Thorley Weir

by E.F. Benson

Thorley Weir is E.F. Benson's most famous novel.

155 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1913

About the author

Edward Frederic "E. F." Benson was an English novelist, biographer, memoirist, archaeologist and short story writer.

E. F. Benson was the younger brother of A.C. Benson, who wrote the words to "Land of Hope and Glory", Robert Hugh Benson, author of several novels and Roman Catholic apologetic works, and Margaret Benson, an author and amateur Egyptologist.

Benson died during 1940 of throat cancer at the University College Hospital, London. He is buried in the cemetery at Rye, East Sussex.

Last paragraph from Wikipedia

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm such a Fan of Fred that I'm always thrilled to find a new one. I didn't really enjoy this. It felt flat and 'phoned in'. If it weren't Benson I think I might have ditched it. There's still a lot of good here, but it just doesn't compare to such favourites as "M&L", "Paying Guests", "An Autumn Sowing", "The Unwanted"... I loved the character of Philip (if it weren't for Philip it wouldn't have been as 'Benson') but interestingly this was the one aspect of the novel that was criticised in a review that I managed to dig up from the Spectator (1913) http://archive.spectator.co.uk/articl... "Mr. Benson must beware of exaggera- tion in his drawing of character" ... love the hyphenation - I could hear the voice! - but this exaggera-tion is where I think his genius lies. This was back in 1913, pre Lucia days, but I'm interested in hearing from other Benson fans what they think of this novel. Maybe I'm being harsh and wasn't in the right mood. I'd like to think - ***semi-spoiler*** - that he was trapped in an unwanted contract and it's a book within a book within a book. That would add a bit of spice.

[Jack Bates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming Edwardian story of art and love

This was recommended by someone on social media. (you'll see their 5 star review below.)

It is not arch and funny like the Mapp and Lucia books but it's entertaining, with some lovely descriptions of southern English/Thames-side scenery, and paintings. It has some interesting things to say about art, who pays for it and who benefits.

I was slightly worried that something dreadful might happen - in places it is tense in a very, very gentle fashion - but - spoiler alert - everything comes to a satisfying conclusion.

(Is this REALLY Benson's most famous book? Maybe it was in, like, 1930.)

PS Things written just befor WWI are unbearably poignant. I assume Charles, Reggie, and Frank would all have joined up a year after this was published and nothing would ever be the same for any of them.

[D.M.S. Fick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am absolutely gaga about this book. I've never read another book that so effectively and entertainingly expresses the joys and process of being an artist. Benson wrote the Mapp and Lucia stories. This novel is less silly, but still immensely engaging. It takes place in England in 1913. There's romance. There's art. There's poor and rich. There's also a thorough (yet never boring) discussion of the ethics of art patronage. Some will find Benson a wordy shipmate. I did at first, but I got the hang of it and the book kicked into rewarding reading a few pages in.