Forty Plus and Fancy Free: The gay excursion of youthful grandmothers romping through Paris and Italy and "doing" the Coronation

by Emily Kimbrough

Non-Fiction, Travel, Adventure, American Literature, Women's Literature

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Memoir, Autobiography

240 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1954

Reviews

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

2020 bk 52. Emily Kimbrough wrote a number of memoirs and travel narrations, set in the time periods from the 1920's through the 1960's. While originally from Indiana, her family moved to Chicago while she was still a child and moved among the 'carriage trade' of Chicago. Her book "Through Charley's Door" describes her first job at Marshall Fields Deptartment store - the job that would ultimately lead her to working on a major women's magazine and turned her into a well trained speaker and radio show host. This book describes a month's trip to Italy, Paris, and then to England, where she covered the Coronation for CBS. While her friends and acquaintances are among the wealthy and well-connected, she writes with a down-home style that gives you the feeling you are at her side. She has the opportunity to attend a Coronation concert at St. James Palace and to meet Princess Marie Louise (daughter of Edward /Alexandria, granddaughter of Queen Victoria) and shares the Princess' expression of what the Coronation really means to the person who is crowned ruler of Great Britain.

[Nikki in Niagara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the true story of three to five grandmas who travelled to New York, France, Italy, and then England for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. The author is a book writer and radio show host on CBS.

The book is written in a fun and lively style with women as independent go-getters. There is no offensive language due to the era where the author wrote like a lady at all times. As far as enjoyment went it was mediocre for me. There was too much description of the landscape, which I don't like. The style was about half and half on what they personally did versus what they saw on their travels. I prefer the former. An interesting piece on the world in the 1950s.

[Carolyn (in SC) C234D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Emily Kimbrough's books are delightful. This is the story of Emily and her friends touring Italy and then going to London for the Coronation in 1952. Her writing style is entertaining, and it's fun going back in time with these pleasant people.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun little book! I had no idea what I was getting into reading this, I thought it was non-fiction. It is so much fun! I have not been to Italy in a few years, but the next time I go, I fully intend to look up some of the places this group of women went to - I wish I had been with them. Not only do you feel like you are with them, you get to know the group members. A great feature is the list in the back of the book where the author lists the places they went (so you do not have to flip through the text to find the places) and a short thumb up/down to tell the reader which places are more worthwhile. I found it a bit unnerving that she gave us the full name of her chauffeur in London, including the man's phone number! Since he was clearly in his 50's (or older) when the book was produced (1954), AND his number is listed as, "Sloane 0151", (page 185) he is probably safe from society, but to think - that was an acceptable thing to print back then. Makes you sad for people today! Anyway, I would recommend this book to anyone traveling to Italy and/or London, as it was a fun look back in time.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like reading my grandma's diaries :)

[Nathaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an interesting book! It’s non-fiction but written more like a work of fiction. The setting is that five women in their early to mid-fifties take a trip to Italy and the UK. They refer to themselves as grandmothers, but they seem far too young for that to my mind! I got the impression that it wasn’t a common thing for women not only to travel without their husbands at such a time but also to travel as a group in that way.

It was interesting to see how things had changed with regards to travel and places from 1953. Idlewild airport is now JFK and the main airport in Paris is Charles de Gaulle, rather than Orly. Although the book was less of a record in the way of daily life, it was still informative and showed attitudes and expectations have changed. I was pleased to learn that many women had careers and in some cases, their own business. Emily noted that when she was doing her broadcasts from the BBC, 9 of the 10 engineers were women which I think would be impressive these days, never mind for 1953! It was also nice to learn about Miss Anna Lea Lelli, a highly knowledgable and intelligent woman of whom the internet knows astoundingly little, and the Baroness Renate Rapisardi di S. Antonio, who had purposely found a way to provide employment for the women on her estate by selling the linens and clothes that they embroidered. I was stunned to see that their full address and phone numbers were provided!

It took me quite a while to read because I had to keep stopping to get further research on the places, people and items that were mentioned. It was a very educational book. I had never heard of Emily Kimbrough but the limited information about her I found online said that she was an author and journalist, and seemed to be quite highly regarded in the latter field. I also discovered some new arts and culture items, particularly Raphael Lardeur and his stained glass pieces; the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele; the Feast of the Candles in Gubbio; the Della Robbia medallions at Ospedale degli Innocenti in Florence; and the stunning frescos at the monastery of San Marco.

I was curious about the Mystery View mentioned in Bagnoregio (Emily spells it Bagnoreggio). Apparently, Emily and friends had been given a letter with directions that came originally from a great art expert called Mr Berenson. The directions take them from Orvieto to Bagnoregio, and to follow the main street - apparently there's a fork off to the right and a road that branches to the left, but they are to ignore these and go straight on where the main street becomes a country lane that is eventually blocked by a wide gate. On the other side of the gate is a meadow to cross and at the edge of this is... something large and presumably spectacular. Emily says, "I will not tell what we saw that day. Others have had a copy of this letter [...] and no one has given away what, standing on the edge of the meadow, he has seen. [...] This much I will reveal: you will be rewarded. And I doubt that you will see elsewhere anything like this Mystery View. It is not recorded on a tourist map." What did they see?! I've tried looking on Google Maps and I think I've worked out the main street which leads to Strada Provinciale 135 as it has a fork to the right and a branch to the left just at the edge of the village. I can't work out where the country lane, gate or meadow are, or anything that might have been an amazing sight. It's such a shame to think that that information may have been lost forever.

The final part in England was of particular interest as it’s a country I know a little better than Italy. I’ve read recollections of the Coronation before and seen clips of the ceremony but Emily gave more information about the run-up to the event and how it was celebrated by the general public. Her viewpoint outside the Abbey gave a different side of the experience that I’d not heard before, especially the moment when everyone there spontaneously stood up in silence as the Queen was crowned. It was a very emotional moment, especially when followed by the words from Princess Marie Louise about service and duty, something that the Queen has very much taken to heart over the past 70 years.

Emily’s recounting of her entire trip was written in such an easy manner but also very personable. I really felt as though I got to know all of the women throughout the book, their personalities and little quirks came through very strongly. I think it’s got to be one of the most entertaining travel books that I’ve ever read!

[Mona · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Kimbrough tells of a trip she and 3 of her friends made to Italy and then to England for Queen Elizabeth's coronation. She's always humorous about herself and her companions and the situations they find themselves in. She definitely traveled in different circles than I do! She meets Princess Marie Louise at a coronation concert/supper, but she makes it feel like I could, too. She gives a list of restaurants at the back of the book, but since the book was written in 1956, you realize that probably few, if any, still exist. She talks about a festival in a hill town in Italy, and you suspect that the thing is completely commercialized now. Still, a very fun read.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book but I’m surprised at the error about Princess Marie Louise. She was not the daughter of Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. All three of their daughters died before Queen Elizabeth II was crowned. Princess Marie Louise was the daughter of Princess Helena and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein. Princess Helena was Queen Victoria’s daughter.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book -- a group of American women travel through Europe. I loved the descriptions of the food, the sights, the customs of the Italians, and the British and how proper and mannered the women were. Ah -- good and respectful manners -- I miss those.

[Jennifer Wadman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Travel memoir of 1953 trip to France, Italy, England by a group of upper class American women for Queen Elizabeth’s coronation

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Emily Kimbrough’s first “traveling with friends” book. She got better (at both traveling and writing about it) as the years went by! In this adventure, several grandmothers go to Europe, visiting various places in Italy before heading to London for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, where Emily, then a popular radio commentator, would broadcast daily reports of the festivities there.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily Kimbrough makes the reader feel as though they are traveling with her. Her writing is funny and perceptive. Although her books are now dated and hard to find I would highly recommend them to fellow arm-chair travelers.

[Michael Rhode · Rating 3 out of 5]

A minor travel book, but it's fun to get a glimpse of early 1950s Italy. Marcel Marceau is mentioned in passing as someone to watch. The illustrations by Mircea Vasiliu, who moved to the DC area fleeing Communism are quite nice.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charming. A little difficult to read, though maybe that's because my brain has gotten soft with all the easy to digest chick-lit I read.