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The Carlyles at Home
'The Carlyles at Home' is about Thomas and Jane Carlyle's life together at 5 (now 24) Cheyne Row, Chelsea, and was written in the 1960s by a former actress who was then living there as co-custodian of the house with her husband.
Thea Holme's book evokes the everyday life of the Carlyles from the day they moved in, in 1834, until Jane's death in 1866. 'The Carlyles' dour joy in the daily battle of study and kitchen is the making of Thea Holme's detailed account of housekeeping at Cheyne Row, 'wrote VS Pritchett in the "New Statesman" in 1965.
'No stove, cooking by candlelight, a state of civil war about doors and windows: he can't bear them closed, she freezes in the draughts. They are the best letter-writers, born chatterers and reporters who can knock off a scene or a person in a talking phrase.
Jane Carlyle gives us Mrs Leigh Hunt continually in and out, borrowing spoons, porridge, even a brass fender, and usually drunkish. Jane screams at Browning for putting a kettle down on her best carpet; tells how an Irish builder falls through the ceiling of her bedroom during alterations; battles with the 32 maids she had in 34 years at GBP 8 a year.
She has that innate Scottish gift for the pawky recital of domestic clatter. 'Jane may have subsumed her life into that of the Sage of Chelsea but, such is the interest nowadays in domestic history and women writers, most twenty-first century readers will be more interested in her life than in her husband's.
Each of the eleven chapters, with titles such as 'The Soundproof Study', 'Money' and 'The Garden' describes a different aspect of life in Cheyne Row, whether it is a a neighbour's loud piano-playing or a maid giving birth in the china closet while 'Mr Carlyle was taking tea in the dining-room with Miss Jewsbury talking to him!!! Just a thin small door between!'
The open door to this closet is clearly visible in the Robert Tait painting of the two ground-floor rooms beautifully reproduced as the front and back endpapers of the Persephone edition. And because 24 Cheyne Row was bought by The Carlyle's House Memorial Trust, and is today run by the National Trust visitors can see the room exactly as it was when it was painted 150 years ago.
Thea Holme's book evokes the everyday life of the Carlyles from the day they moved in, in 1834, until Jane's death in 1866. 'The Carlyles' dour joy in the daily battle of study and kitchen is the making of Thea Holme's detailed account of housekeeping at Cheyne Row, 'wrote VS Pritchett in the "New Statesman" in 1965.
'No stove, cooking by candlelight, a state of civil war about doors and windows: he can't bear them closed, she freezes in the draughts. They are the best letter-writers, born chatterers and reporters who can knock off a scene or a person in a talking phrase.
Jane Carlyle gives us Mrs Leigh Hunt continually in and out, borrowing spoons, porridge, even a brass fender, and usually drunkish. Jane screams at Browning for putting a kettle down on her best carpet; tells how an Irish builder falls through the ceiling of her bedroom during alterations; battles with the 32 maids she had in 34 years at GBP 8 a year.
She has that innate Scottish gift for the pawky recital of domestic clatter. 'Jane may have subsumed her life into that of the Sage of Chelsea but, such is the interest nowadays in domestic history and women writers, most twenty-first century readers will be more interested in her life than in her husband's.
Each of the eleven chapters, with titles such as 'The Soundproof Study', 'Money' and 'The Garden' describes a different aspect of life in Cheyne Row, whether it is a a neighbour's loud piano-playing or a maid giving birth in the china closet while 'Mr Carlyle was taking tea in the dining-room with Miss Jewsbury talking to him!!! Just a thin small door between!'
The open door to this closet is clearly visible in the Robert Tait painting of the two ground-floor rooms beautifully reproduced as the front and back endpapers of the Persephone edition. And because 24 Cheyne Row was bought by The Carlyle's House Memorial Trust, and is today run by the National Trust visitors can see the room exactly as it was when it was painted 150 years ago.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1965
3 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
About the author
Thea Holme
9 books1 followerThea Holme was the daughter of architect Philip Johnston.
She studied at the Slade and later at the Central School of Drama. She made her first stage appearance in 1924 and in the 1930s whe was in repertory at the Oxford Playhouse with her husband Stanford Holme as producer.
She was described as 'a captivating actress' and The Times obituary stated, 'hard indeed of heart was the undergraduate who did not fall madly in love with this most elegant beauty with the wondering eyes'. The same obituary described the couple's career in the theatre with 'The Holmes were prepared to experiment with new plays by authors known or unknown, with pantomime as well as with the classics.'
She toured with CEMA during World War II and later lived in the Carlyle's house in Cheyne Row, Chelsea. This spawned her book 'The Carlyles at Home' (1965).
The couple had one son and Thea died in 1980.
She studied at the Slade and later at the Central School of Drama. She made her first stage appearance in 1924 and in the 1930s whe was in repertory at the Oxford Playhouse with her husband Stanford Holme as producer.
She was described as 'a captivating actress' and The Times obituary stated, 'hard indeed of heart was the undergraduate who did not fall madly in love with this most elegant beauty with the wondering eyes'. The same obituary described the couple's career in the theatre with 'The Holmes were prepared to experiment with new plays by authors known or unknown, with pantomime as well as with the classics.'
She toured with CEMA during World War II and later lived in the Carlyle's house in Cheyne Row, Chelsea. This spawned her book 'The Carlyles at Home' (1965).
The couple had one son and Thea died in 1980.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 30, 2022
A slow start was quickly rounded up to a 5 because l found myself completely captivated by this book about the day-to-day life of the Scottish Carlyles. Thomas’ reputation is diminished now but he was a luminary of the Victorian era: art critic, essayists and philosopher. Yet in this text he is reduced to a mere spoilt, irritable and petulant husband.
The book’s focus is on the running of the great man’s household by Thomas’ wife, Jane. Her intelligence and wonderful turn of phrase is highlighted through letters, which are frequently quoted, and these cover a range of domestic situations, uncommon to a modern reader.
The eccentricities of a revolving cast of servants and Jane’s swift terminations make for many witty moments and even some laugh out loud clangers. There are prying eyes and judgemental pronouncements - from the help - and an inside job burglary, as well as a labour in a cupboard!
On the other hand, the book does contain situations that will be immediately relatable to anyone who has ever suffered through a frustrating home renovation or a noisy nuisance neighbour - here though the neighbour has a constantly crowing rooster. What is not so relatable now is the degree to which politeness ruled the day:
‘Dear Sir, - it is with great reluctance that l venture to trouble you in any way; but a kind of necessity compels me; and l trust your good nature will excuse it in a distressed neighbour … On your premises for some time past there is a Cock … ‘
A rare example of social history and biography, entertainingly delivered. My library had to dig out their copy, which contained some quaint illustrations, from the stack collection. So sad that no one reads these books anymore.
Highly worthwhile and recommended.
The book’s focus is on the running of the great man’s household by Thomas’ wife, Jane. Her intelligence and wonderful turn of phrase is highlighted through letters, which are frequently quoted, and these cover a range of domestic situations, uncommon to a modern reader.
The eccentricities of a revolving cast of servants and Jane’s swift terminations make for many witty moments and even some laugh out loud clangers. There are prying eyes and judgemental pronouncements - from the help - and an inside job burglary, as well as a labour in a cupboard!
On the other hand, the book does contain situations that will be immediately relatable to anyone who has ever suffered through a frustrating home renovation or a noisy nuisance neighbour - here though the neighbour has a constantly crowing rooster. What is not so relatable now is the degree to which politeness ruled the day:
‘Dear Sir, - it is with great reluctance that l venture to trouble you in any way; but a kind of necessity compels me; and l trust your good nature will excuse it in a distressed neighbour … On your premises for some time past there is a Cock … ‘
A rare example of social history and biography, entertainingly delivered. My library had to dig out their copy, which contained some quaint illustrations, from the stack collection. So sad that no one reads these books anymore.
Highly worthwhile and recommended.
January 23, 2021
I wasn’t sure about this Persephone book because I knew nothing about Thomas Carlyle (beyond the impression that everybody in Britain used to read him until about 1914, and then nobody did) and I wasn’t interested in finding out. But this is not really about him or his work. It focuses more on his wife Jane, who ran the house, quoting her letters which are intelligent, entertaining, and illuminating.
The couple lived in Cheyne Row, Chelsea, from 1834, when they moved from Scotland to London, until the end of their lives in 1866 and 1881. They had no children but lived with one servant (two in later years when Thomas Carlyle’s writing was bringing in more money). The servants came and went at an amazing rate and caused Jane no end of trouble – we have three chapters on them in this book. One gave birth to an illegitimate child secretly in a closet off the drawing room. There are also chapters on the couple’s clothes, pets, illnesses, the neigbours, money matters, and the alterations that they made to the house. I found it fascinating.
The couple lived in Cheyne Row, Chelsea, from 1834, when they moved from Scotland to London, until the end of their lives in 1866 and 1881. They had no children but lived with one servant (two in later years when Thomas Carlyle’s writing was bringing in more money). The servants came and went at an amazing rate and caused Jane no end of trouble – we have three chapters on them in this book. One gave birth to an illegitimate child secretly in a closet off the drawing room. There are also chapters on the couple’s clothes, pets, illnesses, the neigbours, money matters, and the alterations that they made to the house. I found it fascinating.
August 28, 2022
In spite of the title, this small book is really more about Jane than Thomas. Holme traces the Carlyles' life in London from their installation at their house in Cheyne Row until Jane's death more than 30 years later. She doesn't go much into their relationship, preferring to concentrate on the details of their domestic lives and more particularly Jane's occupations and health. It's far from exhaustive, but I think it does a nice job portraying the couple, their home, and the other people in their lives (especially their succession of sometimes eccentric household help).
did-not-finish
October 10, 2024I am sorry, I can't keep my interest.
I like books that show everyday life in the past. I like to read about historical/famous people from the past.
I didn't know who Thomas and Jane Carlyle were. I had checked them while reading, but sadly, it didn't help me to enjoy reading.
The descriptions of their real life, the style of the book discouraged me from continuing.
I am pretty sure if the main characters were someone I knew, or wanted to know - I would have kept reading (at least a bit longer) As it was, I read only two chapters.
I like books that show everyday life in the past. I like to read about historical/famous people from the past.
I didn't know who Thomas and Jane Carlyle were. I had checked them while reading, but sadly, it didn't help me to enjoy reading.
The descriptions of their real life, the style of the book discouraged me from continuing.
I am pretty sure if the main characters were someone I knew, or wanted to know - I would have kept reading (at least a bit longer) As it was, I read only two chapters.
December 11, 2014
Not long after I read this book I attended a Persephone Book Club at the Carlyle House in Chelsea. For a week or so afterwards, I kept asking everyone I know if (or what) they knew about the Carlyles. Not much, as it turned out; and really, they deserve better. Approximately 25 years ago I read about their unusual marriage in Phyllis Rose's wonderful Parallel Lives, and it had stuck with me. That is still the better book, but for some wonderful detail of a truly eccentric pair of Victorians, do try reading this one. It's particularly good on Victorian hypochondria (and self-medication), the "domestic" (ie, servant) problem, and the many strange accommodations of a famous/infamous marriage.
October 8, 2024
I enjoyed being a “fly on the wall” of the Carlyle’s home through all their travails and triumphs. Whether it was the constant battles with bugs, servants and noisy neighbours, worries caused by the rising cost of living, or the relief of a book finally complete and the various pets that brought them joy, I felt like I was really there with Jane and Thomas. And I loved the endpapers of this Persephone edition, often gazing at all the little details and imagining the Carlyle’s in their home. A pure delight throughout.
May 26, 2022
I went into this book not knowing who the Carlyles were, my bad! But I enjoyed this illustration of Victorian life. It had me laughing out loud many times and many things felt relatable (I also hate noisy neighbours!) the jumping around timeline was not my cup of tea, but it all came together in a nice ending.
June 28, 2018
Fascinating social history. Servants and pets; domestic matters and Thomas and Jane’s relationship. Also Cheyenne Walk itself, and how this couple from rural Scotland coped with London.
Read
August 2, 2024I first heard of this book, all about the domestic life of Victorian ‘man of letters’ Thomas Carlyle and his wife Jane Welsh Carlyle, at the Persephone books festival in Bath this year. I’m planning a visit to the Carlyles’ house in Chelsea (now cared for by the National Trust) and thought it would be nice to read this first. It’s a lovely book, full of interesting details about the Carlyles’ everyday life, including their home improvements, servants, neighbours, and meals. I found Jane an appealing figure in many ways: she comes across as witty and bright, in some aspects a stereotypical Victorian wife devoted to her husband’s needs and in others an unconventional figure, taking charge of the household’s finances and boldly going out into the street without a shawl or gloves! I enjoyed it very much and am pleased too to have advanced my plan of reading all 150 Persephone books..!
January 17, 2023
This account of the domestic life of the historian Thomas and his wife Jane Carlyle is taken from the extensive letters Jane wrote to friends and family and gives an incredible insight into a middle class literary life in Victorian London. Thea Holme allows Jane's voice to take the lead so that you get a wonderful sense of her character - and that of 'Mr. C' - while structuring the narrative beautifully around these quotations. The Carlyles' perpetual servant problem and their battles for peace from poultry become perfectly pitched mini-dramas, highly entertaining to the point where I laughed out loud. The detail of domestic finances, food orders or brisk turnover of housemaids is never allowed to become too heavy but reveals the critical role that Victorian women played - and especially Jane whose support allowed her husband to write his major works. Many of Jane's anxieties also rang true with me - such as the stresses of having a house full of builders and decorators who do not listen to your instructions!! Some things have changed very little in 170 years - but I'm glad that having black beetles in the kitchen is no longer a problem.
December 19, 2012
Excellent, well written enjoyable book that documents the intriguing life of the Carlyles, but mostly about Jane, who I found quite fascinating...her letters about the trials and tribulations of living with a brilliant man are often humorous and so well expressed, I think she would have made a brilliant writer herself...but my goodness the servant problem exercised their minds day and night...32 servants in 34 years...imagine..no heat, running water, electricity, rats, drafts, a very difficult husband made her life a constant struggle, but when Mrs Leigh Hunt drops in again to borrow her spoons, Darwin gives advice, Dickens is a frequent guest, we the readers find much to envy..
September 28, 2017
Superb depiction of Victorian London home life, using the Carlyles' many thousands of letters as Source material. The letters cal literally recreate the rooms in the house, the disputes with servants, the food on the table. And all in an attractive Persephone books cover.
I went out and bought a volume of their letters afterwards, but it wasn't nearly as interesting!
I went out and bought a volume of their letters afterwards, but it wasn't nearly as interesting!
October 17, 2025
I found this book totally captivating, not least because I read it in conjunction with a visit to the Carlyle house in London. What a treat to feel it come to life under the acerbic pen of Jane Carlyle, surely the most interesting and candid of the Victorian wives. While Thomas Carlyle is a towering historian of the Victorian age, it is Jane who makes the gears turn and the machine of greatness run.
The house itself is amazing, so untouched since Carlyle's death in 1881. But the flurry of activity during the almost fifty years they lived there. Rooms renovated and added, systems and utilities installed, servants and pets constantly in transition.
Thea Holme does an excellent job of letting Jane tell the story, using her letters. Seeing the 15 feet of Jane's catalogued and bound letters in the house lets you understand what a huge task this was but also what a resource Thea had to draw on. The vibrancy and immediacy of Jane's narrative is amazing and the joy of her wit is immense. Of the two, I would much rather spend an afternoon with Jane.
The house itself is amazing, so untouched since Carlyle's death in 1881. But the flurry of activity during the almost fifty years they lived there. Rooms renovated and added, systems and utilities installed, servants and pets constantly in transition.
Thea Holme does an excellent job of letting Jane tell the story, using her letters. Seeing the 15 feet of Jane's catalogued and bound letters in the house lets you understand what a huge task this was but also what a resource Thea had to draw on. The vibrancy and immediacy of Jane's narrative is amazing and the joy of her wit is immense. Of the two, I would much rather spend an afternoon with Jane.
May 13, 2019
+ 97 "At Addiscombe...it is all so still and lovely and Lady A's housemaid is so perfect in her doings--but there I do not feel free..." (on the 'earthquake' remodeling of her own house vs the loaned plumes of another's cottage
120 "...calf, on the breast of which (poor wretch) was branded--like writing on turf--'6d. per lb.' And the public gathered about this unfortunate with the greedy looks of cannibals." where else did i just read about a calf at a butcher's who wore a sign saying how much it would cost after slaughter?
112 we read about Madame Elise the dressmaker who 'had a house at Acton' about which I have not been able to find much at first combing of the Google results...
120 "...calf, on the breast of which (poor wretch) was branded--like writing on turf--'6d. per lb.' And the public gathered about this unfortunate with the greedy looks of cannibals." where else did i just read about a calf at a butcher's who wore a sign saying how much it would cost after slaughter?
112 we read about Madame Elise the dressmaker who 'had a house at Acton' about which I have not been able to find much at first combing of the Google results...
September 10, 2023
A surprisingly charming book depicting the domestic life of the Carlyles - I'm ashamed to say I didn't know who they were before starting, so this being a history (of sorts) surprised me! There were little moments of amusement and pathos sprinkled throughout, some chapters a bit dull, but fundamentally the story is very human and timelessly relatable (especially their gripes with noisy neighbours...).
I'm planning to go and visit their home in Chelsea now that I know it's open to National Trust members, and I'll bring this book along :)
I'm planning to go and visit their home in Chelsea now that I know it's open to National Trust members, and I'll bring this book along :)
Read
June 28, 2020Very insightful and a fairly easy read, but I found the chapters jumped around quite a bit, often without indicating what year any given situation took place. The chronological log of servants employed by the Carlyles was helpful in this respect, but not at all times and regular checks would interrupt the flow of reading. There were some repeated anecdotes but I didn't necessarily mind that. Despite its flaws the book offers a lovely view of Chelsea life in the mid-Victorian era.
May 14, 2017
Fascinating read on what it was like to live in London in the mid 1850's with a gifted but difficult husband, illnesses, 36 maids in 34 years, etc. And they were lucky with decent money that they could go away when required!
December 16, 2018
This somehow fails to capture what made this couple so fascinating.
July 24, 2019
Interesting, entertaining & witty.
March 10, 2025
Review of “The Carlyle’s at Home”
By: Thea Holme
A young couple, Jane and Thomas Carlyle, moved from the Scottish countryside to the city of London. As they adjusted to the city, they learned life wasn’t as simple as just moving to a new home in a different location, but they had to adapt to a new environment.
“The Carlyle’s at Home” was a domestic story that was well written but lacked an exciting and engaging plot. There were amusing moments such as Thomas Carlyle getting frustrated with the noises coming from the apartment next door. Jane’s, his wife, solution was to build a space for him that kept out the noise, but that meant renovations on the house that lasted for months. There were chapters focused on the struggles of Jane having had to hire a new maid, but there were always problems with them. One of them turned out to have been an alcoholic and Jane tried to be helpful by hiding the alcoholic and had the other servants keep an eye on her. The maid had given into alcoholism and Jane had to fire her. Jane was a forgiving person, but she had had her limits to the type of her person she would allow in her employ. The chapters that were about the pets they had, such as the dog Jane adopted, were cute to read about it.
The novel was told using an episodic formula that allowed the reader to experience and focus on each conflict the Carlyle’s had to deal with. This narrative style fits the type of story that Thea Holmes was telling. Unfortunately, nothing exciting happened except everyday problems, I was often hoping for something crazy to happen or drama to occur between the couple. I learned that the book was about a real couple and after reading a description of a biography based on their marriage, that sounded much more interesting of a read than this book.
By: Thea Holme
A young couple, Jane and Thomas Carlyle, moved from the Scottish countryside to the city of London. As they adjusted to the city, they learned life wasn’t as simple as just moving to a new home in a different location, but they had to adapt to a new environment.
“The Carlyle’s at Home” was a domestic story that was well written but lacked an exciting and engaging plot. There were amusing moments such as Thomas Carlyle getting frustrated with the noises coming from the apartment next door. Jane’s, his wife, solution was to build a space for him that kept out the noise, but that meant renovations on the house that lasted for months. There were chapters focused on the struggles of Jane having had to hire a new maid, but there were always problems with them. One of them turned out to have been an alcoholic and Jane tried to be helpful by hiding the alcoholic and had the other servants keep an eye on her. The maid had given into alcoholism and Jane had to fire her. Jane was a forgiving person, but she had had her limits to the type of her person she would allow in her employ. The chapters that were about the pets they had, such as the dog Jane adopted, were cute to read about it.
The novel was told using an episodic formula that allowed the reader to experience and focus on each conflict the Carlyle’s had to deal with. This narrative style fits the type of story that Thea Holmes was telling. Unfortunately, nothing exciting happened except everyday problems, I was often hoping for something crazy to happen or drama to occur between the couple. I learned that the book was about a real couple and after reading a description of a biography based on their marriage, that sounded much more interesting of a read than this book.
July 22, 2011
How did the Carlyle's live during their years in Chelsea? Thea Holme paints a vivid portrait of life at 5 Cheyne Row with plenty of quotes from the two participants, Thomas and Jane Welsh Carlyle.
It is a most fascinating insight into the life and times of a great writer (an his wife), who it would appear could not stand noise and was often writing to his immediate neighbours in order to get them to keep the volume down, be it a cock crowing, a dog barking, the piano playing or any other noises that distracted him from his writings. In doing so he was always supported by his wife, who even sent him away from home when she wanted improvements carried out.
The most surprising thing about their life in Chelsea is, considering that they appeared to be a very equable and easy-going couple, the number of servants that they ran through; there is even a lengthy appendix listing them all and their reasons for leaving, or being asked to leave!
An excellent piece of social history, which captures the times and the characters superbly.
It is a most fascinating insight into the life and times of a great writer (an his wife), who it would appear could not stand noise and was often writing to his immediate neighbours in order to get them to keep the volume down, be it a cock crowing, a dog barking, the piano playing or any other noises that distracted him from his writings. In doing so he was always supported by his wife, who even sent him away from home when she wanted improvements carried out.
The most surprising thing about their life in Chelsea is, considering that they appeared to be a very equable and easy-going couple, the number of servants that they ran through; there is even a lengthy appendix listing them all and their reasons for leaving, or being asked to leave!
An excellent piece of social history, which captures the times and the characters superbly.
September 7, 2016
Interesting account of the lives of two very interesting people (Thomas Carlyle, known for his book The French Revolution: A History; and Jane Welsh, a literary gifted writer in her own right). This retelling is written by an actress who lived in the house of the Carlyles almost a hundred years after Jane’s death. I found this to be a fascinating glimpse into their lives.
April 9, 2011
Quite a lot of information imparted in an engaging manner. Too bad Charlotte Bronte didn't make much of an impression . . . .
July 15, 2013
I love Persephone Classics but I struggled through this book. Been working on it since May. Maybe if I was English I would have appreciated it. Even then, I'm not sure.
April 21, 2016
Dull, dull, desperately dull and awful....
May 31, 2015
I liked it but it got a bit tedious when reading about yet another unsuitable maid.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews