The Clear Stream
1 journaler for this copy...
The course has finished, but I found this second hand online to read.
I read most of Holtby's novels before moving on to biographies, and I am glad I have approached the subject in this order, although I wish I'd read this book earlier (the course I'd been taking now finished). This is a good biography, and there is benefit to someone not emotionally involved writing such a book as to get a more impartial look at someone's life. From what I understand, the Testament of Friendship by Vera Brittain is Vera's biased view (well, obviously) and perhaps not always the strictest of truths.
I also liked the fact that this wasn't written in a strict chronological order. Instead each chapter focuses on a particular and important person in Winifred's life, and goes through that relationship. Obviously other people are mentioned in each account, so each chapter builds on the other. This focus helps appreciate each person, and your mind, instead the facts and relationships getting lost in a strict "and then this happened, and then that happened..." It isn't hard to follow, as there are plenty of dates and references to what else was going on mentioned, and Winifred Holtby only lived for 37 years, so there's not that much time to be covered. The plan is also relevant to Winifred's own take on her life, refering to herself as a Clear Stream that others are reflected in. She was defined by and defined herself by the people she knew and worked with. So in the chapters the book looks at her mother, Alice Holtby, Vera Brittain, Harry Pearson, Jean McWilliam, Margaret Rhondda, South Africa and William Ballinger, Gordon - Vera's husband, Virginia Woolf, and finally Winifred herself and her illness and death.
I suppose Vera Brittain is a very important feature, what with them having lived together, even after Vera's marriage, and having this intense co dependency. Now, no one is perfect and no friendship is perfect, but having read this, I can't say I found this friendship healthy. Really, they should not have lived together, especially after Vera married. Winifred was taken for granted and put upon for practical and emotional support (which she willingly did) by both husband and wife. There's an arrogance on Vera's part that because Winifred didn't marry, she ought to take part in Vera's joy. Rather condescending. There is something uncomfortably needy and high maintanance about Vera. Which makes me wonder if they'd both had their own space and had to be a bit more independent of one another, would they have been better people? Who knows, and who am I to criticise? And maybe this book takes a more negative look at Vera and I am being swayed by it. But I am in no desperate rush to read Vera's own work at the moment. There's a quote Shaw put in by Vera that really encapsulates what I mean:
"None of her (ie Winifred's) books published in her lifetime had sold remarkably, so she helped mine to sell magnificently. The only man whom she really loved failed her, so she identified herself with my married happiness. Her burdons were great and intolerable, so she shouldered mine which were often trivial. When she learned tht she must never have children, she shared in the care of ours" (p 285)
Wow, get over yourself Vera. On the other hand we must give Vera some thanks. Without her, South Riding may never have been published, and that book is amazing - certainly the triumph of Winifred's literary work.
There's also much about her political work, journalism, opinions on feminism, pacifism, workers' rights, South Africa... oh, I just think she would have been a fascinating person to sit down and have a conversation with. So sad she died so young - it makes me wonder what more wonderful books we would have now, had she lived longer.
I also liked the fact that this wasn't written in a strict chronological order. Instead each chapter focuses on a particular and important person in Winifred's life, and goes through that relationship. Obviously other people are mentioned in each account, so each chapter builds on the other. This focus helps appreciate each person, and your mind, instead the facts and relationships getting lost in a strict "and then this happened, and then that happened..." It isn't hard to follow, as there are plenty of dates and references to what else was going on mentioned, and Winifred Holtby only lived for 37 years, so there's not that much time to be covered. The plan is also relevant to Winifred's own take on her life, refering to herself as a Clear Stream that others are reflected in. She was defined by and defined herself by the people she knew and worked with. So in the chapters the book looks at her mother, Alice Holtby, Vera Brittain, Harry Pearson, Jean McWilliam, Margaret Rhondda, South Africa and William Ballinger, Gordon - Vera's husband, Virginia Woolf, and finally Winifred herself and her illness and death.
I suppose Vera Brittain is a very important feature, what with them having lived together, even after Vera's marriage, and having this intense co dependency. Now, no one is perfect and no friendship is perfect, but having read this, I can't say I found this friendship healthy. Really, they should not have lived together, especially after Vera married. Winifred was taken for granted and put upon for practical and emotional support (which she willingly did) by both husband and wife. There's an arrogance on Vera's part that because Winifred didn't marry, she ought to take part in Vera's joy. Rather condescending. There is something uncomfortably needy and high maintanance about Vera. Which makes me wonder if they'd both had their own space and had to be a bit more independent of one another, would they have been better people? Who knows, and who am I to criticise? And maybe this book takes a more negative look at Vera and I am being swayed by it. But I am in no desperate rush to read Vera's own work at the moment. There's a quote Shaw put in by Vera that really encapsulates what I mean:
"None of her (ie Winifred's) books published in her lifetime had sold remarkably, so she helped mine to sell magnificently. The only man whom she really loved failed her, so she identified herself with my married happiness. Her burdons were great and intolerable, so she shouldered mine which were often trivial. When she learned tht she must never have children, she shared in the care of ours" (p 285)
Wow, get over yourself Vera. On the other hand we must give Vera some thanks. Without her, South Riding may never have been published, and that book is amazing - certainly the triumph of Winifred's literary work.
There's also much about her political work, journalism, opinions on feminism, pacifism, workers' rights, South Africa... oh, I just think she would have been a fascinating person to sit down and have a conversation with. So sad she died so young - it makes me wonder what more wonderful books we would have now, had she lived longer.
