Bainbridge, Beryl (1933–)

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Bainbridge, Beryl (1933–)

British novelist. Born Beryl Margaret Bainbridge, Nov 21, 1933, in Liverpool, England; dau. of Richard Bainbridge (salesman) and Winifred Baines Bainbridge; m. Austin Davies (painter), 1954 (div. 1959).

Focused on working-class life in post-WWII Liverpool where she grew up; writings include A Weekend with Claud (1967), Another Part of the Wood (1968), Harriet Said (1972), The Secret Glass (1973), Sweet William (1975), the autobiographical A Quiet Life (1976), Injury Time (1977), Winter Garden (1980), English Journey, or, The Road to Milton Keynes (1984), Watson's Apology (1984), (short stories) Mum and Mr. Armitage (1985), Filthy Lucre, or, The Tragedy of Ernest Ledwhistle and Richard Soleway (1986), Forever England (1987), The Birthday Boys (1995), Every Man for Himself(1996), and According to Queenie (2001). The Dressmaker (1973), The Bottle Factory Outing (1974), and An Awfully Big Adventure (1989) were all shortlisted for the Booker Prize.

See also Elizabeth Wenno, Ironic Formula in the Novels of Beryl Bainbridge (Acta Universitatis Gothoburgensis, 1993).

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