Laura ’s review of The Penguin Book of Modern Women's Short Stories > Likes and Comments
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Laura, this sounds a gorgeously variegated collection, and already from your enthusiast updates I have the impression that you liked the writing of quite a couple of these authors so much you want to read more of their work. There are only a few here that I've read myself (Bowen, Taylor, Rhys...), but you've given a very good impression of what this lover of short stories can expect if finding this collection or at least some of the stories in it (online or elsewhere), thank you.
Ilse wrote: "Laura, this sounds a gorgeously variegated collection, and already from your enthusiast updates I have the impression that you liked the writing of quite a couple of these authors so much you want ..."
Hi Ilse, so nice to hear from you - and I saw your comment on Berta Isla - I'll go there next.
Yes - at the moment I'm reading People for Lunch and Spoilt, 1996 by Georgina Hammick. This is the writer of my favourite story, The Tulip Plate, in the Susan Hill collection. The new book arrived this morning and contains this same story plus 8 more stories in People For Lunch, 1987 and a second collection - Spoilt, 1992 with 9 more stories. This edition is by Vintage.
The story I've just finished - A Few Problems in the Day Case Unit, is about a young woman, who's had 4 children going for an IU insertion - she details the unbearable discomfort of the whole process, not just the actual procedure but the initial visit to Dr Gamble, gynaecologist, and the follow up treatment in the hospital. It is so unnervingly close to similar experiences in my own life - that I can't for the life of me understand why every female isn't reading this. The doctor is male - of course.
I think it is such a pity to let these stories and these writers be bypassed with all the ridiculous over emphasis on New New New publications. Goodreads is guilty of supporting a massive marketing ploy which favours new and prize winners - not necessarily quality writing.
I'm sure you would love the Susan Hill anthology Ilse. There are are so many good stories and such excellent writing in all of them. Even the Sylvia Townsend Warner is an eye opener. The other writers included in the anthology which I didn't mention are: Rose Tremain, Muriel Spark, Edna O'Brien, Elizabeth Jane Howard, Rose Macauley, Clare Boylan, Shena Mackay, Jessie Kesson, Fay Weldon and Caroline Blackwood - I think that's the 25.
I like very much the series of Penguin short stories. So this book has been on my list for a longtime, Laura. But now I went and push the button. Thank. you, Laura:-)
I've never heard of Georgina Hammick before. I would look her up. Interestingly you are talking about the popularity of Angela Huth in France. Ive just read today an editorial in N+1, an American liuerary magazine on reissues. You can google it if you are interested as I cannot link in the comment: nplusonemag.com.issue-54.the-intellectual-situation.old-directions
Here what is the article says:
'Postwar English women seem to attract a special fervor: Barbara Comyns, Nancy Mitford, Elizabeth Taylor, Leonora Carrington, Sylvia Townsend Warner — a full-on British Invasion of psychological horror and class system neurosis.'
Goodness me that is an awfully long and unnecessarily excessively satirical piece - you can see how its style has got to me. I suspect that's so typical of American? journalism - a lot of words without actually saying something specific - just a lot of notes - and an attitude - derisive.
I've been reading since I was 5 - so that's a lot of years to have discovered where - I want to delve. And I think when you study world literature - you're hyper-aware of - brilliant poets from 8th century China - for example who far outstrip any Mary Oliver. That writer in N+One is writing purely to - be noticed. Ah - The Editors - so a piece to place the magazine.
I too loved this collection, although it is a bit white/middle class. Patricia Ferguson is a find. There’s a link to her stuff in my review of this book.
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Ilse
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Aug 26, 2026 08:19AM
Laura, this sounds a gorgeously variegated collection, and already from your enthusiast updates I have the impression that you liked the writing of quite a couple of these authors so much you want to read more of their work. There are only a few here that I've read myself (Bowen, Taylor, Rhys...), but you've given a very good impression of what this lover of short stories can expect if finding this collection or at least some of the stories in it (online or elsewhere), thank you.
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Ilse wrote: "Laura, this sounds a gorgeously variegated collection, and already from your enthusiast updates I have the impression that you liked the writing of quite a couple of these authors so much you want ..."Hi Ilse, so nice to hear from you - and I saw your comment on Berta Isla - I'll go there next.
Yes - at the moment I'm reading People for Lunch and Spoilt, 1996 by Georgina Hammick. This is the writer of my favourite story, The Tulip Plate, in the Susan Hill collection. The new book arrived this morning and contains this same story plus 8 more stories in People For Lunch, 1987 and a second collection - Spoilt, 1992 with 9 more stories. This edition is by Vintage.
The story I've just finished - A Few Problems in the Day Case Unit, is about a young woman, who's had 4 children going for an IU insertion - she details the unbearable discomfort of the whole process, not just the actual procedure but the initial visit to Dr Gamble, gynaecologist, and the follow up treatment in the hospital. It is so unnervingly close to similar experiences in my own life - that I can't for the life of me understand why every female isn't reading this. The doctor is male - of course.
I think it is such a pity to let these stories and these writers be bypassed with all the ridiculous over emphasis on New New New publications. Goodreads is guilty of supporting a massive marketing ploy which favours new and prize winners - not necessarily quality writing.
I'm sure you would love the Susan Hill anthology Ilse. There are are so many good stories and such excellent writing in all of them. Even the Sylvia Townsend Warner is an eye opener. The other writers included in the anthology which I didn't mention are: Rose Tremain, Muriel Spark, Edna O'Brien, Elizabeth Jane Howard, Rose Macauley, Clare Boylan, Shena Mackay, Jessie Kesson, Fay Weldon and Caroline Blackwood - I think that's the 25.
I like very much the series of Penguin short stories. So this book has been on my list for a longtime, Laura. But now I went and push the button. Thank. you, Laura:-)I've never heard of Georgina Hammick before. I would look her up. Interestingly you are talking about the popularity of Angela Huth in France. Ive just read today an editorial in N+1, an American liuerary magazine on reissues. You can google it if you are interested as I cannot link in the comment: nplusonemag.com.issue-54.the-intellectual-situation.old-directions
Here what is the article says:
'Postwar English women seem to attract a special fervor: Barbara Comyns, Nancy Mitford, Elizabeth Taylor, Leonora Carrington, Sylvia Townsend Warner — a full-on British Invasion of psychological horror and class system neurosis.'
Goodness me that is an awfully long and unnecessarily excessively satirical piece - you can see how its style has got to me. I suspect that's so typical of American? journalism - a lot of words without actually saying something specific - just a lot of notes - and an attitude - derisive.I've been reading since I was 5 - so that's a lot of years to have discovered where - I want to delve. And I think when you study world literature - you're hyper-aware of - brilliant poets from 8th century China - for example who far outstrip any Mary Oliver. That writer in N+One is writing purely to - be noticed. Ah - The Editors - so a piece to place the magazine.
I too loved this collection, although it is a bit white/middle class. Patricia Ferguson is a find. There’s a link to her stuff in my review of this book.