This is part of an ongoing series where I write about a different author for each letter of the alphabet. You can see them all here.
My incredibly occasional look through the alphabet is picking up again at P! I don’t even want to think about how many years I’ve been doing this series for, considering I initially imagined it would only take a few months.
ANYWAY, today we are looking at Mollie Panter-Downes – which wasn’t the hardest choice in the world, since there aren’t many authors beginning with P that have lots of books on my shelves.
How many books do I have by Mollie Panter-Downes?
I have nine books by Mollie Panter-Downes at the moment, and I used to have ten (but passed on At The Pines after reading it, as it sadly wasn’t my cup of tea). Nine doesn’t sound like many, but I think she only wrote ten books – and, believe me, tracking down The Chase, Storm Bird, and The Shoreless Sea isn’t the easiest thing in the world.
How many of these have I read?
All but one of them – just Ooty Preserved remains unread on my shelves. Actually, now I write that, I think perhaps I never read Good Evening, Mrs Craven – one of the short story collections reprinted by Persephone.
How did I start reading Mollie Panter-Downes?
It might have been Minnie’s Room, but I suspect it was One Fine Day. But I certainly first heard of her because of Persephone reprinting her stories.
General impressions…
Would you believe – when I first read One Fine Day, I was rather underwhelmed by it. I was 18, and it was the summer before university. And perhaps I just wasn’t old enough for it? I’ve since re-read it and recognise it as one of the great novels about life immediately after the Second World War – and potentially just one of the great novels altogether.
As for the rest of her writing… London War Notes is absolutely brilliant, on the non-fiction front. It is MPD’s journalistic take on the Second World War in London, written for a contemporary audience in America. It’s fascinating to see the slow progression and changes of wartime experience, with enough contextualising detail to make sense.
And her other novels… well, they’re a mix of fun, silly, and frustrating, to different levels. The best of the rest is definitely My Husband Simon, which is now a British Library Women Writers title – but there is no doubting that One Fine Day is her masterpiece.
How I love your photos of books!
Well, I have not read as many as you but I have read quite a few Mollie Panter-Downes’ books, including Good Evening Mrs Craven, which I remember enjoying.
I don’t think One Fine Day would have had the same impact on me had I first read it at 18 either. I was well over that age when I did read it and I was quite overwhelmed by it; I think it is a wonderful book.
I agree with your rating of My Husband Simon. I was pleased that BLWW reissued it.
What will Q be for I wonder?
I have read two of her books: Good Evening, Mrs. Craven and One Fine Day. I liked them both very much, particularly One Fine Day, which to this Mainer, seemed like a faraway world. I don’t think we had the same experience in the United States after World War II. Anyway, to my delight, I discovered London War Notes is available through our interlibrary loan system, and I have requested it. Thanks for featuring the book in this post.
I just read One Fine Day at the end of 2025 and loved it. Thank you for recommending it on Tea or Books!
What a lovely collection, Simon – such a variet of editions! I first read MPD via One Fine Day and agree it’s magnificent, but I think you make a good point – I’m not sure I would have appreciated it so much when I was younger. I dipped into London War Notes during the pandemic and really ought to get back to it!
A favourite series. I was concerned when no entries appeared in 2023 and 2024, but then 2025 brought Helen Oyeyemi. And now we have Mollie Panter-Downes!
Huzzah!
Dare I expect a second 2026 entry? I do, but will not be disappointed if Q doesn’t appear until 2027.
Great, I have a copy of One Fine Day waiting patiently!
An enviable collection, for sure! I’m so glad you were able to include My Husband Simon in the BLWW series – an excellent addition to the range. :)
Interesting on One Fine Day – there are times to read particular novels first, aren’t there, and 18 might well not be the time for that one. I first read it in my late 20s, I think, which worked well for me and set it in the favourites list.