Going to Barsetshire

By Cynthia Snowden

Angela Thirkell, known to many American Angliphiles, is the author of twenty-nine novels written between 1933 and 1961. They are set in Barsetshire, the fictional English county made famous by Anthony... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0970385803
• ISBN13: 9780970385802
• Release Date: December 2000
• Publisher: C. Snowden
• Length: 273 Pages
• Weight: 0.10 lbs.

Customer Reviews

very helpful compendium

Cynthia Snowden's book is an extremely helpful compendium that organizes information from Angela Thirkell's Barsetshire novels in several ways. The format is colorful, clear, and very well organized, far better and with far more information than the few other books that purport to do the same. A must-have reference work for Angela Thirkell lovers and scholars.

A Great Guide

Going to Barsetshire by Cynthia Snowden is a wonderful companion guide for readers of the Angela Thirkell Barsetshire series. The minute that I received my copy, I spent an hour or so absorbed in the various sections of the book. The guide is loaded with information on characters and places mentioned in the novels. A most useful section is the one that defines quotes, abbreviations, words, and phrases. Any American reader would find this part of the guide invaluable. A brief chronological biography or Thirkell is well done. The part that gives a short summary for each novel is a helpful aid in keeping track of the numerous characters. The section on Anthony Trollope is a nice touch. It is quite evident that Ms. Snowden has put much time and effort into her well organized book. Her guide is by my side whenever I read a Thirkell novel. A must have for any Thirkell fan.

An Indispensable Companion

Going to Barsetshire is a delightful book, and a much-needed accompaniment to the Thirkell novels. Ms. Snowden obviously spent a great deal of time reading the 29 novels in Thirkell's Barsetshire series, and has produced a companion to the series that makes it very easy to keep track of the characters, places, and cultural references, especially for an American who is not well versed in mid-20th Century English esoterica. I also enjoyed the writing style and the well-chosen quotes. In addition to the book's comprehensive content is its straightforward layout and user-friendly format. This exemplary reference guide is not a flashy publishing house production, but instead keeps with the simple charm of Barsetshire in its quality and overall appearance. The original cover art, showing an idyllic Barsetshire scene, is lovely. I heartily recomend the book to all Thirkell fans.