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 26th 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.
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| Ailish D'Arcy with John Baird |
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| 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.
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| Prior's grave |
In Search of James Prior is available from Five Leaves
Bookshop and The Bookcase in Lowdham, priced £7.
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| Bingham finally pays tribute to Prior |
