tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010980.post4684448023438019736..comments2024-03-22T21:55:42.651+00:00Comments on Elizabeth Baines: The history of The Birth MachineElizabeth Baineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17193751871434773972noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010980.post-57605574977389646662010-12-06T12:21:33.071+00:002010-12-06T12:21:33.071+00:00Yes, Jane, it does raise enormously interesting an...Yes, Jane, it does raise enormously interesting and important issues about gender and creativity, and the purpose of fiction.<br /><br />And yes, Archie is certainly greatly missed...Elizabeth Baineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17193751871434773972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010980.post-47135769899239173822010-12-06T12:13:28.593+00:002010-12-06T12:13:28.593+00:00Elizabeth, what an amazing story. But it brings ba...Elizabeth, what an amazing story. But it brings back all sorts of echoes for me. I can remember hearing about one of the feminist presses publishing a book written by a man, and I can remember thinking how fascinating and bizarre it was that they reacted so hotly to the discovery: I can't remember if it was the WP anthology or the Virago book mentioned here, but at the time I thought the reaction was such a missed opportunity to explore the issudes of gender and creativity. <br /><br />And oh! Archie Markham! I took my MA in writing at Sheffield Hallam where he was professor, and course leader: I was lucky enough to be tutored by him for some time. He was an incredibly gifted, generous and insightful man and I miss him every day.Jane Smithhttp://howpublishingreallyworks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010980.post-54037750079298839012010-12-06T10:16:59.804+00:002010-12-06T10:16:59.804+00:00Yup, Julia: I had small sons who were welcome at w...Yup, Julia: I had small sons who were welcome at women's group meetings until suddenly the eldest reached his 10th birthday. He was so very hurt - and I was really worried that it would make him anti-women. It didn't, but I do think that if I'd handled it differently, or maybe if he hadn't been such a bright child, it could have done...Elizabeth Baineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17193751871434773972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010980.post-69932823588005739372010-12-06T10:12:11.899+00:002010-12-06T10:12:11.899+00:00Back in the day, when I was travelling, I went to ...Back in the day, when I was travelling, I went to visit some women I met in France. They wouldn't let my companions, a lovely male friend and his male dog in the house, purely because of their gender. They had to sit outside while I went in and had tea and cake (I said he was lovely). That's how crazy it was back then. It's great to hear that your book is being re-released.Julia Crouchhttp://www.juliacrouch.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010980.post-26885966913505836412010-11-22T09:46:20.855+00:002010-11-22T09:46:20.855+00:00Koala: I hope you find it interesting!Koala: I hope you find it interesting!Elizabeth Baineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17193751871434773972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010980.post-56835285881926640022010-11-22T03:36:28.084+00:002010-11-22T03:36:28.084+00:00Interesting story of a novel! I'm going to ha...Interesting story of a novel! I'm going to have to look it up, as I'm quite interested in birth experiences and how women are treated by doctors/hospitals during birth.Bonnie Way aka the Koala Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11601183003333359031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010980.post-20933742290937601272010-10-31T13:56:47.465+00:002010-10-31T13:56:47.465+00:00Thank you, Nicola!Thank you, Nicola!Elizabeth Baineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17193751871434773972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010980.post-291300068878769602010-10-31T13:50:15.146+00:002010-10-31T13:50:15.146+00:00Wow! Like Tania and others, I'm speechless. We...Wow! Like Tania and others, I'm speechless. Well done, thank you and very good luck.Nicola Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189894289540344094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010980.post-23696476692584099412010-07-06T08:22:51.693+01:002010-07-06T08:22:51.693+01:00Erin, I am delighted - and very much hope you do p...Erin, I am delighted - and very much hope you do publish, as your dissertation sounds extremely interesting!Elizabeth Baineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17193751871434773972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010980.post-58159198407918444522010-07-05T22:18:01.910+01:002010-07-05T22:18:01.910+01:00Elizabeth - wanted to let you know I am studying y...Elizabeth - wanted to let you know I am studying your book for my PhD dissertation (on birth narratives and monstrosity). I hope to publish and get your work a bit more press in the academic echelons! Thank you for a fascinating, relevant read!erinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010980.post-7797700593619117802010-03-25T11:30:24.682+00:002010-03-25T11:30:24.682+00:00Yes, he told me that he wrote as blonde white woma...Yes, he told me that he wrote as blonde white woman - because he couldn't get his piece published as a black man! It was both a literary hoax, and a serious point about racism, but it did cut across the women-only space issue. He was making the serious point about trusting the tale and not the teller/the life of the author, something that's rather gone by the board in these days of celebrity culture!Elizabeth Baineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17193751871434773972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010980.post-51821477505236763952010-03-25T11:20:06.775+00:002010-03-25T11:20:06.775+00:00Ah I think it was the vicar. Btw it's great to...Ah I think it was the vicar. Btw it's great to hear of someone who likes EA Markham - I loved his Tindal Street trilogy (see my review on GR: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6192750-three-suitors-of-fred-belair-the<br /><br />I didn't know he wrote as a woman.<br />Best, AlanAlan Beardhttp://www.alanbeard.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010980.post-2776352284647341982010-03-23T18:11:47.483+00:002010-03-23T18:11:47.483+00:00Thanks, Ailsa!Thanks, Ailsa!Elizabeth Baineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17193751871434773972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010980.post-22675646927079920042010-03-23T16:53:52.360+00:002010-03-23T16:53:52.360+00:00Add my voice to the chorus - can't wait to rea...Add my voice to the chorus - can't wait to read TBM again.Ailsa Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12616886179109245777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010980.post-82051882075818899052010-03-22T11:47:15.777+00:002010-03-22T11:47:15.777+00:00Never exposed, I meant.Never exposed, I meant.Elizabeth Baineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17193751871434773972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010980.post-54696815256071293512010-03-22T11:45:55.222+00:002010-03-22T11:45:55.222+00:00Thank you, Alan.
Was it this story, or the one co...Thank you, Alan.<br /><br />Was it this story, or the one concerning Virago you knew about? Very soon after, one of Virago's published novels turned out to have been written by a male vicar: that did hit the headlines, and the book was pulped. I have to say that other male writers have told me since that they did the same thing - not least the great late EA Markham - but most were ever exposed. I think it's a question of what you think literature is and what it's for... Well, I won't write an essay on that now, as I have a novel to get going on...Elizabeth Baineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17193751871434773972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010980.post-10424164863840073852010-03-22T11:30:33.591+00:002010-03-22T11:30:33.591+00:00very strange story. I remember the furore over the...very strange story. I remember the furore over the man-posing-as-a-woman writing a story. I must say at that time I was for the women's press, thought it was scandalous that a man should do such a thing. I was so politically correct. Now I realise this rigidity of outlook is self defeating.<br />Anyway congrats on getting it re-released in the proper version. I'll look out for it.<br />AlanAlan Beardhttp://www.alanbeard.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010980.post-88816124405636853782010-03-22T10:51:29.538+00:002010-03-22T10:51:29.538+00:00Thank you, Sue. Yes, you're right, there was, ...Thank you, Sue. Yes, you're right, there was, ironcally, a lot of pain involved for some in the women's movement!Elizabeth Baineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17193751871434773972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010980.post-73075026254483514612010-03-22T10:25:40.127+00:002010-03-22T10:25:40.127+00:00Maybe there is some good in the fact that I find t...Maybe there is some good in the fact that I find this absolutely unbelievable and outrageous. I have always identified myself with the feminist movement, since way back in the 70's. But I have also seen how the politics can undermine all the good work they mean to do,not to mention the pain that women, in the name of politics and the movement, can and have inflicted on each other. Bravo to you for persevering with this book and your others in the face of this. And Bravo to Salt for realizing the time is right to give TBM the airing it clearly deserves. I'm thrilled for you.Sue Guineyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13556228394020314560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010980.post-87510188312604049932010-03-21T19:55:12.146+00:002010-03-21T19:55:12.146+00:00Congratulations, Elizabeth. Looking forward to hea...Congratulations, Elizabeth. Looking forward to hearing more about <i>The Birth Machine</i> and seeing it on the shelves.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07747839768257543728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010980.post-23003147901003973662010-03-21T17:58:56.882+00:002010-03-21T17:58:56.882+00:00Thanks, Barbara. And yes, many ironies.Thanks, Barbara. And yes, many ironies.Elizabeth Baineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17193751871434773972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010980.post-13678143035564680382010-03-21T15:59:35.859+00:002010-03-21T15:59:35.859+00:00What a fascinating insight into the background of ...What a fascinating insight into the background of your first novel. A shame that it got hijacked by a political agenda, which had nothing to do with its literary merits; and which by all accounts made you out to be a scapegoat for something which really was irrelevant.<br /><br />Your story reminds me of a friend whose husband was a recovering alcoholic: when she wanted to go away all her husband's female relatives held her accountable for her husband's behaviour, whilst she was away! Women are unbelieveably hard on their own kind sometimes, and for what?<br /><br />Lovely to hear that your own writing story has such a wonderful outcome now; and yes I see the irony too.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06280161801824435219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010980.post-78926275083933436322010-03-20T22:50:35.706+00:002010-03-20T22:50:35.706+00:00Thank you, Suzanne!Thank you, Suzanne!Elizabeth Baineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17193751871434773972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010980.post-17673150332000224662010-03-20T19:42:57.778+00:002010-03-20T19:42:57.778+00:00What an extraordinary story! Congratulations on ha...What an extraordinary story! Congratulations on having your novel reissued. Looking forward to reading it.Suzanne Morrisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13314056116072096236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33010980.post-46920468571061653112010-03-20T08:22:45.387+00:002010-03-20T08:22:45.387+00:00Thank you, Kate!Thank you, Kate!Elizabeth Baineshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17193751871434773972noreply@blogger.com