After education at East Dean Grammar School she left to train as a librarian in Gloucester. As a freelance she also wrote articles for the 'Forest of Dean Mercury', a newspaper that eventually employed her as a fully fledged reporter.

In 1958 she moved to the 'Dartford Chronicle' and also undertook editorial work for the women's magazines, 'Housewife' and 'Flair'.

Having m Valerie Winifred Grosvenor, later Myer, was born in Lower Soudley in the Forest of Dean on 13 April 1935 to parents who were second cousins. The family lived in a cottage that apparently had no electricity, sanitation or running water, which, according to Sue Limb who wrote her obituary, led her to remark later in life that "The organic life isn't all it's cracked up to be."

After education at East Dean Grammar School she left to train as a librarian in Gloucester. As a freelance she also wrote articles for the 'Forest of Dean Mercury', a newspaper that eventually employed her as a fully fledged reporter.

In 1958 she moved to the 'Dartford Chronicle' and also undertook editorial work for the women's magazines, 'Housewife' and 'Flair'.

Having met on a ferry in Brittany, she married Michael Myer in 1959 and he introduced her Grosvenor name into his own so as to distinguish himself from others with a simialr surname. He also encouraged her to further her education, which had to be curtailed when she was a teenager due to lack of family funds. As a consequence, with the help of the City Literary Institute, London, she won one of the last mature state scholarships to Newnham College, Cambridge, where she arrived, aged 28, in 1963.

Under the tutelage of Queenie Leavis she graduated with a first in 1966. While an undergraduate she had contributed theatrical reviews of Cambridge and East Anglia theatre for 'the Guardian' and after she graduated she began a career in teaching, editing, for 'The Times Educational Supplement' and 'The Teacher' and writing.

She taught at the Beijing Language Institute, which became the Beijing Languages and Cultures University, when she was caught up in the student protests of 1989. She later taught at a University in Sierra Leone and also in Sweden.

Her published works include a study of Margaret Drabble entitled 'Puritanism and Permissiveness' (1974), two biographies of Jane Austen (1980 and 1997), a biography of Harriette Wilson (1999). She was, indeed, an expert in 18th and 19th century literature and she also wrote biographies of Charlotte Bronte, Samuel Richardson and Laurence Sterne. Also included in her canon is a novel 'The Butterfly House' (1998), which was based on her experiences when teaching in China.

Her last major project was the co-editing of 'The Continuum Encyclopaedia of British Literature' (2003) into which, despite the onset of Parkinson's Disease, she put all her usual energy and enthusiasm.

Having suffered with Parkinson's Disease for 10 years she took her own life, after carefully explaining the situation to her husband, and died on 7 August 2007. ...more

Combine Editions
Valerie Grosvenor Myer’s books

Average rating: 3.27 · 172 ratings · 35 reviews · 13 distinct works • Similar authors

	Obstinate heart: Jane Austen, a biography 3.27 avg rating — 161 ratings — published 1980 — 26 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Victorian Lady in Africa: The Story of Mary Kingsley 3.50 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 1989 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Harriette Wilson Lady of Pleasure it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 1999	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Samuel Richardson: Passion and Prudence (Critical Studies Series) 2.50 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 1986 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Margaret Drabble: A Reader's Guide (Critical Studies Series) it was ok 2.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 1974 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Laurence Sterne: Riddles and Mysteries 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 1984 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Ten Great English Novelists 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 1990	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Charlotte Bronte: Truculent Spirit 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings — published 1989 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Butterfly House 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Dozen well-known novelist in the UK ISBN: 4875719337 (1996) [Japanese Import] 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars