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Honeywood #1
The Honeywood File: An Adventure in Building
In this first U.S. publication of a richly comic classic—originally published in England in the 1920s—the pitfalls and vicissitudes of home building are presented in sharp and unforgettable detail, in the form of letters to and from the architect—a hapless young man named James Spinlove, who, in his valiant attempts to create the Honeywood mansion for Sir Leslie Brash, encounters a motley collection of contractors, surveyors, plumbers and town planners—to say nothing of intensely litigious lawyers, and Sir Leslie Brash himself, along with his good lady. There are letters from the subsidiary but crucial characters named Nibnose & Rasper, Mr Snitch, V. Potch and Hoochkoft the surveyor of bricks, among others.
230 pages, Paperback
First published June 15, 1999
About the author
H.B. Creswell
15 booksHarry Bulkeley Creswell FRIBA (1869–1960), was a British architect and author.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Did Not Finish
June 20, 2026Reading this one via The Honeywood Daily https://honeywooddaily.substack.com/
20-June-2026: I just could not get into this one. DNF
20-June-2026: I just could not get into this one. DNF
Currently Reading
July 28, 2026HONEY WE ARE HOME
What is this about?
H.B. Cresswell’s The Honeywood File, from 1929, is an epistolary novel about an architect’s correspondence file while he is trying to build a home. The Honeywood Daily - run by Matt Kirkland - is a reading newsletter that send the days' entries of the book one day at a time and takes break when there’s a gap in the text so that it feels 'real'. Excited to try this, will update this review accordingly as I receive the letters.
---
Day 1
[...] I told him what an incompetent ass you are and of that house of yours which is getting ready to fall down
Sir there is really no need to introduce our architect like that-
Day 2
We meet the client! Either he is dumb or have a poor eyesight, for he failed to notice a chimney right in front his new property.
Day 3
Some of the letters are commented by an editor and the poor man is not having a good grammar day.
Day 4
A solution to the Chimney Problem has been proposed but I fear it's not over yet. The editor doesn't have opinions on the chimney, but a lot to say about the architect's ramblings.
Day 5
The client is not satisfied with the plans made by the architect, especially the cost of it... it's giving "can you draw x characters for free?" except it's to built a freaking house
Day 6
The architect strikes back! The editor is a bit in love - and so am I.
Day 7
the client: it's too expensive, ask me less money!!
also the client: I want a third bathroom and three more bedrooms.
Day 8
"Also, I am afraid, it will be impossible to enter the house by the front door" - this is going great.
Day 9&10 -cause I'm late-
The client said "read and doesn't care" and at this point the architect is literally begging him to not make anymore stupid decisions
Day 11
I didn't need to know how affordable building a house was back in the day and I shall never recover from that.
Day 12
The client approves the sketches, praise the Lord
Day 13
the letter: please don't worry about the chimney
me: well I'm definitely worry about the chimney NOW
Day 14&15
We are finally ready to go to the next step: finding a building team!
Day 16
Of course the client si not happy with a) the time it would take to built a house b) the name of the persons it would take to built a house
Day 17&18
News characters are reach out! The architect -who has Plans- makes first contact with the builders. He also goes into search of gossips about them, just to be sure.
Day 19-21
Various responses from the builders, some more eager than others, and also some gossips. At this point i'm starting to compile the days/letters when not much happen except echanges of politness - this review is already too long, I'm having regrets
Day 22&23
Holes are being dug. People are not happy about it. The client's horse is not happy about it. The architect just wants someone to answer him.
Day 24&25
Drama drama everyone is pointing fingers.
Day 26
I respect Spinlove, but that does not prevent my observing him to be a devoted ass. - Sir please, that's my emotional supportive architect
Day 27&28
We finally catch up with the time line! Sadly a horse had to die for this to happen.
Day 29
Fourteen bedrooms? In the France de Macron ? Impossible
Day 30-35
They just spend five letters fighting over the cost of digging holes
Day 36
We just met the client's wife and she is already a problem
Day 37
Spinlove knows how to purr loudly, I will never unread this sentence again
Day 39
Somebody gives the architect a break
Day 40
No wonder this correspondance takes two years this house will never be built at this rate
Day 41-43
The architect use the lifeline Phone-a-friend. It works! The architect no longer wants to throw himself out of the window
Day 44
Some people can't take a 'no' - literally all the people here
Day 45
The yassification of the architect
Day 46
Wel it didn' last
Day 47
The house: is about to be build
The client: Can you switch those two rooms please?
Day 48
The client is always right except when he is being fucking stupid
Day 49-51
Ah yes bricks and maths, my two nemesis
Day 52-53
The client's wife apparently doesn't know her right from her left. Also, why are we talking about ping-pong?
Day 54-55
Left is right right is left just put the freaking window somewhere i beg you
Day 56
It's been five letters and we still haven't decide where to put the window.
Day 58
The architect: here is a plan with a new location for the window I dare you to say something about it
Day 59
The client: invites the architect for lunch
me: IT'S A TRAP
Day 60
There a new guy named Mr. Potch and I cannot take this man seriously
Day 61
Congratulations you just unlock a New Problem!
Day 62-64
Potch is a posh, unsurprisingly. And a dick.
Day 65
The patience of the architect is getting tested, this man is going to commit a triple-murder before the house can be finish.
Day 66
To roof space or not to roof space, that is the question
Day 67-69
Potch is a disney villain confirmed
Day 70
The architect really said "that it's i'm telling mom" and contacted a local magistrate
Day 71
The architect: is fighting for his life
The client: have you seen the color of the bricks? it's abominable rubbish I want red ones!
Day 72
The architect was very polite, I would have told the client to shove the bricks up his arse
Day 73-74
A new ennemi arrises: the ecologists
Day 75
Spinlove’s action has not soothed the savage beast - suddenly the narrator fancy themself David Attenborough
Day 76-77
and now we have water problems
Day 78
Honeywood will never know peace again
Day 79
They just pulled the "don't tell mom" card
What is this about?
H.B. Cresswell’s The Honeywood File, from 1929, is an epistolary novel about an architect’s correspondence file while he is trying to build a home. The Honeywood Daily - run by Matt Kirkland - is a reading newsletter that send the days' entries of the book one day at a time and takes break when there’s a gap in the text so that it feels 'real'. Excited to try this, will update this review accordingly as I receive the letters.
---
Day 1
[...] I told him what an incompetent ass you are and of that house of yours which is getting ready to fall down
Sir there is really no need to introduce our architect like that-
Day 2
We meet the client! Either he is dumb or have a poor eyesight, for he failed to notice a chimney right in front his new property.
Day 3
Some of the letters are commented by an editor and the poor man is not having a good grammar day.
Day 4
A solution to the Chimney Problem has been proposed but I fear it's not over yet. The editor doesn't have opinions on the chimney, but a lot to say about the architect's ramblings.
Day 5
The client is not satisfied with the plans made by the architect, especially the cost of it... it's giving "can you draw x characters for free?" except it's to built a freaking house
Day 6
The architect strikes back! The editor is a bit in love - and so am I.
Day 7
the client: it's too expensive, ask me less money!!
also the client: I want a third bathroom and three more bedrooms.
Day 8
"Also, I am afraid, it will be impossible to enter the house by the front door" - this is going great.
Day 9&10 -cause I'm late-
The client said "read and doesn't care" and at this point the architect is literally begging him to not make anymore stupid decisions
Day 11
I didn't need to know how affordable building a house was back in the day and I shall never recover from that.
Day 12
The client approves the sketches, praise the Lord
Day 13
the letter: please don't worry about the chimney
me: well I'm definitely worry about the chimney NOW
Day 14&15
We are finally ready to go to the next step: finding a building team!
Day 16
Of course the client si not happy with a) the time it would take to built a house b) the name of the persons it would take to built a house
Day 17&18
News characters are reach out! The architect -who has Plans- makes first contact with the builders. He also goes into search of gossips about them, just to be sure.
Day 19-21
Various responses from the builders, some more eager than others, and also some gossips. At this point i'm starting to compile the days/letters when not much happen except echanges of politness - this review is already too long, I'm having regrets
Day 22&23
Holes are being dug. People are not happy about it. The client's horse is not happy about it. The architect just wants someone to answer him.
Day 24&25
Drama drama everyone is pointing fingers.
Day 26
I respect Spinlove, but that does not prevent my observing him to be a devoted ass. - Sir please, that's my emotional supportive architect
Day 27&28
We finally catch up with the time line! Sadly a horse had to die for this to happen.
Day 29
Fourteen bedrooms? In the France de Macron ? Impossible
Day 30-35
They just spend five letters fighting over the cost of digging holes
Day 36
We just met the client's wife and she is already a problem
Day 37
Spinlove knows how to purr loudly, I will never unread this sentence again
Day 39
Somebody gives the architect a break
Day 40
No wonder this correspondance takes two years this house will never be built at this rate
Day 41-43
The architect use the lifeline Phone-a-friend. It works! The architect no longer wants to throw himself out of the window
Day 44
Some people can't take a 'no' - literally all the people here
Day 45
The yassification of the architect
Day 46
Wel it didn' last
Day 47
The house: is about to be build
The client: Can you switch those two rooms please?
Day 48
The client is always right except when he is being fucking stupid
Day 49-51
Ah yes bricks and maths, my two nemesis
Day 52-53
The client's wife apparently doesn't know her right from her left. Also, why are we talking about ping-pong?
Day 54-55
Left is right right is left just put the freaking window somewhere i beg you
Day 56
It's been five letters and we still haven't decide where to put the window.
Day 58
The architect: here is a plan with a new location for the window I dare you to say something about it
Day 59
The client: invites the architect for lunch
me: IT'S A TRAP
Day 60
There a new guy named Mr. Potch and I cannot take this man seriously
Day 61
Congratulations you just unlock a New Problem!
Day 62-64
Potch is a posh, unsurprisingly. And a dick.
Day 65
The patience of the architect is getting tested, this man is going to commit a triple-murder before the house can be finish.
Day 66
To roof space or not to roof space, that is the question
Day 67-69
Potch is a disney villain confirmed
Day 70
The architect really said "that it's i'm telling mom" and contacted a local magistrate
Day 71
The architect: is fighting for his life
The client: have you seen the color of the bricks? it's abominable rubbish I want red ones!
Day 72
The architect was very polite, I would have told the client to shove the bricks up his arse
Day 73-74
A new ennemi arrises: the ecologists
Day 75
Spinlove’s action has not soothed the savage beast - suddenly the narrator fancy themself David Attenborough
Day 76-77
and now we have water problems
Day 78
Honeywood will never know peace again
Day 79
They just pulled the "don't tell mom" card
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Currently Reading
April 6, 2026reading as part of honeywood daily, email threads from matt & erika kirkland
Currently Reading
April 6, 2026Reading through the honeywooddaily substack, dispatched from the team of Dracula Daily
January 22, 2012
I wouldn't have picked up this rather odd little book from a reading of the blurb, but someone put it into my hands at a Bookcrossing meet-up after which I read it at one sitting and enjoyed it. It was a somewhat older, British edition, which I cannot find on here.
The characters are endearing, the humour gentle and the plot (no pun intended) intriguing, in spite of it being apparently mundane. Part of this is because of the insight into the process and part of it, perhaps, because of what it shows about the time (1920s). What makes it odd is not so much the epistolary style as the rather arch commentary which links the documents. This turns it into a case study for young architects on how to (or how not to!) manage clients, contractors, officials and landowners.
The characters are endearing, the humour gentle and the plot (no pun intended) intriguing, in spite of it being apparently mundane. Part of this is because of the insight into the process and part of it, perhaps, because of what it shows about the time (1920s). What makes it odd is not so much the epistolary style as the rather arch commentary which links the documents. This turns it into a case study for young architects on how to (or how not to!) manage clients, contractors, officials and landowners.
Did Not Finish
May 31, 2026It’s too boring. I just can’t find the desire to read about letters regarding the minutia of building a new house. And despite the intention of humor I can’t find it personally. I do wish Honeywood Daily all the best in this new subscription series though!
Did Not Finish
April 26, 2026Found it tediously boring. I think it’s really cool that Matt & Erika of Honeywood Daily dispatch it via email but I couldn’t get into the story.
December 17, 2012
Written in the 1920's, this epistolary novel describes the trials and tribualtions of architect james Spinlove as his designs and builds a mansion for Sir Leslie Brash. Letters, memos and other file triv regarding the owner, the contractors and lawyers as the inevitable problems arise in the construction process. Funny, informative and many momments of I've been there.
May 16, 2026
I initially started this as part of Honeywood Daily, run by the lovely people who did Dracula Daily. But due to poor memory and, I think, the fairly short entries, I had a hard time getting into the story and tracking what was going on. I saw the ebook went on sale, so I picked it up and read it straight through. I thought it was good, and would like to read the sequel because I want to know how the paint issues progressed. So I will keep my eye out to see if that one goes on sale as well.
November 26, 2022
Perhaps this was just too much 'reading about the day job, but this really annoyed me. The main character is idiotic and the narration between letters disruptive. Although the letter writing narrative style is open to lack of clarification, narration between is irritating. It shouldn't be needed to continue the plot.
It is supposed to be a comedy story, granted it was written about 100 years ago with different writing styles and perspectives, but I only raised a smile about twice.
It is supposed to be a comedy story, granted it was written about 100 years ago with different writing styles and perspectives, but I only raised a smile about twice.
Did Not Finish
July 7, 2026I think I'm tapping out. This feels tedious, the humor is waning, and with the little bits & details, I think I'd be better off reading this in a few longer sittings to better keep up with the back and forth than doing the Honeywood Daily substack. Some folks having their own project in the comments is a bit tedious as well. Love the idea, love the project, wish enjoyment for the rest! Think I'll catch the next one!
May 9, 2026
Surprisingly fun book; really enjoyed the details and the narration.
Currently Reading
May 18, 2026Reading through Honeywood Daily on Substack. Thank you Matt & Erika!
Did Not Finish
May 29, 2026Giving up on this now—definitely just didn’t hold my interest
Did Not Finish
July 16, 2026Started this because of the Dracula Daily team, but I think this book moves a little too slowly to read in that style.
January 30, 2014
Read this for my Process & Practice class (basically architectural law).
This book contains some annoying characters, and some ridiculous events that happen while the main character - James Spinlove - tries to build a house for his client, Sir Leslie Brash.
This book contains some annoying characters, and some ridiculous events that happen while the main character - James Spinlove - tries to build a house for his client, Sir Leslie Brash.
Read
December 30, 2011Dryly humorous and resonant.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews