Quartet in Autumn
Shortlisted for the 1977 Booker Prize
This is the story of four people in late middle-age - Edwin, Norman, Letty and Marcia - whose chief point of contact is that they work in the same office and they suffer the same problem - loneliness. Lovingly, poignantly, satirically and with much humour, Pym conducts us through their small lives and the facade they erect to defend themselves against the outside world. There is nevertheless an obstinate optimism in her characters, allowing them in their different ways to win through to a kind of hope. Barbara Pym's sensitive wit and artistry are at their most sparkling in "Quartet in Autumn".
"An exquisite, even magnificent work of art" - Observer
"'Barbara Pym has a sharp eye for the exact nuances of social behaviour" - The Times
"The wit and style of a twentieth century Jane Austen" - Harpers & Queen
"Barbara Pym's unpretentious, subtle, accomplished novels are for me the finest examples of high comedy to have appeared in England during the past 75 years ...spectacular" - Sunday Times
"Very funny and keenly observant of the ridiculous as well as the pathetic in humanity" - Financial Times
This is the story of four people in late middle-age - Edwin, Norman, Letty and Marcia - whose chief point of contact is that they work in the same office and they suffer the same problem - loneliness. Lovingly, poignantly, satirically and with much humour, Pym conducts us through their small lives and the facade they erect to defend themselves against the outside world. There is nevertheless an obstinate optimism in her characters, allowing them in their different ways to win through to a kind of hope. Barbara Pym's sensitive wit and artistry are at their most sparkling in "Quartet in Autumn".
"An exquisite, even magnificent work of art" - Observer
"'Barbara Pym has a sharp eye for the exact nuances of social behaviour" - The Times
"The wit and style of a twentieth century Jane Austen" - Harpers & Queen
"Barbara Pym's unpretentious, subtle, accomplished novels are for me the finest examples of high comedy to have appeared in England during the past 75 years ...spectacular" - Sunday Times
"Very funny and keenly observant of the ridiculous as well as the pathetic in humanity" - Financial Times
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Community Reviews
For some reason I got a mix of Severance and The Office from this one.
Following four middle- to retirement-aged coworkers - two male and two female - Quartet in Autumn is a refreshing read that is comical, relatable, and poignant.
Much like the shows Severance and The Office, this story follows four otherwise unconnected people who, in the beginning seem to have those disconnected "workplace proximity acquaintance" relationships so common of offices around the world. As the story progresses, however, and the two women leave the office setting, we see the relationships grow a bit closer until, in the end, they might even be considered friends.
Pym's writing style was smooth and accessible and this was a book I struggled to put down. It was a quick read with quirky, flawed, and lovable characters and an overall joy to read.
This has been my least favorite Pym novel, and I feel a bit guilty over the 3-star rating, as Quartet in Autumn, written late in her career, was hailed as one of her best, and nominated for The Booker Prize. However, even for a Pym story I felt it very slow going for the first half, the four main characters either unlikable or just dull.
The main characters, Norman, Letty, Marcia and Edwin, are all 60-somethings sharing a dull office (the exact nature of the work is never described, underscoring the drabness of their lives) and anticipating retirement. Norman is angry and bitter by nature; Letty kind and refined; Marcia bizarre, unfiltered and in questionable physical and mental health; and Edwin rather meekly looking for the next best church service. The quartet seems to have almost nothing in common yet Pym must weave a storyline that connects them and shows how they feel connected to one another, but I felt it was strained until close to the end, when one of them dies and the others gather together in friendship and to be of assistance. Finding commonality among them felt like a stretch to me, but perhaps part of Pym's point was how often people who are alone at that stage of life have so few options for companionship. That struck home with Letty, who had been promised to share a home in the countryside with a widowed friend of hers, until that friend suddenly became engaged, and Letty was left hanging. That sub-storyline held more interest and had more substance.
There are still some wonderful Pym lines with trademark ironic humor. When Letty tries to deal with a new landlord in the house, who enjoys religious singing, Pym writes:
"'I wonder if you could make a little less noise?' she asked. 'Some of us find it rather disturbing.'
'Christianity is disturbing,' said Mr. Olatunde."
It is still vintage Pym, and true fans won't be disappointed that they invested the short amount of time to read this, one of her last works.
The main characters, Norman, Letty, Marcia and Edwin, are all 60-somethings sharing a dull office (the exact nature of the work is never described, underscoring the drabness of their lives) and anticipating retirement. Norman is angry and bitter by nature; Letty kind and refined; Marcia bizarre, unfiltered and in questionable physical and mental health; and Edwin rather meekly looking for the next best church service. The quartet seems to have almost nothing in common yet Pym must weave a storyline that connects them and shows how they feel connected to one another, but I felt it was strained until close to the end, when one of them dies and the others gather together in friendship and to be of assistance. Finding commonality among them felt like a stretch to me, but perhaps part of Pym's point was how often people who are alone at that stage of life have so few options for companionship. That struck home with Letty, who had been promised to share a home in the countryside with a widowed friend of hers, until that friend suddenly became engaged, and Letty was left hanging. That sub-storyline held more interest and had more substance.
There are still some wonderful Pym lines with trademark ironic humor. When Letty tries to deal with a new landlord in the house, who enjoys religious singing, Pym writes:
"'I wonder if you could make a little less noise?' she asked. 'Some of us find it rather disturbing.'
'Christianity is disturbing,' said Mr. Olatunde."
It is still vintage Pym, and true fans won't be disappointed that they invested the short amount of time to read this, one of her last works.
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