Molly Keane's 1981 Diary

Things happen to me in October - 10 years ago, I was married in October - in another October a successful play opened in London - In a black October, my husband died. 

In October 1981, at seven o’clock in the evening, I’m sitting at home in Ardmore, drink in hand. The sea-light fills the windows, the fire burns, dinner simmers - Friend and Publisher, Diana Athill, partner of André Deutsch, sits opposite with her tapestry work, and a drink, naturally - the telephone rings - a call from London - It is André Deutsch. 

‘Oh André - you want to speak to Diana?’

‘No, I want to speak with you. First, sit down.’ I obey, ready for disaster…

‘You’ve been short-listed for the Booker Prize.’

I’m in London, staying with my younger daughter, Virginia and my son-in-law, Kevin Brownlow. Three things bring me here: another lavish party André is giving for the book, at the famous Garrick Club; then the fateful Booker-McConnell Dinner - then, a very black reason - Virginia is to have a major operation later in the month. Well - on with the dance. 

It’s autumn on Haverstock Hill. Fallen leaves from cherry trees and plastic offal rustle and scrape together on the pavements - a frail old gentleman passes by, leading a stout long-haired dachshund - the old gentleman’s blue winter overcoat leaves a faint trail of camphor on the air, more positive than himself. Winter is heaven. 

‘And, what are you going to wear for the parties?’ My children say to me in a doubtful suggestive way. ‘I shall buy some gold shoes,’ I answer evasively - I’m going to be bullied into spending £100. I trudge round the shoe shop - averting my eyes from the £40 models. The second exhausting day yields up the perfect things - gold with a little dark check to soften the golden blow, and not 6” heels. And not £40. I bring my superb black velvet trousers to be cleaned and pressed. Two years ago, they came to me from Washington - a mercy-parcel from my beloved friend, Go Merrill. My black chiffon shirt is as clean as a whistle - no need to spend money on that.

We shall have a small supper party after the Garrick. Can I face the cooking? Dear and talented Ian Sellars - in intervals from his film making, will do it. I shall make the chicken’s liver pâtés (from Myrtle Allen’s classic cookbook) Ian will construct an enormous beef stew and not out of stewing beef either!

Flowers? God, the price! I buy a sheaf of daisies as large as a corn stack for £3. I needn’t have worried. Friends send bouquets, lovely bunches, crisp and enticing as Christmas dolls boxed within their stretched pink veils.

A television interview for Thames’ ‘Afternoon Plus’ programme. God help me in this new experience - He does. Mavis Nicholson, interviewer and Leslie Clark, take me out to a chic luncheon beforehand.

October 14 1981

A morning flight to Dublin for a Telefis interview with Anita Leslie - her newly published autobiography is so vivid and so dryly entertaining. I’m nervous again at the encounter. But she is as human and beautiful and funny as possible. 

October 16 1981

The Booker is very near and so is Virginia’s operation. She puts it all aside in her concern for me and her pleasure at the book’s success. Like all daughters she rather worries over my appearance and sets out to guide and subdue me a little - ‘Mummie you must buy a proper evening dress.’

‘No, darling. I’m wearing the blue caftan Dellie gave me in 1976 - it’s Gucci - it’s dateless - and it was Dellie’s.’ That settles that but clothes troubles are not finished with yet. Sheila Murphy - Publicity Boss in André Deutsch, whose job includes being prop, stay and advisor to authors, rings me up to say: ‘Booker McConnell would like you to bring an Escort’.

‘An Escort? What do I want with an Escort? At my age? I’m going with Andre and Diana.’ ‘Well, if it’s possible, an Escort,’ Sheila says.

She puts me on my mettle. A bit degrading not to have an Escort. But where is he? I think of John Perry, friend of my hunting days and collaborator in my plays. He hates London now and avoids parties. Still, perhaps… As any ugly deb I ring Christall 666 - ‘Darling, I’d love to come. But you know my dinner jacket went when my house burnt down. Yes - alas, it’s burnt up,’ he says.

Finally I telephone my troubles to my friend, Stephen Vernon in far away Kinsale. ‘Of course, I’ll lend him my dinner jacket,’ Stephen says at once. ‘You gave yours to your step-grandson in Australia - don’t you remember?’ ‘But I have three dinner jackets,’ Stephen says deprecatingly, ‘John can have the one with the velvet shawl collar and my watered silk waistcoat.’ It’s the tailor of Gloucester come true - and another hurdle over.

‘The men are all in black tie and the women’s skirts sweep to the ground. Deep cleavages sweep pretty low too. It is a great family gathering of the Literati. 

John and I stand together and look on - the isolation doesn’t last. André and Diana take care of that. Soon everyone I had viewed as glamorous and interesting, or both, come to talk with me. They are so emphatic and free with their praise and pleasure in my book, I begin to think it must be fascinating, funny, tragic, penetrating and amusing and tear-compelling - well worth the Booker £10,000. When two or three of the judges and the giant bronzed Penguin add their golden opinions, I nourish a dazzling hope. In that happy hour, I should have known they were only being comforters before the coming disappointment. But I still remember and cherish their words.

Dinner - I’m in a haze - a handsome old man who loves the book, all my books, bless him, sits on my left. Two important young men, with a lot to say to each other, and not much to me, are together on my right. Dinner is wonderful: Mousse of Avocado and spiced mushrooms - no I daren’t! Gougeons of sole - sauce vert. Yes. Breast of Pheasant Souvaroff - too strung up to taste it - hazelnut Bombe - delicious.’

Virginia goes to University College Hospital. She packs her own nightdresses. She makes plans for Kevin and me. She is calm, with the tautness of a strung bow. Of course no tears are shed. Better, perhaps, if they were. But above all things, let’s play down the drama. Next day is her operation. Eight hours of it for her. And for Kevin, eight hours to wait before he hears the results. He flogs away at his book about Napoleon - I shall hear his typewriter if I ever dream about the day - which - God forbid.

It is six o’clock before we know the result… operation a fantastic success. We are very happy about her… the surgeon’s happiness is nothing to ours. The roof of the very solid building almost lifts under the levitation of our happiness and relief. For me now the Booker is no more than a misty fantasy. No failure counts since Virginia is safe. 

Before I return to Ardmore, I go into a huddle with my next novel. I think of Christmas. Always too near and shopping always too late. But this year - with rather more money in my purse than usual - I shall make straight for Elizabeth David - we are all cooks - of different grades and this is the perfect place in which to solve the present-giving problems. From Pimlico Road, it’s a step to Sloane Square and John Sandoe’s book shop in Blacklands Terrace. This is the most searching and caring bookshop in all London. There a good read, and a good gossip with John can fill a happy hour - there will be a lot of heavy parcels to carry home. But I’m going to travel in a friend’s car and talk all the way. When, in the early morning, we reach Wexford from the Rosslare boat, we shall stop at White’s Hotel and drink rum and hot milk, a slice of lemon, stuck with one clove, on top - then, on to Kinsale and the gala carol singing in Saint Multose church before, next day, I go home to Ardmore. Ardmore is the place I love most, the place where I know certainly that all my friends in the village and round it will be kind to me - Books and Booker Prize forgotten - however old and silly I may grow.

Scroll to read the original diary published in Image magazine in December 1981, shortly after the Booker Prize ceremony where Salman Rushdie won for Midnight’s Children.