A Glass of Blessings by Barbara Pym first edition 1958

London: Jonathan Cape, 1958
 
8vo., two-tone green and black publisher’s cloth, featuring a silhouette design of two figures standing back to back, one in a bowler hat holding an umbrella; lettered and lined in white to spine with publisher’s device to foot; together in the purple and pink dustwrapper by Robin Jacques, with design replicating the upper board, lettered in black; upper edge stained red; pp. [iv]. 5-255, [i]; a very good copy, with slight shelf lean and markings to boards; slightly rubbed at foot of spine, with upper edge a little faded; internally exceptionally clean; the good to very good jacket darkened, creased to folds and rubbed/nicked to edges, with a couple of splash stains to the lower panel; unrestored and with original price of 15s. net to front flap; seldom found at all. 
 
First edition. 
 
A Glass of Blessings was Pym’s fifth novel, and follows Wilmet Forsyth, a bored housewife who occupies herself by becoming embroiled in the church politics of her local community. In many ways a fascinating portrayal of daily life in the 1950s - when many women were encouraged not to work - the protagonist is depicted here as an intelligent and pious woman who nonetheless basks in the admiration of her best friend’s husband, discovers the amorous adventures of various clergymen, and becomes embroiled with the intriguing Piers Longridge. A humorous and lighthearted novel which is sometimes compared to Jane Austen in terms of its depiction of class and human relationships, Anne Tyler once wrote that “Barbara Pym is the rarest of treasures; she reminds us of the heartbreaking silliness of everyday life”. 
 
Initially the most poorly reviewed of her works, the present title is arguably now Pym’s most popular work, alongside Excellent Women (1952), which was praised for its accurate analysis of life in post-war England. Falling out of public consciousness towards the end of her life, Pym’s popularity was revived in 1977 after Philip Larkin and the critic Lord David Cecil both nominated her for the award of most underrated writer of the 20th century. In fact, Larkin is often quoted as claiming that “I'd sooner read a new Barbara Pym than a new Jane Austen”. 
 
In 1991, the book was adapted into a Radio 4 broadcast, produced by the author’s sister Hilary and the actress Elizabeth Proud.
 
Scarce in the vibrant dustwrapper.