You're a Brick, Angela

This seminal work, first published in 1976, was the first book to deal with Girls’ Literature in depth and at length. Not having read it for ten years, I decided that, unlike many reviewers, I must re-read it. The storm raging around me (winds of 60mph!) was forgotten, as was the discomfort of a Land Rover, as I read from cover to cover. If possible, it is better than it was on my first reading over twenty years ago suggested! Errors corrected, addenda included, facts updated, and now profusely illustrated, this book, apart from being ‘readable’, makes one realise that it is impossible to distinguish between literary history and social history. Whether literature drives social change or social change forces a new approach to literature is hard to say; but, without doubt the authors are correct to have made this book an examination of both. The authors decided that history and literature are so intertwined that they had to take this approach. And, it works as an enthralling account of both.

The humour, scholarship, attention to detail, and the sheer enjoyability of the book makes it certain that some academics will, yet again, condemn it – after all it is lucid, fun, accurate, and as important today as it was when first it was printed. Talking to an M.A. student the other day, she told me that this was the first book she read in preparing her dissertation. While not as germane to my dissertation as to hers, it was, nonetheless, a vital work for me to read in the writing of my Master's dissertation about Frank Richards.

It is great fun to play a parlour game with oneself – who wrote which section. Talking to Mary the other day, I was pleased to have, so far, guessed correctly! In short, this book is an essential for all students of literature – no matter what branch. If you don’t have a copy – buy one! If you have the first edition, consider (most seriously) updating your library with this one.

Peter McCall

Reprinted from The Friars' Chronicles, Volume 22, Number 96, Spring 2004, by permission of the Editor.