Edith Courtney

[sandmaster]

I have searched for a biography of Edith Courtney without success. My question is did she come from, or have a connection with, Swansea?

[Buenchico]

Which Edith Courtney?

If you're referring to the D'Oyly Carte Opera singer, in the Victorian era, I've not got a clue.

But if you're referring to the author of 'My Feet Are Killing Me' and 'A Mouse Ran Up My Nightie' then I can fairly confidently say that there's a link to Swansea. The British Library catalogue shows 'A Mouse Ran Up My Nightie' categorised under 'Swansea, Wales -- Social life and customs':
http://tinyurl.com/oghslm

The Alibris book sales site refers to 'My Feet Are Killing Me' as the 'third instalment of the author's memoirs and tales from her life in Swansea, through the second world war'
http://tinyurl.com/qscf5a

For those, and other books by Edith Courtney, at really cheap prices, take a look at what's on offer on AbeBooks:
http://tinyurl.com/pa5dbw

Chris

[sandmaster]

Many thanks Chris. I've carried out some investigation today and confirmed that indeed she did live in Swansea, but I have yet to find out if she was born there and how long she lived there. The reason I asked was I have bought a first edition of Fares Please and inside the front cover is inscribed
To the Swansea & district writers circle. From your founder and first secretary Edith Courtney'.
But I did not know if it was genuine. It will now have a treasured place in my library.

[Buenchico]

Thanks for the reply.

You seem to have the second book of EC's autobiographical works. If you want to learn about her origins, you should get hold of a copy of 'A Mouse Ran Up My Nightie'. (Use my Abebooks link, above).

Source for the content of this post:
http://www.angelfire.com/weird2/grader1/

Chris

[sandmaster]

Thanks Chris. I will certainly search for that.