I’ve never heard of this book or author, but I’m excited to read Cassandra now. I’ve added this book to my reading list - the author sounds fascinating, too. I love that you’ve linked the narrator to Esther Greenwood - I’m sold :)
Wonderful piece Kate! As always, I leave your posts ready to add more books to my tbr. Your newsletter is dangerous for my wallet, I swear. (in the best way possible of course)
I too had never heard of her, Kate. Thanks for the recommendation. And I'll have a look for her novel about Bix Beiderbecke - one of my Grandad’s favourites and a wonderful sound from my childhood.
Thanks, Victoria! I think you will enjoy her writing. Lovely memory about your grandad; I wonder if you have read Alan Plater's trilogy based around his music? It was also made into three TV series' in the late 80s/early 90s and has his music as the soundtrack. It has lot of very "Yorkshire" humour in it also!
Thanks for introducing me to an author and book I'd never heard of! One to look out for, and also her novel about Bix Beiderbecke. This latter reminded me of Half Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan, about a fictional jazz musician - but that's probably too recent for your work. (I loved it!)
You are welcome, Nicola! Glad to spread the word about great books :) Also, I love reading all eras of fiction, whether for pleasure or research, so I will check one out! Thanks :)
Kate - I consider myself somewhat well read, especially on the American Literature side of things. I have never heard of this author or her works. Something new for me to check out.
Thanks for reading, Matthew. It's so strange how sometimes these books and authors escape us, isn't it? I think it would be worth checking out, definitely. I enjoy American novels set around that era.
I came across it through NYRB Classics and later the wonderful Backlisted podcast did an episode and I’m thrilled whenever I see someone else discover it. I have The Man With the Horn but still haven’t read it (seems so different in premise, but I’m sure it’s great).
I haven't come across Backlisted and have just checked it out - it looks great! Thanks for the rec. The Man with the Horn sounds very different; I'd be interested to know what you think once you get round to reading it!
I saw that when I was researching; I had never heard of either the book or the film, though used to love a 1980s/90s series about a jazz-loving teacher which was taken from a novel by Alan Plater called 'The Beiderbecke Trilogy'. So when I discovered there was a book by Dorothy Baker about the musician himself, I was sold!
I’ve never heard of this book or author, but I’m excited to read Cassandra now. I’ve added this book to my reading list - the author sounds fascinating, too. I love that you’ve linked the narrator to Esther Greenwood - I’m sold :)
Haha, I thought you might be, as a fellow Plath devotee 😀 I think you'll like it.
Wonderful piece Kate! As always, I leave your posts ready to add more books to my tbr. Your newsletter is dangerous for my wallet, I swear. (in the best way possible of course)
Haha, sorry-not-sorry 😉 thank you for reading!
I haven’t read the trilogy. But, oh dear... with all your recommendations, I won't be able to move for books soon. 📚📚📚📚📚📚📚
I too had never heard of her, Kate. Thanks for the recommendation. And I'll have a look for her novel about Bix Beiderbecke - one of my Grandad’s favourites and a wonderful sound from my childhood.
Thanks, Victoria! I think you will enjoy her writing. Lovely memory about your grandad; I wonder if you have read Alan Plater's trilogy based around his music? It was also made into three TV series' in the late 80s/early 90s and has his music as the soundtrack. It has lot of very "Yorkshire" humour in it also!
Thanks for introducing me to an author and book I'd never heard of! One to look out for, and also her novel about Bix Beiderbecke. This latter reminded me of Half Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan, about a fictional jazz musician - but that's probably too recent for your work. (I loved it!)
You are welcome, Nicola! Glad to spread the word about great books :) Also, I love reading all eras of fiction, whether for pleasure or research, so I will check one out! Thanks :)
This is so well researched. I have never heard of this, thank you.
Thank you! 😀
Never heard of this one either and love learning about it!
Thanks, Kathryn! Definitely recommend checking it out, a lot to unpick from it.
Yes and you know the Esther Greenwood reference helped draw me in.
😃
Kate - I consider myself somewhat well read, especially on the American Literature side of things. I have never heard of this author or her works. Something new for me to check out.
Thanks for reading, Matthew. It's so strange how sometimes these books and authors escape us, isn't it? I think it would be worth checking out, definitely. I enjoy American novels set around that era.
This is an incredible, criminally underrated book!
Isn't it?! I can't believe I had never even come across it, despite studying literature, until now!
I came across it through NYRB Classics and later the wonderful Backlisted podcast did an episode and I’m thrilled whenever I see someone else discover it. I have The Man With the Horn but still haven’t read it (seems so different in premise, but I’m sure it’s great).
I haven't come across Backlisted and have just checked it out - it looks great! Thanks for the rec. The Man with the Horn sounds very different; I'd be interested to know what you think once you get round to reading it!
"Young Man With A Horn" would be adapted into a feature film starring Kirk Douglas in the 1940s.
I saw that when I was researching; I had never heard of either the book or the film, though used to love a 1980s/90s series about a jazz-loving teacher which was taken from a novel by Alan Plater called 'The Beiderbecke Trilogy'. So when I discovered there was a book by Dorothy Baker about the musician himself, I was sold!
😃 💕