R.C. Sherriff

[Judy]

Just making a thread for R.C. Sherriff, after he has come up a lot in our First World War history thread.


Sherriff is best-known for his famous play of WW1. Journey's End, which is frequently revived, but he also wrote a number of good novels.

I can recommend The Fortnight in September, a novel about a working/lower middle-class family's annual holiday at the seaside, republished by the wonderful Persephone Books, who have also published other books by this author.

[Judy]

As I just mentioned in the First World War history thread, I've just watched a BBC TV production of Journey's End, first shown in 1988 and available until tomorrow to watch on the Yesterday TV website:

https://uktvplay.uktv.co.uk

There is also a new cinema film coming out next year, with an impressive cast including Paul Bettany, which is based both on the 1929 play and the novelisation published the following year, written by Sherriff together with Vernon Bartlett.

(The play and novel version seem to be mixed up together on Goodreads.)

[Judy]

For anyone who wants to know more about Sherriff, I've just come across this website which blogged his letters home from France, 100 years to the day from the days when he wrote them during his service in 1916/17:

https://www.rolandwales.com/



Author Roland Wales has also written a biography of Sherriff, From Journey's End to the Dam Busters: The Life of R.C. Sherriff, Playwright of the Trenches.

I didn't realise until seeing this site that he was also a screenwriter for films such as The Dam Busters and Goodbye Mr Chips.

[Judy]

There was also a 1930 film of Journey's End starring Colin Clive as Stanhope, directed by James Whale who also directed Frankenstein - as a fan of 1930s films, I would like to see this some time but the picture quality of the version on YouTube looks dreadful, so I will wait for a TV showing or a DVD release!

[Pages]

Just finished it, Judy. Accounts like this are so important to show what was happening every day. The brutality of it and of course they had no time to mourn or process what was happening. Brilliantly acted.

[Judy]

I thought it was brilliantly acted too, Farrah, and agree with your comments - glad you got a chance to see it.

[Judy]

If anyone would like to read more about R.C. Sherriff, here are a couple of links. The first one is a nice piece from the Persephone Books website about his novel The Fortnight in September.

http://www.persephonebooks.co.uk/the-...

The second one is an article about the play Journey's End and how it caused a lot of controversy at the time - this does give away plot points if you haven't seen/read the play.

The play's depiction of heavy drinking caused offence to some, and army authorities complained that its success hit peace-time recruiting. T

https://www.spectator.co.uk/2013/12/j...

[Judy]

The Spectator article that I linked to above is a review of a book about Journey's End:

Journey's End: The Classic War Play Explored by Robert Gore-Langton.

This sounds like an interesting read, looking at the experience which went into the play, history of the original production and reactions to it, including all the people who were offended in different ways.

[Tania]

For anyone UK based, the film of Journey's End is currently available on Iplayer.

[Alwynne]

Thanks Tania, such a great writer.

[Tania]

I agree, I've only read the ones Persephone have released so far, but they've all been great. I think Bello have some on kindle, I'm hoping to get to The Wells of St Mary's soonish.

[Judy]

Ooh, thank you, Tania, great to know. I will hope to watch it.

[Nigeyb]

Tania wrote: "For anyone UK based, the film of Journey's End is currently available on Iplayer."

Thanks Tania

I really enjoyed reading it and look forward to viewing it

[Tania]

Having recently enjoyed his excellent autobiography, No Leading Lady: An Autobiography, I have been looking up some of his other works. In the book he talks about the second play that he wrote being a flop which supprised him, because The Fortnight in September had been such a big hit. He describes the play - Badger's Green - as being very similar to fortnight, but in play form. I have come across a script on Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/dli.ernet.... Hoping to read it very soon.

[Nigeyb]

I love that you're doing a Sherriff deep dive Tania. Based on my small sample size everything he wrote was excellent

[Tania]

Thanks Nigey. I read it this evening and thought it was really good. It does have similarities with the other novels of his I've read in that it is really about ordinary peoples lives, but you become invested in them. It was definitely worth my time and I'd love to see it on the stage.

[Nigeyb]

Thanks again Tania. That sounds really worth reading. I'm not keen on reading extensively off a computer screen but will try to make an effort for Badger's Green, A Play...


https://archive.org/details/dli.ernet...

[Tania]

Nigeyb wrote: "Thanks again Tania. That sounds really worth reading. I'm not keen on reading extensively off a computer screen but will try to make an effort for Badger's Green"

I agree, but this is a quick one, and it is a great resource for books that are otherwise tricky to get hold of. Look forward to your views on this one.

[Alwynne]

Tania wrote: "Having recently enjoyed his excellent autobiography, No Leading Lady: An Autobiography, I have been looking up some of his other works. In the book he talks about the second play tha..."

I'll check that out, loved The Fortnight in September and The Hopkins Manuscript.

[Tania]

I hope you enjoy it Alwynne.