If Winter Comes (novel)
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Books |
If Winter Comes is a novel authored by A. S. M. Hutchinson and first released in 1921. The story delves into themes of an unhappy marriage, the dissolution of that marriage, and the tragic suicide of an unwed mother. Upon publication, the book achieved bestseller status and was later adapted into films in 1923 and again in 1947.
Title
The book’s title is taken from the concluding line of Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem "Ode to the West Wind": "If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?".
Plot summary
The plot centers on Mark Sabre, a man in middle age who suffers unjust criticism and is depicted with a Christlike aura of suffering.[1] After sustaining injuries during World War I, Sabre returns home to a loveless relationship with his difficult wife, Mabel. His efforts to support Effie, a young unwed mother wrongly assumed to be his mistress, lead to divorce, the loss of his employment, and public scandal when Effie takes her own life.
If Winter Comes tackles contentious issues such as emotional infidelity, single motherhood outside of wedlock, and suicide, all framed within a context of moral and social idealism.[1]
The character Reverend Cyril Boom Bagshaw serves as a satirical portrayal of the flamboyant Reverend Basil Bourchier.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Publication history
The novel was initially serialized in Everybody's Magazine from December 1920 through July 1921. It was subsequently published simultaneously by Little, Brown and Company in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the United Kingdom. Following its initial release, the novel was serialized again in Britain between August 1922 and March 1923 in Reynolds's Weekly Newspaper.
Reception
In 1922, If Winter Comes reached number one on the Publishers Weekly best seller list and was the top-selling book in the United States during that year. A special edition tied to the second film adaptation was issued in 1947, and a paperback edition appeared during the 1960s; however, over time the novel largely faded from public attention. George Orwell referenced it in his 1945 essay "Good Bad Books" as an enjoyable read without high literary aspirations.
Adaptations
- The story was adapted into a stage play by Hutchinson alongside Basil Macdonald Hastings, debuting at Margate’s Hippodrome in August 1922 before touring and subsequently running for 53 performances at London's St James's Theatre starting January 1923. It then moved to Broadway’s Gaiety Theatre in April 1923 featuring Mabel Terry-Lewis and Cyril Maude. Simultaneously, J.C. Williamson's New English Comedy Company presented it at Sydney's Theatre Royal.
- The first cinematic adaptation appeared in 1923 under director Harry Millarde, starring Percy Marmont and Ann Forrest. The accompanying song "If Winter Comes (Summer Will Come Again)" was composed by H. M. Tennent with lyrics by Reginald Arkell.
- A subsequent film version was released in 1947, directed by Victor Saville and starring Walter Pidgeon, Deborah Kerr, and Angela Lansbury.
Parodies
- Humorist Barry Pain created a parody titled If Winter Don't (U.S.) / If Summer Don't (U.K.) in 1922 based on If Winter Comes.
- Comedian Billy Bennett produced a parody of the song from the 1923 film adaptation within his 1927 poem "If Winter Comes."
Literary and cultural references
- Within A Question of Upbringing, the opening installment of Anthony Powell's A Dance to the Music of Time series, the narrator Nick Jenkins is depicted reading this work as Widmerpool discusses contemporary fiction.
- Three volumes containing excerpts from If Winter Comes are part of the collection in the library of Queen Mary's Dolls' House at Windsor Castle, presented to Queen Mary by Hutchinson in 1923.
- The 1943 novel Mr Bowling Buys a Newspaper by Donald Henderson includes this book as the only one present in the main character’s unhappy household, reflecting themes of marital strife and inner suffering.
- Writer Sarah Waters acknowledged If Winter Comes as part of her preparatory literature for crafting her 2014 novel The Paying Guests.