Begin Again

by Ursula Orange, Stacy Marking (Introduction)

Oxford, it appeared, if it did not seem to have fitted her for any precise occupation, had at least unfitted her for a great many things.

In her charming and incisive debut novel, Ursula Orange focuses her sharp eye on four young women only recently down from Oxford.

Jane and Florence live in London, working at office jobs, the latter channelling her excess energy into a dreadfully earnest novel of her own. Sylvia remains at home, shocking her family with theories of sexual and social liberation. And Leslie, as the novel opens, idealizes the other three, as she tries to convince her mother to let her use her small nest egg to attend art school in London.

As the four friends balance their youthful ideals with the realities of work and romance in 1930s England, Orange offers hilarious and thoughtful perspectives on the quandaries of educated, ambitious women in a world not yet ready for them. This new edition includes an introduction by Stacy Marking.

Genres: Fiction, Classics, British Literature, Historical Fiction, Romance, Novels, Womens

258 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1936

Reviews

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of four young girls trying to find their place in the world. Two live in London and share a flat, one is desperate to move to London, to go to set college and start her life proper, the other one is in love, but in denial, after all it's terribly old fashioned to be faithful and want to get married. Written in the thirties, it's interesting to see what was considered so shocking and modern in the ideals of youth then. It's those ideals that have changed, but the young kicking against the traces and reacting against the conventions of their parents, well there's nothing new there.

[Squeak2017 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read. Orange writes well, bringing her characters vividly to life while showing their youthful misconceptions and the casual hurts they inflict on each other. Some of them grow and learn, however painfully, gradually moving from callow youth towards an adult maturity in which they recognise their own path to happiness; some are still to learn that the world isn’t the lovely place it ought to be without the benign influence of parental financial help smoothing the way. Generally, the younger generation come to a better appreciation of their elders when their fanciful principles run up against the harsh reality of life, in particular the need to earn a living. But it is all couched in a warm summer glow of parties and fun, optimism and privilege, and no-one suffers too greatly (except perhaps Henry).

[Sennen Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t have the words to describe how much I loved this. You know when you read a book and it’s like you’ve read it at the exact right moment in your life and it’s like a hand reaching out from the past to touch yours? The characters in Begin Again live a life that looks remarkably similar to mine. They live in a little flat together and they worry about money and sex and cooking and they work jobs they don’t particularly like and Florence is trying to write a novel. And this is eighty years ago! I loved this so much, I had to go through it with a pen as soon as I’d finished and highlight bits, and I never do that. I loved these characters and the things they thought and said, and where we leave them. I loved all the descriptions of cooking and eating and doing the washing up and driving and getting the train. And work! I loved Sylvia and Claud - Claud is hot, by the way - and Henrietta. I loved Florence so much I could cry. I loved Jane and Henry. I loved Florence crying at Paddington because a man has never fancied her. We’ve all been there. I love Ursula Orange, who was the same age as I am now when she wrote this, and who died by suicide when she was in her forties. I hope she knows, somehow, that I read this today and it touched my heart, right where I needed it.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

[1936] Had no idea I would enjoy this book as much as I did. Set in both London and the surrounding countryside. The characters were all really well drawn and clearly defined with their own distinct personalities - the four main young women but also the peripheral characters, parents, boyfriends, etc. The writing is smart and SO funny. Four young women balancing the pros and cons of being liberated and idealistic in a pretty unforgiving real world. Sylvia and Claud, one of my new very favorite literary super-couples.

1936 or 2019: "Men! She was so annoyed that she forgot how absurd she believed it to be to classify human beings sharply into men and women, as if it wasn't all a matter of infinitely delicate gradations."

Funny: "Leslie was once more struck by the perversity of visitors who would not behave as planned. Natural and spontaneous gaiety was going to be extremely difficult to achieve if people were going to be so overnatural and super-spontaneous as to forget their bathing-dresses."

Seriously, how are there only 42 ratings of this book?!

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally made it through. 😅 I’m not sure what made this book such a slow read for me. I enjoyed the dynamic between the parents’ generation and the 20-something’s’ generation, but I found myself siding with the parents most of the time. Does that mean I’m getting old? Or maybe at least no longer young? 😂 I thought the 20 something’s were exasperating and willful and condescending. Of course they take center stage so a lot of the book I was hard core rolling my eyes.

I especially dislike Florence as a character. I disliked Leslie too but she didn’t take up as much space on the page. Florence’s incompetence at her office job was also stressful to read about. I found some of her and Jane’s living arrangements relatable because I lived with roommates/housemates from 21-31, but their negligence about taking care of their space was, at times, almost disgusting. (And rather pitiful.) I liked Jane more because she wasn’t so self putting. Surprisingly, I liked Henry and was glad he finally came to his senses about Jane. They’ll be much happier apart.

My favorite storylines were Claud and Sylvia and Sylvia’s family, Mr and Mrs Perry and their younger daughter Henrietta. I loved the family dynamics. Sylvia, though she was condescending to her family at times, was never unlikable for me. I think it’s because her family ties were so much stronger and when there was a crisis in the family, they all pulled together. Sylvia and Claud were rather adorable. It is funny to see all of Sylvia’s free thinking ideas challenged by actual life circumstances.

The writing is certainly good. Perhaps the novel could be a little tighter. It felt rambling in places but it is a first novel and of course there is room for Orange’s craft to develop.

[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Begin Again is another utterly fantastic Dean Street Press/Furrowed Middlebrow collaboration. I felt that it would be a perfect choice for a quiet Sunday afternoon, and it certainly was. Orange writes beautifully, and the structure which she has used here is simple yet effective. A real treat, peopled by realistic characters, all of whom are somewhat troubled by their circumstances. A very polished vintage debut, which I loved.

[Gina House · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light and enjoyable story about 4 friends (Jane, Leslie, Florence and Sylvia) and the path their lives take after Oxford. I found the characters to be unique, frustrating and, at the same time, lovable. Even though I didn't always agree with what they were saying or doing, I could feel sympathy for them. It was amusing to read how they handled new, adult situations and you could see how they weren't quite experienced enough with life to make smart decisions at the beginning. My favorite character was Florence and it was such a joy to follow along with her story, although I really liked getting to know them all.

This book strongly reminded me of 'Excellent Women' by Barbara Pym, but instead of concentrating on a woman in her 30s, it was focused on girls in their late teens or early 20s. The tone was the same and I got that same cozy feel from the book. I'm really interested in reading another Ursula Orange book. 'Begin Again' was such a treat to read on the airplane and while I was away for a week. Give it a try!

[Ginny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. It was written in the thirties and has a wonderful period charm, but it still feels so fresh and relevant. Ursula Orange was a terrific writer; her prose is sparkling but the story also has depth and addresses issues still important to women today (work, relationships, family, etc.). She's very compassionate with her characters and perceptive about human nature. The story also has settings to gladden an Anglophile's heart (London, a riverside picnic, a summer party at a house in the country). Plus I adored the character of Claud. Just delightful. I will be reading more by this author.

[Davida Chazan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sorry it took me so long to put this review up! Better late than never, right? I hope you'll take a look at my #bookreview on my blog now. Could Ursula Orange a 20th Century Jane Austen? https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2020/03/2...

[Classic reverie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was uncertain if I really would like this because of the ridicule of "middle class morality" but ended up loving it. I am living in the wrong time, I rather be back in the times where morality meant something more than it does now. I rather enjoyed the mothers in this story and the need of family is so important. Ursula Orange starts out touting the need to be selfish and independent over anything else but the theory does not always work as life plays out. There are four friends and the two that went to Oxford, see things not as theoretical as the other two who have the words down but one learns her lesson and the other needs to find out on her own. Independence is a good thing but counting others in ones world is the more true to life. I grew up quite independent at the age of 16 and I had many theories not as extreme as these women but as I read this story, I remember and had to laugh. Youth needs to learn on there own and it is true that usually the elders have been around and learned about life, youth rarely really listens.

I hope more of Orange’s book come to Kindle!



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Leslie Fisher longs to be in London taking art lessons and living life not being
in the country with her mother. She has felt that her life prior to this was worthless and that her friends Jane and Florence who work in London are in the place to grow. Being in my late 50's, I have to laugh at the young who must truly see for themselves the mistakes they will make and see that their really young years are indeed important ones. Leslie is inviting friends over for a party so her mom can see how much better her friends in London are doing. Leslie thinks that Jane and Florence are perfectly happy but their rules in rooming together is not to be unselfish and worry about the other, not like it would be at home. They feel sorry for Sylvia living at home. Florence seems to like Henry, I wonder if it more than a friend? There is nothing in this, I see later. Henry and Jane have been engaged forever and Henry wishes Jane cared for him like he cares for her. Jane and Florence have been to Oxford, Sylvia visited them but did not go there. Jane and Florence is degree has not helped them find a job but it is made worse. Henrietta is Sylvia's younger sister who seems more grown up at 18 then when she was younger. Sylvia likes discussions, hates convention and hates middle class morality. Sylvia does not like his family to meet Claud often, because he gets along with them and that disturbs her. Henrietta wonders if her sister and Claud have sex, it seems like Henrietta is having an affair with a Captain, they meet at a hotel. Sylvia and Claud like spending time together but the idea of marriage and commitment is disagreeable, it seems like Claud might be inclined to marry but Sylvia with all her ideas might keep him at bay. Henry loves Jane too much and Jane does not even love him any longer. She ridicules him and is morality about marriage, she thinks that you can have an independent marriage. She finally agrees have a weekend together. Henry leaves happy thinking of Jane but Jane thinks of everything else. Sylvia feels Claud should take the picnic basket back to the car, being quite far away but Claud turns tables telling her that female equality and they toss, she loses and is upset. He shows her that though she wants to be equals, she would like him to be chivalrous. She walks and finally sees he is walking right besides her. After their picnic Claud and Sylvia go to eat and dance at a place down the river Thames. I knew this was going to happen, that Sylvia sees her sister, Henrietta with a much older man, Captain John Fortescue drinking and laughing. He is married with a invalid wife that is friends with their mother. Claud tries to help Sylvia feel better, all a sudden her ideas of theory are gone. Claud is upset at Henrietta but keeps it to himself, he had thought all was going well to propose to Sylvia. Leslie visits Jane and Florence, their has been more of a gulf between Leslie and her friends that she was not aware of, they give her allowances because she has never lived on he own and is so enthusiastic when she visits. Leslie tells them about wanting to live in London and have a place of her own, her friends are trying to tell her about the expenses. Florence is not good at her job, she has trouble typing and reading her short hand, she would like a better job, though it seems unlikely that she would find one. Her novel is about girl at school, who is not rebellious but not happy, she is bullied into quietly accepting. Florence feels lonely but she tells herself she would prefer this unpleasant life compared to being rich. Jane's job is easier and she manages her boss well. Henry still trying to get Jane to be as passionate as he is. Mr. and Mrs. Perry think Henrietta has better manners compared to Sylvia and never question if where she goes is a lie. What does Sylvia expect when her sister reads and hears her new morality theories, for her sister to not practice what she reads. Mr. Perry tells his Sylvia about the money he has saved for her when she marries which she refuses and tells him she might not marry and he might not like her husband, Mr. Perry is perplexed. Sylvia and Henrietta have always enjoyed sharing things and when Henrietta asked a question about lying and Sylvia, stated that the truth should be told. When asked about all the clothes she was taking to spend time with her friend, Henrietta told her sister about John. Slyvia, free ideas finally sees how her parents see them and tries her best to convince Henrietta not to go but she refuses. Slyvia warns her that she will tell their mother, but Henrietta does not believe her. Slyvia tells her mother to stop Henrietta in going away with Captain Fortescue. Mrs. Perry is told she must hurry before Henrietta leaves. Florence is not doing well at her job and she decides to tell Miss Stevens about a new filing system and during the exchange, which she is told she is ridiculous, she seems to have put in her notice and Miss Convey, the other secretary seems to admire and help her. Jane and Henry are driving to Leslie's party, Jane is thinking of just saying yes to him so things will go easier. Henry feels without a future with Jane, life would be miserable. Jane sees though she had loved Henry, he is not her future. Sylvia is upset telling Claud about Henrietta and the Captain, having told her mother about the affair. Sylvia and Claud had car trouble so Jane and Henry drove them to Leslie's. Florence is having troubles on the train and starts reading a Women's Magazine that talks of getting a man, home life and babies. Florence feels sick and knowing she might not have someone to love. The secretary at the office noticed Florence clever and found out she went to Oxford. She told Florence the reason the others do well is because they had been at this job since they were 16. Leslie is trying to have Jane talk to her mother about London life and it seems that Jane is not really helping her cause. The car is not going to be fixed for a couple of days so Sylvia called her mother to see if Claud could stay over and she found out that Henrietta apologised to her mother, they are not to tell dad. Bert and Bill are neighbors that Leslie invited and Bert is taken with Jane. Henry is upset and ill tempered. Florence comes and tells Jane she quit her job. Mrs. Fisher sees Florence ill and puts her to bed. Sylvia's mom calls up to say Henrietta left her room and riding a horse but the horse returned without Henrietta. Sylvia is going to go home with Claud taking Henry's car to search. Henry sees Bert still talking to Jane, he feels extremely upset. Mrs. Fisher tells Florence a couple days in the country will help her recover, Florence tells her that she must go to work but Leslie's mom tells her that she will let her work know and Florence happily accepts. Leslie does not understand why she rather be here than her flat in London. Henrietta was given a different horse at the stables and soon found out that it was hard to control, feeling scared and being hit in the head which threw her off the horse. Claud and Sylvia arrive, Mr. and Mrs. Perry all help in the search and find a dazed Henrietta walking towards them. Claud hears him being included into the family. Slyvia strains her ankle and Claud gives her immediate attention and Slyvia is enjoying being cared for. The doctor exams Henrietta, she has a slight concussion and needs rest. Mr. Perry was puzzled by Henrietta's behavior but hears in his wife's words that he should not ask questions. Henrietta is not upset that she did not meet John, she feels that she was not acting as her usual self and wants everyone to forget. Henry finally see how staying with Jane, he is slowly losing his self esteem and he does not believe in her attitude, there is no right or wrong. Bert has offered Jane to take a ride in his car and she accepts. Henry plays some tennis and finds out the train schedule, walking to the station to be gone before Jane returns. He left a note telling her that they are too different and if she could bring his car to his office on Monday. Bill tells Mrs. Fisher that he enjoyed playing tennis and was amazed that Leslie would leave this wonderful home to go to hot, stuffy London. Bert and Jane reluctantly come back but decide to exchange numbers to see each other. Jane hears of Henry leaving and decides not to read his note right away. Claud us getting along with Sylvia's parents and Sylvia realises she likes this. Claud proposes to Sylvia and she accepts. Henry feels relief in that nobody will ever make him miserable again. He feels a wave of freedom and despite him thinking he will never be happy again, he knew deep down that he will be. I am glad he finally was able to free himself and get his respect back. Mrs. Fisher suggests to Florence about being an education coach to Mrs. Burton's daughter and Florence thinks it is a good idea. She tells Jane she needs another roommate but nobody suggests Leslie which upsets her. Jane tells them that her engagement to Henry is off. Claud and Sylvia talk about money and marriage. It seems it will be tight and then Sylvia remembers er father's talk about money and marriage. Leslie does not see what her mother sees of her friends. Jane is selfish, Florence is unhappy and that though they are independent, one wonders if they prefer not to be so much so. Mrs. Fisher and nobody else will learn about life not always be greener on the other side.

[Kay Robart · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my review here:

https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2019...

[Lady Clementina ffinch-ffarowmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Begin Again, first published in 1926, was the debut novel of author Ursula Orange whose work I first came across when Madame Bibi at Madame Bibiliophile Recommends reviewed her Tom Tiddler’s Ground for #DeanStreetDecember last year, not long after which I acquired a copy of this book. This is a delightful and keenly observed story of four young women who live or dream of living in line with their modern ideas and ideals—most of these acquired at Oxford—but find themselves struggling either with life’s realities or their true feelings and desires hidden beneath the veneer of how they think they need to be.

Jane and Florence are flatmates in London, both Oxford graduates and both working in secretarial jobs, Jane managing perhaps better than Florence who isn’t much good at either typing or shorthand and continually struggles, and neither of whom are keen to undergo the years of further training it would need to get the better jobs they could with their degrees. The girls maintain their ‘independence’ so much so that even food is bought and consumed separately, for gratitude or debt of any kind is abhorrent. Jane is engaged to Henry though their relationship isn’t what it once was, while Florence secretly despairs that she isn’t attractive enough to have anyone in her life, though she wouldn’t admit so even to herself.

Jane and Florence are friends with Sylvia who remains at home in the country, quite clear that she would be unable to work for a living in the city but yet holding (and disseminating) unorthodox views on every subject under the sun, views she seems to live by until she must face them being appropriated by another she feels is ‘too young’ for them. She claims not to need marriage though is happily in a relationship with Claud who might have other ideas. And finally, there’s their friend Leslie also living in the country with her mother in extremely comfortable circumstances who dreams of an ‘independent’ life like that of Jane and Florence and attending art school—attracted by Oxford talk and how ‘different’ it is from plain old country life. This she plans to achieve with the small inheritance she has from her grandfather but without the least idea of the practical realities of living independently—especially the expense but also the problems of everyday living.

As we follow the lives of the four girls, Orange highlights the struggles they undergo, not only at a practical level—for instance, Jane and Florence, but especially the latter struggling with small daily chores which don’t ever get done and work itself—but also those each of the young women undergo beneath the surface without necessarily realising it. The profess to live by and do seem to genuinely believe in the ideals of modern living they propagate, yet one can see, with Florence and Sylvia in particular that perhaps that isn’t really the case deep within. I loved how the author gets us to see this without the characters themselves understanding it or even having an inkling!

There are plenty of amusing moments all through, whether in some of these struggles or at moments when one sees just how clueless they can be, in matters that have a role in real-life like money. Of the four, Jane is perhaps the only one who seems to truly live by her ideals, navigating almost breezily through every situation. Yet she’s also the one who’s thoughts we are perhaps least privy to—I found myself wondering at some moments how she really felt about a decision she had taken, when some hint of discomfort was suggested.

I thoroughly enjoyed Orange’s writing and how well she brought out all these characters and their dilemmas which do seem to authentically reflect the kind that young women in their time and place would have experienced. A light-hearted and enjoyable novel of changing times, caught equally between the modern, taking root but not quite established and the old that continues to have influence—some of these issues resonating even in the present.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This delightful novel, which was originally published in 1936, marked Orange’s debut. Furrowed Middlebrow and Dean Street Press reprinted this book last year, and it represents a real find, giving a fascinating picture of the lives of four young women in the interwar period. They are subject to crisis and challenges which test their commitment to their life choices, and there is an underlying theme of the reality of the limitations placed on women. Funny, spirited and very much of its time, this is a novel which gives an insight into the lives of ambitious women who are discovering what the world really offers.
Jane and Florence are modern young women who share a flat in London, living independent lives and working in offices. They are Oxford graduates, but in some ways have not seen the benefits of their extended education, which is especially true of Florence as she struggles with secretarial work. Their flat is not glamorous, their lifestyle stretches their money, and for Florence life is lonely. Jane has the attentive Henry in tow, but really cares little for a romance that began in idyllic Oxford years. They are nevertheless a model of modern living for Leslie, whose comfortable life with her loving mother in the countryside seems to be stifling her artistic talents. She is determined to be independent and live in the capital like a modern young woman, hoping to imitate her friends. She invites her friends to meet her mother, hoping that their different lifestyle will influence her chances of independence. Sylvia is the fourth young woman, in love with the idea of love, with the attentive Claud with whom she enjoys a relaxed relationship. She has a loving family, who continue to put up with her despite her often expressed new views. Her younger sister Henrietta has a secret which threatens everything. The humour in this book comes mainly from the dialogue between Sylvia and Claud, and the family’s reactions to challenges. Florence writes her novel, Jane continues to be Jane and the other young women discover what they really want from life. One of the funniest scenes is when Sylvia’s father has decided to be generous, and we hear a running commentary of his pride, yet Sylvia opts to be contrary.
I enjoyed this book greatly as it explores so much about young women’s actual lives in this interwar time. This is a far more down to earth account which is not Mitford like; there is no melodrama but the realities of older adults trying to do their best for their children sometimes despite what they first desire. The parents are politely bewildered by their offspring’s priorities, and try to understand, while there are equally baffled men trying to work out the New Women. There is an almost farce like quality as several characters rush about the countryside, and there is a lightness of tone which Orange maintains throughout this novel. In some ways a book which tries to achieve much in terms of examining people’s true motives, the humour of realistic dialogue always comes through. I recommend this very human book, for its amusing qualities and reality revealed, and am happy that it now much more easily available.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended by Nancy Pearl as part of her backlist author recommendations, this novel surprised me. First, this was a debut novel by twenty-six year old Ursula Orange in 1936. Second, it feels far more contemporary as her characters long for independence, look for pathways other than secretarial positions or domestic life, and explore new attitudes about morality, sex and marriage.

Three of the young women in the novel have graduated from Oxford without benefit of a career that matches their intellect or talent. Florence, lonely and unsuccessful in a boring office job, is writing a novel about a girl suffering through a stifling public school experience. Her London roommate, Jane, travels through life doing as she pleased. Leslie, living at home with her mother in the country, is enamored with their seemingly exotic London life and wants to attend art school and pursue her dream of painting all day. Sylvia, the only one who did not attend university, is widely read on intellectual, moral, and sexual independence, espousing her thoughts to her patient parents and impressionable younger sister. These twenty-four year old women champion freedom of thought and the individual, believing in "the yet unshattered illusion that things could ever be as you wanted them in the world." Jane is "engaged" to Henry; their relationship frustrated me until I understood them better. Sylvia's boyfriend, Claud, was one of my favorite characters, respecting Sylvia and her beliefs, deeply in love with her.

Their differences with their parents' thinking, their longing for a different life, a more meaningful life, is handled with a light, forgiving touch. The vestiges of the class system are discernible, recognized or not by the women while the horrors of the Blitz and WW II are still years away. I am intrigued by this author and will explore more of her work if I can.

[Louise Culmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four young women trying to make their way in the world. Jane and Florence both went to Oxford University and are now sharing a flat in London and working as secretaries. Jane is good at her job and enjoys it, Florence is bad at her job and hates it. Sylvia lives at home in the country with her doting parents, she is in an unconventional relationships with her boyfriend Claud. Leslie lives in the country with her devoted widowed mother but longs to go to art school in London. In the course of a very hot summer there are disruptions in their lives, and some of them change their minds about things, some find they are more conventional than they previously thought. Florence, less confident than the others, I found the most interesting(her final meltdown in the office is very entertaining). Sylvia and Leslie both lead what seems to the modern reader very luxurious lives with servants, no responsibilities at all etc. Sylvia’s younger sister Henrietta, who is about to embark on an unconventional relationship of her own, is quite fun. I enjoyed the bit where she is reading a serial in a women’s paper “It wasn’t very likely that Jasmine and Robin would Deny Each Other Nothing so early on in the story - as a matter of fact, Henrietta thought regretfully, it wasn’t very likely that they would at all. After all, the paper only cost 2d. You couldn’t usually have the heroine Denying the Hero Nothing under 6d”. I found myself wondering how they would all cope in a few years when the war started. For that matter, how will Sylvia and Leslie’s mothers cope when their devoted servants go off to do war work? I couldn’t really make out whether the author approved of young people wanting to do different things from their parents generation or not, she seemed to sympathise more with the mothers on the whole.

[Susan in NC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an honest and to me, timeless portrayal of four young women in their twenties. Originally published in 1936.

They’ve been down from Oxford for a couple years, and two of them (Florence and Jane) live in London, sharing a flat and slaving away at low-paying secretarial jobs - well, Jane, the more attractive, self confident and laid-back woman, seems to float through life inspiring affection and easily managing people and situations. She has a serious, clingy, needy fiancé named Henry, leftover from the Oxford years; the arguments, Henry’s constant apologies and Jane’s easy forgiveness tell the modern reader it’s basically over. Jane’s trying to humor Henry, because of what they once meant to each other. Henry can’t bear the thought of life without Jane; obviously, something’s got to give.

Florence, the other flatmate, isn’t so good at managing people, struggles at her secretarial job, and worries her Oxford education may be more a hindrance in a job where her coworkers left school at 16, are much faster and more efficient at typing, shorthand and filing. She hopes, vainly, that her position might lead to more meaningful work, while becoming further depressed at the poverty, frantic pace, and unending grind of her city life. She’s trying to write an awful novel about a very depressed schoolgirl being ground down by her boarding school, and no matter Jane’s helpful suggestions about adding a bit of fun or adventure, Florence has definite ideas about schools and education.

The other two girls, Sylvia and Leslie, are still “at home” - both are coddled and protected, living lives of relative luxury and resenting it. Sylvia spouts all sorts of controversial theories on love, sex and societal roles, shocking her parents, but is in a serious relationship with Claud, and seems conflicted about being a devoted wife in a monogamous marriage- what about her principles about the New Morality? Leslie longs to leave her widowed mother to study art in London. She feels she’ll never start living unless she’s in a studio, painting, with just a gas ring and a frying pan to live on…

Jane wants to enjoy life, but the other three take life and their principles very seriously; as a mother, I wanted to give Leslie a shake for being such a selfish, clueless twit. She visits Jane and Florence to enlist their help convincing her mother that she should come to London to study, but they refuse to play along, pointing out the struggles of every day life for them - it’s not glamorous or adventurous when the city is oppressively hot, the milk is a curdled mess - or worse, the dairy didn’t deliver it because the bill hasn’t been paid. Leslie refuses to see the reality of their lives!

It was enjoyable and entertaining, and I wanted to see what happened to all the characters, but I also wanted to slap Henry out of his possessive, angsty moodiness, and Leslie out of her stubborn, self-centered mindset. It seemed timeless in showing the anxiety, poverty and self-doubt of being in the twenties, a college graduate, and now what? Especially for women Oxford grads in the 1930s. Amazing this was the author’s debut novel, she really “gets” her characters.

[Nadhirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. Written in the 1930s yet still feels very relevant and modern. The four main characters are so well-drawn and realistic:

- Leslie, naive and romanticizes the idea of living independently in the city without any idea of the cost and practicalities;
- Florence, highly-educated but filled with existential crisis at having to work a secretary job she loathes and is bad at (the only job a female Oxford graduate could possibly get at the time);
- Jane, in contrast to Florence, doesn't care much about her job (or anything at all for that matter), she is unfeeling yet still likeable; and
- Sylvia, argumentative and idealistic, but also rather hypocritical about her principles if they inconvenience her.

All this to say, the characters feel true to life. They talk about jobs they hate, rent and groceries, fizzling relationships, and just very relatable things that make up life. The observations are astute, written intelligently and sharply but with warmth and lightheartedness. You grow up excited about the possibility of independence and making your way through life but when you actually get to that point, you realize that it doesn't smell of roses all the time. Some of these characters have learnt that reality, some will learn soon enough, but all are on their way to begin their own life.

[Bryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant middlebrow novel about four young women who think they are unique and unconventional and special and are (mostly) entirely ordinary, including their belief in their own unconventionality. By the end we see Sylvia settling down blissfully to a conventional married life, Frances off to teach a young girl whom she hopes will be the intellectual paragon of her imagination, Leslie off to live a life of glorious artistic freedom in London (but from the comfort of her aunt's home), and Jane -- who is, in fact, naturally unconventional and free without really thinking about it -- has ended her unsuitable engagement to a clingy, conventional man and is off to enjoy her next fling. I liked reading it, but Orange's own conventionality and conservatism came through strongly, and I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had been a little gentler with the characters -- so much of it was about laughing at their youthful idealism and self-importance.

[Ms Jayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and reminds me of the hopes and high ideals (and discomforts) of being young and waiting for your life to get started. Although the romantic dialogue between Claude and Sylvia was almost unbearably slushy at times, I found that the characters of the young people were very realistic and relatable. Very diverting!

[Arlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Reminded me of Barbara Pyms writing. This story of five young girls in England struggling to realize who they are is beautifully written with a lot of tongue in cheek. I want to read more by this author.

[Beka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun and fresh read! Ursala Orange brings out the youthfulness and naivety of the 1930s so well. Listen to Gershwin while you read it and it will match amazingly!

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing at times

This book is amusing, at times, but has none of the charm of a similar era D E Stevenson or Georgette Heyer. It ended abruptly, and I yawned.

[miriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

light and charming. i loved sylvia and how her arc plays out, other storylines were less interesting

[Reading with Cats]

OMG that was so slow-moving with the most annoying characters. DNF at 18%.

[Julia]

DNFing this for now. I was in the midst of reading this book when my home country was invaded and for the last 50+ days of war I've been unable to read anything except the news. I don't remember much of the plot and what I do remember now seems pointless and unimportant. I'm finally getting to a point where I can read "for fun" for short amounts of time, but I'm not drawn to some of the types of books I enjoyed before the war. Sadly, this one might just be a casualty of the special fascist operation.

[Gowri N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An honest and thoughtful portrayal of four young women coming of age in 1930s England. It is a time of great societal change—and more paths are open to them compared to the women before them. But the decisions they must make are no easier.