The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

254 Pages·2009·0.98 MB·English

by  Mary Ann Shaffer

Praise for The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
‘When was the last time you read a book that made you feel really good?
Actually elevated your mood, brought a smile to your face and make you feel
warm and hopeful and happy about the human race? If it’s been a while, turn
immediately now please to the curiously named The Guernsey Literary and
Potato Peel Pie Society … This is such a delightful novel it recently inspired
another reviewer to say she actually wanted to hug the book upon finishing it,
and it’s an understandable reaction.’
Sunday Telegraph
‘Readers beware—don’t even try to hold onto your heart, because it will be
swept away by this glorious new book … original, heart-warming, witty and
captivating [this] book had me mesmerised … The plot is creative, the characters
are life-like, eccentric and loveable and the language is sublime.’
Good Reading
‘… it subtly reminds readers that books change the way we feel.’
Sunday Tasmanian
‘… a cogent reminder of the terrible hardship that the people of occupied
Guernsey experienced. As a result of this, they [the characters] are gentle
towards each other; there is an abundance of kindness in this book and it is often
directed at strangers … an intelligent and delightful meditation on the joy of
books and reading, the importance of art and the wealth of personal strength
humans draw on in times of unbearable suffering.’
Sydney Morning Herald
‘… the publication of [Shaffer’s] novel … is a subject for rejoicing. The
Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is an astonishing achievement
…’
Australian Women’s Weekly
‘Where to start with this truly delightful book? … Guernsey is simply one of the
most enchanting books I’ve read … only the hardest of hearts would be left cold
by the sublime Miss Juliet Ashton … What makes this book so special is not just
the beautiful style of writing, nor even the gripping story and engaging
characters but the ability of Shaffer to make this world-weary young woman
believe again in honest friendships and great books.’
Courier Mail
The Guernsey
Literary and
Potato Peel Pie
Society
MARY ANN SHAFFER
& ANNIE BARROWS
First published in 2008 by The Dial Press in the United States.
First published in Australia and New Zealand by Allen & Unwin in 2008.
First published in Great Britain by Bloomsbury in 2008.
Copyright © Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows 2009
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval
system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. The Australian Copyright Act 1968 (the
Act) allows a maximum of one chapter or 10 per cent of this book, whichever is the greater, to be
photocopied by any educational institution for its educational purposes provided that the educational
institution (or body that administers it) has given a remuneration notice to Copyright Agency Limited
(CAL) under the Act.
Allen & Unwin
83 Alexander Street
Crows Nest NSW 2065
Australia
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.allenandunwin.com
Cataloguing-in-Publication details are available
from the National Library of Australia
www.librariesaustralia.nla.gov.au
ISBN 978 1 74175 895 5
Internal design by Tabitha King and Lisa White
Map by Ian Faulkner
Set in 11.5/15 pt Adobe Garamond Pro by Bookhouse, Sydney
Printed in Australia by McPherson’s Printing Group
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Lovingly dedicated to my mother,
Edna Fiery Morgan, and to my
dear friend, Julia Poppy
—Mary Ann Shaffer
And to my mother, Cynthia Fiery Barrows
—Annie Barrows
Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a first novel from 70-year-
old former librarian Mary Ann Shaffer. She first became interested in Guernsey
when visiting London in 1976. On a whim, Mary Ann decided to fly to Guernsey
but became stranded there as a heavy fog descended and no boats or planes were
permitted to leave the island. While waiting for the fog to clear, Mary Ann came
across a book called Jersey Under the Jack-Boot, and so her fascination with the
Channel Isles began.
Many years later, when goaded by her own book club to write a book, Mary
Ann naturally thought of Guernsey. She chose to write an epistolary novel
because, ‘for some bizarre reason, I thought it would be easier that way’. First
her family, then her writing group, and then publishers around the world greeted
her manuscript with avid enthusiasm, recognising a true gem.
Not long after the sale of her manuscript, Mary Ann’s health declined, and her
niece Annie Barrows—a successful author in her own right—undertook the edit.
Tragically, Mary Ann died early in 2008 without seeing her book in print, but
she has left the world an unforgettable legacy—the heartwarming, moving story
of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
Part One
Mr Sidney Stark, Publisher
Stephens & Stark Ltd
21 St James’s Place
London SW1
8th January 1946
Dear Sidney,
Susan Scott is a wonder. We sold over forty copies of the book, which was
very pleasant, but much more thrilling from my standpoint was the food. Susan
managed to get hold of ration coupons for icing sugar and real eggs for the
meringue. If all her literary luncheons are going to achieve these heights, I won’t
mind touring the country. Do you suppose that a lavish bonus could spur her on
to butter? Let’s try it—you may deduct the money from my royalties.
Now for my grim news. You asked me how work on my new book is
progressing. Sidney, it isn’t. English Foibles seemed so promising at first. After
all, one should be able to write reams about the Society to Protest Against the
Glorification of the English Bunny. I unearthed a photograph of the Vermin
Exterminators’ Trade Union, marching down an Oxford street with placards
screaming ‘Down with Beatrix Potter!’ But what is there to write about after a
caption? Nothing, that’s what.
I no longer want to write this book—my head and my heart just aren’t in it.
Dear as Izzy Bickerstaff is—and was—to me, I don’t want to write anything else
under that name. I don’t want to be considered a light-hearted journalist any
more. I do acknowledge that making readers laugh—or at least chuckle—during
the war was no mean feat, but I don’t want to do it any more. I can’t seem to
dredge up any sense of proportion or balance these days, and God knows one
can’t write humour without them.
In the meantime, I am very happy that Stephens & Stark is making money on
Izzy Bickerstaff Goes to War. It relieves my conscience over the debacle of my
Anne Brontë biography.
My thanks for everything and love,
Juliet
P.S. I am reading the collected correspondence of Mrs Montagu. Do you
know what that dismal woman wrote to Jane Carlyle? ‘My dear little Jane,
everyone is born with a vocation, and yours is to write charming little notes.’ I
hope Jane spat at her.
From Sidney to Juliet
Miss Juliet Ashton
23 Glebe Place
Chelsea
London SW3
10th January 1946
Dear Juliet,
Congratulations! Susan Scott said you took to the audience at the luncheon
like a drunkard to rum—and they to you—so please stop worrying about your
tour next week. I have no doubt of your success. Having witnessed your
electrifying performance of ‘The Shepherd Boy Sings in the Valley of
Humiliation’ eighteen years ago, I know you will have every listener coiled
around your little finger within moments. A hint: perhaps in this case you should
refrain from throwing the book at the audience afterwards.
Susan is looking forward to ushering you through book shops from Bath to
Yorkshire. And of course, Sophie is agitating for an extension of the tour into
Scotland. I’ve told her in my most infuriating older-brother manner that It
Remains To Be Seen. She misses you terribly, I know, but Stephens & Stark
must be impervious to such considerations.
I’ve just received Izzy’s sales figures from London and the Home Counties—
they are excellent. Again, congratulations!
Don’t fret about English Foibles; better that your enthusiasm should die now
than after six months spent writing about bunnies. The crass commercial
possibilities of the idea were attractive, but I agree that the topic would soon
grow horribly fey. Another subject—one you’ll like—will occur to you.
Dinner one evening before you go? Say when.
Love,
Sidney
P.S. You write charming little notes.