Naomi Mitchison in Campbletown 1997 on the occasion of her 100th birthday
(1897 – 2000)
| Selected reading list Note: We felt that Putting a complete list of Naomi’s work on line would not necessarily be helpful and the following suggestions are made to enable the reader to get an overall feel for her work. We normally stock some of these titles and in the unlikely event of being sold out can track them down for you. General fiction: Lobsters on the Agenda (House of Lochar 1997) Travel Light (Virago 1985) Science Fiction: Not by Bread Alone (M. Boyars 1983) Solution Three (Feminist press 1995) Short Stories:Beyond This Limit (Scottish Academic press 1986) Historical Fiction: Blood of the Martyrs (Canongate Publishing 1988) Early in Orcadia (House of Lochar 2000) The Bull Calves (Virago 1997) The Oath Takers (Balnain books 1991) Sea Green Ribbons (Balnain books 1991) Other publications: For those interested in learning more about Naomi’s remarkable life. ‘Naomi Mitchison a Biography’ by Jill Benton is a well researched work that includes some fascinating insights. Published by Pandora in 1990 these are usually available on the out of print market for between £8 – £15. | Naomi Mitchison, considered by some to be one of Scotland’s literary greats, lived with her husband Dick on their estate in Carradale, Kintyre. 14 miles north of Campbeltown on the eastern side of the peninsula.Locally Naomi was regarded with affection and throughout her long life she played a major part in the activities of the community. She has written over 80 novels and whilst very few of these are still in print her experiences in Scotland and in Africa, her unconventional lifestlye, and her brand of socialism have all left their mark on her work.She brought up five children creating and practising a philosophy of open sexual option within a committed marriage. She was at the centre of London’s intellectual and political life during the 1920’s and ’30’s and enjoyed (sometimes stormy) friendship relationships with Aldous and Julian Huxley, Lewis Gielgud, Wyndham Lewis, W. H. Auden and many others. After her death many rare first editions from these and other authors were auctioned from her remarkable collection which included one of the first copies (from the first 200) of ‘The Seven Pillars of Wisdom’ fetching over £20,000.Many of her own novels were ‘women’s quest’ novels in Historical, political or Science Fiction settings although she always denied being a feminist. She also wrote plays, and poems as well as being a prolific letter writer. |