Top 10 Watch List

We have a topic of the top Virago on our wishlist, but does anyone else here have a list (mental or written) of VMCs you keep your eyes out for when you go out hunting? I’m not the only one, right? :) They might not be the most expensive or the most rare, but you just haven’t found them yet and want to read them. Of course, it applies to any and all, but there are the special ones you are hoping for.

So, share your list of ten. If, at one of my second-hand book haunts, I come across a great deal on a VMC I already own but is listed here by someone else, I’ll be sure to buy it and give anyone who has it as a top 10 first refusal before offering it on the duplicates thread. Or, if I come across a deal during a search on Abe or Alibris, I'll pass it on. Plus, I’m just curious as to which books you all are scouting!

Sarah Grand, The Beth Book*
Stevie Smith, Novel on Yellow Paper**
Mary Lavin, Mary O'Grady
Ellen Glasgow, Virginia (touchstones hopeless)****
Naomi Mitchison, The Corn King and the Spring Queen***
Barbara Comyns, Sisters by a River*****
Enid Bagnold, The Squire
Sylvia Ashton-Warner, Spinster
Sylvia Townsend Warner, Summer Will Show
Nell Dunn, Poor Cow
Dorothy Hewett, Bobbin Up

*Thanks to Cariola for The Beth Book.
**Thanks to Christiguc for Novel on Yellow Paper.
***Ordered a copy from Amazon.
****Thanks to FleurFisher for Virginia.
*****Thanks to Christiguc for Sisters By a River.

>1 christiguc:, christiguc that is a great idea.

Here's my top 10 (in no particular order):

1. I Capture The Castle, Dodie Smith
2. Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont, Elizabeth Taylor
3. New York Mosiac, Isabel Bolton
4. The Eye of Love, Margery Sharp
5. The Little Company, Eleanor Dark
6. The Solitary Summer, Elizabeth von Arnim
7. Three Weeks, Elinor Glyn
8. Novel on Yellow Wallpaper, Charlotte Perkins Gilman
9. Luminious Isle, Eliot Bliss
10. One Fine Day, Molly Panter-Downes

fabrile-heart, do you mean The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman or Novel on Yellow Paper by Stevie Smith?

Hm. . . I thought I had posted mine yesterday after the initial message.

Curious, if true by Elizabeth Gaskell
The Corner that Held Them by Sylvia Townsend Warner
No Place on Earth by Christa Wolf
Fenny by Lettice Cooper
A Note in Music by Rosamond Lehmann
The Robber Bridegroom by Eudora Welty
The Orchid House by Phyllis Shand Allfrey
Miss Herbert by Christina Stead
Her Son's Wife by Dorothy Canfield
Spinster by Sylvia Ashton-Warner

>3 woollenstuff:,5 When I initially put up the list, I originally made a typo, calling Stevie Smith's Novel on Yellow Paper the Novel on Yellow Wallpaper. So, Louise, if you printed it out with the typo, I'm sorry!

Edited because Rob's generosity allows me to change an entry. Thank you, Rob!!
Edited to say: Thank you, Jane!! You are wonderful.
Edited to say: Thank you, Andrew, for your generousity!!
Edited to say: Once again, Andrew, thank you so much!!
Edited to say: Thank you, Tracy! Bobbin Up looks excellent!
Edited to say: Trish, thank you for the F. Tennyson Jesse!!

Christina: I believe there's a copy of Rebecca West's The Judge sitting on the shelf of the book shop two blocks from my house. It's a black Dial VMC, but if you would like it, I can be your purchasing agent!

> doh! I am going to blame my uselessness on the early hour! I meant The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Sorry folks.

>8 andrewspong:

I am obviously having a melt down - the message above is from me, but our computer was logged in as diamat :)

>7 rbhardy3rd: Rob, I have left you a private message.

>9 woollenstuff: Louise, this sounds like a morning where you need to curl up with a nice book for a couple of hours!

>10 christiguc:, Christina that is an excellent plan, and seeing as the postman has just delivered my VMC edition of The Crowded Street I think I shall be out of harm's way for the rest of the day!

In no particular order and subject to change without notice :-)

The squire by Enid Bagnold

The semi-attached couple & The semi-detached house by Emily Eden coming from christiguc Thanks Christina!

Loving Without Tears by Molly Keane (M. J. Farrell)

Her son's wife by Dorothy Canfield

Crowded Street by Winnifred Holtby

None turn back by Storm Jameson

Cotters' England by Christina Stead

The shutter of snow by Emily Holmes Coleman

The Brontes went to Woolworths by Rachel Ferguson

Christine, a search for Christine Granville by Madeleine Masson

In alphabetical order - just to be different!

A Saturday Life by Radclyffe Hall
A Touch of Mistletoe by Barbara Comyns
Love by Elizabeth von Arnim
Palladian by Elizabeth Taylor
Peking Picnic by Ann Bridge
Salem Chapel by Margaret Oliphant
Spinster by Sylvia Ashton-Warner
Summer Will Show by Sylvia Townsend Warner
The Knight of Cheerful Countenance by Molly Keane
Zoe by Geraldine Jewsbury

sqdancer - I have a duplicate of Her Son's Wife by DOrothy Canfield which I have posted on the duplicate thread but I will hold on to it for the time being until you post next.

Liable to change but at the moment top of my wish list are..
Cullum- E. Arnot Robertson
Open the Door- Catherine Carswell
Any of Ivy Compton- Burnett's
Miss Mole- E.H Young
The Misses Mallett- E.H Young
Celia- E.H Young
Charm for the Easy Life- Kaye Gibbons
Land of Green Ginger- Winifred Holtby
Pilgrimage 1, 2, 3 & 4 - Dorothy Richardson

See my revised list below.

I've been keeping track of your lists when I check out what's available on the swap sites. On Friday I will be making a trek to the big used book store in Hagerstown; unfortunately, their "All Books $1" branch, where I made many fabulous finds, is closing, but the regular store will remain. I found quite a few VMCs there last time, most of them reasonably priced and in good condition. I'm pretty sure I remember the following books on the shelves last time:

Soupdragon: The Fountain Overflows
FleurFisher: A Saturday Life
christiguc: A Note in Music

I will be sure to take all of your lists with me, just in case!

What am I going to do??? I don't have a wish list.....:-((

>18 aluvalibri: Why, you make a wishlist, aluvalibri!!! Or, rest assured, that if the books are on sale for a great bargain, I (and I'm sure others) will buy them anyways and offer them on the duplicates thread after giving anyone with it in top 10 first refusal. :) You'll just have to be quick and keep a vigilant eye on the duplicates thread.

I sympathize aluvalibri.

There are too many viragos I don't have for me to mark out any especially, however I just got my little Virago booklet (thank you Soupdragon and thank you Jody for offering) and the author list is quite helpful.

A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains by Isabella Bird
Travel Light by Naomi Mitchison
My Brilliant Career Miles Franklin
At Mrs. Lippincote's Elizabeth Taylor
Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont Elizabeth Taylor
Miss Mole by E.H. Young thank you Patricia
The Constant Nymph by Margaret Kennedy Thank you Rob!
A Woman of Independent Means by Elizabeth Forsythe Halley Thank you christiguc

Are all titles that have piqued my interest. However, what I like best about Virago is that I have yet to be disappointed in any of their titles I've read.

Edited to update generous finds and new interests.

Thank you Cariola, but please don't buy The Fountain Overflows on my account as I have just found it on Amazon.co.uk's Marketplace for one penny plus postage! You don't always know quite what you're getting on Amazon Marketplace but this one mentions a green spine which is always a good sign!

Thank you very much for the thought. I don't know how to cross items off messages so will probably just delete it!

#21 Sounds like you got a real bargain!

Maren: There's a black (Dial Press/Virago) copy of The Constant Nymph at the book shop down the street from me. If you're interested, let me know and I can pick it up for you.

Well here's what I will be watching for (now that I've gone through that EBay win and checked them off of christiguc's handy dandy list she provided)(and not in any particular order):

1. My Mortal Enemy by Willa Cather
2. The Robber Bridegroom by Eudora Welty
3. My Antonia by Willa Cather
4. Tell Me a Riddle by Tillie Olsen
5. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
6. Delta Wedding by Eudora Welty
7. The Corn King and the Spring Queen by Naomi Mitchison
8. Old New York by Edith Wharton
9. Who Was Changed and Who Was Dead by Barbara Comyns
10. The Infernal World of Branwell Bronte by Daphne du Maurier
11. A View of the Harbour by Elizabeth Taylor
12. My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin

FleurFisher, I just got a copy of Love in the box my friend sent, and I have another copy, different cover (Pantheon edition), coming from a BookMooch member. If and when it arrives, I'll be happy to mail it on to you, if you'd like it.

Cariola, thank you so much for such a kind offer.

I have just checked prices though, and Love seems to be available in the UK for less than it would cost you to send across the Atlantic.

So maybe it's one for you to pass on to an American Virago lover?

My updated top ten:

Miss Mole by E.H. Young
Mr. Fortune's Maggot by Sylvia Townsend Warner
The World My Wilderness by Rose Macauley
The Corn King and the Spring Queen by Naomi Mitchison
They Tied a Label on My Coat by Hilda Hollingsworth
I capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Pirates At Play by Violet Trefusis
The Camomile by Catherine MacFarlane Cresswell
Red Pottage by Mary Cholmondeley
The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim

Well, I'm back from my trip to the big used bookstore. I found two wonderful Viragos for myself: The Mother's Recompense by Edith Wharton and Maurice Guest by Henry Handel Richardson.

And I found one for tiffin: Women Against Men by Storm Jameson. If you leave your address in a private message on my profile page, I'll get it out to you next week.

Sorry, I found nothing else from your lists. But I did make a list of what was available. If any of these interest you, let me know. I can't promise anything, because I probably won't be going back for about two weeks, although their inventory doesn't seem to move too quickly. All are green cover Viragos unless otherwise noted; a few are Dial Press editions.

A Game of Hide and Seek by Elizabeth Taylor
A View from the Harbor by Elizabeth Taylor--2 copies, one pricier than the other
All Passion Spent by Vita Sackville-West--2 copies
No Signposts in the Sea by Vita Sackville-West
Seducers in Ecuador & The Heir by Vita Sackville-West
Open the Door! by Catherine Carswell
The Golden Arrow by Mary Webb
The Beth Book by Sarah Grand--black Dial Press, a little pricier ($5)
The Land of Spices by Kate O'Brien
The Rising Tide by Molly Keane--2 copies
The Rector's Daughter by F. M. Mayor--2 copies
The Ladies of Lyndon by Margaret Kennedy
Together and Apart by Margaret Kennedy
Troy Chimneys by Margaret Kennedy
The Willow Cabin by Pamela Frankau
The Semi-attached Couple and the Semi-detached House by Emily Eden--2 copies, $5; I believe one was a black Dial Press edition.

Soupdragon, they had The Judge in a nice trade paperback edition (Carroll & Graf) for $5.

That's it! I'm going to post my finds.

(Now where did all those nice touchstones go?)

Thank you, Cariola! Scuttling off to leave a pm on your thread.

#23 Thank you Rob! I would love to have it. Let me know how much it is and I will mail you some money for it.

Cariola, I'm very tempted but I have really spent too much money on books already this month! Thanks for thinking of me.

Cariola, I'd be happy to purchase The Beth Book and A Game of Hide & Seek if these are still there when you return!

#33 Surprise! I actually have The Beth Book. I forgot that I went ahead and picked that one up, knowing it was hard to find and pretty sure someone would want it. I wish I could have picked them ALL up, but at $2.50-5.00 each, I couldn't afford to do so.

BUT--looking up the list, I see that I missed Rob's, simply because it was a short paragraph rather than a list, and his #1 Most Wanted is The Beth Book. Mea culpa to you both. Rob, would you be interested in this Dial Press edition?

Then indeed, The Beth Book must go to our dear gentlemen! Without a doubt.

Any of you in the UK looking for Novel on Yellow Paper, there is a cheap copy on eBay. If you're in the US and are willing to pay the selling price plus over $9 shipping, the seller will ship here as well.

Oh, thank you. Having said I'm not buying any more books this month, I am now speeding off to have a look!

Some of you who swap on PBS may want to hustle on over there. Right now there are a number of desirable Viragos posted--and they always go quickly.

Also, someone just put me on to Better World Books, an online used book seller that sends books worldwide (cheaply!). I saw Bobbin Up, A Saturday Life, frost in May, The Professor's House and others there. The descriptions are a bit sketchy, but the woman who told me about it says even those marked "acceptable" have been OK.

FleurFisher I happened into an extra copy of Salem Chapel today fairly good condition and lovely green spine. I thought I'd offer to send it to you first because it is on your wishlist. Let me know.

Maren, thank you so much for thinking of me - I would love Salem Chapel!

Cariola (#38), I have been buying books from BetterWorld for a while. As a matter of fact, I was the one who started a thread here on LT when BetterWorld was just at the beginning, and relatively unknown.
I must say that their prices were much better before, even though they still have the free shipping if you are in the US. If you live abroad, they charge for shipping, and I have heard a few people who have not been very happy with their service.
I cannot complain. I have bought several books from them, including a good number of Virago.
Upon reading your comment, I just went to take a look, and saw a few desirable ones, which I recommend. They are Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont, which might be the very first Virago edition since it is from the early '80s and which is offered for an excellent price! All the copies I happen to see around (Ebay etc.) are rather expensive, so, whoever is interested, go there and get it!
Two other excellent ones are Cindie by Jean Devanny, and Bobbin up by Dorothy Hewett.
Happy hunting!!
:-))

Oh Good. Fleur leave me your address on my profile and I will send it out tomorrow.

Sorry I haven't been around lately. I was away at my wife's 25th college reunion at Oberlin (also my alma mater). I would love The Beth Book, Cariola, if you haven't already given up on me!:)

>41 aluvalibri: Miss P, firstly I have you to thank for my introduction to BWB, and secondly for flagging up Elizabeth Taylor's Mrs Palfrey. at the Claremont - which I have just purchased :)

I have just been reading Robert Liddell's Ivy and Elizabeth which anyone who enjoys Elizabeth Taylor and/or Ivy Compton Burnett will certainly enjoy...

Hope you all have had a great bank holiday?

Rob, it being a holiday weekend, I was waiting for you to respond. Yes, The Beth Book is yours. Just leave your address in a private message on my profile page.

#41 How is the quality from Better World? I'm always a bit wary when there are generic comments on condition, e.g., "may have some writing or underlining or cover creasing," all of which I don't want. It doesn't look like there's much difference in how they describe "good" and "acceptable."

Cindie is available on PBS right now. Also three "Marys"--Mary Olivier, Mary O'Grady, and Mary Lavelle. And:

Seducers in Ecuador and Other Stories
On the Side of the Angels
The Weather in the Streets
The Gentlewomen
The Land of Spices
The Curate's Wife
The Getting of Wisdom
Gone to Earth

Plus a few Beacon Travellers and Pantheon Pioneers.

The quality is good, Cariola.
For example, I purchased a book of stories by Henry James a while ago, which was labeled as 'acceptable'. It turned out it was very good!
I have never found their books to be in bad conditions, but then, again, one never knows!

Don't they put stickers on the spine, or am I thinking of another bookseller?

* superceded by new post *

#49 There were two very reasonably priced copies of All Passion Spent at my "best" bookstore. I'll pick one up for you next time I stop in if they are still there; I won't be going back for a week or two.

Yes, Marise, they put stickers on the spine, alas!
Sometimes they come off, others it is better to leave them alone.

Oh, Cariola! I should have taken people's lists with me, but I didn't expect to find any Viragos over reunion weekend. But then I did see, and failed to purchase, a green Virago of the Aphra Behn you would like. If you want to contact the bookstore, it's Mindfair Books, 13 W. College St., Oberlin, OH 44074. The phone number is (440) 774-5711 They don't appear to have a website, but you could probably contact them and arrange to have them send the book. It cost about $3.75 I'm so sorry I didn't realize at the time that I should have grabbed it for you!

Oh, thank you, Rob! I will definitely contact them. That's one I've especially been looking for as I teach Early Modern lit and have never seen it anywhere.

>50 Cariola: Cariola, that's very nice of you! Just let me know if you happen to find a copy next time ...

#54 - thanks again for all the work along with christiguc. I didn't know or realise that Nadine Gordimer's The Lying Days was a Virago originally. It has been one of my best ever reads and I would love to own a Virago copy of it!!

As I am relatively 'new' I don't have too many firm wishes yet!

I just updated my Top 10 list and thought I'd "bump" this thread so that other members can update, or add a list, accordingly.

Thanks, lindsacl. I needed the reminder.

Sadly, my list remains the same. Still haven't come across any of the 10 listed above.

I was inspired by this group to go on the hunt for The Brontes Went to Woolworth's. So far no luck, but I'll keep trying. I'd also be happy to swap a book from my library with somebody who has a copy to offer!

Imprinted, that might be a bit difficult (the swapping part, that is). I, for one, would not part with my copy, and I don't think many people would, to be quite honest.
Just yesterday I was on Abebooks, and the cheapest copy I saw was about 50 dollars.
I wish you a stroke of luck and someone selling it without knowing how much it usually goes for.
:-))

2. 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
3.The Collected Stories of Katherine Anne Porter
4.Remember, Remember! The Selected Stories of Winifred Holtby

Update:
2. Bought from Amazon
3. Gift from Andy. Thank you.
4. Would still like this one.

This is my top 1 list at the moment. In fact anything by Holtby would be good.

Next weekend Lifeline are running a three day book fair in my area. I plan to attend on Friday and Sunday (have been waiting for this since March:-))
It is a very good fair and I can usually find some Viragos at a very good price - so if any of list members would like to update their wants list I will take them along and see what I can find.

That's so nice of you, mrspenny.

Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont by Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor
Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner
The Crowded Street by Winifred Holtby
The Land of Green Ginger by Winifred Holtby
The Salzburg Tales by Christina Stead
Who was Changed and Who was Dead by Barbara Comyns

I would love to find/acquire these:

Frost in May, The Lost Traveller The Sugar House Purchased

Virginia or any other novel by Ellen Glasgow
ETA: I now have a copy of Barren Ground
Jenny Wren
Chatterton Square
Mrs. Miniver
A Stricken Field Received from the very generous mrspenny. Thank you so.
Diary of a Provincial Lady Received this one today. Thank you, Paola dear, you sneaky thing!

NEW LIST AT No. 115 below!

#65 - I found a copy of Frost in May at the book fair - so if you leave me your mailing details on my profile page - I will send it off to you.

I will post other finds on the duplicate strand.

Elizabeth and her German Garden was my first VMC and is still my favourite. Maybe this is just a sentimental attachment, I don't know. It sounds as though I should be looking for the two with 'Woolworths' in the title, among many others, though I don't know if that's just coincidental.

OOh, would you look at that---talk about timing. I just dropped in to update my list, because I won 5 Antonia White Viragos on e-Bay last night. And there you are, Patricia, offering me Frost in May. Thank you ever so much, but surely someone else will snap that up. When these books arrive, I will have a duplicate of Beyond the Glass, so I'll be offering that to whoever may want it.

Congrats on your Antonia White treasure trove, Ltwm3rd! Haven't checked ebay for sometime. Must change that.

#68 congratulations on your e-Bay win of White.. I don't think Frost in May will be homeless for long..

Shoving this thread up, up, up. I have a library book sale coming up soon, and though I've never yet come across a Virago "in the wild", so to speak, I want to have the lists handy just in case.

Good hunting!

Since joining the group I've made an order to Amazon (still on the way) and mooched a few books at Book Mooch but it would be lovely if any of you come across my top 10 list and are willing to send it halfway around the world.

* any book by Storm Jameson
Two Serious Ladies - by Jane Bowles
*****South Riding - Winifred Holtby
Seven for a Secret - Mary Webb
* * The Edwardians - Vita Sackville-West
****The Lacquer Lady - F. Tennyson Jesse
The Doves of Venus - Olivia Manning
An Angel at my Table - Janet Frame
***The Summerhouse Trilogy - Alice Thomas Ellis
Fenny - Lettice Cooper

* Storm Parade courtesy of Rob (Thanks!).
** bought at Abe books
***The Summerhouse Trilogy (Penguin edition. From bookmooch)
****from my Secret Santa
*****from Abe books

Tuppy,
Let's start from the top: the bookstore around the corner from my house has a green Virago copy of Storm Jameson's Company Parade sitting on the shelf, eager to march off to the Philippines. I would be happy to pick it up and send it to you in return for a postcard from your exotic locale! If you're interested, please leave your mailing address as a private message on my profile.

Rob - that would be wonderful! I'll PM you my address soon.

*bump* I've just edited my list above. Does anyone else need to do that, hmmmm? In case of sneaky Santas or anything?

Tuppy,

I don't have The Summerhouse Trilogy but I do have The 27th Kingdom and Fairy Tale by Alice Thomas Ellis if those would do as substitutes.

Urania - Sorry, I forgot to edit my post. I managed to mooch The Summerhouse Trilogy (Penguin edition) at bookmooch last month. Haven't read it yet though.
Fairy Tale looks interesting...I'd love to have it if you don't mind sending it so far away. Thanks so much.

#78 No problem. Just PM your address to me. I thought I had listed it in my address book, but I guess I hadn't. Any takers for the 27th Kingdom?

I just edited my list (No. 65 above) again, thanks to Paola, who sent me a very nice copy of The Diary of a Provincial Lady.

It is so funny, Linda! I did not even think of checking your wishlist, but I just made sure you did not have it (and you did not).
:-))

My current top titles to look out for (I have bought two of the original list):

Emily Hilda Young: Miss Mole
The Misses Mallett
Chatterton Square
Barbara Comyns: Sisters by a river
Mary Norton: The bread and butter stories
Lettice Cooper: Fenny
Pamela Frankau: A wreath for the enemy
Grace Metalious: Peyton Place

Note (in case you don't want to send too far): I'm in the UK.

*Thanks so much to christiguc for a lovely copy of Miss Mole, which arrived today!
*Thanks to mrspenny for sending The Misses Mallett from Australia
*Picked up Chatterton Square on recent visit to Scotland - a musty but welcome hardback copy

>81 aluvalibri: So, you're incredibly intuitive, as well as generous and loveable!

**blushes**

Here's my list of 10 I'm always hunting for...

Dangerous Calm by Elizabeth Taylor
Twilight Sleep by Edith Wharton
The Golden Spur by Dawn Powell
Trooper to the Southern Cross by Angela Thirkell
The Flint Anchor by Sylvia Townsend Warner
Saraband by Eliot Bliss
The Rebecca Notebook and other Memories by Daphne Du Maurier
George Beneath a Paper Moon by Nina Bawden
Clash by Ellen Wilkinson
A Sea-Grape Tree by Rosamund Lehmann

The Song of The Lark at the present as I am not getting on at all with the Gutenberg download! I think I may get a Sony reader - I *think* it is a bit like a kindle from what friends across the pond have been saying. Granted - some of you may think this sacriligeous of me - but hey there are so many wonderful books out there - some otherwise quite inaccessible - ready for downloading.

I will still be your friend Julie. We can be scandalous together - you with your Sony and me with my Kindle.

Oh do let us be outrageously scandalous. Malheureusement, time for being scandalous is a little limited at the moment.
Good news, if a little late to the party, The Song of The Lark is ready to be freed from the library cage so that I may join in with the singing.

Finally getting around to posting a top ten list...

Fraulein Schmidt and Mr Anstruther by Elizabeth von Arnim
Vera by Elizabeth von Arnim
The Solitary Summer by Elizabeth von Arnim
In a Summer Season by Elizabeth Taylor
At Mrs. Lippincote's by Elizabeth Taylor
Mrs Miniver by Jan Struther
All Passion Spent by Vita Sackville-West
Hunt the Slipper by Violet Trefusis
Winter Sonata Dorothy Edwards
The Tortoise and the Hare Elizabeth Jenkins
and an original green cover edition of Our Spoons Came from Woolworths would be lovely!

There are two book fairs to be held soon in my local area so will keep a lookout for our precious "green spines" and grab any that I can..the first one is next weekend and it is a first time book fair so quality unknown..

The second fair is on 27/8/9 March and usually has some very good treasures lurking therein!!

Please do, Patricia!!!!! I would be overjoyed if you could find me a copy of Illyrian Spring! (and others I don't have, of course)

> 91 Paola - unfortunately I didn't find a copy of Illyrian Spring but did find others - it was a lucky treasure hunt and I found the following which are on wishlists:

> 15 - The Misses Mallett by E.H.Young;

> 15, 20 & 27 - Miss Mole by E H Young; Only one copy!!

> 65 - A Stricken Field - Martha Gellhorn;

> 86 - Chatterton Square - E.H. Young.

All of these copies are in the original green spine editions and are in good/ very good condition.

Are they still wanted?

The remaining titles I have posted on the duplicate copies thread.

mrspenny: I've just found chatterton square myself but I wonder if I could have A Stricken Field by Martha Gellhorn? only if you don't mind?

#15 and 92,Mrs Penny, You are truly wonderful!

I would love The Misses Mallett. I will leave the copy of Miss Mole for 20 or 27, but Chatterton Square would find an extremely welcoming home with me...

E.T.A Do you have a wishlist yourself, Mrs Penny? I know you have the full VMC collection but wonder if there's anything else we could look out for, on your behalf?

Pat, thanks for looking for it!!!! Sooner or later, I will manage to find a copy.
:-))

#92
I would enjoy Miss Mole, but aviddiva (27) but I am very busy the next couple of months so it only seems fair that it go to you -unless you want to refuse or found a stack of copies of Miss Mole at the local Habedashers.

Maren, I would love Miss Mole, but I won't be reading it any time soon, either, so if you want it, you should have it -- you had the first reply. I will search the local haberdashers for another copy.

I've just noticed that Parmaviolet in msg 82 also has The Misses Mallet and Chatterton Square on her wishlist. Shall we take one each, Parmaviolet? I don't mind which...

#93 - charlottestar - if you would like to check with laytonwoman3rd as she has it on her wish list and I am happy to send it to either library if you let me know...

#82 - sorry, Parmaviolet - I completely missed your watch list (at the computer too long that day!!) if you would like one of the titles (as per Soupdragon's suggestion) just leave your details on my profile page.

Oh, snoozing here, and late to the party. I would never try to jump the queue. First come first served is the rule, in my book. So please, send Charlotte the Gellhorn. Another copy will turn up, I'm sure. And that'll teach me to let 2 or 3 days pass without checking this thread!

My (current) watch list:

Lolly Willowes or the Loving Huntsman by Sylvia Townsend Warner
Poor Cow by Nell Dunn
The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Arnim
She Done Him Wrong by Mae West
Olivia by Olivia
My Mortal Enemy by Willa Cather (the Klimt cover)
Love by Elizabeth Von Arnim
A Model Childhood by Christa Wolf
The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West
The Wedding by Dorothy West
The Ante-Room by Kate O'Brien
Anything else by Elizabeth Von Arnim
Any green Margaret Atwoods
The Aloe by Katherine Mansfield
The Camomile by Catherine MacFarlane Carswell
Any green Barbara Comyns that I don't already have.
The Way Things Are by E. M. Delafield.

edited: with thanks to parmaviolet and cmt.

Sorry mrspenny, I am afraid all our courtesy is not very helpful to you. I will be decisive then- I would love Miss Mole but I will take myself out of contention for any other books you've found lately so as to let others share your generosity.

Thank you aviddiva, I will keep watching for it at my habedashers as well. My address this autumn so I will leave you a message with it as well.

I'm going to take myself out of the running for A Stricken Field because I have so many to read atm so go for it laytonwoman3rd. It is on your wishlist :) x

OK, Charlotte. I owe you one. Thanks so much.

> 104 - I will get it on its way on Monday.

I have PMed parmaviolet about this thread!

mrspenny,

As parmaviolet doesn't seem to be around at the moment, I wonder if you could send me Chatterton Square and save The Misses Mallett for parmaviolet?

I will PM you my details as I don't know if you still have them.

Many, many thanks!

mrspenny,

Haven't been around for a while! If you still have The Misses Mallett I would love it. I will PM you my details in case it's still available. Thank you!

Soupdragon,

Thank you for noticing I wanted this too - sorry I wasn't around to reply earlier!

I found a copy of Elizabeth von Arnim's The enchanted April today in a charity shop. Used, but in pretty good condition; it has a photo from the film on the cover. I've already got my own copy, so this is available - the only list I can see it on at present is:

101 - bunnyb

Would you like it, bunnyb? If so, send me your details in a private message on my profile and I'll send it off.

Ooh thank you parmaviolet!

Oops

You're welcome, bunnyb - will send it soon.

The book arrived yesterday, parmaviolet - thank you!

Did a total update of my watch list in #24. There are some good ones on EBay right now, with free shipping (at least to Canada) from the UK on several.

I've edited mine, too, (No. 65 above) but since I've knocked so many off, I thought I ought to come up with a new one entire. So here it is as of now:

Mrs. Miniver
Chatterton Square
Virginia by Ellen Glasgow
South Riding by Winifred Holtby
Rebecca
Elizabeth and Her German Garden
At Mrs. Lippincote's
Lolly Willowes

I edited my list: #101

#1
---by G.B. Stern ~ Mosaic (Why the Touchstones won't work now, I couldn't say. I just found it when I posted on "Current Virago")Shining and Free, and The Young Matriarch O.K. I think these don't exist as Viragos.
#2
ANYTHING by Winifred Holtby except Poor Caroline and South Riding
#3 Testament of Friendship by Vera Brittain
#4 A Pin to See the Peep Show by F. Tennyson Jesse

My great thanks to Barbara who has set me up with Antonia White and to Patricia who started my passion for Margaret Laurence!

(Edited to show priorities and new must-have's)

I've updated my list (#27).

aluva/paola, I don't see your wishlist here...am I looking right at it and missing it?

No, Tui, I have not a Virago wishlist. All the Viragos I own are catalogued here, under the "Virago" tag. My 'ideal' wishlist includes all those I do not have yet.
Perhaps I should compile one........

Yes, do! I don't find green spines in these parts very often but I would hate to miss one you want.

There are a few in my Amazon wishlist (button on my profile page), but please also doublecheck those I already have, since sometimes I forget to update the Amazon list. And thanks for the lovely thought!
:-))

Oh, I need to update my list when I get home!

Reading over the above threads did give me a chuckle--sort of like a British TV skit over who can be the most gracious. Maybe we all read too many Viragos!

I'm hoping to get to a HUGE booksale this weekend. If I am able to make it there, I will be taking these lists along. Wish me luck! :)

So here is my updated Most Wanted list:

Deborah by Esther Kreitzman
As Once in May by Antonia White
Fraulein Schmidt and Mr. Anstruther by Elizabeth van Arnim
The Hearing Trumpet by Leonora Carrington
A Wreath of Roses by Elizabeth Taylor
Pirates at Play by Violet Trefusis
Painted Clay by Capel Boake
The House in Dormer Forest by Mary Webb
Pillion Riders by Elizabeth Taylor
A Dedicated Man and Other Stories by Elizabeth Taylor

The following are ones I would love to find but, alas, it is not easy! They are not in order of preference.

1. A Suppressed Cry by Victoria Glendinning
2. An Angel at My Table by Janet Frame
3. Good Daughters by Mary Hocking
4. Illyrian Spring by Ann Bridge
5. The Hearing Trumpet by Leonora Carrington
6. Keynotes & Discords by George Egerton
7. The Adventures of Elizabeth in Rugen by Elizabeth von Arnim

I would especially like n.4 and 5 and, of course, the older they are the better.
Do not go crazy on my behalf, please! I just posted the list because I had never done it before and upon Tui's request.
:-))

I've updated my list (#101) to take into account recent finds and because I remembered how much I love Margaret Atwood's books and how I would quite like some green copies!

I've updated mine too (#85) because of lots of fabulous finds recently. :)

I plan to go to my local used bookstore tomorrow--haven't been in about four months. Hopefully they will have accumulated a few goodies!

>129 Cariola: My list is current if you are looking for some ideas. . . ;)

Oh, yes, I just printed out the revised wish lists!

Deborah, please remove #3, 4, and 7 from mine, because I got them in the meantime (and now I will edit my list).
:-))

132> Done!

And I now edited it and added a last one (sorry for the inconvenience).
:-))

I discovered a new 2nd hand bookshop on Friday and the proprietor was very helpful in finding VMC's on the shelves so I did find some on the watch list..

> 85 - charlottestar - there is a duplicate copy of Love letters between a nobleman and his sister in VMC edition if it is still on your watch list..(very good condition)..

>101 bunnyb: - bunnyb - are you still looking for green editions of Margaret Atwood's works? I have a duplicate copy of Dancing Girls in the original VMC edition and in reasonably good condition if you would like it -

Other duplicate copies on the duplicate copies strand..

Oh yes please, mrspenny! The Atwoods were a recent addition to my wishlist as I realised they would make a welcome addition to my collection thus far.

bunnyb - leave your mailing details on my profile page and I will get it away to you next week.

Yes please mrspenny! Thank you very much! Love Letters...by Aphra Behn is on my wishlist and I would love to claim it! :)

>138 charlottestar: charlottestar - just leave your mailing details on my profile page and I will send it off by the end of the week.

I just re-edited my list (see #126).

Just reporting back that I did not make it to my local shop on Saturday. I went over today, but apparently they are closed on Sunday AND Monday. I'll get there some time later this week--with all of your lists in hand.

Atta girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:-)))))

>141 Cariola: Good luck hunting!!

I've just updated my list because of a newly acquired gift today! :)

No luck with your lists or mine at the local shop--but I will be posting two Margaret Kennedys on the Duplicates thread.

Later this week I will try to get to Wonder Books in Hagrestown.

>130 christiguc: - Christina -do you still have A Pin to see the Peep Show on your wanted list? I have a duplicate copy if you are interested.

Yes, I do! And yes, I am very interested if you would be so kind!! Thank you, dear Trish! :)

> OK - will send it on its way on Monday.

By the way, I will have to add to my wishlist again two books that were mailed at the end of April and NEVER arrived :-((
They are:

Aurora Floyd by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
and
Christopher and Columbus by Elizabeth von Arnim

Amazon is listing availability of a small number of used copies of The Brontes Went to Woolworth's for under $20, and says Bloomsbury Group will issue a reprint next March.

148> How sad! I never take a book off my list until it's in my hot little hands, for that very reason. And if I end up with two, I know there will be someone here happy to take my duplicate!

Yes, Deborah, it is sad indeed!
A huge library sale is coming up not far from where I live, and I already plan to get my hands on ALL the Viragos I find (beside approximately a ton of other books, obviously). It is one of my greatest joys to be able to send them to those among us who do not have them yet.

I know just what you mean, Paola. In my last two trips to used book stores, I found nothing for myself, but it was almost as exciting to find some VMCs to offer here.

> 125 - Deborah - is Painted Clay still on your most wanted list? I have a duplicate copy (found yesterday) if you are interested.

Yes! It is still on my list, and I would love to have it. I just responded to your offer of another duplicate on the other thread, before I saw this message, so if I am being too piggish, just pass that one on to someone else.

> Deborah - I'm happy to send both and will get them on their way early next week..

Thank you SO much, Patricia!

I have edited my list #101 to take into account a recent find and generosity from cmt. I have also added a couple more titles for which I am on the watch.

The ones I am always looking out for, but am yet to find :( in most wanted order are:

1. Illyrian Spring by Ann Bridge
2. The Semi-Attached Couple and the Semi-Detached House by Emily Eden
3. The Rector's Daughter by F M Mayor
4. Young Entry by M J Farrell
5. Olivia by Olivia
6. South Riding by Winifred Holtby
7. Red Pottage by Mary Cholmondeley
8. The Three Brontes by May Sinclair (or The Three Sisters, not sure what it goes by)
9. Jenny Wren by E H Young
10. Her Son's Wife by Dorothy Canfield

I'm quite lucky in that I live in London, and I am frequently seeing plenty of Viragos in charity shops etc, but usually not ones I fancy reading, so now I've joined this group I'll be sure to snap any up that I see in the surety that there will be someone who is after them!

I have been looking for Leonora Carrington's books for some time.

P.S. Am I still a member of this group even though I've been playing hooky with the people over at Club Read?

I think we can forgive you, Mary, and give you a hearty "WELCOME BACK"!
;-))

You're so sweet Paola.

By the by,
Robbie is recovering nicely from his surgery. We're waiting for the full path report now.

That is WONDERFUL news!!!! Give him a hug for me, will you?

Paola,

I will. Robbie loves hugs from you!!!!

:-))

#2 rob,

I have a NYRB copy of Summer Will Show if you can bring yourself to read a non-Virago.

#165 Lovely. I have to confess that I've been reading more NYRBs this year than Viragos. So I would be most grateful, and promise not to read it bitterly or piecemeal. :-)

Rob,

It is yours. Pop by my profile page and drop off your address. I think I have it on a back-up drive somewhere; however, I did a clean install of my computer a couple of months ago, so it is no longer on my computer address book and I have yet migrate (usage?) the old addresses over.

If anyone finds a spare copy of Mary Cholmondeley's Red Pottage, or Rhoda Broughton's Belinda, please keep me in mind. I would love to get my hands on a copy of either.

I wondered where you had been Mary. Welcome back!

#101 I edited my wish-list.

Hi all. I am just now making up my top-ten wanted list:
1. Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont.
2. The Song of the Lark
3 The Summer House Trilogy
4. Mrs. Miniver
5. In a Summer Season
6. Sisters by a River
7. 84 Charing Cross Road
8. The Benefactress
9. Fraulein Schmidt and Mr Anstruther
10. Mr. Skeffington
thank you,
belva

I would love to replace the following with VMC editions:

1. Spinster - Sylvia Ashton-Warner
2. A Compass Error - Sybille Bedford
3. The Way of an Eagle - Ethel M. Dell
4. Her Son's Wife - Dorothy Canfield Fisher
5. The Yellow Wallpaper - Charlotte Perkins Gilman
6. The Sheik - E. M. Hull
7. A Pin to See the Peepshow - F. Tennyson Jesse
8. The Ballad and the Source - Rosamond Lehmann
9. The Echoing Grove - Rosamond Lehmann
10. In a Summer Season - Elizabeth Taylor

And I, dear Andrew, would love your cast offs.
belva

I've overhauled my watchlist and deleted my previous post (#49). A dozen delights to die for:

By Elizabeth Taylor:
Palladian
Blaming

By Vita Sackville-West:
The Edwardians
Seducers in Ecuador and the Heir

by Edith Wharton
Old New York
Ghost Stories
Hudson River Bracketed

by Willa Cather
My Antonia
O Pioneers!
The Song of the Lark
Lucy Gayheart

by Katherine Susannah Prichard
The Roaring Nineties
Winged Seeds

Laura - I am fairly sure that there was a copy of The Song of The Lark on Awesome books dot co.uk ... are you after a green delight or simply a copy I wonder?

Laura there is a green The Edwardians on PBS as I speak. Of course, knowing PBS, it may be neither green nor Virago...

>175 juliette07:: Julie, you may be right; I was researching these books just yesterday. But I spent a bit at Awesomebooks this morning and, as I'd already ordered another non-VMC from The Book Depository, I felt I'd reached a practical limit.

>176 romain:: Thanks a lot! I've rolled the PBS dice & ordered it. I must not have had it on my PBS wishlist, silly me.