I watched the Scottish news at lunch time as usual and was quite amazed to see that there was a report about D.E. Stevenson on it. Apparently two new manuscripts had been found in her attic by her grandaughters. The cynic in me thought Oh aye, sure! but it’s true.
Shirley Neilson of Greyladies publisher got a phone call from one of D.E.’s grandaughters about it and the upshot is that The Fair Miss Fortune and Emily Dennistoun have been published by them. The first one was rejected by a publisher in 1938 and they think that Emily Dennistoun was written sometime in the 1920s. It’ll be very interesting to find out what they’re like.
So Judith, Reader in the Wilderness – I know that your mother is a big fan and I hope you can get a hold of the books for her somehow, for some reason D.E. is much better known in America now than she is at home. I’m sure the libraries there will be ordering them in.
I still haven’t managed to pay a visit to the town of Moffat yet, where she is buried.
Oh dear, I’ve only read three of her books so far so now I have . . . approximately 39 left to go!! Well, something to look forward to when I’ve finished the Persephone list. đŸ˜‰
Karen,
I’ve only read two! But I did enjoy them. I’m on a book buying ban again until my TBR pile diminishes a wee bit, but I’ll try to get them from my library. It’ll keep their borrowing numbers up anyway!
I have copies of both books and have visited Moffat a number of times. Not only is D E Stevenson’s grave there, but the house where she lived from during WWII till her death is there. On April 16, 2011 a plaque was put on the gate post of this house! That was the day when I was interviewed as part of the BBC report you saw on TV.
I don’t love the new DES books as much as those which were published during her life time, but they are still good books. But, I find them more interesting to study as part of her development as an author, since I have read her previously published books many times.
Jerri,
Thanks for the very interesting comment. You are well ahead of me I’ve only read a few of her books but intend to read as many as I can get. I suppose it was to be expected that the newly published books aren’t as good, given the fact that they were originally rejected, but as you say, they’ll be interesting anyway. I’ll get around to them eventually.
I’m planning on visiting Moffat within the next few months so I’ll track down the blue plaque as well as her grave. It seems quite amazing to me that you went there as DE S is hardly known here now, which is a shame.
best wishes,
Katrina