Peter West

by D.E. Stevenson

Will their love find its own way? Beth Kerr is the daughter of the boatman in the small village of Kintoul. Her mother died at an early age, after an unhappy marriage that caused her family to cast her aside. As the years pass, Beth grows into a beautiful young woman, watched over by the quiet Peter West. The owner of Kintoul House, Peter is a lonely man with a weak heart and few family members and friends... They both struggle with their feelings for one another, before being forced to embark on marriages decided upon by their families. But will their lives follow the paths set for them, or will they find their own way? Praise for Peter ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Very charming with richly developed characters' - Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'An escape from a troubled world into a more gentle time' - Goodreads reviewer D. E. Stevenson was born in Edinburgh. Her father was a first cousin of Robert Louis Stevenson. She was educated privately and travelled widely in France and Italy with her parents. She married a major in the Highland Light Infantry and moved with the regiment from place to place gaining valuable experience of life and people.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction, British Literature, Audiobook, Scotland

139 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1923

About the author

There is more than one author with this name

Dorothy Emily Stevenson was a best-selling Scottish author. She published more than 40 romantic novels over a period of more than 40 years. Her father was a cousin of Robert Louis Stevenson.

D.E. Stevenson had an enormously successful writing career: between 1923 and 1970, four million copies of her books were sold in Britain and three million in the States. Like E.F. Benson, Ann Bridge, O. Douglas or Dorothy L. Sayers (to name but a few) her books are funny, intensely readable, engaging and dependable.

Reviews

[Jeanette · Rating 2 out of 5]

D.E. Stevenson's first published book and one can tell. There was a little too much sappy, bordering on melodramatic, romance and poorly developed characters. Without giving spoilers, I will just say that events in the novel happened a little to conveniently at times for me to stomach without a roll of the eyes.
Peter West lacks the sparkle, charm and most importantly, the wit of Stevenson's later and more popular books.
I am glad her writing improved in the ten years between her first and second published books. Her second book, Mrs. Tim of the Regiment, is my very favorite D.E. Stevenson novel.

[Gina House · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5🌟 A slow and quiet debut novel from D.E. Stevenson—one of my favorite authors of all time.

If you enjoy a long, laid-back introduction with lots of beautiful Scottish landscape description, you'll love the beginning of this book. I had a hard time with it because it was difficult for me to picture exactly what DES was trying to convey. I think if you've ever visited Scotland, it would be a much more lovely experience.

The story itself concerning Peter West and Beth Kerr is bittersweet, poignant and also full of challenges. Pride and plays a major role in their lives and how the plot plays out. I loved many qualities about each of these characters, but I was also frustrated with their reluctance to be clear and honest with each other. It's hard for me to enjoy any book where the characters spend a lot of time making unnecessary sacrifices for others—especially when a single conversation could clear things up in moments and bring about happiness to all.

I missed the sense of lightheartedness, sparkle and witty banter in this DES novel. One of the best things about 'Peter West' was the description and sense of warmth of Kintoul House (Peter's family estate/home), and perhaps Peter's mother, who has only a few small mentions in the story.

I loved the quiet feeling and the slower pace, but I think I prefer D.E. Stevenson's later writing style best. Overall, I'm still glad that I read this book.

[Hope · Rating 2 out of 5]

Of the 20 Stevenson novels I have read, this is my least favorite. It starts out with some gorgeous writing, but the story quickly devolves into a flimsy tale of unhappy marriages. Will the two protagonists (who are unhappily married to other people) find true love with each other? Don't hold your breath to find out. There's a lot of suffering to be got through before there's a thread of hope.

Stevenson deals with some tough questions about fate and free will: "It suddenly struck him that life was very unfair. You had to decide your whole life before you had any experience to guide you. "Youth makes the bed, and middle age has, perforce, to lie upon it." And, "Great matters rest on small chances; in fact, all life is one big game of chance with Fate as croupier, and the coin we stake is our blood and tears." The reader is left with the feeling that the two lovers have little control over what happens to them. When they do decide to assert themselves, and throw off the shackles of convention to find happiness, the reader is perplexed rather than satisfied because their motivation for these actions is rather vague.

The two overtly Christian characters are either too gentle to be effective (McLaren) or too harsh to be borne (John Kerr). If you've read any Elizabeth Goudge, you will feel the lack of moral fortitude in these characters. Happily, after this first attempt, Stevenson went on to write many wonderful novels.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

More like 2 1/2. Really skimmed quickly to get through. I think the two books I’ve rated lowest have both had a male centered story.

[Duckpondwithoutducks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, this is definitely not one of D. E. Stevenson’s best books, but then it is one of her very earliest.
Sure, the beginning was a bit confusing, and I wondered when we were going to get to the main story, but we did get there.
True, some of the denouement was a bit pat, but what story doesn’t have unlikely bits and far-fetched coincidences?
Certainly, there were shades of Jane Eyre in the story, it wasn’t entirely original, but if you’re going to borrow story ideas, Jane Eyre is a good novel to get them from.
Absolutely, I enjoyed it.
All of D. E. Stevenson’s novels feel like an escape from a troubled world into a more gentler time.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed listening to the audio version of this novel. It is the first published novel by D.E. Stevenson, a Scottish writer. Very old-fashioned but very charming with richly developed characters. It is available on Audible.com.

[Bookworman]

Just couldn't get into this one. Tried to start it a few times but got bored during the second chapter.
No harm, no foul... it was a Kindle freebie.

[Trina · Rating 3 out of 5]

If there were half stars on goodreads, this would only rate two and a half stars for me. I did not enjoy the main relationship in the book which left little to interest me.

[Diane Shearer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story!

I love it so much. It’s like an old movie in black and white. I found myself casting it in my head. Carey Grant as Peter West. Angela Lansbury as Prudence. (I know, the ages are all wrong) Elizabeth Taylor, when she was young, as Beth. Olivia de Haviland as Mary Rose and Charleton Heston as Brownlow. Carole Lombard as Natalie. Joan Crawford as Adelaide. It’s beautifully tragic. From reading other reviews, I gather this is not a favorite among the fans. All I can say is, if the rest of her books are better than this I’ve got some great reading ahead.

[Holwanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love most of D.E. Stevenson's books, read many times over. This one is not as perfect as others, but after a span of ten years, I have read it again--this time listening to the Audible recording, and it was much better than I recalled. Even though this is not as strong as most of her other books, you can still see the author's undeniable skill as a writer, sketcher of characters (in-depth), and settings (superb).

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

As the first novel published by D. E. Stevenson, I would recommend this to fans of her work who are ALSO complitionists. It was interesting to see her remarkable ability to describe settings, scenery and personalities. However, her signature wit and charm was lacking for me, which made the story feel extra melodramatic.

Glad I read it. Also glad her writing style changed a lot from this early work.

[Miriam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was more melodramatic than most of Stevenson's works that I've read, but you can see hints of her later books. There is a definite sense of place, but the supporting characters were, in a way, more developed than the main characters, which made the book a bit unbalanced. It was definitely interesting to read once but I doubt I'll reread it.

[Classic reverie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again I am reminded of not being too swayed by other reviews that are not too keen or rather did not like a book, I am a D. E. Stevenson fan, I have never been disappointed and "Peter West", in my opinion is her best so far. I have been wondering for years about her first novel and who is this Peter West, now I know and I loved every melodramatic word! 💖 I kept thinking about Trollope's first book which is also heavy on the melodrama and location is Scotland, though his story ends on a really depressing note. The Bronte sisters came to my mind too, this book has that feel of the older classics. I had a hard time putting this story down and wondered what would happen to Beth and Peter. Published in 1923, the post war novels are always interesting, this is not about the war but it is mentioned and how females and society changed after that tragedy.

Story in short- A small Scottish village and the impossible romance, social convention standing in their way.


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Mary Simpson marries boatman John Kerr despite her family objections and soon finds out life is fairly miserable, a young man, new in town, falls in love and she with him but she does not have the strength to leave her cruel husband. Brownlow Forth must leave his true love behind to her fate, he travels and returns 20 years later. Mary Kerr has died years ago when her daughter was 8 and she also had two boys, Elizabeth help their austere father with not much happiness. Mrs. West was a friend to Mary Kerr and has helped her daughter until her death, Peter West her son takes over looking after the young girl but sees that love has blossomed in him, but not knowing her feelings, he sees too many obstacles, mainly he who is older and sickly with a weak heart, could he make her happy, or would she lose a chance at true young love if they married. His sister Adelaide and her London doctor husband, who come every year to Kintoul for shooting, bring friends and stay for six weeks. Peter's rest and peace disturbed but still he is able to see Beth, they are seen together discussing books, Adelaide who is happy that her brother is a bachelor and likes it that way, so she could inherit his estate. After hearing about a possible liaison with the young poor girl, she devises a plan to have a beautiful woman, Natalie attract his attention, who decides she loves Peter and wants him at all cost. Peter is caught in the whirlwind and proposes to Natalie, unknown to him, Beth had been listening and her heart is broken, not really understanding why. Arriving late her father has visitors of the Baines, mother and son Alec, Kerr is worried about Peter and his daughter, so he rushes Beth into a bad marriage. Adelaide has a letter from Natalie's aunt trying to stop the wedding which upsets Adelaide's plans and in a fury, she accidentally locks it in a drawer, she cannot open and prays that Peter never finds it. It is a year later, Beth has an unhappy abusive drunk husband and Peter has married an insane woman. Beth hears about Peter's grief and begs him to runaway with her but he tells her it would not be right for either of them. Natalie runs away from the nurses and drowns. A year ago Peter and Brownlow became friends and he comes back to comfort his friend. One night Brownlow sees Mary, or looks like her and then he hears that is Mary's daughter who comes to have help in leaving Kintoul, she can no longer stay with her husband and looks for a life away. Peter wants to go with her but she refuses because she knows that he would lose his love for her. Brownlow tells Peter, he will look after her and act as an uncle. Beth thrives, with a job and friends and tells Brownlow that Peter is the past, she must look forward, she starts to date. He has not the heart to tell his friend who still loves Beth and after letters are no longer forthcoming, Peter visits his friend and finds out the truth. He sees Beth has changed but he has also come to tell her about her father being ill. They return to Kintoul, not talking very much. Brownlow has a job calling him but is available for his friend. Peter had found out before going to London about Natalie's history of madness which the letter proves that Adelaide had rushed him into marriage with Natalie, knowing this. He tells his sister never to talk to him again. Beth takes care of as Kerr, who has regretted having his daughter marry Alec after finding out his character. The town has many cases of influenza and finally Alec dies from a poor constitution unable to fight the flu. Peter hears of his death but thinks his chances to gain Beth's heart not likely, so he decides to take a position away for sometime. He decides to say goodbye and just change give hope for a chance in the future. She sees him walking to her house but she kept him outside because of the influenza still present. He tells her and he sees a change in her which tell of love and she tells him to come back really soon.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was D.E. Stevenson's first book and it shows. The plot and characters are weak, flat, and stilted compared to her later works. The book also starts off with an older man in love with a teenage girl, which felt pretty weird to my modern-day sensibilities. There are glimmers of her later strengths in observations of people and their motivations, but in this book it more often came across as adages rather than insightful observations. The biggest strength may be in a plot that is overall quite impressively feminist for the 1920s.

[Marian L. Siedzik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book!

The author is an excellent writer and I really enjoyed the book. I like that there is no profanity or sex scenes in it. One thing that is a little annoying is how the words are spelled when the character is illiterate or has a heavy accent. The reader can stare at the sentence and sometimes never figure out what the character said. Maybe have the translation under those sentences?

[Christy Whitsell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love D. E. Stevenson books, BUT not this one. I just saw this was her first published book. It just had some odd things in it, like Peter’s mother’s spiritual presence in her house. There are also horrible marriages which leads to strong temptation for an affair. The reasons the affair doesn’t happen have little to do with the morality of it (a la Jane Eyre) but with much more modern ideas of self respect and standing on one’s own feet.

[Andra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was not my favourite D E Stevenson book, somehow it lacked the light touch she sometimes had. There was a happy ending but it was a dark path to get there. That said I did enjoy it, but found none of the characters really likeable, some were good, some not, but none really grabbed me and made me want to know how they got on.

[Muffy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Clumsy and ponderous

I'm a big fan of D. E. Stevenson, but this book is at the bottom of the list, it reads like a ferry juvenile effort where everything has to be spelled out because the author can't convey emotions subtly. I know she can do that very well, so this is a big disappointment.

[ValeReads Kyriosity · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the best one of hers that I've read recently. The story was more coherent...not so much whiplashy jumping around from character to character. I do wish she'd given us a glimpse at Beth's motivation at the end. Not brilliant literature, by any means, but it fit the bill when I wanted something quiet and easy.

And a note for Carol: there's a "white, beringed hand" in the book. ;-)

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is my least favorite of DE Stevenson’s books. I found the story uncomfortable. At least I guess that’s the word. Even though I felt sorry for Beth, I didn’t always like her. Even though the story supposedly ended happily, I have my doubts. Just my reflections on this autumn evening.

[Margaret Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read most of D.E. Stevenson's books. This is not one of my favorites. The descriptions of the Scottish hills are great, but the plot is mostly sad.

[Susie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Early DES, never read it before

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my least favorite D.E. Stevenson book and I've read lots of them.

[Virginia B · Rating 2 out of 5]

I see that this was her first published book. Quite mawkish, undefined characters who, at least as far as I got, were not very interesting.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book published by Stevenson. It has the poetic prose and the deep insight into the characters and their lives, but while it lacks the characteristic humor of her other books it has the magic that keeps one reading. This is romantic fiction that avoids the easy love story plot/elements. It contains drama and mystery. Also, there is lots of historical background. I found the story quite illuminating and engaging.

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Peter West" is the one novel by D.E. Stevenson that my DES reading group has never read together in its 25+ years of existence. Most of the members who have read it before have commented that it's not among their DES favourites.

Just a few chapters in, I could see why.

This was Stevenson's very first published novel (serialized first and then published in book form in 1923), and it contains some of the hallmarks of many later DES novels -- it's set in a small village (Kintoul) in Scotland, with some lovely landscape descriptions, a strong sense of morality, loyal servants/retainers, a sympathetic minister of the local church, etc. But Stevenson here is still very much an author finding her voice.

The title character, Peter West, 35, has watched Beth Kerr, the daughter of the local boatman/ferry operator grow up into a beautiful young woman. As the Goodreads blurb for this book says, "Peter is a lonely man with a weak heart and few family members and friends." Both are manipulated by their families into marriages to other people, but this only serves to strengthen their feelings for each other. Will true love triumph? (You probably already know the answer, lol.)

Stevenson was very much a woman of her class and times, and that's often reflected in her books. Generally, however, it's not as blatantly obvious in her later books as it is here. I'm willing to forgive the occasional cringeworthy word choice or sentence when the rest of the book is good. "Peter West," however, contains some real clangers that are pretty jarring to our modern sensibilities.

Peter is about 35 and while we don't know exactly how old Beth is (I'm guessing probably around 16-17?), she's described -- in Peter's own words & thoughts -- as a child -- which, from a modern perspective (again), seems slightly icky.

The book was somewhat redeemed near the end when Beth explains to a friend that "I just felt it was my right to have a happy life, or at least one not utterly sordid and miserable.. may be more selfish than our mothers, but at least we are more able to face life, and are truer to ourselves." What an enlightened feminist statement for 1923!

But overall, this a much darker, more melodramatic/overwrought and less charming story than Stevenson's usual/later fare. I love most of Stevenson's other novels that I've read to date (and I've read a lot of them) -- and I don't regret reading this one -- but I doubt I'll be returning to this one anytime soon.

I struggled with the rating for this one. 2.5 stars for StoryGraph, and I debated whether I should round that up or down for Goodreads. It had its good points -- and it pains me to give a DES book such a low rating -- but ultimately I can't put it on the same level as other DES books I've read and rated at 3 stars.

2 stars it is.

I'll count this one as a re-read when we finish our chapter-by-chapter group read & discussion in late March. (January 2025)

*** *** ***

(March 2025)

My D.E. Stevenson reading group has just finished its chapter-by-chapter reading & discussion of Stevenson's first published novel, "Peter West" (1923) -- the one DES novel the group had never read covered in its 25+ years of existence.

Peter West, 35, has watched Beth Kerr, the daughter of the local boatman/ferry operator grow up into a beautiful young woman. He realizes he loves her, but is manipulated by his scheming older sister into a marriage with a more "suitable" partner. Beth, too, is herded into a loveless marriage with a prosperous but hard-drinking local farmer by her father. (Mild spoiler alert!:) There's ultimately a happy/hopeful ending, but not without a lot of heartache and drama for both the main characters.

"Peter West" contains some of the features that show up in many of DES's later novels -- a Scottish setting, some lovely landscape descriptions, loyal servants/retainers, villainous sisters, sympathetic clergymen, etc. But overall, it's much darker, more melodramatic and less charming than some of her later books. There are also (to modern readers) a few cringeworthy word choices/phrases, particularly in the early chapters. Stevenson here is still very much an author finding her voice. This was definitely not a favourite of many of our group members, but I am still glad we read it.

I originally rated this book 2.5 stars on StoryGraph, rounded down to 2 stars on Goodreads. As I said then, it had its good points, it's interesting from the perspective of the author's development as a writer -- and it pains me to give a DES book such a low rating -- but ultimately I can't put it on quite the same level as other DES books I've read and rated at 3 stars.

Those ratings still stand upon re-reading.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book Bingo: Audiobook square

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

It might be because I listened to Peter West as an audiobook, but I thought this was one of the weakest DES books. It took too much time to get into the story and the characters were not well defined.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just strange. I don’t know what to think of it. I want to root for the couple but they’d have to have an affair, and it’s just very 19th century romanticized.