Setter, an eminent Harley Street consultant, is trusted and admired by his circle of friends, devoting himself to the rehabilitation of the lonely and the misunderstood. But deep within himself Setter recognizes a latent streak of sadistic cruelty which enables him to perceive the truth about a delinquent youth whom he suspects of having taken part in a particularly repellent and senseless crime. It is for Setter to choose a punishment—and enforce it. An Error of Judgement is a subtle study of human weakness and conflict. Partly a wry social comedy and partly a study in good and evil, it is brilliantly written and observed, assured and skillful, and a truly modern work.

An Error of Judgement (Capuchin Classics)

Literature & Fiction

Hansford-Johnson, Pamela

History & Criticism

Capuchin Classics

'As her work reappears, another missing jigsaw piece is replaced' Independent 
Described by the New York Times upon her death as 'one of Britain's best-known novelists', plunge yourself into the wry world of Pamela Hansford Johnson in this coming-of-marriageable-age story, perfect for fans of Elizabeth Jane Howard and Barbara Pym. ******************
It's between the wars, and Christine - Christie, to her friends - is tired of London, her job in a travel agency, her friends, and the young men she's being set up with. 
 So when, by chance, she meets the older Ned Skelton, who seems sophisticated and experienced, she quickly becomes besotted. Before Christie knows it, they are engaged. 
 But will marriage to a man she doesn't know well truly offer this young woman an escape? Or is she walking into another prison of her own making?
 A classic coming-of-age story set in the 1930s, by one of Britain's best-loved and almost-forgotten novelists.
'A story so vivid it might be the memoir of a real person' Britannia and Eve
******************
Praise for Pamela Hansford Johnson:
'Witty, satirical and deftly malicious' Anthony Burgess
'A remarkable craftswoman' A.S. Byatt
'Hansford Johnson at her wittiest is Waugh mingled with Malcolm Bradbury Ruth Rendell
'A writer whose memory fully deserves to be kept alive' Jonathan Coe

An Impossible Marriage: The Modern Classic

Classics

Hodder

'Striking first novel . . . qualities of vitality and humour which set it apart.' New York Times 
Described by the New York Times upon her death as 'one of Britain's best-known novelists', plunge yourself into the wry world of Pamela Hansford Johnson in this story of seduction and marriage, perfect for fans of Elizabeth Jane Howard and Barbara Pym. ******************
Sixteen-year-old Elsie Cotton is curious about sex, but in this 1930s London suburb, there's no one who is willing to talk to her about it. 
Her widowed mother refuses to engage with the fact she's growing up, her art teacher tells her she'll find out about it soon enough, and Patty Maginnis would probably know, but Elsie can't find a way to ask her. The only person who will happily help is her boyfriend, Roly; but Elsie is all to aware of the risks... but as their relationship intensifies and her curiosity grows, what options are left to her?
Banned from Battersea library, blasted by reviewers for being 'lewd' and earning the author abusive notes through the letterbox on its publication in 1935, This Bed Thy Centre is the controversial debut by Pamela Hansford Johnson that marked the start of her distinguished career. 
******************
Praise for Pamela Hansford Johnson:
'Witty, satirical and deftly malicious' Anthony Burgess
'A remarkable craftswoman' A.S. Byatt
'Hansford Johnson at her wittiest is Waugh mingled with Malcolm Bradbury Ruth Rendell
'A writer whose memory fully deserves to be kept alive' Jonathan Coe

This Bed Thy Centre: The Modern Classic

Humor & Satire

'A powerful tragedy' Independent 
Described by the New York Times upon her death as 'one of Britain's best-known novelists', plunge yourself into the wry world of Pamela Hansford Johnson in this story of seduction and marriage, perfect for fans of Elizabeth Jane Howard and Barbara Pym. ******************
Gavin and Hannah Eastwood are a happy couple, holidaying with their overprotected eleven-year-old son Giles in a beautiful village on the coast of Belgium. 
 Melissa is a student of Gavin's, also in the village, having followed Gavin there. A hopeless romantic living in a fantasy, she obsessively follows the family, going out of her way to bump into the couple repeatedly - soon becoming inescapable. 
 While Gavin pities her, Hannah finds her presence alarming; and while they're distracted by her appearances, they miss Giles secretly pursuing his own sinister friendship. . . 
'Teases your curiosity and plays on your sympathy' Kirkus
******************
Praise for Pamela Hansford Johnson:
'Witty, satirical and deftly malicious' Anthony Burgess
'A remarkable craftswoman' A.S. Byatt
'Hansford Johnson at her wittiest is Waugh mingled with Malcolm Bradbury Ruth Rendell
'A writer whose memory fully deserves to be kept alive' Jonathan Coe

The Holiday Friend: The Modern Classic

'Witty, satirical and deftly malicious' Anthony Burgess 
Described by the New York Times upon her death as 'one of Britain's best-known novelists', delve into the sparkling and satirical world of Pamela Hansford Johnson with this wickedly funny tragicomedy about a destitute English author living in Bruges. 
'A maliciously witty account of literary skulduggery and loft pretensions.' TLS ******************
Daniel Skipton is a literary genius - at least, that's what he'll tell you. 
A tortured artist living in Bruges on money donated by others (a distant relative, the daughter of his landlady, his exasperated, long-suffering publishers), he dreams of the time his talent will once again be truly appreciated and spends days working on his masterpiece. 
Between charitable bequests, he preys on tourists, accepting hospitality and tricking them into parting with their money; and when an Italian aristocrat arrives, he recognises an opportunity to earn even more. 
But is it time for the conman to be conned?
A wickedly funny novel, and one in which you will always find yourself on the side of the undeniably unspeakable Skipton.
'Very funny' Independent
'If this is not a great book, then I don't know what greatness is.' Edith Sitwell
******************
Praise for Pamela Hansford Johnson:
'Witty, satirical and deftly malicious' Anthony Burgess
'A remarkable craftswoman' A.S. Byatt
'Hansford Johnson at her wittiest is Waugh mingled with Malcolm Bradbury Ruth Rendell
'A writer whose memory fully deserves to be kept alive' Jonathan Coe

The Unspeakable Skipton: The Modern Classic

'A very cool and intelligent writer' TLS 
Described by the New York Times upon her death as 'one of Britain's best-known novelists', plunge yourself into the wry world of Pamela Hansford Johnson in this story of seduction and marriage, perfect for fans of Elizabeth Jane Howard and Barbara Pym. ******************
Christine Hall, a mother in her late thirties, is on holiday on the south coast of England when she bumps into an old friend: Celia Baird, staying with her parents at the Moray hotel. Celia - eccentric, impulsive - is one of tangled group of friends who have Christine at their core. There's architect Eric Aveling (who happens to be having an affair with Celia); his wife, terminally ill Lois; and Junius Evans, Eric's business partner.
 When death affects a shift in the dynamics of the group, none of them expect the final outcome. 
 Duty, guilt, secrecy, loneliness: the hidden side of marriage is uncovered as choices are thrust upon the characters.
******************
Praise for Pamela Hansford Johnson:
'Witty, satirical and deftly malicious' Anthony Burgess
'A remarkable craftswoman' A.S. Byatt
'Hansford Johnson at her wittiest is Waugh mingled with Malcolm Bradbury Ruth Rendell
'A writer whose memory fully deserves to be kept alive' Jonathan Coe

The Last Resort: The Modern Classic

Daniel Skipton is a Pioneer in Art. He’s also a rogue who hasn’t done an honest day’s work in his life. Instead, he bullies support out of aging relatives he’s never met and harangues his publisher for advances on non-existent projects. The world owes Skipton a living, but it doesn’t want to pay up. Outraged by life and choked with anger, our self-proclaimed literary genius lives by his wits in the Belgian city of Bruges. Along with a pack of disreputable alliesamong them, Wouvermans the antiques dealer” and Mimi the performance artist”he swindles a group of naïve English tourists into unwittingly supporting his meager lifestyle. As Ruth Rendell makes clear in her introduction, The Unspeakable Skipton is a wickedly funny sketch of the artist at his worst.

Unspeakable Skipton (Prion Humour Classics)

Prion

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Books by Hansford-Johnson, Pamela