From the rear cover of this 256 page book: "In 1977, on the occasion of its 75th anniversary, The London Times Literary Supplement asked a number of prominent British writers to name the most underrated writer of the century. Only one author was named twice as having been too long neglected: Barbara Pym. Because of this, the late English novelist, whose books were out of fashion in the 1960s and early '70s, is now having a new popularity as a brilliant stylist whose comedies of manners have been compared to the works of Jane Austen." And from Ann Tyler's Foreword: "The three volumes assembled here - 'Excellent Women' and 'Jane and Prudence', her second and third novels respectively, and 'An Unsuitable Attachment', her seventh - combine to demonstrate all of Barbara Pym's favorite themes. These include an enduring respect for the modest so-called trivial details of life; a rueful amusement at the silliness between the sexes; ad more than a hint that women - especially sensible, virtuous, and independent women - are in many ways far stronger than men can ever hope to be, although the women wouldn't dream of letting them find that out."