A Glass of Blessings
Encyclopedia
A Glass of Blessings is a novel by Barbara Pym
, first published in 1958. The title is taken from the poem The Pulley by George Herbert
.
. The admirer is in fact her close friend's husband. Wilmet fails to realise that Piers is gay
until she becomes aware of his relationship with Keith, a lower-class young man.
The subject of homosexuality is not infrequent in Pym's work, but it is usually referred to in oblique and subtle ways. This novel is surprisingly frank about the subject, especially for a comedy of manners published in 1958. The reader can reach no conclusion other than that Piers and Keith live together in a romantic relationship. Her remarkable portrait of Keith, though it takes up just a few pages, reveals a multi-faceted archetypal character who is instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with contemporary gay life.
Barbara Pym
Barbara Mary Crampton Pym was an English novelist. In 1977 her career was revived when two prominent writers, Lord David Cecil and Philip Larkin, nominated her as the most underrated writer of the century...
, first published in 1958. The title is taken from the poem The Pulley by George Herbert
George Herbert
George Herbert was a Welsh born English poet, orator and Anglican priest.Being born into an artistic and wealthy family, he received a good education that led to his holding prominent positions at Cambridge University and Parliament. As a student at Trinity College, Cambridge, Herbert excelled in...
.
Plot summary
The central character and narrator, Wilmet Forsyth, is a married woman with a comfortable though routine life. She does not need to work and enjoys a life of leisure. When not lunching or shopping she occupies her time, somewhat guiltily, with occasional "good works", particularly at the instigation of her slightly eccentric do-gooder mother-in-law. She becomes drawn into the social life of her church, St. Luke's. After a church service one day she renews her acquaintance with a close friend's attractive but ne'er-do-well brother, Piers Longridge. She develops a romantic interest in Piers, and begins to believe that he is her secret admirerSecret admirer
A secret admirer is an individual who feels adoration, fondness or love for another person without disclosing their identity to that person. The admirer may often send gifts or love letters to their crush. A secret admirer is usually benign...
. The admirer is in fact her close friend's husband. Wilmet fails to realise that Piers is gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
until she becomes aware of his relationship with Keith, a lower-class young man.
The subject of homosexuality is not infrequent in Pym's work, but it is usually referred to in oblique and subtle ways. This novel is surprisingly frank about the subject, especially for a comedy of manners published in 1958. The reader can reach no conclusion other than that Piers and Keith live together in a romantic relationship. Her remarkable portrait of Keith, though it takes up just a few pages, reveals a multi-faceted archetypal character who is instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with contemporary gay life.
Further reading
- Orna Raz - Social Dimensions in the Novels of Barbara Pym, 1949-1962: the Writer as Hidden Observer (2007)