Winifred Holtby affectionately observes the foibles of human nature in this sparkling satire, first published in 1931Caroline Denton-Smyth is an eccentric, dressed in trailing feathers and jangling beads, peering out from behind her lorgnette. Sitting alone in her West Kensington bedsitter, she dreams of the Christian Cinema Company her vehicle for reform. For Caroline sees herself as a pioneer, one who must risk everything for the "Cause of the Right." Her board of directors is a motley crew including Basil St. Denis, upper crust but impecunious; Joseph Isenbaum, aspiring to society and Eton...

This book was conceived after reading Vera Brittain's Testament of Youth and Testament of Friendship. Winifred Holtby died very early after suffering from Bright's Disease - renal failure - aged only 37 in 1935. Into these years, she crammed more than most people achieve in an average life. She was a kind, gentle and very generous person; she had a strong belief in equality of sex, race and status, and was a very strong feminist. She became a Director of the feminist newspaper Time and Tide. She wrote several novels, the most famous being South Riding. During her life, she also wrote many...

Winifred Holtby met Jean McWilliam in a WAAC camp at Huchenneville in France very near the end of the First World War. McWilliam was the camp commander, and Holtby her new hostel forewoman. They took to each other instantly, became firm friends, and lifelong correspondents. Through a world overshadowed by war in both directions, they kept up a lively discussion of events, politics, literature and life, even when McWilliam relocated to South Africa in pursuit of her teaching career. Seeing each other very rarely in the flesh, their relationship was played out in the written word poignantly and...