Twenty-one years after her death, Barbara Pym's novels continue to be read and reread, discussed and debated by discerning readers. Her unique legacy is the world she created, one that is recognizably hers alone. These eighteen essays by noted scholars and critics examine the theme of reading in Pym's books. Through their various fresh approaches to the possibilities of readerly identification, a new and compellingly progressive image of Barbara Pym emerges -- that of an author engaged in an ongoing dialogue with those who consider reading a reciprocal act. The first part of the book examines the significance of reading in Pym works, both of her bookish heroines as well as for the author herself. The second part reveals literary encounters and collaborations in her life and works. The diversity and originality of these thoughtful contributions ensure a permanet place for Barbara Pym in twentieth-century literature.