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Young Bar
The Naval base of Peranda in the Indian Ocean was a gay, cheerful spot. "There's plenty to do, and plenty of young men to do it with," said Bar Lonsdale.
But although Bar spoke flippantly, she had found heartache in Peranda, for very young and very, very unsophisticated, she had fallen in love, and it had all gone wrong. She resolved never to fall in love again, and when her determination melted under the laughing gaze of Commander Stephen Connelley, she found that she did not know just how to deal with the situation.
Young Bar was finding growing up a difficult process, and her family were no help to her -- but fortunately she had one wise adviser.
But although Bar spoke flippantly, she had found heartache in Peranda, for very young and very, very unsophisticated, she had fallen in love, and it had all gone wrong. She resolved never to fall in love again, and when her determination melted under the laughing gaze of Commander Stephen Connelley, she found that she did not know just how to deal with the situation.
Young Bar was finding growing up a difficult process, and her family were no help to her -- but fortunately she had one wise adviser.
191 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1952
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About the author
Jane Fraser
10 books51 followersRosamunde Scott was born on 22 September 1924 in Lelant, Cornwall, England, UK, daughter of Helen and Charles Scott, a British commander. Just before her birth her father was posted in Burma, her mother remained in England. She attended St. Clare's Polwithen and Howell's School Llandaff before going on to Miss Kerr-Sanders' Secretarial College. She began writing when she was seven, and published her first short story when she was 18. From 1943 through 1946, Pilcher served with the Women's Naval Service. On 7 December 1946, she married Graham Hope Pilcher, a war hero and jute industry executive who died in March 2009. They moved to Dundee, Scotland. They had two daughters and two sons, and fourteen grandchildren. Her son, Robin Pilcher, is also a novelist.
In 1949, her first book, a romance novel, was published by Mills & Boon, under the pseudonym Jane Fraser. She published a further ten novels under that name. In 1955, she also began writing under her married name Rosamunde Pilcher, by 1965 she her own name to all of her novels. In 1996, her novel Coming Home won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by Romantic Novelists' Association. She retired from writing in 2000. Two years later, she was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
In 1949, her first book, a romance novel, was published by Mills & Boon, under the pseudonym Jane Fraser. She published a further ten novels under that name. In 1955, she also began writing under her married name Rosamunde Pilcher, by 1965 she her own name to all of her novels. In 1996, her novel Coming Home won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by Romantic Novelists' Association. She retired from writing in 2000. Two years later, she was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 12, 2019
**3 1/2**Before Rosamund Pilcher went “mainstream,” she got her start writing romances for Mills and Boon (or Harlequin) under the name of Jane Fraser. In Young Bar, we do not have a typical Harlequin romance. Although certainly, this book does not have the polish and depth that her later books have, her talent shines through in her descriptions and character development. Unfortunately, the characters in this book are not developed to be very likable.
There is not much to this one plot-wise. We have Barbara Lonsdale, a fairly nice girl but spoiled and idle, though with a lively personality. She is still living with her father with no plans or goals, on a naval base In the Indian Ocean, presumably waiting for her Prince Charming to appear and marry her. Enter Commander Steven Connelly who has just been assigned to the Island. They strike sparks off of each other, and the plot consists of them gradually falling in love with each other after the initial antagonism. Her twin brother, visiting from Oxford, is like his father, selfish and with a bit of a mean streak. It is never addressed why Bar is not also in school or training for some kind of profession. Matters are complicated by the father, who has been vacationing in Ceylon, bringing home a new wife and young step-daughter who coincidentally were acquainted with Steven in England. The new wife, who isn’t a bad person, but snobby and critical of young Bar, has her eye on Steven, who is about 35, for her daughter Millie who is even younger than Bar, who is about 20. The age gap is very typical of a Rosamunde Pilcher, but this one stretches credulity even more than her later books.
It is rather like an old-timey regency romance without the regency. The marriage of the young heroine is what everything pivots on. The exotic island’s culture and social scene take center stage along with the domestic drama and developing relationships. The native islanders who are the servants are treated with the unconscious racism and disdain typical of the 1960s by both Rosamunde and her creations. In one scene, Bar and Chris, her brother, get a morning visit from a family friend. She kindly offers to get him some breakfast. This consists of her walking through the bungalow and calling out "Gordon Master's breakfast." "He's waiting now." and going back to the table and pouring herself a cup of tea. (Which she actually pours for herself!) This demonstrates the culture and the idleness of Bar's life, which is not seen as a character defect that needs to be improved. These are middle-class civil servants in the 1960s not the nobility of 1760! It is really a slice of life in a different world, not that far in the past. It was interesting and even had a certain charm as long as I could suspend my more enlightened sensibilities.
It is mighty dull in places, but her deft characterizations and little plot threads kept me reading with interest. There were even a few times I was not sure where it was going. By the end, young Bar matures a little, learns a lesson or two, but does not essentially change much from the not too admirable girl we were introduced to in the beginning.
There is not much to this one plot-wise. We have Barbara Lonsdale, a fairly nice girl but spoiled and idle, though with a lively personality. She is still living with her father with no plans or goals, on a naval base In the Indian Ocean, presumably waiting for her Prince Charming to appear and marry her. Enter Commander Steven Connelly who has just been assigned to the Island. They strike sparks off of each other, and the plot consists of them gradually falling in love with each other after the initial antagonism. Her twin brother, visiting from Oxford, is like his father, selfish and with a bit of a mean streak. It is never addressed why Bar is not also in school or training for some kind of profession. Matters are complicated by the father, who has been vacationing in Ceylon, bringing home a new wife and young step-daughter who coincidentally were acquainted with Steven in England. The new wife, who isn’t a bad person, but snobby and critical of young Bar, has her eye on Steven, who is about 35, for her daughter Millie who is even younger than Bar, who is about 20. The age gap is very typical of a Rosamunde Pilcher, but this one stretches credulity even more than her later books.
It is rather like an old-timey regency romance without the regency. The marriage of the young heroine is what everything pivots on. The exotic island’s culture and social scene take center stage along with the domestic drama and developing relationships. The native islanders who are the servants are treated with the unconscious racism and disdain typical of the 1960s by both Rosamunde and her creations. In one scene, Bar and Chris, her brother, get a morning visit from a family friend. She kindly offers to get him some breakfast. This consists of her walking through the bungalow and calling out "Gordon Master's breakfast." "He's waiting now." and going back to the table and pouring herself a cup of tea. (Which she actually pours for herself!) This demonstrates the culture and the idleness of Bar's life, which is not seen as a character defect that needs to be improved. These are middle-class civil servants in the 1960s not the nobility of 1760! It is really a slice of life in a different world, not that far in the past. It was interesting and even had a certain charm as long as I could suspend my more enlightened sensibilities.
It is mighty dull in places, but her deft characterizations and little plot threads kept me reading with interest. There were even a few times I was not sure where it was going. By the end, young Bar matures a little, learns a lesson or two, but does not essentially change much from the not too admirable girl we were introduced to in the beginning.
November 28, 2022
Unfortunately, this novel was quite dull to me.
It is set in the era when smoking was popular, therefore these characters smoked at every opportunity, which was way too much in this book.
I didn't like anything in this story except for the writing style, which was laid back but descriptive.
Personally, this romance was a dull, lazy read.
It is set in the era when smoking was popular, therefore these characters smoked at every opportunity, which was way too much in this book.
I didn't like anything in this story except for the writing style, which was laid back but descriptive.
Personally, this romance was a dull, lazy read.
February 11, 2026
Silly, but harmless heroine (about 20) falls for the land captain hero (30s), but for ages he thinks she is like a child (she acts about 16). There's a beautiful OW (of course) and a tepid HEA. I was expecting to like this, but the writing feels superficial.
January 17, 2023
The story is sweet but, oh my cats, the racism and colonialism in this one are so very awful that I can’t recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews