Quartet in Autumn

Quartet in Autumn was the seventh novel by British writer and editor Barbara Pym to be published, appearing in 1977. Highly praised and shortlisted for the Booker Prize, its rather sombre theme contrasted with the light comedy of her earlier novels, dealing as it does with four office workers on the verge of retirement. The book was considered a comeback novel for Pym, who had fallen out of favour as styles changed and a more contemporary storyline was expected, in consequence of which her work had been rejected by publishers for 15 years.