Mrs. Tim Christie

Mrs. Tim #1-2

by D.E. Stevenson

Vivacious, young Hester Christie tries to run her home like clockwork, as would befit the wife of British Army officer, Tim Christie. However hard Mrs. Tim strives for seamless living amidst the other army wives, she is always moving flat-out to remember groceries, rule lively children, side-step village gossip and placate her husband with bacon, eggs, toast and marmalade.

Left alone for months at a time whilst her husband is with his regiment, Mrs. Tim resolves to keep a diary of events large and small in her family life. Once pen is set to paper no affairs of the head or heart are overlooked.

When a move to a new regiment in Scotland uproots the Christie family, Mrs. Tim is hurled into a whole new drama of dilemmas; from settling in with a new set whilst her husband is away, to disentangling a dear friend from an unsuitable match.

Ever observant, always witty and more than a little mischievous, the Mrs. Tim diaries reveal a timeless tale of a young woman often out of her depth, but, always with an eye for the amusing side of life.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Humor, British Literature, Scotland, Historical

378 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1932

About the author

There is more than one author with this name

Dorothy Emily Stevenson was a best-selling Scottish author. She published more than 40 romantic novels over a period of more than 40 years. Her father was a cousin of Robert Louis Stevenson.

D.E. Stevenson had an enormously successful writing career: between 1923 and 1970, four million copies of her books were sold in Britain and three million in the States. Like E.F. Benson, Ann Bridge, O. Douglas or Dorothy L. Sayers (to name but a few) her books are funny, intensely readable, engaging and dependable.

Reviews

[Teri-K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this entire series. These are gentle, amusing books where not a lot happens, but you really get a good look into the lives of the characters, especially Mrs. Tim. If you don't like Mrs. Tim these stories will not work for you because they are very much focused on her and her simple life. But I've always enjoyed her - I find her charming, a bit naive, and amusing. I also love slice-of-life stories, which these definitely are, set before and during WW2.

NB - It's rather confusing, but this book contains the first and second of the series, published as one continuous story. The next up is Mrs. Tim Carries On.

[Carol Bakker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, D.E. Stevenson disappointed me this time. At first, this was a cleansing breath of sea-air after Thomas Hardy. I loved Stevenson's humor, her prose, her using words like ungetatable.

However. One of the plot points didn't sit well with me. A man friend is in love with Hester Christie (Mrs. Tim). She spends copious time alone with him while her husband is doing his job, but is "innocent" of his feelings for her. It's just not fitting. Nothing happens in the book, other than the man sighing and making vague comments; in real life this would be an affair, imho. I'm down for reading more of the Mrs. Tim series if they take on other aspects of her life.

[Alana/MiaTheReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is delightful, mostly because of Mrs. Tim being a great character whom I'd want to be friends with in real life. The last third of the book while they're at the lake in Scotland didn't seem to fit with the rest of the novel. I found out recently that it was actually published as a separate book and then incorporated into Mrs. Tim Christie, or Mrs. Tim of the Regiment. I've reviewed this and several other D.E. Stevenson books on http://miathereader.com/lost-d-e-stev...

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe this is an alternate title for Mrs Tim of the Regiment.

Stevenson's second "novel" is essentially her diary with the names changed. Not as polished as her later work (unsurprising since she wasn't allowed to get an education or write while growing up) it is still quite insightful, warm, and humorous.

[EJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"There is a deep undercurrent of feeling beneath the bald simplicity of their words. They understand each other - these two - as only those who have shared pleasures and hardships can understand each other. Memories, grave and gay, bind them together in a comradeship which needs no words, no outward expression; a comradeship more faithful than love, more lasting than life."

[Beccie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank-you, thank-you Bloomsbury group for re-issuing this book that has been out of print for many years! I can't even get it in my library anymore. Now if they would just reprint the rest of the Mrs. Tim books I would be a happy, happy camper. These are books that are based on D.E. Stevenson's own diaries of the days before and during WWII. They are the story of Hester Christie, her husband Captain Tim and their 2 children. This one is set before the war and just tells about their life. It is sweet, funny, and leaves you feeling happy. I love all the references to other books and authors that Hester makes. Example:
"Grace has made up her mind not to think about the woman any more as she is not worth a moment's thought, and she has been worrying about it ever since Thursday. Am irresistibly reminded of Mrs. Palmer's fulminations on the egregious Willoughby, but realise that Grace is too upset to see the humour of it so content myself with making soothing noises."

Or just her everyday thoughts on life:
"Am wildly excited all day at the prospect of Tim's return as I have not seen him for a whole week. Husbands are annoying at times, but they are a habit which grows on one, and life is extraordinarily dull without them. Spend the day tidying up and putting fresh flowers in the vases, though I do not suppose for a moment that Tim will notice them."

There are no vampires, no faeries, no weird creatures, just a sweet story about real people living in a world I've always dreamed of. Love it, love it, love it.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love most of D. E. Stevenson's work & especially the books about Mrs. Tim. Hester is a dear, & the other characters always interesting. The books bubble with engaging friends & foes, gentle humor & action agreeably sprinkled with food, clothes & housekeeping details that only improve the pleasure for the reader. Who can resist imagining their life with afternoon tea & a devoted helper in the house? Not me!

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mrs. Tim is the most popular wife in the regiment, and her lively diary entries describing daily events, misadventures, and surviving on a budget make several fun volumes.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read as audiobook.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read all the D. E. Stevenson books years ago. Suggested by Goodreads because I read Green Dolphin Street.

[Hannah Garden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yay! I love stuff my Mom recommends, it is so sweet.

[Pamela Bronson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delicious, nourishing literary comfort food.

The first half, originally published by itself, was based on DE Stevenson's diary as the wife of a British Army officer, which she lent to a friend whose daughter was going to marry an officer. The friend told her it was very funny and should be made into a book.

DES later became famous for romances but this is not exactly one of those, since the heroine is happily and securely married, though not without quarrels. She misses her husband so much when they're separated and hopes he won't be posted to India. There are many memorable and often hilarious characters.

It's interesting to read about how being a housewife could be hard even with three or four servants. Of course there were no supermarkets or modern appliances.

I really enjoyed rereading this and look forward to rereading the three sequels.

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a stack of four of the Mrs. Tim Christie books at hand. At first the diary format felt awkward and rough shod, but as I became accustomed to it, it annoyed me less. I must admit Hester’s giving in to the will of everyone around her was quite frustrating it, but she was really being very British, accepting what was, and getting on with and making the best of it. In that they books are based on her own diaries, they provide a realistic view of army life from the wife’s point of view, small towns, military vs civilians vs the upper crust, the differences between in English, Scottish and Highland societies, habits and relationships with people and nature.
On to the 2nd book, Mrs. Tim Carries On.

[Stephanie C · Rating 4 out of 5]

A grown-up, British, L.M. Montgomery-like book. To read when you feel like reading Anne of Green Gables but also something you haven't already read a few times.

The book was apparently based on D.E. Stevenson's journals, so it progresses in a very life-like fashion, with small incidents and events creating most of the drama. Hester, our main character, is lovely and has such a beautiful perspective on life that it's nice to live through her eyes for a few hundred pages or so.

I especially enjoyed the second half and plan to read all the sequels.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid 4.
I have been looking for this book and finally received it as a gift. I am not sure why the first of a series is a challenge to find.
The first bit was a bit "journally" but I stuck with it because I loved Miss Buncle's Book. And so happy I did. Now I am looking forward to the sequel.
If you need a shot of the good side of humans, this is it. If my 101 year old mother-in-law was still reading, I would give her this book as it hits all of the requirements (no sex or violence, lovely writing, great scenery, finding good in people).

[Bryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still a fan of D. E. Stevenson, but I'm glad I read this series out of order. If I had started here I might not have read the others. Compared to later Mrs. Tim books, Tim was wholly unlikeable and her friendship with Tony was pretty uncomfortable. I also skimmed a lot of Mrs. Falconer's conversation which I found tedious instead of funny. Still worth reading, though, and I'm looking forward to the last one.

[Gillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went for something entirely different with this one. It was a pleasant read and fascinating to be essentially reading the diary of the life of a military wife and mother just before the war. Gosh how times have changed and not entirely for the better! Lovely book, well written and thoroughly interesting for the characters and era-specific interactions. Fun, what!

[Cadence · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't my favorite Stevenson novel. The diary format made it a little slow and plodding, but it picked up about halfway through and aside from a few overly descriptive passages that I ended up skimming, I quite enjoyed it. I especially loved how she wrote her experiences as an Army wife. Incredibly relatable even almost 100 years later.

[L Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful. Charming. Fun. Laugh-out-loud at times. Wish the succeeding three books were also out again, but I will scour used book stores for them. It's just nice once in awhile to enjoy a book without heavy drama.
ALSO CALLED: MRS TIM OF THE REGIMENT

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much!!! Fun Fact: part 1 of the book (January-May) is D.E. Stevenson's actual diary! (a bit 'pepped up', but still!!! So interesting!!!) I love this series so so SO much!!!!! Highly reccomend.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

So enjoyable. On to the next one in the series.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charming and amusing. Sometimes a little precious--I prefer Stevenson's Miss Buncle books--but still enjoyable and occasionally very funny.

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite as good as D E's other books, but then it was I believe the beginning of her literary journey so that's to be expected. Still an enjoyable read.

[Kelsey Kramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books. Fair warning: it will make you want to visit Scotland...

[Susan]

1930's British army officiers wife's diary

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written as a journal, it does an excellent job of building relationships between characters.
I will say, I think Mrs. Christe is an unreliable narrator.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as a Miss Buncle but still enjoyed it. Glad Google could help with the Scottish slang and old timey phrases.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Told in diary form, this story of Mrs Tim, wife of an army commander, this was not one of my favorite Stevenson novels.

[Adele · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Diary style with boring characters and entries.

[Anne Whiting · Rating 1 out of 5]

I set out to read Mrs. Tim Christie with great expectations. I'd read a number of other D.E. Stevenson novels, so I was looking forward to this one. Alas, I less than lived up to my expectations. Besides being slightly boring, it sort of wended its way through tons of sexual insinuations, thoughts on the lack of parenting of her friends, and local gossip. I read about as much as I could take - and finally had to put it down about 1/3 of the way through.