South Riding
Published on 26. November 2010
Book
Paperback/Softback
544 pages
978-0-86068-969-0 (ISBN)
Description
'One of my favourite novels: a life-enhancing, twentieth-century masterpiece' CHARLOTTE MENDELSON
'Rich in humour and worldly insight' INDEPENDENT
'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 classic masterpiece of England between the wars, South Riding is a warm, poignant, panoramic portrait of one Yorkshire community
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 life-enhancing classic, bringing vividly to life a rural community on the brink of change.
This beautiful 90th anniversary edition contains a preface by Shirley Williams, an introduction by Marion Shaw and an epitaph by Vera Brittain.
'Rich in humour and worldly insight' INDEPENDENT
'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 classic masterpiece of England between the wars, South Riding is a warm, poignant, panoramic portrait of one Yorkshire community
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 life-enhancing classic, bringing vividly to life a rural community on the brink of change.
This beautiful 90th anniversary edition contains a preface by Shirley Williams, an introduction by Marion Shaw and an epitaph by Vera Brittain.
Reviews / Votes
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 * 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 * 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 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 A triumph of personality, a testament of its author's undaunted philosophy A triumph of personality, a testament of its author's undaunted philosophy One of my favourite novels: a life-enhancing, twentieth-century masterpiece One of my favourite novels: a life-enhancing, twentieth-century masterpiece 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 * 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 *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Little, Brown Book Group
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 196 mm
Width: 126 mm
Thickness: 34 mm
Weight
371 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-86068-969-0 (9780860689690)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Persons
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.