Tears Before Bedtime

Barbara Skeltons autobiography is a must for anyone interested in the generation of English writers born between 1900-20 - including Evelyn Waugh, Anthony Powell, Graham Greene, Cyril Connolly et al. Skelton is the model for the femme fatale Pamela Widmerpool in Anthony Powells's 'A Dance To The Music of Time' and lived with the distinguished critic Connolly for many years. She was acquainted with most of the leading figures of inter-war English letters, many of whom she slept with. A striking looking woman with a sharp tongue and a malicious wit, her character found early expression when, aged six a policeman had to be called to quell a Skelton street tantrum. Skip the childhood passages of 'Tears Before Bedtime' and get straight into the marvellously funny gossip !