Comments on: Who is Eileen Joyce?

By: Anne Maybus

Anne Maybus — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:32:20 +0000

Thanks Jacko. Beat me too it.

By: Jacko

Jacko — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 21:09:58 +0000

Sophie, that book was probably “Prelude: The Early Life of Eileen Joyce” by Lady Clare Hoskyns-Abrahall. It was a best-selling 1950 biography that was translated into several languages as well as Braille. While it told the main elements of her story – up till that time – it was also ludicrously fictionalised in places. For example, it had her being born in a tent in the bush, when she was in fact born in a hospital in Zeehan. Apparently, her sole childhood companion was her pet kangaroo, but the book failed to mention that she in fact had 6 brothers and sisters. And so on. It was the basis of the 1953 film “Wherever She Goes”.

A far better book about her, in my opinion, is Richard Davis’s 2001 biography “Eileen Joyce: A Portrait” (Fremantle Arts Centre Press). It had the advantage of being written after her death, so it tells the full life story. It’s well written, full of fascinating detail – all factual – and is certainly available (I recently acquired a copy). I don’t know if it’s the same book that Lawson Cook refers to above (the one that disgusted him in every way). It certainly didn’t disgust me.

By: Sophie

Sophie — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:02:17 +0000

I watched Brief Encounter a couple of days ago, for the umpteenth time. But for the first time I noticed the credit title given to Eileen Joyce as pianist and a long ancient bell went off in my brain.

As a child I read a wonderful book about Eileen Joyce and now would love to get my hands on it again. But I have tried Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk and it doesn’t seem to exist in this hemisphere any more, [I live in Ireland], and I cannot remember the title.

Does such a book ring any bells with the people here? If so could someone leave the title for me here. Thank you in advance.

By: Lawson Cook

Lawson Cook — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 16:11:45 +0000

I heard Eileen Joyce many times when I was a music student in London around 1956. A mighty player in every way, I heard her in Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Ireland, Franck and Rachmaninov and was unfailingly impressed with her total dedication to everything she played. A terrible recent biography disgusted me in every way. I sincerely hope that her recordings will be re-issued, including the unpublished material, and set the record straight, proving that she was one of the greats of her time.

By: Lee Williams

Lee Williams — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:29:15 +0000

The Eileen Joyce Collection is housed in the Callaway Centre Archive at The University of Western Australia – http://www.callaway.uwa.edu.au/archive/collections/joyce
Parts of Eileen Joyce’s personal collection have been catalogued and digitised (both sound and print resources) and are available to view/listen online. For items not yet catalogued, there are Finding Aids that provide lists/groups of materials in the Archive.
To listen to Sound Recordings search the catalogue by call number – http://millennium.library.uwa.edu.au:81/search~S4/c and enter CAL0001/
This will give a list of recordings in the Eileen Joyce Collection. Click on the number after CAL0001/ for more details of the recording. Scroll to the bottom of the page to choose item to listen to.

By: Jacko

Jacko — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 04:56:05 +0000

There’s now a comprehensive biography of Eileen Joyce on Wikipedia. It’s being updated all the time, but it’s in pretty good shape. Lots of excellent links for further reading.

By: Anne Maybus

Anne Maybus — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:48:48 +0000

Thank you or your comments, GIna. I must go and find the book. I am glad that you mentioned it.

By: Gina

Gina — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:09:23 +0000

I came across this as I am in the midst of reading “Prelude” to my children. This is a children’s biography of Eileen Joyce. It was a favourite of mine as a child, and now I am enjoying it with my children. I found the book to be inspirational for me at many times growing up and hope it will be also for my children. I enjoyed reading what you wrote here and will look at her with “adult” eyes now. Thankyou.

By: Anne Maybus

Anne Maybus — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:07:10 +0000

I don’t know if it is available at all. I will keep my eyes open for it and if I come across it I will post here again.

By: John Williams

John Williams — Tue, 20 May 2008 19:46:02 +0000

I saw “Wherever She Goes” in Sydney at the old Orpheum Theatre that was just across the Harbour Bridge on the north shore. Although only eight, I remember distinctly that Eileen was sitting in the row in front of my mother and I in the theatre and we were introduced to her as she was accompanied by a friend of my mother, Suzie Perrett, who also appeared in the movie. Is a video or DVD available anywhere?