I normally don’t post ‘club’ reviews after the week has finished – but we all make exceptions for our mothers, and here is my Mum (Anne – also known as Our Vicar’s Wife, for longterm blog readers) writing about Angela Thirkell’s Summer Half. Over to you, Mum!
This taste of 1937 is a typical example of Thirkell’s work – the Barsetshire setting, restricted to a few houses and a boys’ school, gives scope for Thirkell’s themes of domestic management (the problems with ‘staff’) boys (and their tendency to do ridiculous things) masters (either shackled to teaching or biding their time before entering a ‘real’ profession) romance (and ‘being engaged’ almost before the first kiss) and the ridiculousness of life. Mothers are depicted as slightly dotty, schoolboys and schoolgirls, awkward and annoying, men (either in one of the professions or in the military – preferably the Navy) and Fathers as slightly distanced figures, whose powers are seldom domestic and usually connected with committees, dinners, pipe-smoking, and clubs.
At least one figure must be tormented by love, another by pride, and yet another by unfulfilled ambition. All this with the witty, droll, and occasionally what we would judge as prejudiced and offensive attitudes, expressed in the vocabulary of that time.
There is a clear social structure in the book – those who dress for dinner v those who make it. The Young People appear privileged and indulged by parents who, at times, seem to have lost the upper hand. They both annoy and amuse the reader – as do the themes and plot twists. However, it is worth reading, if only for things like this:
‘I say,’ said Lydia, ‘you know it’s summer time tomorrow. Has anyone put the clocks wrong?’
Mrs Keith looked conscience-stricken.
‘I did speak to cook this morning,’ she said, ‘just after I had read it up in The Times, but I don’t know if I said put them backward or forward. I must have known at the time, because I had just read it, but I can’t think now. It’s forward, isn’t it?’
‘Backward, I think,’ said Mr Keith.
‘I know it breaks my watch to do it one way and not the other way,’ said Mr Merton, ‘but I can’t remember if it breaks it in spring and doesn’t break it in autumn, or the other way round.’
‘If you go to China you keep on gaining a day,’ said Colin. ‘Or is it losing it?’
Having not long since changed the clocks, and felt weird for weeks afterwards, this was very soothing.
Thirkell may not hit all the ‘spots’ for a good read, but as light relief from duller reading, makes for a pleasant afternoon – with tea, of course – and cakes.
Brilliant! Thanks, Anne.
I have not yet tried Thirkell. Any suggestions for where to begin?
Try Wild Strawberries – although Lady Emily might drive you crazy!
Ha ha! I will look out for it!
Ah it’s not hard to see the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. What a delightfully witty review. I enjoyed the apt references to the perils of turning the clock backwards. Or forwards. And that wonderful line about ‘those who dress for dinner and those who make it’.
I am re reading this Thirkell – definately a comfort read – and agree with this review! (a splendid choice of quote !)
Thank you, OVW. Summer Half is one of my favourite Thirkells.
Someone was wondering where to start. Some would say Wild Strawberries but I prefer High Rising. You do have to put up with some very unacceptable views when you read Thirkell, especially after the war but I find the lightness of touch and the humour allow me to overlook them.
I suggested Wild Strawberries, but High Rising would be equally good.
l agree about “High Rising” because it introduces Mrs Morland and the, um, unforgettable Tony. It’s the first book in the Barsetshire series. Thirkell stole from Trollope in some ways, but put her unique spin on people and places.
I read this for the 1937 Club too and had a very similar experience. A light fluffy read. Great to be reminded about the scene with the clocks!
Sorry – I naughtily failed to read the other contributions before adding mine! Good fun to read during a chilly April
Your Mum wrote the perfect review. Thank you for a chuckle on a dreary Monday morning.
As a member of the Angela Thirkell Society of North America, I have some experience in introducing people to Thirkell’s work. I think one can probably start with almost any of the pre-WWII books, as these first few tend to focus on a smaller cast of characters and are mostly only loosely connected. I have a soft spot in my heart for Summer Half, as when I started reading Thirkell it was one of the most difficult to find. Due to the recent reissues of by Virago in both eBook and real book format, it and most of the other early books are now easy to locate in most areas of the world, and Open Road Media has reissued most of the later books, so only a few title in the Barsetshire series are currently completely out of print.
I think my favorite episode of all comes from High Rising, when Mrs Morland (a thinly disguised portrait of Thirkell herself) attempts to change the ribbon in a manual typewriter. I am afraid the humor in this will be lost soon as the last remaining folks who have struggled with this task age, but I love it (and once wrote a bit of “fan fiction” describing Mrs M’s similar struggles with a malfunctioning computer and printer.)
I loved this post! I have read a couple of Thirkell’s novels but not this one; for me too they have struck me as pleasant, which sometimes is plenty!
I haven’t started on Thirkell yet, but don’t need any more encouragement!
The Angela Thirkell Society has a 2HB service – which I run. If you need copies of her books, they are all pre-loved – and priced accordingly
Is this the one that introduces the headmaster’s beautiful daughter Rose with the various suitors? She shows up in later books with a much-changed personality. Lydia also matures a lot throughout the books, although I kind of prefer her younger self. Another Thirkell trope is the super-competent young woman (upper-class of course) who can cheerfully cope with any problem, and still be a “lady.”
Yes it is, indeed! The terrible Rose (who turns out so well once subdued by the Navy – not exactly PC)
Thirkell was of her period – some of her attitudes make me shiver, but she makes up for it with wit
A lovely review, thank you, OVW. I read them all from the first one to the end of the War (i.e. the end of the Virago reissues) over a number of years and did enjoy them in the main.
You ‘did enjoy them in the main’ – yes, I agree – there are some bits which make me feel uncomfortable (prejudices of the period) and towards the end, they tended to become formulaic and repetitive at times – supporting the concept of ‘knowing when to stop’!
But, ‘in the main’ they are great fun. The wartime ones were a solace during ‘lockdown’.
Lovely to have a post from your mum, Simon! I don’t get on particularly well with Thirkell but I can see how she would be a lovely light read!
Thank you for posting this lovely review. I really enjoyed reading the quotes. I am very tempted to read another Angela Thirkell with a cup of tea and a cake! High Rising and Wild Strawberries are the only ones I have read and I totally agree with you and other’s comments.