Joyce Grenfell by Janie Hampton
Joyce Grenfell: My Kind of Magic is a charming collection of her favourite articles, poetry, drawings and writings of every kind, from treasured recipes to the places she was happiest in. The best things in her view are often unexpected -- blackbirds in January, the musty smell of old books or dusk in an East Anglian cornfield. For Joyce Grenfell these small flashes of joy and inspiration were scattered amongst the everyday. Her idea of comfort was "no draughts, no overhead lighting, hot water all the year round and no noises about it being 'the summer'". During her lifetime she amassed an eclectic collection that she planned one day to put together into a scrapbook; but she was so busy she never got around to doing it. Now, finally, these pieces have been set down for the enjoyment of all. Her biographer, Janie Hampton, has woven together the little bits of magic from Joyce's life into a beautiful and endearing memento.
'If.. you want a benchmark for true talent, then starting with Joyce Grenfell is about as good as it gets. ... I still marvel at the woman who had better timing than a Swiss clock' -- Sandi Toksvig, The Guardian 'There were scores of us whose welfare she was quietly supervising, but Joyce had the knack of making you feel you were the only one. She remains an unforgettable example of just how extraordinary a human being can be.' -- Clive James 'Delightful ! a superb anthology ! It is a truly heartwarming and uplifting collection which deserves to be treasured.' -- This England 20041101 'If... you want a benchmark for true talent, then starting with Joyce Grenfell is about as good as it gets.' -- Sandy Toksvig, The Guardian 18991230 'She remains an unforgettable example of just how extraordinary a human being can be.' -- Clive James 18991230
Janie Hampton, who edits this scrapbook, wrote the first biography of Joyce Grenfell. She is the author of a dozen books and the editor of Joyce and Ginnie: The Letters of Joyce Grenfell and Virginia Graham, and Hats Off, a volume of Joyce Grenfell's poetry and drawings. She has been a BBC World Service producer and a planner of health projects in Africa. She and her husband have four grown-up children and live in Oxford.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780719566332 |
| ISBN 10 | 0719566339 |
| Title | Joyce Grenfell |
| Author | Janie Hampton |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | John Murray Press |
| Year published | 2004-09-13 |
| Number of pages | 96 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |