Friday 19 February 2010

For your bookshelf

I discovered the happy news that there were going to be new paperback editions of some of Nancy Mitford's best loved titles via Mrs Trefusis' Twitter feed- and have just been reminded about the books by India Knight's twitter feed.

I am a devoted admirer of Nancy Mitford's work and hold the first three books, especially The Pursuit of Love, very close to my heart. They have been great friends to me over the years and I look forward to reading the new introductions. I'm particularly excited about Wigs on the Green being re- issued because I have never read it- I have picked up the other more obscure war period Mitford Pigeon Pie at a second hand book shop and I devoured it, though I haven't re- read it in the way I have the others.



The Pursuit of Love with an introduction by Zoe Heller



Love in a cold climate with an introduction by Alan Cumming



Don't tell Alfred with an introduction by Sophie Dahl



Wigs on the Green

These new paperback editions are being released on the 4th of March 2010 according to Nancy Mitford's publisher Penguin books. You can sign up via the links above to be notified by Penguin as soon as they are available for pre- order.

18 comments:

Wandering Wynie said...

I've been intending to read 'love in a cold climate' for ages- thanks for the heads-up! They're such cute editions too.

Wandering Wynie said...

I've been intending to read 'love in a cold climate' for ages- thanks for the heads-up! They're such cute editions too.

Fran Hill said...

I've never read Nancy Mitford. Another one on the list! Thanks.

Christina @ Fashion's Most Wanted said...

Love in a Cold Climate is great. I've never read Wigs on the Green either so will definitely buy that. You should sign up for the newsletter from Heywood Hill in Curzon Street. They emailed weeks ago for pre-orders. It's the bookshop where Nancy Mitford worked during the war and is marvelous. If you haven't been it's well worth a look x

Ines said...

I've never heard of Nancy Mithford, let alone read anything. Thank you for the tip, I will definitely try this and see how I like it. :)

Anonymous said...

I've definately felt like holing up in the Hons cupboard this winter. Great to know about the republishing - Thank you. ra

westendmum said...

Fantastic covers, thanks for sharing.
WEM x

Abbie said...

The covers are very fun.

The Magic Pudding said...

I love Nancy Mitford -- I hope "Wigs on the Green" comes to the US as well. Thanks!

Muddling Along said...

Those are so pretty ... but I can't get rid of my old well read lovelies ...

Muddling Along said...

Those are so pretty ... but I can't get rid of my old well read lovelies ...

The Daily Connoisseur said...

These look delightful!

Rose said...

Hi WW- thanks for saying hello- have you read the pursuit of love? if you haven't definitely start with that as it introduces the characters in Love in a Cold Climate- and is wonderful.

Hi Fran- really? well you are very lucky then because you have something special to look forward to!

Hi Christina- I didn't know about Heywood Hill, call myself a fan hey? Thanks so much- I've signed up to their mailing list and am wishing for some first editions

Hi Ines- The Pursuit of love and love in a cold climate are pretty easy to find, I hope you like Nancy- I love her!

Ra- me too!

Hi WEM- you're welcome, thanks for stopping by, I like them too- though really what I want are proper hard back versions but I need to save up!

Hi Abbie- yes!

Hi Magic Pudding- great name- I hope it comes to you too- I'm sure it will be easy enough to order from Amazon UK or Penguin if for some reason you are having trouble in the US. I have got some of her back catalogue on ebay too but didn't ever get the Wigs

Hi Muddling along- well I know, but I am going to keep my old lovelies for reading the bath etc and treat myself to new copies for the bookshelf- plus I'm always lending mine out trying to convert people so will be handy to have 2 sets.

Hi Daily- yes- have you read any Mitford? I think you would love all the manners and detail.

Mr London Street said...

I really want to read these, but personally I think the covers are pretty hideous - will stick to the Penguin Classics version which has three of the books and is considerably cheaper.

Vanessa said...

I have never read any of her books, but my mum brought me up knowing all about U and Non-U. To this day it goes against the grain to say notepaper and toilet, though I do...

Rose said...

Mr London Street- well they certainly wouldn't look terribly manly so you might look a bit funny with these on the funbus- though it's so exciting on there you probably don't have time to read. I know the edition you mean and it looks good agreed, though the paper is a bit thin which is not something I like in a book. Still anything that gets people reading Mitford, I hope you like the books- I suspect you might find some of the characters annoying but stick with them, they are endearing really.

Hi Flittersniffer- they are a great resource for all kinds of Debrett's type knowledge that is true- I hope you say looking glass instead of mirror and of course scent instead of perfume too!

Mr London Street said...

They are out and if anything are uglier still in reality. But interestingly the celeb introductions seem to be missing. A shame, as I really wanted to know what the screeching tryhard from Franz Ferdinand had to say.

Rose said...

Hi Mr London Street- they are not ugly but they are certainly made with a female reader in mind I would say... and quite flimsy, my wigs on the green is already quite battered from being in my bag.

Anyway forewards YES I was baffled when I went into Waterstones on Piccadily and saw the pursuit of love and there was no foreword. So I went to Hatchards where they had all 5 and all with forewords, there must be 2 editions of some kicking around I think. Very confusing, I would have been livid if I'd pre- ordered and got the wrong ones seeing as I already own all the titles except wigs- so i'm really only buying them for the forewords and to be supportive for the most part.