Why mid-20th century women?
Nowadays, women who could be writing are doing a million and one other things, but in the mid-20th century, women stayed home and took to writing. Also, there isn’t the same sense of tragedy now because we don’t have the same moral conflicts, do we? Today everything goes. These books have plot. They’re page turners. Now a novel like this would have to be set against a historical background. This is a chance to see what really went on during that time. When did you start Persephone Books? 1998. How did you start your career? I had children young. At 26, I secured a contract to write a book on female authors, A Very Great Profession: The Woman’s Novel 1914-39. I was writing and reviewing books for the Observer in my twenties. And your children? They are about your age I’d say. I have three sons and two daughters, all in the arts. My oldest son is a children’s book writer. Another son just wrote a cultural history of the pineapple. Wishes, regrets? I wish I was more techie. I’m a little l
