Leadon Hill

by Richmal Crompton

The quiet English village of Leadon Hill is ruled by Miss Mitcham -- a tiny, sharp old woman who sees and hears everything from behind her lace curtains, and brutally tears apart the lives and reputations of those who cross her.

Amongst her victims is Marcia Faversham, wife to the fussy and uninspiring John and mother to three young children -- sporty, overconfident Hugo, gentle Moyna, and little Tim who has been weakened by polio. When John leaves for a four-month fishing trip, Marcia dares to hope for a little tranquility, but changes are afoot in Leadon Hill; the house next door has been let to Helen West, a young, bohemian woman from Italy, and Miss Mitcham sets out to make her life very unpleasant indeed . . .

A deeply engaging portrait of village life with a matchless cast of characters, Leadon Hill bursts with all the light exuberance of Crompton's Just William.

Genres: Fiction, British Literature

341 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Richmal Crompton Lamburn was initially trained as a schoolmistress but later became a popular English writer, best known for her Just William series of books, humorous short stories, and to a lesser extent adult fiction books.

Crompton's fiction centres around family and social life, dwelling on the constraints that they place on individuals while also nurturing them. This is best seen in her depiction of children as puzzled onlookers of society's ways. Nevertheless, the children, particularly William and his Outlaws, almost always emerge triumphant.

Reviews

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been really enjoying Richmal Compton's books for adults and this one is no exception.

It's set in an English village, though thankfully not one I recognise. Marcia is a bit of an outsider, looked down upon by her neighbours for allowing her children to 'run wild', (enjoy themselves), even her younger son who had polio and is lame. She rents her neighbouring house out to Miss West, who grew up in Italy amongst a bohemian artistic set. The villagers sense that she is not one of them, and execute a campaign of spite against her.

The story is very compelling, but it's not a cosy read; at times it is frustrating and poignant, the characters are generally awful, but quite believable and as a reader, we can see why they behave in the way that they do, even if we don't sympathise.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leadon Hill re-issued by Greyladies books turned out to be something of a surprise for me really. To be frank I had put off reading it for ages, after being told it was very light. I expected something like Angela Thirkell with added fluff but without her occasional sharpness. (I find I can only read Angela Thirkell if I ‘m in the right mood). What I found however – was a domestic novel that was certainly written with a lightness of touch – but is deeply engaging with fantastic characterisation. Crompton faithfully recreates the atmosphere of a small English village; Leadon Hill, a place which runs on gossip and spite, and the different factions which trade in it.

Full review: https://heavenali.wordpress.com/2015/...

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having really enjoyed this author's Just William books in my childhood, I had no idea that she had written adult books also. This book is about a small country village in England. It begins with by introducing the Faversham family, who have moved from the neighbouring town, where they have brought two houses. One in which they the family live and the house next door being which they let. The Faversham's have three children, two boys and a girl. The youngest being a child that has had polio, which have left him a frail child with a limp. Marcia, the mother is an easy-going woman, who loves her some-what pernickety husband and her children, and is left to look after the letting of the neighbouring house while her husband goes on a four month fishing holiday.
The new tenant is a young English woman, Helen West, who has spent all her life with her father, an artist in Italy, in what would be called a bohemian household. Helen's ways do not go down too well with the other occupants of the village, who constantly gossip about her, and find fault with her.
I found this to be a very believable book of how a person can be ostracized by a small community, with very little evidence, and how one vicious person can sway so many. There is a lot more to this book and made for a very interesting read.

[Avril · Rating 4 out of 5]

An examination of 'envy, hatred, malice and all uncharitableness' in an English village in the 1920s. Greyladies' reprints are normally of the 'comfort' variety; although this is written by the author of the 'Just William' books it is in no way a comfortable read. There is poverty; an unwanted pregnancy and subsequent shotgun marriage; prejudice and class snobbery; and stupid men and gossip-minded women who delight in bearing false witness. My initial response was to thank God that times have changed and that women have options beyond starving to death, marrying their abusers, or maliciously interfering with their neighbours. My second response was to wonder whether we've just moved that sort of prurience into the media. As an examination of the evils of the class system and the subjugation of women I can definitely recommend this piece of supposedly 'light' literature.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who grew up on the Just William books, I was delighted to discover that Richmal Crompton also wrote books for adults and that some have been republished. 'Leadon Hill,' was published in 1927 and revolves around the small village of Leadon Hill, home of newcomer Marcia Faversham, her fussy husband, John, and her children - sporty Hugo, tomboy Moyna and little Timmy, who suffered polio as a child and is educated at home.

Marcia is a contented and confident woman, who loves her home and garden, her husband and children. When her husband goes away on a long fishing trip, he asks Marcia to take care of letting the next door house, which they also own. Into this rather traditional and conformist village comes Helen West, who is beautiful and remote, who grew up in a bohemian household in Italy and who is very much frowned upon by Marcia's neighbours.

The village include a number of very traditional characters. The Lady of the Manor, whose son is shiftless and a definite cad, the vicious gossip, Miss Mitcham, the poverty stricken doctor's daughters, plus at least two young couples, who are expected to marry. However, Miss West upsets what is expected - creating discord, confusion and disturbance among the conventionality of views which have never been challenged before. This is a moving, thought-provoking, and realistic novel. I look forward to reading more of Crompton's novels.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first experience with Richmal Crompton, and I confess I expected sweetness and light. That is not what I found in this particular story. Instead, the author draws back the curtain on the insularity and demands for conformity at the heart of this village. Rather than an uplifting story of neighbors pulling together and supporting one another, this was a depressing story of bullying, xenophobia, classism, and poverty tucked into a lovely setting. While I liked this book, it was very sad and deeply frustrating.

The writing itself was beautiful. The word choice felt intentional, every sentence seemed to be filled with nuance. An intimate knowledge of people, and what makes them tick allowed the author to truly excel in creating vivid portraits of the characters.

For a novel written in 1927, it felt modern in spite of its old-fashioned setting and social mores. There is at its core a longing for community. However, that community comes with a demand for conformity. Those on the inside of the community insist that if one wants to belong, one will hate whom we hate, and above all, one will not be different. Although written for adults, I feel it would certainly resonate with teens and pre-teens who are all too familiar with the kinds of bullying, pettiness, and peer pressure found in this story. 

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A village story written in the 1920s. I found it too bland at first, & lacking in detail. Although, I'm glad I persevered, because Crompton floated it into something quite strong, with a slow and steady pace, so I could immerse myself in her characters at my own leisure. It turned out to be something quite beautifully written. A wonderful writer in many ways. And I received a lovely hardback edition; which made that beautiful pink with black leaf patterning, more stunning. X

[Louise Culmer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Various upsets and scandals that occur among the upper and middle class inhabitants of an English village. I did not warm to any of the characters, most of them were horrible, and the few that were not were absurdly idealised. I was yearning for William long before I reached the end of the book.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insight into times gone by but still might be applicable to today. Recently read one of her Just William books and realised she wrote adult novels too. So pleased I've found her as an author

[Oolookitty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, but Miss Mitcham is such a poisonous character that I spent most of the book just wishing someone would push her down a well. Or at least publicly defy her. The book is definitely a realistic look at people cowed by a strong character, but it was honestly stressful to see people having their lives ruined while everyone else just knuckled under. Possibly because I feel like that’s what’s going on today with our political situation in the US. Depressing.