Portrait of Clare

by Francis Brett Young, Justin Avoth (Narrator)

Naxos AudioBooks is proud to be bringing Francis Brett Young (1884–1964) back into the literary limelight. A justly celebrated writer in his time, he drew on his military and medical experience as well as his acute environmental observations to create authentically detailed and poetically rich novels of profound emotional depth. The coal-mining and heavy industry of the Black Country in the West Midlands, observed by the author as a boy, imbue his ‘Mercian’ novels. He creates a sense of place as evocative as Thomas Hardy’s Wessex and his characters are deeply human – flawed, passionate, and unforgettable.

After her mother’s death and her father’s remarriage, Claerwen Lydiatt finds herself in the austere surroundings of Pen House with her grandfather and Aunt Cathie. Drawn to her glamorous neighbours, the Hingstons, and with solicitor Dudley Wilburn in the wings, Clare will not be contained; she wants to feel the wind in her hair and find out who she is. Portrait of Clare features, according to the author, ‘a normal and (possibly) a rather silly woman moving quite unimportantly across the West Midland landscape’ – but, like a simple Beethovenian theme, this powers an extraordinary, sophisticated and very moving work.

29 hrs. 38 mins.

30 pages, Audiobook

First published January 1, 1927

About the author

Francis Brett Young was born in 1884 at Hales Owen, Worcestershire, the eldest son of Dr Thomas Brett Young.

Educated at Iona Cottage High School, Sutton Coldfield and Epsom College, Francis read Medicine at Birmingham University before entering general practice at Brixham in 1907. The following year he married Jessie Hankinson whom he had met during his medical studies. She was a singer of some repute, having appeared as a soloist in Henry Wood's Promenade Concerts.

Francis based one of his earliest novels Deep Sea (1914) in Brixham but was soon to be caught up in the Great War. He served in the R.A.M.C. in East Africa, experiences recorded in Marching on Tanga.

After the war Francis and Jessie went to live in Capri where a number of novels with African as well as English backgrounds were produced. Popular success came in 1927 when Francis was awarded the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Portrait of Clare.

The Brett Youngs returned to England in 1929, staying for a while in the Lake District before settling at Craycombe House in Worcestershire in 1932. During this period Francis was at the height of his fame and his annually produced novels were eagerly awaited.

During the Second World War Francis laboured on his long poem covering the spread of English history from prehistoric times. Entitled The Island, it was published in 1944 and regarded by Francis as his greatest achievement.

Following a breakdown in his health Francis and Jessie moved to South Africa where he died in 1954. His ashes were brought back to this country and interred in Worcester Cathedral.

Reviews

[Alice Smithers]

Wonderful book. Its an oldie but goodie and writing has changed since his time, but its really nice to revisit that eloquent style. I can see why he was such a respected author of his time and why his books still sell to old-fashioned types like me. The insight into the time and society of the day are a bonus to the actual story, which is charming and absorbing. He describes the emotions of deep love, family relationship and the first world war - in a way you fully understand with no resort to sex or violence - that's quite an achievement! As I said in my initial review, it does take some time to get going but I think as long as you understand that he is setting the scene for you then it is worth persevering. One minute it appeared a little tedious, I even thought of abandoning it, and the next I was hooked until the very end.

[Jayne]

4.5 stars

An eloquent, meandering tale following Clare's life. In a note from the author, he mentions that he had difficulty in publishing this book, eventually changing publishers, as his original publisher declared the book to be too lengthy and not 'modern'. Certainly if you require a fast paced read with plenty of action, this is not for you. Yet, I adored it, for its beautiful writing, particularly of the landscape and nature of Herefordshire; for its clear sighted look at relationships and their success or failure; and a peek into times past.
It is often more engaging and illuminating to read contemporary books of the past than historical fiction, as the authors actually lived in those times. Francis Brett Young did not write about World War I from research - he used his own memories of his time serving.
Overall, a lovely book - about, in the author's words, "a normal and (possibly) a rather silly woman moving quite unimportantly across the West Midland landscape."

[Andrew Cope]

I find Francis Brett Young’s works often have quite poor plotting relying on coincidences in the narrative to push the story along. This book is no exception but despite this it’s an enchanting read with believable characters and very much of its place, the West Midlands with the Black Country in one direction and the open countryside in the other, in the early 20th century. It’s quite a long book, 850+ pages, taking time to accurately draw the characters and detail them to such an extent that by and large you do care about them. But it’s not just the characters that are well detailed, things like transport, the topography and the contents of rooms the mannerisms are all well described in often extensive detail giving his works quite an immersive feel. It’s also a book of its time and seems to accurately portray a period which seems very distant now. Nevertheless, despite its length this is a book I have read a couple of times possibly because despite its rather leisurely style it does leave you wanting to read again his descriptions and wondering exactly where the story would have gone if continued. Some of FBY books now can seem a bit too leisurely but this is certainly in the top five of his works to read I would say. I would particularly recommend this if you are local to the area in which it is set as despite him changing some of the place names his descriptions leave you in no doubt about the location he is writing about.