Jenny Overton - also, AF and Carols

[ex-ajhalluk585.livejournal.com]

Cross posted from my own journal.


I wondered if any other AF fans had also encountered Jenny Overton? Also published by faber, her two "modern day" novels, Creed Country and The Nightwatch Winter (only the latter of the two do I own) has a tone remarkably similar to AF, particularly in relation to the Easter Play in Nightwatch Winter, which is not dissimilar to the play in End of Term (as it is used as a catalyst for action, as well as how it is described except that - more realistically, to my mind - the Overton play "wasn't a runaway success at all, just some good bits and some ordinary bits, and some dodgy bits in between". She's also like Forest, too, in the importance of religion in the lives of her characters without them ever being pi or preachy (quite remarkable, since one of them has a vocation as a nun).

I thought of it recently because I see Overton as a Christmas writer - the Easter play has the Seven Joys of Mary and the Cherry Tree Carol in it, quoted extensively - but also because she was the writer of The Thirteen Days of Christmas which is a very definitely non-AF charming fantasy set in a sort-of 17th century in which the rather staid and unimaginative Francis (who as the son of a prosperous merchant is a good catch but rather unromantic) is wooing the Mariannish Annaple, whose numerous younger siblings would be delighted if he carried her off and out of her scope for micro-managing their lives, so decide to help him with the romance side of the matter.

Anyway, are there other Overton fans out there? And did she write anything after Nightwatch Winter?

Comments

[debodacious.livejournal.com]

I like her books very much - I have the 3 you mention and am planning a festive re-read of The Thirteen Days of Christmas next week. My copy of that also refers to a book called The Ship from Simnel Street which I haven't read, but I think is another un-AFish book (the heroine is called Polly Oliver and wants to marry a soldier, so it sounds as if it could be inspired by a song too).

[oursin.livejournal.com]

1998 jointly authored volume A suffragette nest: Peaslake, 1910 and after, according to the British Library Integrated Catalogue (http://catalogue.bl.uk). Appears to be the same Jenny Overton.

[ex-ajhalluk585.livejournal.com]

Oh, if I had a copy I'd so be re-reading it (I rely on topsy-turvy to produce one eventually) and also to re-read to the steps -

"On the last day of Christmas his true love gave to him

Her heart so blithe and gay -"
had me in floods the first four or five times I took it out from the library (and then I got too old. for the children's section) ...

[coughingbear]

Oh yes, I like her books too, and agree about the AF-ishness of the two modern ones. Some of the characters' turns of phrase I remember reminding me of Nicola and Rowan, as well as the way she uses the play.

I thought I had A Ship from Simnel Street, which is in the Thirteen Days of Christmas mould, but a quick check of the shelves hasn't revealed it. (Though that may not mean anything.) It is inspired by the Polly Oliver song, though it's told from the point of view of her sister Susannah, who helps to run their parents' bakery, and I liked it very much.

[anstruther.livejournal.com]

I loved The Thirteen Days of Christmas. Haven't read any of her other works, I ended up with a secondhand copy of TTDOC by accident, and didn't realise she'd written anything else... I think I looked for her in the children's section of my local library and didn't find anything. Will definitely be looking out for the two AFish recommendations.

I actually remember Annaple adding the last verse (in a slightly thin but true voice):
"On the last day of Christmas my true love gave to me
His heart so blithe and gay."

But maybe that's just what I think she ought to have said. Has anyone got a copy around from which to confirm/rebut?

Btw, am slightly embarrassed to admit that the illustration of Annaple in her wedding dress is still how I think brides ought to look.

[(Anonymous)]

Too old for the children's section?
Shome mishtake shurely?

[ex-ajhalluk585.livejournal.com]

Oh, but definitely in the children's section.