The Water Gipsies (novel)

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The Water Gipsies
The Water Gipsies (novel).jpg
First edition (UK)
Author A. P. Herbert
LanguageEnglish
Genre Comedy/Romance
Publisher Methuen (UK)
Grosset & Dunlap (US)
Publication date
1930
Media typePrint

The Water Gipsies is a romantic comedy novel by British writer A. P. Herbert first published in 1930. It portrays the adventures of Jane Bell and her sister Lily, who operate a barge along England's rivers and canals. Jane enjoys several romantic entanglements during the story.

Contents

The novel is Herbert's best-known work, and reflected his lifelong love of British waterways. [1] He lived in Hammersmith Terrace, and a thinly disguised version of The Dove pub appears as The Pigeons. [2]

Adaptations

Film

In 1932 the novel was made into a film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Ann Todd as Jane Bell. [3] It was the last film made by Associated Talking Pictures at Beaconsfield Studios before relocating to Ealing.

Musical

In 1955 Herbert collaborated with Vivian Ellis to produce a stage musical of the film. The cast included Dora Bryan, Doris Hare and Jerry Verno. It was a success, running for 239 performances. [4]

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The Water Gipsies is a 1932 British, low-budget "quota quickie" drama film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Ann Todd, Sari Maritza and Ian Hunter. It is an adaptation of the 1930 novel The Water Gipsies by A.P. Herbert. The film was made at Beaconsfield Studios. Vivian Ellis worked as the film's composer, and later used some of the music in the 1955 stage musical adaptation of the novel.

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The Dove is a Grade II listed public house at 19 Upper Mall, Hammersmith, London W6 9TA.

The Water Gipsies may refer to:

Romantic literature in English Era in English-language literature

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References

  1. Head, Dominic (2006). The Cambridge Guide to Literature in English. Cambridge University Press. p.  509. ISBN   978-0-521-83179-6.
  2. Fisher, Stuart (2012). The Rivers of Britain: Estuaries, Tideways, Havens, Lochs, Firths and Kyles. Adlard Coles Nautical. p. 217. ISBN   978-1-408-14656-9.
  3. "The Water Gipsies (1932)". British Film Institute. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  4. Traubner, Richard (2003). Operetta: A Theatrical History. Routledge. p. 335. ISBN   978-0-415-96641-2.