The Greenwood Shady

by Elizabeth Cadell, Aparna Bera (Illustrator)

Tourists found it hard to imagine a quainter, more lovable spot than Deepwood Village; but the villagers were not quite as lovable as their surroundings. Deepwood House, too, was chiefly known as the home of three wicked and rich Stirlings. So one summer Deepwood attracted some rather strange visitors as well as the tourists--visitors who withered flowers at a touch and were known to leave cloven hoof-marks. The effect of these diabolic guests on the present inhabitants of Deepwood House is told with irresistible wit and gusto.

*Note, these titles contain the original, unabridged, text exactly as the author first wrote it. Many later editions of Elizabeth Cadell's works were heavily abridged or changed. We hope you enjoy the re-issue of these timeless books. Watch for more to come in the near future!

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Fantasy

315 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1950

About the author

Violet Elizabeth Vandyke was born on 10 November 1903 in Calcutta, British Raj, daughter of British parents, Elizabeth Lynch and Frederick Reginald Vandyke, a colonial officer. During the Great War she studied music in London, but refused a musical career and returned to India where she married in 1928 Henry Dunlop Raymond Mallock Cadell, and they had a son and daughter. After she was widowed ten years later, she returned to England.

Elizabeth wrote her first book 'My Dear Aunt Flora' during the Second World War in 1946, there after producing another 51 light-hearted, humourous and romantic books which won her a faithful readership in England and America. In addition to England and India, many of her books are set in Spain, France, and Portugal. She finally settled in Portugal, where her married daughter still lived.

She died on 9 October 1989, aged eighty-five.

Reviews

[Emily Collins]

This book started out very quickly with a LOT of characters. I'll admit it took me a while to get my bearings (read: halfway through and I still couldn't place Fleury or Georgina). But it turns out, if you just slot through and ignore the fact that you don't know who half the characters are, it does make sense in the end.
After reading two other books by this author, I was surprised at the supernatural twist. It seemed a little out of the blue, but I guess if I wasn't comparing this to her other works, it wouldn't have been especially weird.
In terms of her normal double-love-story plot, I found that Strone seemed a little lacking in depth. The other couple, Willy and Elinor, were a very nice little match, although the lack of an did to Julian's problem was a little disappointing.<\spoiler>

[Peggy]

Nothing like I expected, but a joyful little tale. Fantasy, romance, ghosts and demons. Had I read the synopsis I probably would have passed but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Daniel Stainback]

This was a wonderful novel; but whoever is approving these awful childish looking covers should be slapped! I almost completely skipped this book (and many of the others by the this author) thinking it was some self-publish young adult nonsense. Picking a better font to use on the cover would help immensely.

[Sara A Bowlden]

This has always been one of m y favorite books by Mrs. Caldwell.

It's a lovely mix of romance, a touch of mystery, and a shiver of other-worldly-ness that I can read again and again.

[Terri]

Another decent read from Ms Cadell. Not as good as others, but still enjoyable. Have to remind myself sometimes that the books ws written 60+ years ago. Wonder if the time was really like she wrote. Except in this book, she brings in a bit of supernatural..surprising, to me, for the times, but a book to smile over.

[Judy]

A pleasant, unsophisticated, easy-to-read novel with romance for more than one couple, compounded by the devil in the garden, a ghost, and uncooperative parents. It took me back to a simpler time of life.

[Jodi]

Such an odd book. Devils and ghost, as well as a lot of immorality for a book of this time period. No details of course, but I didn't love the assumption that being moral was old-fashioned. I'm a big fan of Cadell but this one was a mistake.

[Marion Faith]

A Fanciful Fantasy by Cadell

Not your typical Elizabeth Cadell novel... Since it's told in a type of author omniscience, I had a bit of trouble getting into it. However, it was worth the perseverance! Neat ending!

[Jannah]

Another fun little romp
Cousin Clary is a dear
Why are the main women characters always so dithery with their romance
Jeez

[Susan]

I've got this book under the title Greenwood Shady (awesome title - very evocative) and I liked it but I can't quite figure out why! It's got some of the traditional elements you expect from an Elizabeth Cadell - romances, interesting characters, a hint of a mystery. But it's also got ghosts and messengers from the devil (very much NOT typical of a Cadell). It's a complicated story with a lot of characters but it was definitely a page turner so I'd certainly recommend it. However I think the biggest surprise for me in this book wasn't the supernatural element it was the offhand way Cadell dealt with a female character who had multiple casual affairs and with a main character who is a married woman who falls in love and embarks on a romance (granted a very genteel romance that clearly doesn't progress to the bedroom!) while waiting to get a divorce. Not quite what I expect from a gentle read from the '50s.

[Valerie]

I found this book to be complicated and clever. Cadell does not use supernatural interference in her stories, but this one was apparently intriguing and fun. A shady character is dying, and his escorts arrive to accompany him to "the promised land." However, they get sidetracked and miss his passing. Oops, they are going to be in big trouble with the boss. However, when they discover that an equally shady character with the same name is on his way to Greenwood, they throw away their orders (releasing an ancient naked ghost) and hang around to accompany the new arrival to said land. In the meantime, the inhabitants of Greenwood carry on with their lives and loves. Inadvertently, the devilish gardener helps them. And they lived happily ever after.

[Sharon]

Not one of my favorite Cadell books, but still an enjoyable read. As usual, a cast of eccentric characters, this however, some of them were otherworldly. I fell in love with Cousin Clarry ad the very charming ghost. These books always leave me feeling like I've been hugged. So glad she was prolific as I want to read them all. If you have never read this author, I suggest starting with Out of the Rain or Shadow on the Water.

[Diane L]

Amusing, light fun

[MB (What she read)]

Never mind the devils and ghost, what's weird reading in this is the dated class snobbery, casual racism, and weird and extremely sexist and dated male/female relations. Kind of uncomfortable reading. Made me glad I didn't live through this era.

[Mary White]

Her books are always a delight

[Myfanwy]

I can’t give it more than three and a half stars, but there is something extra pleasant about this book

[Lim Quay]

This is one of the best and most hilarious of Cadell’s books. I have read most of them.

[Sandy]

I picked this book up at the library on a whim, and it was thoroughly enjoyable. It’s a light romantic comedy with a little supernatural flair.

[Ymt01]

Comedy supernatural tale

[Jenn Estepp]

This book is ABSURD, plot-wise. But so much fun.

[Sep]

Elizabeth Cadell wrote, for the most part, light romances that are usually set in mid century England. We get a view of rationing, train and bus transportation, households that are just feeling the loss of a serving class.

Two women, the aunt, Elinor and her niece, Joanna, are struggling with romance. Both married men from the same family. Fortunately Elinor is a widow because the family is shady. (The reader is never enlightened on exactly what dishonest dealings they are up to.) Both are being courted with all the pitfalls of romance at any age particularly those in which one of the partners is still married, albeit, to a bounder.

What makes Cadell stand out for me is her use of humor both almost slapstick (Cousin Clary is compared to a circus clown.) and subtle. (When Clarry heard of Joanna's unfortunate first marriage she took the news philosophically. "There were lions in Africa, and Mark often hunted them; anything could happen. If lions failed . . . there were tropical diseases. Page 11)

The other unique ( as far as I know) of ANY of Cadell's books is the introduction of two mysterious minions from Hell and a ghost. They tend to move the plot along in an interesting way.

[Morggie]

Loved Cousin Clarry...the story's worth reading just because of her.

[Karen (Living Unabridged)]

I usually love these vintage stories but this one was just odd and there's no other way to put it. This book has ghosts, "devils", and only a very hazy semblance of a plot.

[Stephanie]

Not her best