{"product_id":"an-academic-question","title":"AN ACADEMIC QUESTION","description":"\u003cp\u003eProduct Description A delightful comedy of manners with a touch of mystery, An Academic Question is prime Barbara Pym territory. In a provincial university town Caro Grimstone, a dissatisfied faculty wife, becomes the unwilling accomplice to her husband Alans ambitions. When she volunteers as a reader to a blind, esteemed anthropologist, Alan seizes the opportunity to steal his papers - research that could both advance his reputation while refuting the findings of a respected colleague. Review Beneath the gentle surfaces of her novels is a slow-building comedy, salt wit in a saline drip -- NEW YORK TIMESMy favourite writer . . . I pick up her books with joy -- JILLY COOPERShe is the rarest of treasures; she reminds us of the heartbreaking silliness of everyday life -- ANNE TYLERI am a huge fan of Barbara Pym -- RICHARD OSMANA splendid humorous writer -- John BetjemanA modern Jane Austen -- Alexander McCall SmithThere is a thrill of humanity through all her work -- Shirley Hazzard Book Description *Another delightful comedy of manners from Barbara Pym. From the Back Cover She is the rarest of treasures; she reminds us of the heartbreaking silliness of everyday life Anne TylerIn a provincial university town Caro Grimstone, a dissatisfied faculty wife, becomes the unwilling accomplice to her husband Alans ambitions. When she volunteers as a reader to a blind, esteemed anthropologist in a nursing home, Alan seizes the opportunity to steal his papers - research that could both advance his reputation while refuting the findings of a respected colleague. A delightful comedy of manners with a touch of mystery, An Academic Question is prime Barbara Pym territory. Authentic Pym, with the true depth of exuberance in it . . . As readable and characteristic as any in the Pym canon John Bayley, London Review of Books About the Author Barbara Pym (1913-80) was born in Shropshire and educated at St Hildas College, Oxford. When in 1977 the TLS asked critics to name the most underrated authors of the past 75 years, only one was named twice (by Philip Larkin and Lord David Cecil): Barbara Pym. Her novels are characterised by what Anne Tyler has called the heartbreaking silliness of everyday life.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Virago","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45883287666886,"sku":"DADAX1844087239","price":296.77,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0695\/9389\/1014\/files\/81hmdcJ7TRL.jpg?v=1779801630","url":"https:\/\/ergodemedia.com\/products\/an-academic-question","provider":"Ergodemedia","version":"1.0","type":"link"}