Frost at Morning

by Richmal Crompton

Frost at Morning is the heart-breaking story of four young children who, deserted by their parents, have been sent off to a vicarage that takes in children as paying guests. There's Philip, a sensitive boy whose father has remarried and gained a more preferable stepson; anxious little Monica, with a mother spiraling towards alcoholism; adopted Geraldine, whose desperate desire be loved actively repels people; and beautiful, vain Angela, who is ignored by her eccentric novelist mother. Left to themselves they grow to depend on one another and, as they leave the vicarage and return to their fractured homes, it become clear that a bond has formed that will hold them forever. . . As the years pass, their adult lives connect and intertwine, and the damage inflicted by their childhoods creeps ever closer to the surface. Can they build themselves anew? Or will happiness elude them forever? An exquisitely written and poignant story, Frost at Morning is a wonderful exploration of childhood and an evocative portrait of interwar Britain.

Genres: Fiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1950

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

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novel of childhood and growing up very similar in tone to Saplings by Noel Streatfeild.
The children are all very convincing. There are a lot of characters though. A chapter will end with a particularly moving moment then suddenly you switch to another point of view where it takes a minute to figure out which parent you have switched to. Beautiful prose and insight, here's Monica's mother; "living alwasy in the passing moment with a courage that could face anything but boredom."
I like Monica the best of the child characters and suspect the reader is meant to prefer her. Geraldine is worrying and disturbing. Yet when I step back and think about it, her step-mother is ridiculously weak-willed.
Angela is one of those flirty flighty beautiful girls/women who frequently appear in fiction. In reality I'd like to think few women take manipulative delight in playing men off against each other. I think one is more likely to cry like Rilla of Ingleside; "love affairs are horrible."
Shy proud Philip who takes things too seriously is probably most like me though perhaps not the most likeable; "Despairingly he wondered why everyone in the world except himself was poised and assured and self-possessed."

A very well written book but still only 3 stars because the misunderstadings and awkardness can be too depressing at times.
Quotes to remember;
"People do get on without one, you know. It's always a bit of a shock, but they do."

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to this book. Crompton provides some interesting insights, perhaps gained from her time as a school teacher. Unfortunately, the story just plods along with no change of pace. Every time it looks like something interesting is going to happen, we have a time jump and the event is only mentioned in passing.
Because the narrative covers the four initial children, their siblings and parents, I found it difficult to really connect with any of them. Well, apart from poor Monny.
This is a nice book to read and it's enjoyable to follow the children into adulthood, but if you're seeking a thrilling read, perhaps wait until a later time.

[Sheila]

Not her best work

I whiled away some hours with this novel but didn't take to it in the way I enjoyed some of Crompton's other novels. Much preferred Millicent Dorrington and Narcissa.