Of all the authors Scott at Furrowed Middlebrow has talked about over the years, Ursula Orange is the one who appealed most. So it was very exciting when he got three of her novels reprinted through his Dean Street Press series – and Begin Again is the third of those I’ve read. Orange is a wonderfully witty writer, and this novel is no different.
The novel opens with Leslie (early 20s) explaining to her mother why she feels she must move to London, where her schoolfriends Jane and Florence are living a lifestyle that Leslie considers ideal. Leslie wants to spend all the money she has on an art school – though it will not cover tuition and expenses for all that long – and also thinks she should probably have her own little studio, to be taken seriously. Whatever happens, she has to get away from the privileged and calm life she is currently living with her parents:
She knew, not only from Jane and Florence’s conversation (it had been some time since she had had a really good talk with them) but also from the pages of modern novels exactly the way in which young people living their own lives in London talk together – an attractive mixture of an extreme intensity and a quite remarkable casualness. “Henri says Marcovitch’s new poems are the finest things he’s ever read – will certainly found a school of their own. By the way – hand me the marmalade – Elissa is living with Henri now. He says he needs her for his work at present.” Clearly the sort of person who talked like this lived a much freer, a much wider, a much better life than the sort of person who merely said, “Good morning, mummy. Did you sleep well? When Alice brought my tea this morning she said a tree was blown down in the orchard last night.”
One of the things I like a lot about Orange is that she doesn’t have any throwaway characters. While four young women are at the centre of this novel, the secondary characters are not simply there to serve them. I loved the sardonic dryness of Leslie’s mother – which Leslie totally misses, since she expects her mother to be humourless. The reader is quite like Leslie’s mum – we have a definite affection for all the women at the heart of Begin Again, but also recognise they are young and silly.
The others are the aforementioned Jane and Florence, who work in offices and just about earn enough to pay for their unorthodox food and tiny flat – and Sylvia, who still lives in her parents’ grand home, thinking herself very modern with her thoughts on sexual and social liberation. All the women are very earnest, and their problems are real problems inasmuch as they genuinely feel anxiety about them, but Orange is also very funny about them. It’s also a joy to read about arguments over who used the hot water when you no longer have to house-share.
My favourite story of the four was Florence’s – who works as a typist, despite being pretty bad at it, and longs to be recognised as something more valuable. The other typist has fewer ambitions and class hang-ups, and is also much better at her job. The whole set-up of the office was believably unnerving for Florence, while also a joy to read about. That joy continues when the whole bunch travel over to Sylvia’s house for a party, and things get more dramatic and just as absurd.
This was a delightful 1936 read – enough genuine angst to make you take it seriously, and good-heartedness not to mind laughing at the characters. I’m not sure why Furrowed Middlebrow stopped after reprinting three of her novels, but I have my fingers crossed that they bring out the other three at some point…
I’ve never read her but she’s definitely on my radar and this sounds absolutely delightful!
Oh I think you’d love her, yes
Oh this sounds brilliant, I need to add it to my List Of DSP Books I Get My Best Friend To Buy Me!
You absolutely do!
Orange is one of those names I keep meaning to read and never get to. This sounds marvellous, Simon!
She is a delight! Now have fingers crossed for the others.
I have read one of Ursula Orange’s books, Company in the Evening which I really liked. Thankfully I also have this one waiting on my kindle. It sounds just as good.
Loved that one too – the intelligent, witty heroine was wonderful.
I’m totally unfamiliar with this writer but will definitely check her out; she sounds like the perfect read for certain moods!
I think she is my favourite of Furrowed Middlebrow’s ‘finds’!
I’ve read a few Furrowed Middlebrow editions now and enjoyed them all. They are also really inexpensive on Kindle, which is quite the temptation, let me tell you. From Orange, I have Tom Tiddler’s Ground which I am 100% going to read sometime this year. Begin Again sounds delightful!
Tom Tiddler’s Ground also wonderful!
I loved this book too! And how about that… I have a 1936 book review. http://tcl-bookreviews.com/2020/03/20/a-20th-century-jane-austen-novel/
It would be hard not to love it :D
I have this on my kindle to read, although I wish I had a paper copy because that cover is so lovely.
It is! I’m not sure of its origins, but it’s perfect.
I read Begin Again for the #1936club and really enjoyed it. I liked the different ways the women lookad at their lives and the fact they actually wanted different things. Jane would definitely have thrived in the late 60s/ early 70s: read a Jilly Cooper romance and you will see what I mean; Florence and her earnest novel was so enjoyable; Leslie’s unbearable naivete (bless!); and finally Sylvia who actually just wants to marry Claud but can’t quite admit it because that isn’t very modern. A delightful read.
Oo lovely that you read it too – such a delightful book, I agree.