Barbara Pym Books in Order

Barbara Pym is a celebrated English author, renowned for her insightful and witty novels that delve into the intricacies of human relationships. A graduate of St Hilda's College, Oxford, she served in the Women's Royal Naval Service during World War II. Pym's writing career spans over five decades, marked by significant milestones. Despite initial rejections, her novels have garnered critical acclaim, with notable works such as Quartet in Autumn, which earned a Booker Prize nomination, and The Sweet Dove Died, previously rejected by many publishers. Her expertise in anthropology, honed from her years at the International African Institute in London, is reflected in the frequent appearances of anthropologists in her novels. Pym's personal life, marked by close relationships and a decision not to marry, has been the subject of much interest. Following her retirement, she resided with her sister, Hilary, in Barn Cottage, Finstock, Oxfordshire, where a blue plaque was later erected in her honor.