My first year on Substack
Celebrating a special anniversary with you
‘I am taking a morning off, & shall use it here, in my lazy way, to sum up the whole of life. By that phrase, one of my colloquialities, I only mean, I wish I could deliver myself of a picture of all my friends, thoughts, doings, projects at this moment.’ (Virginia Woolf’s diary entry on 31st December 1932)
Dear Readers
Just over a year ago, on 12 November 2023, I started writing my regular newsletter on this Substack. So I wanted to write a little post today, in Woolf’s words, to ‘deliver myself of a picture of all my friends, thoughts, doings, projects at this moment’. But really it’s just to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has taken the trouble to read my posts, subscribe, share, recommend or just click the little heart (as Woolf didn’t say).
When I first dipped my toe in, last November, it was a way of keeping the blog about Cambridge women that I began writing back in 2016, and sharing my essays on literature. I wanted to keep in touch with loyal readers I treasured from my blogging days, and find a good way of connecting with a new audience. Being made to feel welcome here and generously recommended meant so much, and I’m so grateful to
, , , , , , and and others for giving me that much-needed boost.Other writers who were pretty new to this platform (if not to writing!) also made me feel ‘one of the gang’ from the outset:
, , , , , , , , ,, , and . Thank you all so much, your friendship and kind support helped me to keep going.As
wrote recently about her three years as a Substack writer, there really is still magic on this platform: ‘A genius invention; building something that resembled the old days of blogging, yet giving it a new modern lease of life.’One of the best things for me about Substack has been discovering that the most talented writers can also be the nicest. Who knew? I was very touched to be featured in
’s favourite ‘Substack Reads’ in July 2024 (though I clearly need to work on my coolness quotient). ‘Ann Kennedy Smith writes about all things Cambridge, England, with a particular focus on women and literature,’ Nick wrote. ‘I’ll be honest: I didn’t think it was going to be for me when I first came across it. No rock ’n’ roll in that title. But the stories she unearths are gripping, culturally significant, surprising.’That’s certainly something to aim for as I embark on my second Substack year. Huge thanks also to fantastic Substackers
, , , , , ,, , , , , , , , and many more.And finally, I am incredibly grateful to all the wonderful readers and writers who have made perceptive comments and given me so much food for thought in the Comments section or via email. Our discussions have constantly inspired and bolstered me. Thank you.
I started with 227 subscribers, and that number is now nearly 4,300. If I don’t mention you by name here (and not everyone wants to be mentioned) please know that I truly appreciate your support and encouragement. Your financial support also makes it possible for me to do this work, so thank you.
Hoping you’ll stick around (to the end of this post, at least). Looking forward to another year of your company in the Cambridge Ladies’ Dining Society, and friends.
With love,
Ann
Coming soon…
My blog has moved to a new home on Substack, with added extras, which will continue to tell the stories of the Ladies’ Dining Society 1890-1914 and other pioneering Cambridge women. There will also be book reviews and news, glimpses of today’s Cambridge
What’s new in 2024/25?
Pictured above, with my photo of a rather faded-looking King’s College Chapel on a snowy day, was my first tentative post on Substack on 12 November 2023 (I’ve now added links to the posts I promised there).
Here’s a taster of what’s coming up in the next few months:
A special ‘20th-century book club’ post about Elizabeth von Arnim’s The Enchanted April featuring some of the discussions we’ve had on the Chat thread. I’ll also be looking for your suggestions about what mid-century novel to discuss next. Who’s interested in Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers?
First edition of Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers A new post on the art historian Anne Olivier Bell, who as Anne Popham was one of the British ‘Monuments Men’ and edited the twenty-four diaries that Virginia Woolf rescued from the rubble of Mecklenburgh Square.
More about Cambridge Ladies’ Dining Society members Louise Creighton, Fanny Prothero and Eleanor Sidgwick (pictured below).
Portrait of Eleanor Sidgwick by James Jebusa Shannon ©Newnham College, Cambridge The poignant story of Susila and Nalini Bonnerjee, the first Indian women to study at Cambridge University. Both became medical doctors, but led very different lives after they qualified. I’ll be investigating why.
George Bernard Shaw was a long-serving member, as was Rose Macaulay, but Virginia Woolf flatly refused to join. I’ll be writing about the BBC Advisory Committee on Spoken English (1926-1939) established by Lord Reith, the BBC’s first managing director, to settle the pronunciation of so-called ‘doubtful’ words and establish the right way to speak the King’s English. In 1935 there was a passionate debate about how best to pronounce ‘vegetable’ - should it be three syllables or four?
I would love to hear your thoughts and comments - what you’ve enjoyed reading recently, and your recommendations.
My newsletter will remain mostly free, but if you’re able to support my writing with a paid subscription, you’ll receive access to longer posts, 20th-century Book Club and the friendly community we’re building here. If paying is too much right now, just email me and I will ‘comp’ you a free subscription, no questions asked. Thanks very much for reading and for all your fantastic support. Here’s to another happy and creative Substack year.
Dear Ann, here's to you! I adore your Substack (as do so many of us) and am honoured to be mentioned here - YOU have been so supportive to me and this does, indeed, remain a lovely arena.
Gaudy Night yes please.....
Congratulations, Ann, and thanks for the shoutout!