Joyce Dennys

[callmemadam]

Over on the cornflower blog today Karen writes again about the Bloomsbury Books reissue of Henrietta’s War by Joyce Dennys. She points out that the second Henrietta book



Henrietta Sees it Through, will only be published if sales of the first one are good enough.

I can’t recommend the books highly enough, I simply love them, but I wonder if the market is there? We already have the original Andre Deutsch editions, which were followed by Penguin paperbacks.



The prices on Amazon are simply ridiculous. I’ve picked up several copies of each book over the years and given away or sold them. I just don’t believe they are that scarce.

I bought the books when they came out, probably after hearing them read on the radio, and have reread them often since. They are wonderful. I love Henrietta, who is always cold and says she could cope with anything if she had a hot water bottle; so very much the way I feel myself. Then there’s husband Charles who makes her a badge saying, 'LABD' (Looking After Busy Doctor) when she worries about not doing war work; comforting Lady B; overbearing Mrs Savernack and ditzy Faith, who plants bright red geraniums when she fears supplies of rouge will run short. Almost every character is affectionately portrayed and the reader becomes fond of them and full of admiration for the way they ‘keep calm and carry on’. So if you haven’t yet met Henrietta do buy Henrietta’s War, which I guarantee to please.


Illustration from The Over-Dose

The two Henrietta books were compiled from articles written for The Sketch during the War. Joyce Dennys (1893-1991) had already written a number of plays and several books; she also illustrated books by other people, including Adults Only by Beverley Nichols. Here’s a much-shortened bibliography.

Mrs Dose, The Doctor’s Wife, 1930
Repeated Doses, 1931
The Over-Dose (This Really is the Last One), 1933
Economy Must be Our Watchword, 1932
And Then There Was One (autobiography), 1983
Henrietta’s War, 1985
Henrietta Sees it Through, 1986



Joyce Dennys, aged 93


Signature from my copy of And Then There was One

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

I went right over and read Karen's post, and then came back and clicked on your 'hmm' - I'm going to buy the H'sW as my first book of the new year when I begin buying again. I love all the details you provided. Absolutely the kind of book I adore.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you won't be disappointed!

[huskyteer.livejournal.com]

I missed this earlier - now I want to read them again. They're on the shelf of books I keep by my bed in case I wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep; I probably know the first one off by heart anyway.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Proof of their comfort factor!
I got them out of the chalet to photograph and now I want to take them out again and read them.

Amazon prices

[(Anonymous)]

I bought my Penguin paperback (not the new edition) last week from Amazon Used and New for 1p + £2.75 p&p, so £2.76 on my doormat.I'll almost certainly buy the new edition for my mother on her birthday later in the year.

Re: Amazon prices

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Well done!

[(Anonymous)]

I'm not feeling too guilty ... but I also bought H's war from Amazon for 1p tonight and if it's as good as everybody says, I'll keep an eye out in the charity shops for the sequel ... That's how I found the Brontes/Woolworths for £1.95 when, until this new edition, it was an astronomical price on Amazon. I love the thrill of the hunt and spotting a bargain almost as much as the reading! (Actually, in the case of the Brontes I enjoyed the hunt rather more than the book which was far too whimsical for me!) Was delighted this weekend to find Richmal Crompton's Frost at Morning, missing its dust jacket but only £2.95 - and I'm sure that was quite a price on Amazon last time I looked.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Nothing like book hunting to get the adrenalin flowing. I always picture the wonderful things I *might* find.

I didn't like The Brontes went to Woolworths either but I did enjoy Our Spoons Came from Woolworths by Barbara Comyns.

Frost at Morning was an excellent find!

[(Anonymous)]

Yes, I've been looking out for the Barbara Comyns ... just the title attracts, doesn't it? But keep chiding myself not to buy any more until I have done something to attack The Pile.

[(Anonymous)]

Glad you found Frost at Morning - and with Barbara Comyns, the Woolworths one is a brilliant title, but actually one of my least favourite of her books... Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead is my favourite of hers.

As for Joyce Dennys - which of that mini-bibliography should I look out for first??

Simon

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Hello Simon. I still haven't found a copy of Who Was Changed... but will snap one up when I do.

I'd go for the autobiography, though Joyce Dennys was one of those people who wrote about her family rather than herself. When you've read Charles' remark that Henrietta is the 'last of the decayed Devon gentry', it's interesting to know the background. The other books I've read are entertaining and the illustrations perfect but they're not in the Henrietta league.

[(Anonymous)]

Hello - I've now read Economy Must Be Our Watchword - is this one of the ones you've read? It's wonderful, I think I like it even more than the Henrietta books - so funny, about a selfish and unself-aware rich lady asked to made economising decisions by her husband, and utterly failing...

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

No, I haven't read that one. You've done so well to find her books. 'More than Henrietta'... Hmm, must be good!

Joyce Dennys' Henrietta's War

[(Anonymous)]

Having never heard of the author before, I was attracted to this book by the old-fashioned cover design and decided to buy it on the urgent recommendation of the lady behind the counter of the South-wold bookshop where I found it. And what a wonderful little gem of a book this is. So funny, quintessentially English, and totally uplifting without a trace of sentimentality. My daughter (aged 19) absolutely loved it too!

Re: Joyce Dennys' Henrietta's War

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

So glad you enjoyed it! One of my favourites.