In this travelogue, Emily Kimbrough, her perennial traveling partner, Sophy (civil rights activist Sophia Yarnall Jacobs), theatrical friends Dorothy Stickney and her husband Howard Lindsay, and writer Arthur Kober take a boat trip through England’s canals, amazing the locals with their penchant for ice in their beverages and their seeming inability to remember to take a bag for purchases to the market with them. As always, a “right good” story!
I like all of Emily Kimbrough’s books and this one was especially interesting, having just visited England and Wales myself (it was actually my intention to read this on my trip, but it didn’t come in at the library in time). But nothing will ever match Through Charley’s Door or Our Hearts Were Young and Gay for pure enjoyment, thus the 3-star rating.
At this point in my life I can say, Emily Kimbrough is my favorite author. She writes with such dexterity of the language, that reading every day itineraries is interesting. These books are clean as a whistle, as far as swearing and sex go. I think this particular book eluded to a couple sharing a bed, all the whilst the husband was insisting that they can not and do not. And of course, that is part of the charm. Take note, all of her companions on this boat trip, are published authors. One is a Pulitzer prize winner. She is never travelling with any old dolt, but always folks of education and culture. If you are interested in the article in Life magazine, covering this voyage, it is Life Magazine Sep 2, 1957. I was able to search it and print it out in Google books. I highly recommend And a Right Good Crew and any other's that I've read so far. I'd go so far as to say those I have yet to read too. I hope you enjoy.