Enid Bagnold Criticism
Enid Bagnold (1889–1981) was a versatile English writer whose contributions as a dramatist, novelist, autobiographer, and poet provide significant insights into British life, particularly among the affluent and urbane. Her works often blend humor with serious undertones to examine complex themes. In her renowned play, The Chalk Garden, Bagnold depicts a young girl's painful journey toward truth, balancing humor with somber reflections, a style praised by Walter F. Kerr for its daring approach. Her later works, including her Autobiography, explore aging's mixed pleasures, noted by Nora Sayre for their energetic portrayal of her unconventional life.
A departure from her usual depiction of the upper class is seen in National Velvet, a novel that tells the story of a young butcher's daughter whose dream of winning a prestigious horse race comes true. This work is celebrated for its realistic portrayal of the British working class, capturing the essence of family life with unsentimental humor, as highlighted by Christopher Morley and Harriet Colby. Bagnold's keen observations and witty dialogue are trademarks of her writing, transcending the limits of her subject matter and earning her critical acclaim across multiple genres. Her storytelling ability is enhanced by her sharp eye for detail and her ability to capture the intricacies of human relationships, which enrich and elevate her narratives.
Contents
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New Novels: 'The Happy Foreigner'
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In the following essay, the critic commends Enid Bagnold's "The Happy Foreigner" for its successful juxtaposition of a delicate love story against the grim backdrop of war-torn landscapes, highlighting her descriptive prowess and empathetic portrayal of diverse postwar experiences, despite the occasionally frustrating fragmentary narrative style.
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A Hymn to Youth
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In the following essay, Katherine Mansfield praises Enid Bagnold's 'The Happy Foreigner' for its portrayal of a pioneering heroine, Fanny, who embodies resilience and an innate capacity for adventure, capturing the essence of a vibrant life unfettered by fear.
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The Happy Foreigner
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The critic acknowledges Enid Bagnold's The Happy Foreigner as ingeniously perceptive, highlighting a newfound sympathy in her depiction of American-French relations and presenting a convincing love story, thus marking a departure from the detestable qualities of her previous work.
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Books in General: 'National Velvet'
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In the following essay, Raymond Mortimer praises Enid Bagnold's novel National Velvet for its unsentimental and humorous portrayal of children and the English lower middle class, highlighting its broad appeal and literary merit despite its seemingly unappealing premise.
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A Girl and Her Horse: A Sudden, Lovely Book
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In the following essay, Harriet Colby argues that Enid Bagnold's "National Velvet" transcends fantasy through its matter-of-fact realism and vivid characterization, creating an enchanting yet grounded tale about a young girl's intense passion for horses and her audacious dream of entering the Grand National.
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Wishes Were Horses
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In the following essay, Christopher Morley extols Enid Bagnold's "National Velvet" for its enchanting portrayal of the Browns, highlighting the novel's vivid language, authentic dialogue, and its profound insight into the mind of childhood, suggesting it transcends mere charm to achieve the status of a masterpiece.
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A Light of Unusual Quality
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In the following essay, Jane Spence Southron praises Enid Bagnold's "National Velvet" as a novel rich in wit and life, characterizing it as a light, amusing escape literature that celebrates enduring human qualities amidst a backdrop of social and political upheaval.
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The Wartime Diary of Enid Bagnold
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In the following essay, Edith H. Walton commends Enid Bagnold's "A Diary Without Dates" for its unsentimental and realistic depiction of war, highlighting Bagnold's youthful sensitivity and impressive writing skills that capture both the tragic and comic aspects of hospital life during wartime.
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Book of Genesis
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In the following essay, Christopher Morley praises Enid Bagnold's "The Door of Life" as a candid and profound exploration of the feminine experience of childbirth, highlighting its humor, observational acuity, and the way it celebrates life amidst contemporary destruction.
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Rich Mystery of Birth
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In the following essay, Rosemary Benet praises Enid Bagnold's "The Door of Life" for its vibrant portrayal of a strong female protagonist and her lively children, drawing parallels to Colette in style and vigor, while highlighting the novel's feminist themes and its sensitive yet dynamic depiction of childbirth and motherhood.
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Some People and Places
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In the following essay, Leo Lerman examines Enid Bagnold's ability to portray a multifaceted world of high society, sportsmen, and ordinary people, suggesting that her nuanced depiction of these milieus in "The Loved and Envied" transcends mere storytelling to capture the decline of a once-vibrant community.
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Three Novels
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In the following essay, Anthony West critiques Bagnold's "The Loved and Envied" for its mature depiction of characters in their fifties, contrasting their emotional richness with the protagonist's isolation, while also noting a flaw in the novel's reliance on aristocratic snobbery that undermines its otherwise convincing narrative.
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New Novels: 'The Loved and Envied'
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In the following essay, Robert Kee critiques Enid Bagnold's "The Loved and Envied" for its poignant exploration of aging and the transience of life, but notes the novel's limitations in character depth and technical execution, which detract from its overall impact.
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Theater: 'The Chalk Garden'
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In the following essay, Walter F. Kerr praises Enid Bagnold's "The Chalk Garden" for its unique and daring approach, highlighting the play's elliptical communication style and its ability to reveal profound truths beneath its eccentric surface, despite its limited popular appeal.
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A Play with a Symbolic Garden
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In the following essay, Richard Watts, Jr. critiques "The Chalk Garden" by Enid Bagnold, arguing that while the play features intriguing characters and a promising comedic style, its reliance on symbolism ultimately hinders the narrative's vitality and engagement.
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The Theatre: Sparkling Cut Glass
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In the following essay, Brooks Atkinson argues that Enid Bagnold's play "The Chalk Garden" showcases her unique, eccentric style and wit, emphasizing her non-traditional storytelling and the clever, sparkling dialogue over the plot itself.
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The British Theatre: 'The Chalk Garden'
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In the following essay, Kenneth Tynan praises Enid Bagnold's The Chalk Garden as a masterful work of artificial comedy, likening its style to Ronald Firbank's writing and highlighting its witty, civilized critique on the necessity of rescuing youth from superficial, affluent lifestyles.
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'The Chinese Prime Minister' Bows In
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In the following essay, Walter Kerr praises Enid Bagnold's "The Chinese Prime Minister" for its unique blend of wit and brutality, emphasizing its uncivilized elegance and the purity of its inspiration, while acknowledging the play's unconventional structure and its exploration of aging with unsentimental insight.
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Theater: 'Chinese Prime Minister'
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In the following essay, Howard Taubman praises Enid Bagnold's "The Chinese Prime Minister" for its witty and mature exploration of old age, highlighting its sophisticated dialogue and subtle yet direct humor that offers a refreshing departure from conventional theater.
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Mid-Season Gleanings
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In the following essay, Robert Brustein critiques Enid Bagnold's play The Chinese Prime Minister for its lack of plot and focus, arguing that it fails to achieve the poetic depth and character development of her earlier work, The Chalk Garden, despite its well-crafted dialogue and thematic intentions.
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'Enid Bagnold's Autobiography'
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In the following essay, Nora Sayre praises Enid Bagnold's autobiography for its energetic portrayal of her unconventional life, marriage, and social milieu, while acknowledging how its opulence and frankness about privilege may provoke discomfort, yet ultimately enrich its historical value.
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'Gravity': A High for Katharine the Great
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In the following essay, Martin Gottfried critiques Enid Bagnold's play "A Matter of Gravity" for its intellectual finesse and wit, while noting its thematic confusion and lack of convincing stage action, ultimately appreciating its charm, wisdom, and the intricate language, despite finding its liberalism unconvincing and the play not of her greatest work.
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'A Matter of Gravity' Enshrines Hepburn
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In the following essay, Clive Barnes critiques Enid Bagnold's play "A Matter of Gravity," suggesting that while it offers intriguing characters and philosophical musings, the play ultimately lacks coherence and fails to convince due to its unlikely characters and overindulgence in stylistic flourishes.
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The Old Ladies Show Their Muddles
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In the following essay, Alan Rich critiques Enid Bagnold's play A Matter of Gravity for its lack of cohesion, pace, and meaningful dialogue, suggesting that it fails to deliver the depth and wit expected from a writer of Bagnold's caliber.