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Fairacre #2
Village Diary: A Novel
“If you’ve ever enjoyed a visit to Mitford, you’ll relish a visit to Fairacre.” —Jan Karon Miss Read once again transports readers to the picturesque English village of Fairacre with her Village Diary. Having received a beautiful diary for Christmas, she proceeds to set down a year’s worth of observations and experiences as the village school’s headmistress. And what a year it is! As the villagers prepare for their country pageant, Fairacre welcomes many newcomers, such as the headstrong Amy; the earnest new infants’ teacher, Miss Jackson; and Mr. Mawne—whom the villagers would like to see the reluctant Miss Read marry . . . “Miss Read's Books . . . have deservedly received the highest praise from both English and American reviewers.” —The New York Times Book Review “Miss Read reminds us of what is really important. And if we can’t live in her world, it’s certainly a comforting place to visit.” —USA Today
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1955
308 people are currently reading
1098 people want to read
About the author
Miss Read
157 books514 followersDora Jessie Saint MBE née Shafe (born 17 April 1913), best known by the pen name Miss Read, was an English novelist, by profession a schoolmistress. Her pseudonym was derived from her mother's maiden name. In 1940 she married her husband, Douglas, a former headmaster. The couple had a daughter, Jill. She began writing for several journals after World War II and worked as a scriptwriter for the BBC.
She wrote a series of novels from 1955 to 1996. Her work centred on two fictional English villages, Fairacre and Thrush Green. The principal character in the Fairacre books, "Miss Read", is an unmarried schoolteacher in a small village school, an acerbic and yet compassionate observer of village life. Miss Read's novels are wry regional social comedies, laced with gentle humour and subtle social commentary. Miss Read is also a keen observer of nature and the changing seasons.
Her most direct influence is from Jane Austen, although her work also bears similarities to the social comedies of manners written in the 1920s and 1930s, and in particular the work of Barbara Pym. Miss Read's work has influenced a number of writers in her own turn, including the American writer Jan Karon. The musician Enya has a track on her Watermark album named after the book Miss Clare Remembers, and one on her Shepherd Moons album named after No Holly for Miss Quinn.
In 1996 she retired. In 1998 she was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for her services to literature. She died 7 April, 2012 in Shefford Woodlands.
She wrote a series of novels from 1955 to 1996. Her work centred on two fictional English villages, Fairacre and Thrush Green. The principal character in the Fairacre books, "Miss Read", is an unmarried schoolteacher in a small village school, an acerbic and yet compassionate observer of village life. Miss Read's novels are wry regional social comedies, laced with gentle humour and subtle social commentary. Miss Read is also a keen observer of nature and the changing seasons.
Her most direct influence is from Jane Austen, although her work also bears similarities to the social comedies of manners written in the 1920s and 1930s, and in particular the work of Barbara Pym. Miss Read's work has influenced a number of writers in her own turn, including the American writer Jan Karon. The musician Enya has a track on her Watermark album named after the book Miss Clare Remembers, and one on her Shepherd Moons album named after No Holly for Miss Quinn.
In 1996 she retired. In 1998 she was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for her services to literature. She died 7 April, 2012 in Shefford Woodlands.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
February 15, 2017
Ugh why do I love these books so much??? Nothing actually happens in them! But they're just so charming!
January 8, 2016
Just the world I want to visit when I'm tired of this one. It's hard not to make a few parallels to Tolkien's Shire. Mr Willet reminds me of Sam's Gaffer: "Proper twizzled up, I was after that row at the Parish Council. I went and earthed up my celery, on my own. That sorted me out a treat!' That virago, Mrs Pringle, is distantly related to the Sackville-Bagginses, and Arthur Coggs could be a Sandyman or a Pimple.
February 20, 2023
I'm slowly getting acquainted with the residents of Fairacre, looking forward to the next book.
As of now, Thrush Green is ahead of Fairacre!
As of now, Thrush Green is ahead of Fairacre!
April 11, 2025
3.5 here, but I'll round up since I can tell that I'm settling in to Fairacre. Miss Read is my kind of person. No-nonsense, loving her alone time and her old maid status, but still remaining and involved villager.
Read
October 27, 2017Miss Read chronicles the happenings of an entire year at her school and Fairacre generally in a mammoth diary she has been gifted for Christmas, from classes and holidays at the school, to the village pageant and fair―life is eventful and full even away from the bustle of the city. Life in Fairacre is changing, with TVs and better connections to town and larger villages, village committees and activities that used to be the centre of life are losing their value, and indeed their popularity, only the older inhabitants or new residents in the village being interested anymore. But life goes on, as older skills are being lost, newer ones are being added. Alongside, (almost) all of Fairacre is matchmaking, having found Miss Read one they believe is a perfect match! I love Miss Read’s descriptions of the village and of life there, one wants so much to live in Miss Clare’s lovely home (though one realises before long that even she has her troubles, and just how hard keeping everything that immaculate and attractive is proving to be). And I also loved that life that Miss Read takes us into (though it isn’t easy) when people actually did things, used things to the fullest, vegetables were grown and preserved for colder months, clothes were used to the fullest and put to other uses when they couldn’t be used any more―not simply thrown, entertainments were of one’s own making, costumes for pageants were made, put together, not simply bought―how much more satisfying and happy that life was. What a lovely and attractive picture of country life she draws for us and yet it is real, with life and death, pain and pleasure, fun and hardship all playing out as they usually do (and everyone always informed of all that was going on in one’s life, one of its downsides, perhaps), and so a life of dreams, yet one that can actually be lived. A pleasant and beautiful read as always. Four and a half stars
June 2, 2019
Miss Read, in real life Dora Jessie Saint, had such a gift for describing the minutiae of life in a charming and heartwarming manner. While her books are fiction, it isn’t at all difficult to imagine that some of her characters might have been inspired by people she knew during her career as a schoolteacher.
This book is written as though it were a diary, beginning in January and finishing with the year in December, albeit without dates. She often used the months and seasons as frames for her stories in lieu of a conventional plot.
So many of her devoted readers describe her books as comfort reading, like a literary bowl of chicken noodle soup or plate of hot buttered toast. I remember a particular comment from a book I read a couple of years ago, The Time Traveler’s Guide to Medieval England, that in that time period, it was vitally important to belong to a community, because only as a part of a community was it possible to ply one’s trade, and further, that outsiders were isolated and preyed upon. Technology has removed this necessity of community but I believe that we, as animals with reason, still have a need to belong.
Miss Read’s novels portray that security of belonging; each villager occupies a specific niche and plays a defined role in village life, from the vicar’s wife to Mrs. Pringle, the school cleaner to Mr. Robert’s, the farmer.
More and more of us live in urban and suburban areas these days, and modern technology tends to isolate us from our neighbors, yet we all, from our earliest years still have a desire to find our place and belong to a community. I believe this is one reason why so many readers still adore Miss Read’s works today.
Her simple, beautiful writing is another reason. Whether she is describing a thunderstorm on a summer’s night or how the earth comes back to life in the spring, her crisp but fluid prose is a delight to read. I know that I never tire of reading - and rereading - her books.
This book is written as though it were a diary, beginning in January and finishing with the year in December, albeit without dates. She often used the months and seasons as frames for her stories in lieu of a conventional plot.
So many of her devoted readers describe her books as comfort reading, like a literary bowl of chicken noodle soup or plate of hot buttered toast. I remember a particular comment from a book I read a couple of years ago, The Time Traveler’s Guide to Medieval England, that in that time period, it was vitally important to belong to a community, because only as a part of a community was it possible to ply one’s trade, and further, that outsiders were isolated and preyed upon. Technology has removed this necessity of community but I believe that we, as animals with reason, still have a need to belong.
Miss Read’s novels portray that security of belonging; each villager occupies a specific niche and plays a defined role in village life, from the vicar’s wife to Mrs. Pringle, the school cleaner to Mr. Robert’s, the farmer.
More and more of us live in urban and suburban areas these days, and modern technology tends to isolate us from our neighbors, yet we all, from our earliest years still have a desire to find our place and belong to a community. I believe this is one reason why so many readers still adore Miss Read’s works today.
Her simple, beautiful writing is another reason. Whether she is describing a thunderstorm on a summer’s night or how the earth comes back to life in the spring, her crisp but fluid prose is a delight to read. I know that I never tire of reading - and rereading - her books.
February 27, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed this Fairacre installment. I liked the pace of going month-by-month in Miss Read's diary. I liked seeing a more human side of her, with a beautiful self-awareness about her peeves and shortcomings. I lose it every time the author refers to Miss Pringle's "lugubrious contralto" "mooing" out hymns. You just don't get that kind of characterization anywhere else.
January 26, 2021
Enjoyed this books so much growing up. Planning now on re-reading all of them.
November 1, 2023
Aww an old fave! Gobbled this up this week late in the evenings of stressful days. Old fashioned, a bit twee but I love it!
December 10, 2019
Miss Read is a lady after my own heart.
Her "polite" (cleverly hidden) sarcasm is a wonderful treat after a tiring day of work. Lifts the spirits up just like a good cuppa.
She is a member of the Grammar Police, of which I may be affiliated with myself.
She keeps her classroom of kids in order, even when the odds are stacked against her, and when the wind whistles through the roof at her all of the school day. She makes the most of each experience that she can.
I love when she speaks her mind about a certain topic in her diary, usually about the education system or everyday village life. She speaks simply, but eloquently enough, and most importantly, always from the bottom of her heart.
I was enchanted with each and every happening that Miss Read shared in her diary.
Mr. Mawne has moved into town, and the most of the villagers seem to be trying to matchmake Miss Read with the newcomer. She will have none of it, obviously.
Things really come to a head with cantankerous Mrs. Pringle, as she forfeits her post of keeping the school clean while cooling her heels at home (for a record-breaking time period).
This one is a favorite, for sure. Miss Read books are an especial treasure.
Her "polite" (cleverly hidden) sarcasm is a wonderful treat after a tiring day of work. Lifts the spirits up just like a good cuppa.
She is a member of the Grammar Police, of which I may be affiliated with myself.
She keeps her classroom of kids in order, even when the odds are stacked against her, and when the wind whistles through the roof at her all of the school day. She makes the most of each experience that she can.
I love when she speaks her mind about a certain topic in her diary, usually about the education system or everyday village life. She speaks simply, but eloquently enough, and most importantly, always from the bottom of her heart.
I was enchanted with each and every happening that Miss Read shared in her diary.
Mr. Mawne has moved into town, and the most of the villagers seem to be trying to matchmake Miss Read with the newcomer. She will have none of it, obviously.
Things really come to a head with cantankerous Mrs. Pringle, as she forfeits her post of keeping the school clean while cooling her heels at home (for a record-breaking time period).
This one is a favorite, for sure. Miss Read books are an especial treasure.
August 19, 2024
I read the first book in this series about six years ago and loved it and always meant to return to the village of Fairacre. I'm happy to report that Village Diary, the second book in the Chronicles of Fairacre is just as lovely as the first. I enjoy the main character's hilarious but poignant musings on village life, education, nature and the passing of the seasons.
September 5, 2014
Miss Read chronicles a year in her village school. There's a new, unmarried man in the village and all the gossips have him walking down the aisle with Miss Read. She is not so interested. She has her hands full dealing with the new infants' teacher who is trained in all the modern methods and child psychology and finds herself chafing at the old-fashioned methods employed in the village school. Miss Read's old school friend Amy visits frequently only to bring Miss Read out into the great wide world, assuming the teacher is bored and lonely in the country. There's also the county play in which the villagers are chosen to play Romans vs. Ancient Britons. Miss Read must also deal with the cantankerous old Mrs. Pringle who cleans the school with lots of grumbling. Miss Read enjoys the simple pleasures of village life though and wouldn't change a thing. Babies are born, people die and progress changes things a bit but still the school carries on.
This book is better than the first because now I am familiar with the characters and the rhythm of village life. There's a lot of subtle humor in the story and more conflict to deal with. The new characters introduce more humor but my favorite is Mrs. Pringle, the drama queen. I can easily picture her the queen of the village. Miss Read has a lot of patience but she finally snaps in this book and I like her better for standing up for herself. The children are charming and more distinguishable by now. Joseph Coggs and his family illustrates the negative aspects to village life. I kept feeling bad for young Joseph and wishing his mother could take the kids and go away.
I can see this being a TV series on PBS because it bridges the gap between the idyllic 19th century preindustrial life and modern society.
This book is better than the first because now I am familiar with the characters and the rhythm of village life. There's a lot of subtle humor in the story and more conflict to deal with. The new characters introduce more humor but my favorite is Mrs. Pringle, the drama queen. I can easily picture her the queen of the village. Miss Read has a lot of patience but she finally snaps in this book and I like her better for standing up for herself. The children are charming and more distinguishable by now. Joseph Coggs and his family illustrates the negative aspects to village life. I kept feeling bad for young Joseph and wishing his mother could take the kids and go away.
I can see this being a TV series on PBS because it bridges the gap between the idyllic 19th century preindustrial life and modern society.
January 14, 2020
The interview with the author at the end made this audiobook.
Even though the book is (obviously :) ) about village life and it may seem like nothing much is happening in Miss Read's books, they have a charming yesteryear feel about them and I love listening to them.
I do think I prefer the Thrush Green series more than this one though, admittedly, fiction stories about schoolhouse marms are not my most preferred topic to read about. (And diaries dont feature up there as first favourites either.)
Added to that, the Fairacre books are written in first person, and Thrush Green is in third person which the author states she found easier to write, and, I found easier to read when I compared the two series.
Extra: abusive father, husband is cheating on his wife and the advice given to her is meh!
Even though the book is (obviously :) ) about village life and it may seem like nothing much is happening in Miss Read's books, they have a charming yesteryear feel about them and I love listening to them.
I do think I prefer the Thrush Green series more than this one though, admittedly, fiction stories about schoolhouse marms are not my most preferred topic to read about. (And diaries dont feature up there as first favourites either.)
Added to that, the Fairacre books are written in first person, and Thrush Green is in third person which the author states she found easier to write, and, I found easier to read when I compared the two series.
Extra: abusive father, husband is cheating on his wife and the advice given to her is meh!
February 19, 2018
I adored this book. It followed the months of the year in Fairacre during the early 1950's-- Miss Read's diary for the year. Miss Read is full of wisdom, wit, and she is also so much like many women of today. She worries about people gossiping about her, she worries about her finances, she is afraid of mice and rats haha. I love Miss Read and her village and want to jump inside this book!
April 9, 2018
I knew that this would be a soothing, quiet read (I think the in term is "up read") but I didn't realize how much I'd laugh out loud when reading it. Miss Read has a wonderful sense of humor and this epistolary (in diary form) novel has many wry observations.
October 24, 2020
Highlights include: A Pageant on The History of England put on by the women and children of Fairacre and the surrounding counties. The whole village tries to set up Miss Read with new Fairacre resident Mr. Mawne, which leads to a battle between Miss Read and Mrs. Pringle. Miss Clare makes a brief return to the classroom. Miss Jackson arrives as the new Infants Teacher and eventually settles in to the pace of a small village. Best of all, Miss Read adopts a kitten named Tibby. It was sad that this time Miss Read is the focus of the entire book. I missed some of the stories being told through the eyes of the children. I hope the author includes their perspective more in future books.
November 18, 2024
2024 This series is set in the 1950s in a rapidly changing England, and on this re-read I really noticed that beneath the charming story there is a good deal of social commentary.That doesn't make it any less e enjoyable, it just means this isn't as fluffy as it might seem to be.
Original Review: Sweet, but with enough grit to avoid saccharine. Fans of Jan Karon's books, which sometimes do get cloying, should read these.
Original Review: Sweet, but with enough grit to avoid saccharine. Fans of Jan Karon's books, which sometimes do get cloying, should read these.
October 4, 2024
I love all of Miss Read's books, and reread them often. This may be a personal favorite, as Miss Read, the village school teacher, receives a diary for Christmas, and begins writing in January. The book follows her month by month through the ear, ending on a crisp English night in December. Such a comforting and satisfying story!
December 3, 2020
Comforting read! The day to day of a mid-century British village school as recorded by the teacher.
November 7, 2021
I absolutely love these books! The perfect slice of English country life during simpler times.
June 24, 2019
“Sitting alone, in the quiet classroom, with only the tick of the wall-clock and the faint shouts of my approaching pupils to be heard, I felt, perhaps more keenly than ever before, just what it means to be a villager – someone whose welfare is of interest (sometimes of unwelcome interest) to one’s neighbours – but always to matter."
The charm of these books is off the charts. In this installment, Miss Read has been given a “large and magnificent” diary for Christmas, and resolves to begin filling it in, starting in January. The result is a candid account of life in Fairacre for one full calendar year, replete with Miss Read’s characteristic humor and wisdom. They are rather elaborate as diary entries, but I guess when you are as gifted a chronicler as Miss Read is, you can afford to get carried away.
Though she writes about the most commonplace, day-to-day happenings, it’s her way with words that makes for engaging reading. Miss Read confirms for me that there is enough 'story' to be found in the everyday stuff of life. You just need to be talented enough to put it into the right words.
March 13, 2021
Last year, I fell in love with Miss Read's Thrush Green series. I was really looking forward to reading the Fairacre books, but was a little disappointed when I read Village School last month. I just didn't feel the connection with the villagers like I did in the Thrush Green books. It was her first published book. So, maybe she just hadn't found her voice yet. Anyway, Village Diary is written as a year of diary entries by the fictional Miss Read. THIS was what I had come to expect from reading her books. It was a heartfelt, comical at times, look at a year in the life of a Headmistress in a small, rural school and I loved it. The characters really took shape in this one and were so much fun, especially the rascally Mrs. Pringle. Published in 1957, it is interesting to see how education and schools have changed, but, at their heart, teachers and children are much the same.
August 11, 2017
Soothing as a cup of hot chocolate; welcome anytime! Miss Read books don't have much plot beyond the local doings of the village of Fairacre and surrounds, but she writes with an eye to detail the blessings of life and the small ironies of human nature which abound everywhere! I think I have read all her books at least once and many of them, time and again. This was probably the third time around for me on this one, but it still has plenty of charm and precision insight to make the re-read worthwhile. For instance, I love the story of she she came by her cat, but even in this seemingly gentle tale, there is harshness all around. She doesn't linger on those aspects of country life which are less than uplifting, but she doesn't ignore them either!
April 10, 2020
One of my favorites. Miss Read writes a monthly journal of the happenings in the school and village of Fairacre. The villagers try to bring together a new older gentleman in the village with Miss Read, much to her annoyance and irritation. Turns out Mr. Mawne is married, just had been separated temporarily from his wife. Other events include the hiring of a new teacher for the infant class, wonderful descriptions of how the seasons change the village landscape and holidays.
Reread this favorite in March 2020! I still am enchanted by the village life!
Reread this favorite in March 2020! I still am enchanted by the village life!
August 20, 2022
"Sitting alone, in that quiet classroom, with only the tick of the wall-clock, and the faint shouts of my approaching pupils to be heard, I felt, perhaps more keenly than ever before, just what it means to be a villager - someone whose welfare is of interest (sometimes of unwelcome interest) to one's neighbours - but always to matter. It was a warming thought - to be part of a small, living community, 'members one of another', so closely linked by ties of kinship, work, and the parish boundaries, that the supposed unhappiness of one elderly woman affected us all." (page 247)
September 9, 2017
Miss Read is as charming and profound as ever. Her descriptions of daily village life and the thoughts of her narrator are comforting and relatable. Since the main character is the school mistress, there are quite a few sections about the philosophy and practice of education, plus some great meditations on the nature of life in a small, rural community.
This is a very easy read, but not simplistic.
This is a very easy read, but not simplistic.
April 9, 2018
Number two in the Fairacre series sees another humorous, relaxing and entertaining book.
As we go through the seasons in the school year we follow the events, villagers lives, gossip and worries and of course the changing countryside.
The characters are just wonderful and brought alive with humour and the illustrations.
A gentle book I would recommend.
As we go through the seasons in the school year we follow the events, villagers lives, gossip and worries and of course the changing countryside.
The characters are just wonderful and brought alive with humour and the illustrations.
A gentle book I would recommend.
October 14, 2018
Another charming instalment of life in Fairacre. Have really warmed to Miss Read's wit. Great to see how the characters are developing in the series.
September 7, 2019
Even in Fairacre, change is inevitable and unpredictable.
Some readers love the Fairacre books because they see it as a place that never changes. I love them for the author's skill in showing how life has changed and continues to change in a remote English village. Life has improved in many ways, but even benevolent changes have unexpected side-effects.
This book was published in the late 1950's when England was in the midst of revolutionary upheavals. The Labour Party government made sweeping changes to improve life for working families. The National Health Service was initiated, money was poured into education, and there was a push to build affordable housing. Life improved for many people, including most of the inhabitants of Fairacre.
We see the changes through the eyes of the narrator, Miss Read, headmistress of a two-room Church of England school in the village of Fairacre. Miss Read is notable for her intelligence, her common sense, her sardonic humor, and her deep understanding of human nature. Like Agatha Christie's Miss Marple, she learned about life from living in a village. Village life throws together people from all social and economic classes. And teaching is a career that's perfect for an observant woman. NO ONE knows more about what's going on than a teacher. You have no secrets from your child's teachers!
Miss Read has seen changes in her twenty years of teaching and even more through the eyes of her friend and predecessor Dolly Clare. Ironically, it's quiet, gentle Miss Clare (born during Victoria's reign) who spiritedly defends the good things that changes have brought to Fairacre. In the "Good Old Days", she taught children who were hungry, ill-clothed, neglected, and sometimes abused. She's seen the improvements that the much-criticized "nanny state" has brought to working families and she applauds them.
But no law can bring about the Utopia that reformers aim for. Some people are smarter than others or harder-working or more frugal. The "cradle-to-grave" safety net offers more benefits for some than others. Young people who can work enjoy higher salaries. But those who are closer to the grave than the cradle struggle with tiny pensions and inflation. Miss Read is horrified to learn that her friend and mentor Dolly Clare is one of those in need. But how can her friends aid this proud woman who has given so much without expecting (or wanting) anything in return?
Miss Read loves the older villagers who still live simply and whose wide range of talents come from times when necessity really WAS the mother of invention. Her two-room, fifty-student school does some things very well, but she knows that children bused to the large "comprehensive" schools in nearby towns enjoy some advantages that her students lack. She must try to do her best for her students while doing battle with school inspectors and newly-trained teachers with grandiose, impractical ideas. Sometimes simple is best.
And Miss Read has a life outside the classroom. She cherishes her friends and neighbors, but she guards her independence and solitude, too. Nature is said to abhor a vacuum and society is horrified by an "old maid." There are feuds and disagreements aplenty in Fairacre, but the village is united in their urgency to find Miss Read a suitable husband. Mrs. Pringle insists that "love makes the world go 'round" but Miss Read likes her world just the way it is. In the end, her strong will prevails.
Fairacre is a quiet place, but villagers are adept at entertaining themselves. The saga of the Women's Institute's history pageant is hilarious and touching. It's a testament to the organizational brilliance of the local vicar's wife and the fundamental good nature of the villagers that they can overcome great obstacles to stage an event that will be talked about until it's time for next year's pageant.
Fairacre is far from stagnant. The Queen never drops in, but otherwise it's a microcosm of English life in the middle of the last century. This is the second book in the series and one of the best. If you haven't met Miss Read and her neighbors, you're missing a treat.
Some readers love the Fairacre books because they see it as a place that never changes. I love them for the author's skill in showing how life has changed and continues to change in a remote English village. Life has improved in many ways, but even benevolent changes have unexpected side-effects.
This book was published in the late 1950's when England was in the midst of revolutionary upheavals. The Labour Party government made sweeping changes to improve life for working families. The National Health Service was initiated, money was poured into education, and there was a push to build affordable housing. Life improved for many people, including most of the inhabitants of Fairacre.
We see the changes through the eyes of the narrator, Miss Read, headmistress of a two-room Church of England school in the village of Fairacre. Miss Read is notable for her intelligence, her common sense, her sardonic humor, and her deep understanding of human nature. Like Agatha Christie's Miss Marple, she learned about life from living in a village. Village life throws together people from all social and economic classes. And teaching is a career that's perfect for an observant woman. NO ONE knows more about what's going on than a teacher. You have no secrets from your child's teachers!
Miss Read has seen changes in her twenty years of teaching and even more through the eyes of her friend and predecessor Dolly Clare. Ironically, it's quiet, gentle Miss Clare (born during Victoria's reign) who spiritedly defends the good things that changes have brought to Fairacre. In the "Good Old Days", she taught children who were hungry, ill-clothed, neglected, and sometimes abused. She's seen the improvements that the much-criticized "nanny state" has brought to working families and she applauds them.
But no law can bring about the Utopia that reformers aim for. Some people are smarter than others or harder-working or more frugal. The "cradle-to-grave" safety net offers more benefits for some than others. Young people who can work enjoy higher salaries. But those who are closer to the grave than the cradle struggle with tiny pensions and inflation. Miss Read is horrified to learn that her friend and mentor Dolly Clare is one of those in need. But how can her friends aid this proud woman who has given so much without expecting (or wanting) anything in return?
Miss Read loves the older villagers who still live simply and whose wide range of talents come from times when necessity really WAS the mother of invention. Her two-room, fifty-student school does some things very well, but she knows that children bused to the large "comprehensive" schools in nearby towns enjoy some advantages that her students lack. She must try to do her best for her students while doing battle with school inspectors and newly-trained teachers with grandiose, impractical ideas. Sometimes simple is best.
And Miss Read has a life outside the classroom. She cherishes her friends and neighbors, but she guards her independence and solitude, too. Nature is said to abhor a vacuum and society is horrified by an "old maid." There are feuds and disagreements aplenty in Fairacre, but the village is united in their urgency to find Miss Read a suitable husband. Mrs. Pringle insists that "love makes the world go 'round" but Miss Read likes her world just the way it is. In the end, her strong will prevails.
Fairacre is a quiet place, but villagers are adept at entertaining themselves. The saga of the Women's Institute's history pageant is hilarious and touching. It's a testament to the organizational brilliance of the local vicar's wife and the fundamental good nature of the villagers that they can overcome great obstacles to stage an event that will be talked about until it's time for next year's pageant.
Fairacre is far from stagnant. The Queen never drops in, but otherwise it's a microcosm of English life in the middle of the last century. This is the second book in the series and one of the best. If you haven't met Miss Read and her neighbors, you're missing a treat.
January 29, 2022
I am so glad I've taken up reading Miss Read books at last. This one expands on life in the village beyond the schools, and continues to draw my admiration for the author's astute observation of the challenges and joy of existence. Nothing much happens and everything does. Miss Read doesn't care so much about having dust and spiderwebs in her house; she's not a fussy old maid. She likes the children in her school to run around outside and discover things on their own. An American child who spends a term at the village school wins her over with his rough charm. She believes children should read all kinds of things. She defends herself fiercely when certain people try to matchmake on her behalf with someone she's not the least bit interested in. She describes the genteel poverty of a former teacher, and the local doctor who makes her to understand that her former colleague Miss Clare is literally starving, so they put their heads together to find her a source of supplemental income. Chilblains are not yet a thing of the past nor is there justice in housing for the elderly, who are being put on waiting lists for council houses they don't want because they are too big and take them away from their roots, instead of helping them fix up the old places they've lived in their whole lives. There is kindness and neglect. She shows it all.
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