In Search of James Prior

In the new publication from Spokesman Books, In Search of James Prior, Ailish D’Arcy has rediscovered one of the great Nottinghamshire writers, 100 years after his death.

In this study, James Prior emerges as an accomplished poet and novelist with a body of work that has been neglected for too long, a man who made a contribution to the study of Notts dialect that is unsurpassed.

On Saturday 26^th November 2022, Bingham erected its first ever blue plaques. Prior’s two Bingham homes, on Fisher Lane and The Banks, now proudly mark where he lived and wrote his great novels between 1891 and 1922.

There’s also an exhibition inside Bingham Library.

In the course of her research Ailish has discovered Prior’s remarkable contribution to the recording of dialects. Her journey began after attending an Inspire course on Nottinghamshire’s literary locations at West Bridgford Library, a course that is being repeated in January 2023.

Ailish D'Arcy with John Baird

Publisher Tony Simpson reading from Forest Folk

It was on Mapperley Road near the centre of Nottingham that Prior was born. His first major novel, Renie, opens in Bingham (Bawton), and the local connections keep coming.

Ripple and Flood features Caythorpe and Hoveringham (both renamed) in a story about Prior’s beloved river, the “smug and silver Trent”.

Forest Folk is set around the Blidworth countryside during an eventful period of history that covers the Napoleonic Wars and Luddite riots.

Hyssop, his weakest book, is set in Burton Joyce.

A Walking Gentleman, which includes a ramble that passes through Notts, is the story of a gentleman who decamped on the eve of his wedding, making escape from the “madding crowd” and encountering many strange adventures on the way.

Fortuna Chance features Sherwood Forest.

Prior's grave

In Search of James Prior is available from Five Leaves Bookshop and The Bookcase in Lowdham, priced £7.

Bingham finally pays tribute to Prior