Village Story

by Celia Buckmaster

Mrs. Ethelburger, who sat down when she wanted to think, had been classed as very intelligent when a girl, but seeing her in this ramshackle house, surrounded by her noisy family (as though there were not enough children about, there were photos of them all over the mantelpiece), people had hadn’t she rather thrown herself away? Celia Buckmaster’s sharply funny, brilliantly characterized first novel revolves around two discontented wives. Mrs. Noyce, at the manor, is a painter whose husband cherishes her art and refuses to allow her to be domestic, but now finds herself yearning for motherhood. Mrs. Ethelburger, on the other hand, has four children, but has been escaping domestic drudgery by carrying on a half-hearted affair with a businessman. In and out of these plot strands are woven the stories of their neighbours—the Noyces’ gardener, whose wife trains her cats to do tricks in remembrance of her time in a circus; the Rector and his wife, who having married beneath her is taking revenge on the world by becoming a Communist; Mr. Browning, the object of Mrs. Ethelburger’s casual affections, and his mother, who frets because she can’t stop dropping her aitches; and Linda, the spoiled village girl who imagines Mr. Noyce is making advances. Village Story is a deceptively simple tale, with subtle revelations of human nature and tragedy concealed beneath its witty surface.

Genres: Fiction, British Literature

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1951

Reviews

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is certainly not the cosy village story I was expecting but much deeper, with a lot to say about human nature. The author she most reminded me of was Elizabeth Taylorin the way that the story is very simple, but with complex characters. It focuses mainly on two dissatisfied wives, one an artist, the other a farmers wife. Mrs Noyce and her husband have moved into the Manor house so she can concentrate on her art, but she starts to feel she would like to start a family. Mrs Elthelburger has several children, but longs to be free of her household work and is having a half-hearted affair with one of her neighbours. There are several characters on the periphery to add to the entertainment.

Re-read 2/5

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love these Furrowed Middlebrow books. This one had a different atmosphere than the others that I'd read. An interesting character study of a village. Not my favorite. More dissolving of relationship than evolving romantic attraction.

[Gerri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. I didn’t care for the writing style and prefer a straightforward plot or at least characters that I care about.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unlikeable people behaving unlikeably.