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Four Fields, Five Gates
Two hours' drive westwards from Birmingham and Manchester is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Facing Cardigan Bay is the huge mountain, Cader Idris ('The Chair of Idris'), just under 3000 feet above sea level at its peak, and on its northern edge is the long estuary of the river Mawddach. It is between Dolgellau, Bontddu, Barmouth, Fairbourne and Tywyn. In this spectacular topography was born a dream for three resourceful young women during wartime Britain. They searched the area for an old house which they could repair. They found it.
192 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 16, 2020
https://osm.org/go/eucLBYhDQ-
During the 1940s, three women search for a house >400ft (ca. 122 metres) above the Mawddach Estuary and this simple story of its renovation during a time free from electronics, is delightful.
During the 1940s, three women search for a house >400ft (ca. 122 metres) above the Mawddach Estuary and this simple story of its renovation during a time free from electronics, is delightful.
August 14, 2022
What we did during our holidays
I looked forward to reading this book which I picked up in a local charity shop. As I live not far from the setting it held a special attraction to me. However, though there is much to like about this book, it is also in many ways disappointing. This is the story of resourceful women taking on a significant challenge and succeeding. In the telling of the take there are some delightful descriptions of natural life in the area.
But, and it is a big but, you never get a feel for the area. This is a book about the area by intermittent visitors who never manage to tap into the culture or life of the area. They are also middle-class, well to do characters, who have little understanding of the lives of others. Most surprising is the realisation that this is set during World War II which rarely gets a mention in the books pages as it has little effect on the lives of the protagonists who seem sheltered and singly focussed on their recreational project.
I continued reading as I live in the area described and enjoyed reading descriptions of places I know. But, without that lure, I don't think I would have finished the book.
I looked forward to reading this book which I picked up in a local charity shop. As I live not far from the setting it held a special attraction to me. However, though there is much to like about this book, it is also in many ways disappointing. This is the story of resourceful women taking on a significant challenge and succeeding. In the telling of the take there are some delightful descriptions of natural life in the area.
But, and it is a big but, you never get a feel for the area. This is a book about the area by intermittent visitors who never manage to tap into the culture or life of the area. They are also middle-class, well to do characters, who have little understanding of the lives of others. Most surprising is the realisation that this is set during World War II which rarely gets a mention in the books pages as it has little effect on the lives of the protagonists who seem sheltered and singly focussed on their recreational project.
I continued reading as I live in the area described and enjoyed reading descriptions of places I know. But, without that lure, I don't think I would have finished the book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews