South Riding

by Winifred Holtby, Shirley Williams (Preface by)

Overview

NOW A BRITISH DRAMA FILM AND A MAJOR BBC TELEVISION ADAPTATION.

A preface by Shirley Williams, an introduction by Marion Shaw and an epitaph by Vera Brittain.

'Rich in humour and worldly insight' INDEPENDENT

'The novel undoubtedly remains a fascinating depiction of a time and place' GUARDIAN

'Holtby's personal masterpiece . . . I can't say enough good things about this book' SARAH WATERS

When Sarah Burton returns to her hometown as headmistress she is full of ambition, determined to create a great school and to inspire her girls to take all they can from life. But in the aftermath of the First World War, the country is in depression and ideals are hard won. Lydia Holly, the scholarship girl from the shacks, is the most brilliant student Sarah has ever taught, but when her mother's health fails, her education must be sacrificed.

Robert Carne of Maythorpe Hall stands for everything Sarah despises: his family has farmed the South Riding for generations, their position uncontested. Yet Sarah cannot help being drawn to this proud, haunted - and almost ruined - man.

South Riding is a rich, panoramic novel, bringing vividly to life a rural community on the brink of change.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780860689690
Publisher:	Little, Brown Book Group
Publication date:	07/01/2011
Series:	Virago Modern Classics Series , #273
Edition description:	New
Pages:	502
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.70(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

Winifred Holtby (1898-1935) was an English journalist and novelist. Holtby was a committed socialist and feminist who wrote the classic South Riding as a warm yet sharp social critique of the well-to-do farming community she was born into. This was adapted into a British Drama film and later a television adaptation by the BBC. She wrote a lot of literary fiction, biographies and memoirs. She was a good friend of Vera Brittain, possibly portraying her as Delia in The Crowded Street. She died at the age of thirty-seven.

Table of Contents

Prefers Shirley Williams ix

Introduction Marion Shaw xi

Prefatory Letter to Alderma Mrs. Holtby xi

Winifred Holtby's map of South Riding xx

Prologue in a Press Gallery 1

Book I Education

1 Lord Sedgmire's Granddaughter Awaits an Alderman 13

2 Kiplington Governors Appoint a New Head Mistress 21

3 Mr. Holly Blows Out a Candle 30

4 Alderman Mrs. Beddows Considers Heredity 38

5 Miss Burton Surveys a Battlefield 46

6 Alderman Snaith Contemplates a Wilderness 53

7 Madame Hubbard Has Highly Talented Pupils 62

Book II Highways and Bridges

1 Councillor Carne Misses a Sub-Committee 79

2 Councillor Huggins Incurs an Obligation 87

3 Tom Sawdon Decides to Buy a Dog 94

4 Sarah Acquires an Ally, and Came an Enemy 103

5 Lydia Holly Goes Home 114

6 Two Antagonists Meet 121

Book III Agriculture and Small-Holdings

1 The Cold Harbour Colonists State a Case 131

2 Alderman Shaith is Very Fond of Cats 139

3 Mr. Castle Counsels Caution 147

4 Mr. Barnabas Holly Toasts Heredity 155

5 Miss Sigglesthwaite Sees the Lambs of God 162

6 Two Antagonists Meet Again 167

Book IV Public Health

1 Mrs. Holly Fails Her family 181

2 Teacher and Alderman Do Not Sec Eye to Eye 190

3 Councillor Huggins Secures the Floodlighting of the Hospital 200

4 Midge Enjoys the Measles 206

5 Lily Sawdon Propitiates a God 215

6 The Hubbards' Only Object is Philamhiopy 225

Book V Public Assistance

1 Nancy Mitchell Keeps Her Diffnity 237

2 Mrs. Beddows Has Three Men to Think of 246

3 Sarah Looks Out of a Window 259

4 Nymphs and Shepherds, Come Away 269

5 Came Visits Two Ideal Homes 282

6 Mr. Mitichell Faces an Inquisition 292

Book VI Mental Deficiency

1 Temporary Insanity is Acknowledged at the Nag's Head 307

2 Midge Provokes Hysteria 314

3 Mr. Huggins Tastes the Madness of Victory 324

4 Mrs. Beddows Pays a Statutory Visit 333

5 Nat Brimsley Does Not Like Rabbit Pie 345

6 Two in a Hotel are Temporarily Insane 355

Book VII Finance

1 Mrs. Beddows Receives a Christmas Present 379

2 Mrs. Holly Brings Home a Christmas Present 387

3 Councillor Huggins Prepares for an Election 394

4 A Procession Passes Through Maythorpe Village 403

5 The Head Mistress Introduces a Governor 411

6 Carne Rides South 421

Book VIII Housing and Town Planning

1 Astell and Snaith Plan a New Jerusalem 435

2 Three Revellers Have a Night Out 446

3 Councillor Huggins Vindicates Morality 457

4 Midge Decides to Go Home 467

5 The Hollys Go Picnicking 479

6 Mrs. Beddow Sends Sarah About Her Business 486

Epilogue at a Silver Jubilee 503

Ave Atque Vale: An Epitaph by Vera Brittain 516

Editorial Reviews

Rich in humour and worldly insight . . . this panoramic story of local politics stands as testament not only to Holtby's strong belief in public service—Independent

While the novel undoubtedly remains a fascinating depiction of a time and place, it is more than that. In its portrait of the workings of a community, in its celebration of social spirit, and in Burton's final urging of her girls to serve yet also to challenge and question and strive, it feels both timely and necessary—Guardian

Holtby's personal masterpiece: a novel that works beautifully on all sorts of levels, capturing the life of a whole community even as it offers us the passions, frustrations and tragedies of individual lives . . . I can't say enough good things about this book—Sarah Waters

A triumph of personality, a testament of its author's undaunted philosophy—Vera Brittain

One of my favourite novels: a life-enhancing, twentieth-century masterpiece—Charlotte Mendelson

The chief interest of the book . . . lies in the panoramic view of the community, with individuals coming out in sharp relief, dramatic and humorous and tragic—Kirkus Reviews

a triumph of personality, a testament of its author's undaunted philosophy—Vera Brittain

From the Publisher