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Mrs. Tim #1
Mrs Tim of the Regiment
Vivacious young Hester Christie tries to run her home like clockwork, as would befit the wife of British Army officer, Tim Christie. However hard Mrs Tim strives for seamless living amidst the other army wives, she is always moving flat-out to remember groceries, rule lively children, side-step village gossip and placate her husband with bacon, eggs, toast and marmalade. Left alone for months at a time whilst her husband is with his regiment, Mrs Tim resolves to keep a diary of events large and small in her family life. Once pen is set to paper no affairs of the head or heart are overlooked. When a move to a new regiment in Scotland uproots the Christie family, Mrs Tim is hurled into a whole new drama of dilemmas; from settling in with a new set whilst her husband is away, to disentangling a dear friend from an unsuitable match. Against the wild landscape of surging rivers, sheer rocks and rolling mists, who should stride into Mrs Tim's life one day but the dashing Major Morley, hellbent on pursuit of our charming heroine. And Hester will soon find that life holds unexpected crossroads...
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1932
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About the author
D.E. Stevenson
67 books627 followersThere 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
December 13, 2019
3.5 stars. This is the first book in the Mrs. Tim series, a novel in the form of journal entries written by the wife of a career British military officer, Mrs. Tim Christie. D.E. Stevenson, who wrote this book in 1932, was herself a military wife, and based much of this book on her own real-life journal, so there's definitely a realistic take on the ups and downs of British military life in between the world wars.
The first half is best viewed as an immersion into Hester Christie's day-to-day life. It doesn't really have much of a plot, but she has a wry sense of humor and tells some interesting stories. The second half is more novel-like, as Hester visits a well-to-do friend in Scotland for a few weeks' vacation and there's lots of interpersonal drama, including her friend's son falling in love with the Wrong Girl and a Major Tony Morley (who works closely with Hester's husband Tim) who follows Hester around and has fallen in love with her ... which Hester utterly fails to realize because she's "hedged about with innocence," in Tony's words. Her obliviousness to his love for her never really worked for me, since Hester is otherwise quite observant, but maybe this is what readers in the 30s expected where one of the parties was married? In any case, even though Tim isn't around for most of the book, Hester is unswervingly devoted to him. And Tony, questionable though his motives may be, is a hilarious guy who always brightens up the pages when he appears.
It's a cozy read, definitely of its time in terms of social attitudes and unexamined classism, but that generally comes with the territory in older books. This isn't my favorite book by D.E. Stevenson (that would be Miss Buncle's Book) but I did enjoy getting a glimpse of another, bygone world through Hester Christie's eyes.
These books were very popular in their day (Stevenson wrote three more Mrs. Tim books) but I may or may not ever get around to reading them. I did read her book The Four Graces last week, which I'd recommend more than this one for people who like old-fashioned romances.
The first half is best viewed as an immersion into Hester Christie's day-to-day life. It doesn't really have much of a plot, but she has a wry sense of humor and tells some interesting stories. The second half is more novel-like, as Hester visits a well-to-do friend in Scotland for a few weeks' vacation and there's lots of interpersonal drama, including her friend's son falling in love with the Wrong Girl and a Major Tony Morley (who works closely with Hester's husband Tim) who follows Hester around and has fallen in love with her ... which Hester utterly fails to realize because she's "hedged about with innocence," in Tony's words. Her obliviousness to his love for her never really worked for me, since Hester is otherwise quite observant, but maybe this is what readers in the 30s expected where one of the parties was married? In any case, even though Tim isn't around for most of the book, Hester is unswervingly devoted to him. And Tony, questionable though his motives may be, is a hilarious guy who always brightens up the pages when he appears.
It's a cozy read, definitely of its time in terms of social attitudes and unexamined classism, but that generally comes with the territory in older books. This isn't my favorite book by D.E. Stevenson (that would be Miss Buncle's Book) but I did enjoy getting a glimpse of another, bygone world through Hester Christie's eyes.
These books were very popular in their day (Stevenson wrote three more Mrs. Tim books) but I may or may not ever get around to reading them. I did read her book The Four Graces last week, which I'd recommend more than this one for people who like old-fashioned romances.
January 10, 2020
2.5★
I'm sorry, I really tried, but I just can't finish this. One session (And oh, it did feel like a session!) reading I fell asleep before I read a single line.
Time to tidy up 2019 reads and move on.
There are exceptions (Désirée for one) but I'm rarely a fan of the diary format, as it is very limiting. But I did mildly enjoy the first half of the book that was based on Ms Stevenson's real life diaries. The quickly jotted down style was really authentic and it was interesting reading about what an army wife's life was like between the wars. Stevenson is often very witty.
I still enjoyed the early June entries, even though each day is now more like a chapter written in the first person. Hester (Mrs Tim) now journeys by train to holiday with a former neighbour, Mrs Louden.
The Christie's second child Betty gives me some laugh out loud moments. There is the unwelcome intrusion of a snobbish and disliked acquaintance on the train.
Haven't we all had those moments with our children? I had high hopes the read would improve but for me this was the last entertaining moment until my decision to DNF at 76%. I carried on that long because in spite of the difference in children ages, I was reminded (a lot) of British bittersweet comedy series Butterflies.
Major Morley = Leonard for those who have seen Butterflies, and I was visualising actress Wendy Craig while I was reading. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out that the Major Tim books were a very loose inspiration for this TV series. Please note I am saying inspiration not carbon copy!
Since I have a number of unread Stevenson at home and my local library has started carrying some of her titles, I will try another Stevenson. This author has wonderful descriptive powers and a very observant eye.
DNF with regret @76%
I'm sorry, I really tried, but I just can't finish this. One session (And oh, it did feel like a session!) reading I fell asleep before I read a single line.
Time to tidy up 2019 reads and move on.
There are exceptions (Désirée for one) but I'm rarely a fan of the diary format, as it is very limiting. But I did mildly enjoy the first half of the book that was based on Ms Stevenson's real life diaries. The quickly jotted down style was really authentic and it was interesting reading about what an army wife's life was like between the wars. Stevenson is often very witty.
I still enjoyed the early June entries, even though each day is now more like a chapter written in the first person. Hester (Mrs Tim) now journeys by train to holiday with a former neighbour, Mrs Louden.
The Christie's second child Betty gives me some laugh out loud moments. There is the unwelcome intrusion of a snobbish and disliked acquaintance on the train.
"...I thought Mummie didn't know anyone in Kiltwinkle. Of course I knew lots of children at school, but it was awfully dull for Mummie. Mrs Watt said there would be lots of parties, and Mummie bought a new dress, and then nobody asked her."
Haven't we all had those moments with our children? I had high hopes the read would improve but for me this was the last entertaining moment until my decision to DNF at 76%. I carried on that long because in spite of the difference in children ages, I was reminded (a lot) of British bittersweet comedy series Butterflies.
Major Morley = Leonard for those who have seen Butterflies, and I was visualising actress Wendy Craig while I was reading. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out that the Major Tim books were a very loose inspiration for this TV series. Please note I am saying inspiration not carbon copy!
Since I have a number of unread Stevenson at home and my local library has started carrying some of her titles, I will try another Stevenson. This author has wonderful descriptive powers and a very observant eye.
DNF with regret @76%
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...
September 1, 2020
2020 reread: I still adore the book but also found a better appreciation for Tim Christie than I did my first go around. It helped to have a buddy reading it with me to point out some nuances I missed. This will always be a perpetual favorite of mine.
2019 Review: I adored this book. It was one that I completely savored each bout of reading. Hester Christie is an absolute dear and an utterly intriguing woman. I found her to be witty, self deprecating, intelligent, and completely unaware of her worth. From the first glimpse into her initial diary entry, I knew she was a character I would eventually dearly wish I could be friends with. There are a handful of books in which I want to claim the characters as friend: Anne Shirley, Flavia de Luce, Nancy Drew, Bertie Wooster, Jay Gatsby, and Lucy Pevensie readily come to mind. I now solemnly add Hester Christie to their lofty ranks.
This book has launched me on a D.E. Stevenson binge read. I promptly ordered (and paid far too much money) for a matching vintage Mrs Tim Carries On... and decided I can't wait the month it will take to arrive from Edinburgh. So promptly ordered a new paperback. I have a solid inkling 2019 will be a year of D.E. Stevenson for me.
I hope all my rantings and ravings about this book inspire you to pick up a copy for yourself. It's about an army officer's wife daily happenings. Her observations of the small town in Scotland where she finds herself stationed, raising her daughter, living in terror of her cook, and finding moments of joy or illumination in her existence. She is readily sought after for advice yet doesn't seem to realize her value. She defers to her husband's "intellect" on most matters except when she's eventually had enough of his preferences and neatly maneuvers the situation to her own. The best parts of the book are truly when her husband is away and her interactions with the other characters in the novel. Dare I say it, is it possible to "ship" a couple in a 1941 novel? (I think that's what the kids are hopefully still calling it these days...) I completely "ship" Hester Christie and Major Tony Morley. (I know.. gasp!! is that done! She's married!.. but I do). This novel was such a pleasant escape read.
2019 Review: I adored this book. It was one that I completely savored each bout of reading. Hester Christie is an absolute dear and an utterly intriguing woman. I found her to be witty, self deprecating, intelligent, and completely unaware of her worth. From the first glimpse into her initial diary entry, I knew she was a character I would eventually dearly wish I could be friends with. There are a handful of books in which I want to claim the characters as friend: Anne Shirley, Flavia de Luce, Nancy Drew, Bertie Wooster, Jay Gatsby, and Lucy Pevensie readily come to mind. I now solemnly add Hester Christie to their lofty ranks.
This book has launched me on a D.E. Stevenson binge read. I promptly ordered (and paid far too much money) for a matching vintage Mrs Tim Carries On... and decided I can't wait the month it will take to arrive from Edinburgh. So promptly ordered a new paperback. I have a solid inkling 2019 will be a year of D.E. Stevenson for me.
I hope all my rantings and ravings about this book inspire you to pick up a copy for yourself. It's about an army officer's wife daily happenings. Her observations of the small town in Scotland where she finds herself stationed, raising her daughter, living in terror of her cook, and finding moments of joy or illumination in her existence. She is readily sought after for advice yet doesn't seem to realize her value. She defers to her husband's "intellect" on most matters except when she's eventually had enough of his preferences and neatly maneuvers the situation to her own. The best parts of the book are truly when her husband is away and her interactions with the other characters in the novel. Dare I say it, is it possible to "ship" a couple in a 1941 novel? (I think that's what the kids are hopefully still calling it these days...) I completely "ship" Hester Christie and Major Tony Morley. (I know.. gasp!! is that done! She's married!.. but I do). This novel was such a pleasant escape read.
September 13, 2020
3 Stars
The writing was wonderful as usual but I didn't like Hester Christie as much as some of Stevenson's other characters. I found her rather mean and smug.
The writing was wonderful as usual but I didn't like Hester Christie as much as some of Stevenson's other characters. I found her rather mean and smug.
January 10, 2020
I've read several D.E. Stevenson books at this point - there are a number that are available through kindle unlimited, and one of my friends sent me a copy of Miss Buncle's Book. I actually picked up this Bloomsbury paperback around six years ago, but just now got around to reading it.
Mrs. Tim is apparently based on the actual diaries of D.E. Stevenson from when she was a young wife. There is a lot to like about the book - especially Mrs. Tim herself - but the diary format, to me, was not as successful as the straight-up narratives I'd read by Stevenson.
If I had to pick a single word to describe a D.E. Stevenson book it would either be "comfortable" or "charming," and I don't know which of them would win out. Mrs. Tim is an easy read with a lot of charm.
I will say that I thought that Miss Buncle's Book was better - funnier, a bit more satirical, and with a stronger perspective on human nature. If you're only going to read one Stevenson, read that one. I, on the other hand, plan to read more. In a world where Australia is burning, white nationalism is rising, Donald Trump is trying to start WWIII in order to distract us from his corruption, and Boris Johnson is the Prime Minister of Britain, reading D.E. Stevenson is like putting on a pair of fuzzy jammies and crawling into bed with a cup of tea. We all need more of that.
Mrs. Tim is apparently based on the actual diaries of D.E. Stevenson from when she was a young wife. There is a lot to like about the book - especially Mrs. Tim herself - but the diary format, to me, was not as successful as the straight-up narratives I'd read by Stevenson.
If I had to pick a single word to describe a D.E. Stevenson book it would either be "comfortable" or "charming," and I don't know which of them would win out. Mrs. Tim is an easy read with a lot of charm.
I will say that I thought that Miss Buncle's Book was better - funnier, a bit more satirical, and with a stronger perspective on human nature. If you're only going to read one Stevenson, read that one. I, on the other hand, plan to read more. In a world where Australia is burning, white nationalism is rising, Donald Trump is trying to start WWIII in order to distract us from his corruption, and Boris Johnson is the Prime Minister of Britain, reading D.E. Stevenson is like putting on a pair of fuzzy jammies and crawling into bed with a cup of tea. We all need more of that.
August 9, 2012
I've read a few negative reviews of this book which claim that 'nothing happens' - but for me that's almost part of the appeal as it makes you focus entirely on Stevenson's writing.
It reminded me slightly of Denis Mackail's Greenery Street; another book set in a similar area which simply covers the day-to-day life of married couple without much in the way of a plot - again, it's all about the writing.
Mrs Tim, as you've no doubt read, is an edited version of the diary written by Stevenson herself documenting her life as a military wife in the interwar years. She lent the diary to a friend's daughter who was marrying a solider and they enjoyed it so much that they encouraged her to publish it.
I expected something slightly sappy but actually this book is much more dry with some extremely funny bits and some fairly poignant bits too. Stevenson not only has a gift for making the day-to-day seem fascinating but also for bringing to life the houses, farms and countryside where she spends her time.
There were a few moments when I was frustrated that she couldn't see the blindingly obvious - with Major Morley and Alastair - buy then these things are always more obvious to other people, particularly when written down!
A really comforting, lovely book that offers a bit of escapism - who needs complex plot twists anyway?!
It reminded me slightly of Denis Mackail's Greenery Street; another book set in a similar area which simply covers the day-to-day life of married couple without much in the way of a plot - again, it's all about the writing.
Mrs Tim, as you've no doubt read, is an edited version of the diary written by Stevenson herself documenting her life as a military wife in the interwar years. She lent the diary to a friend's daughter who was marrying a solider and they enjoyed it so much that they encouraged her to publish it.
I expected something slightly sappy but actually this book is much more dry with some extremely funny bits and some fairly poignant bits too. Stevenson not only has a gift for making the day-to-day seem fascinating but also for bringing to life the houses, farms and countryside where she spends her time.
There were a few moments when I was frustrated that she couldn't see the blindingly obvious - with Major Morley and Alastair - buy then these things are always more obvious to other people, particularly when written down!
A really comforting, lovely book that offers a bit of escapism - who needs complex plot twists anyway?!
April 2, 2021
My reading focus in 2021 is reading D. E. Stevenson's kindle books. I reviewed this in 2017 but decided to re-read after starting "Mrs. Tim Carries On", realizing that some characters sounded familiar. Major Morley and Pinkie and Guthrie Loudon were in book 2 but wanting to remember it all. Major Morley and Guthrie are in this story but no mention of Pinkie and just briefly about her family being friends with Hester. Again I loved this diary formatted story which is rich in humor and Hester's thoughts on life. I absolutely love this!
Story in short- Mrs. Tim Christie receives a diary from her brother for Christmas and puts her thoughts and adventures in paper. The second world war has not occurred yet, very sad indeed!
"In 1916 she married a young officer, Major James Peploe, and had four children. Although busy with family life, she later found time to write. Her first novel, Peter West, was published in 1923, and although it was a number of years before she wrote any more, Dorothy continued to keep a diary, observing the characters and personalities of those around her. In the early 1930s a friend, whose daughter was shortly to marry an army officer, borrowed Stevenson’s diary in order to get a sense of what her daughter could expect. She greatly enjoyed it, and urged Stevenson to publish it. The result was Mrs Tim of the Regiment (1932), the first of what was to become the Mrs Tim quartet. The series continued with Mrs Tim Carries On (1941), Mrs Tim Gets a Job (1947) and Mrs Tim Flies Home (1952) "
The review below is from 2017; and having the whole Mrs. Tim series on Kindle now.
I would love to read the rest of the Mrs. Tim series, waiting for the Kindle version. I started reading D. E. Stevenson around two years ago and fell in love with her stories, so I decided on Mrs. Tim, which even though there is humor in her other books, it mostly romance that drives the story forward but Mrs. Tim was humor in life and quite abundant. I noticed a quality of looking at life akin to Elizabeth von Arnim's Elizabeth series, which I loved. Being in diary form was not the reason for the comparison but the look at life, friends and avoidance of others, marriage, books and nature were the focus. Arnim had her Goethe and Stevenson had her Austin. The diary at first is just one but turns in a diary and several interesting stories. It was a delightful read.
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌���❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌spoiler. Alert❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌
Mrs. Hestor Christie and her husband, Tim are wanderers because of his military career and lifestyle, always moving and living in rented houses. The start of the book they are ending there time at the base in Biddington and are looking for a house in Westburgh, where Tim is to be stationed. Their son, Bryan goes away to school and is under 11 because in the next book, it seems he is that age. Betty is public school educated and lives at home, she is younger than her brother and quite outspoken. Major Morley is unmarried and rich, he loves Hester but she is not wise to that fact which would ruin the married couple's frienship with him, if it was known, for Hester loves her husband. Grace and Jack McDougall have been married 3 months. Colonel and Mrs. Benson are not more liked in either stories. After arriving in Westburgh, they meet the neighbors but Hestor misses the military wives, this post has less cohesion, which after Major Morley retires, the Christies are to return back to Biddington which makes them happy, for the advancement for Tim and moving back. Annie and Fred Billings are engaged, Bolling is Tim's Batman and Annie helps Hestor. In Westburgh, Hestor has a friendship with Mrs. Loudon who invites her and Betty to the Highlands for a month, which the below quote highlights gives an overview. Tim is to arrive as the story concludes.
"A score of bright little pictures stand out clearly as I look back over my time at Avielochan. I pick them out and smile over them one by one. My first morning in the garden – the bright, bright sunshine, and the crystal clearness of the air; Guthrie and Elsie fishing on the loch (how hard poor Guthrie struggled to reconcile the rival attractions of love and sport!); Castle Quill party where I first heard the story of the beautiful Seónaid; the visit to the laundry (I can see the lines of snowy garments dancing in the breeze and hear the soft tones of Miss Campbell’s gentle voice); Guthrie’s burglars; the picnic when we saw the ghost of Seónaid which turned out to be Deirdre; the dinner party; Betty’s adventure in the mist; my expedition with Tony to Gart-na-Druim with its pleasant memories of our welcome and the beauty of the Western Sea; the elopement of my Fairy Princess; and lastly the fair (a jumble of impressions from which our adventure at the roundabout stands forth as the high light). "
At the Highlands, Esther sees Mrs. McTurk headed for the same destination and finds out from Betty, that they are staying with Mrs. Loudon. While living in Westburgh, Mrs. McTurk was not too friendly with Esther, but wanting to make friends with Mrs. Loudon, she basically wants an invitation there. Esther knows Mrs. Loudon is not a fan of Mrs. McTurk, so she leaves the issue alone. Mrs. Loudon is not herself, and Esther finds out this cheery woman is worried about a vamp of sorts, that has her son, Guthrie hoodwinked. After Major Morley calls at the Loudons, a plan by Mrs. Loudon and himself, for him to pay extra attention to Esther, so that maybe Guthrie will see the difference in Esther and Elsie Baker. It seems this idea is Morley looking to be near Esther, he tries to test her, but she is to much in love with her husband and innocent to understand what his true meaning is, Morley leaves before Tim arrives. Elsie after being proposed to by Guthrie decides that they will not be happy together because he doesn't have the same sense of humor, she has met someone in the hotel she will marry that suits her, Elsie feels she can tell Hester this and Hester agrees. Guthrie was already seeing that he made a mistake but he was taken back that she found somebody else. Guthrie is worried that Morley will take advantage of Esther, he keeps an eye and becomes a third wheel, which Esther encourages the two to be friends, but they are at ends most of the time. The only time they are basically friendly is when Betty is missing. Mrs. London's cousin is an monopolizing talker with a sad past history, quite humorous and trying but likeable. Morley and Hester find a girl and a boy from feuding clan looking to elope, they help out the couple but keep it secret. Unfortunately, it seems like the couple can never come back.
I was happy that Elsie decided being married to Guthrie would be a mistake, Mrs. Loudon was happy for she knew the girl was wrong for her son. Guthrie knew it deep down and now to the red headed nurse in book 2, what about Pinkie?
Story in short- Mrs. Tim Christie receives a diary from her brother for Christmas and puts her thoughts and adventures in paper. The second world war has not occurred yet, very sad indeed!
"In 1916 she married a young officer, Major James Peploe, and had four children. Although busy with family life, she later found time to write. Her first novel, Peter West, was published in 1923, and although it was a number of years before she wrote any more, Dorothy continued to keep a diary, observing the characters and personalities of those around her. In the early 1930s a friend, whose daughter was shortly to marry an army officer, borrowed Stevenson’s diary in order to get a sense of what her daughter could expect. She greatly enjoyed it, and urged Stevenson to publish it. The result was Mrs Tim of the Regiment (1932), the first of what was to become the Mrs Tim quartet. The series continued with Mrs Tim Carries On (1941), Mrs Tim Gets a Job (1947) and Mrs Tim Flies Home (1952) "
The review below is from 2017; and having the whole Mrs. Tim series on Kindle now.
I would love to read the rest of the Mrs. Tim series, waiting for the Kindle version. I started reading D. E. Stevenson around two years ago and fell in love with her stories, so I decided on Mrs. Tim, which even though there is humor in her other books, it mostly romance that drives the story forward but Mrs. Tim was humor in life and quite abundant. I noticed a quality of looking at life akin to Elizabeth von Arnim's Elizabeth series, which I loved. Being in diary form was not the reason for the comparison but the look at life, friends and avoidance of others, marriage, books and nature were the focus. Arnim had her Goethe and Stevenson had her Austin. The diary at first is just one but turns in a diary and several interesting stories. It was a delightful read.
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌���❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌spoiler. Alert❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌
Mrs. Hestor Christie and her husband, Tim are wanderers because of his military career and lifestyle, always moving and living in rented houses. The start of the book they are ending there time at the base in Biddington and are looking for a house in Westburgh, where Tim is to be stationed. Their son, Bryan goes away to school and is under 11 because in the next book, it seems he is that age. Betty is public school educated and lives at home, she is younger than her brother and quite outspoken. Major Morley is unmarried and rich, he loves Hester but she is not wise to that fact which would ruin the married couple's frienship with him, if it was known, for Hester loves her husband. Grace and Jack McDougall have been married 3 months. Colonel and Mrs. Benson are not more liked in either stories. After arriving in Westburgh, they meet the neighbors but Hestor misses the military wives, this post has less cohesion, which after Major Morley retires, the Christies are to return back to Biddington which makes them happy, for the advancement for Tim and moving back. Annie and Fred Billings are engaged, Bolling is Tim's Batman and Annie helps Hestor. In Westburgh, Hestor has a friendship with Mrs. Loudon who invites her and Betty to the Highlands for a month, which the below quote highlights gives an overview. Tim is to arrive as the story concludes.
"A score of bright little pictures stand out clearly as I look back over my time at Avielochan. I pick them out and smile over them one by one. My first morning in the garden – the bright, bright sunshine, and the crystal clearness of the air; Guthrie and Elsie fishing on the loch (how hard poor Guthrie struggled to reconcile the rival attractions of love and sport!); Castle Quill party where I first heard the story of the beautiful Seónaid; the visit to the laundry (I can see the lines of snowy garments dancing in the breeze and hear the soft tones of Miss Campbell’s gentle voice); Guthrie’s burglars; the picnic when we saw the ghost of Seónaid which turned out to be Deirdre; the dinner party; Betty’s adventure in the mist; my expedition with Tony to Gart-na-Druim with its pleasant memories of our welcome and the beauty of the Western Sea; the elopement of my Fairy Princess; and lastly the fair (a jumble of impressions from which our adventure at the roundabout stands forth as the high light). "
At the Highlands, Esther sees Mrs. McTurk headed for the same destination and finds out from Betty, that they are staying with Mrs. Loudon. While living in Westburgh, Mrs. McTurk was not too friendly with Esther, but wanting to make friends with Mrs. Loudon, she basically wants an invitation there. Esther knows Mrs. Loudon is not a fan of Mrs. McTurk, so she leaves the issue alone. Mrs. Loudon is not herself, and Esther finds out this cheery woman is worried about a vamp of sorts, that has her son, Guthrie hoodwinked. After Major Morley calls at the Loudons, a plan by Mrs. Loudon and himself, for him to pay extra attention to Esther, so that maybe Guthrie will see the difference in Esther and Elsie Baker. It seems this idea is Morley looking to be near Esther, he tries to test her, but she is to much in love with her husband and innocent to understand what his true meaning is, Morley leaves before Tim arrives. Elsie after being proposed to by Guthrie decides that they will not be happy together because he doesn't have the same sense of humor, she has met someone in the hotel she will marry that suits her, Elsie feels she can tell Hester this and Hester agrees. Guthrie was already seeing that he made a mistake but he was taken back that she found somebody else. Guthrie is worried that Morley will take advantage of Esther, he keeps an eye and becomes a third wheel, which Esther encourages the two to be friends, but they are at ends most of the time. The only time they are basically friendly is when Betty is missing. Mrs. London's cousin is an monopolizing talker with a sad past history, quite humorous and trying but likeable. Morley and Hester find a girl and a boy from feuding clan looking to elope, they help out the couple but keep it secret. Unfortunately, it seems like the couple can never come back.
I was happy that Elsie decided being married to Guthrie would be a mistake, Mrs. Loudon was happy for she knew the girl was wrong for her son. Guthrie knew it deep down and now to the red headed nurse in book 2, what about Pinkie?
April 8, 2010
Reason for Reading: I have been reading all the Bloomsbury Group series of books.
Summary: Mrs. Tim is the wife of Captain Tim, they have two children a boy and a girl and live with the Regiment in England. Mrs. Tim writes in her diary from the period of January to June detailing the daily life she lives paying particular attention to the eccentric characters surrounding her and the humorous events that can happen in simple village life. Then Mrs. Tim's life is unsettled as the Captain is transferred to a posting in Scotland to work away from the Regiment and Mrs. Tim finds herself living within a civilian community in a new country where she must start all over again (as is the way in army life) meeting new people and learning new ways.
Comments: This book is a treasure! I've read five of the six books in this publisher's series to date and this is by far my absolute favourite! The book was written in 1932, the time period of the story is never given and it is easy to assume the book is to be read as contemporary. Mrs. Tim is a wonderful character in her early thirties, friendly, caring, happy to get into innocent mischief and wonderful at bantering between the sexes with her husband. Captain Tim, himself, doesn't play a large part in the book. He is there often enough to be a fully defined character but he's off to work each day leaving Hester time to get up to her escapades or be caught up in someone else's.
Not too far into the book the move to Scotland is made and this is where the main plot of the story takes place. Hester meets all sorts of eccentric characters who are not too keen on befriending service people. She does make great friends with her next door neighbour, an elderly lady with a lot of spunk, whom she tells of her strange encounters with the villagers. Then Hester is invited to stay with her neighbour at her cottage by the sea for a fortnight and finds they've been followed by the dashing Major Morley who delights in spending his time courting Mrs. Tim. She takes this in her stride but when her friend's Navy son also visits and vies for her attentions the hilarity ensues but Hester will let the men make fools of themselves charmingly a they know she is a devoted wife.
Truly wonderful writing, with real people that one can imagine. Though full of eccentricities they are not overdone and one can simply imagine people one meets in real life having a few of these foibles. D.E. Stevenson brings every single one of the people you meet on these pages come to life and love them, whether they are likable are not. Some of them are lovable because they are so unlikeable. I'd love to see this played out as one of those British television series. I'll say the first 70 pages were the slowest read for me then after that I spent a whole day and stayed up late that night until I finished the book. I love epistolary books, this one being a series of diary entries, one point being they are so fast to read. It is so easy to just keep reading one more entry until the next thing you know time has slipped away from you. Mrs. Tim of the Regiment is laugh out loud hilarious and if I had to choose one Bloomsbury Group book for you to read this would be the one. If you like British cozies, don't miss out on this book!
I am so thankful that this is the first in a quartet, hopefully Bloomsbury intend to publish the rest of the books eventually as none of the others are still in print. I'll wait a bit and see what happens before otherwise trying to hunt them down through the Inter-Library system.
Summary: Mrs. Tim is the wife of Captain Tim, they have two children a boy and a girl and live with the Regiment in England. Mrs. Tim writes in her diary from the period of January to June detailing the daily life she lives paying particular attention to the eccentric characters surrounding her and the humorous events that can happen in simple village life. Then Mrs. Tim's life is unsettled as the Captain is transferred to a posting in Scotland to work away from the Regiment and Mrs. Tim finds herself living within a civilian community in a new country where she must start all over again (as is the way in army life) meeting new people and learning new ways.
Comments: This book is a treasure! I've read five of the six books in this publisher's series to date and this is by far my absolute favourite! The book was written in 1932, the time period of the story is never given and it is easy to assume the book is to be read as contemporary. Mrs. Tim is a wonderful character in her early thirties, friendly, caring, happy to get into innocent mischief and wonderful at bantering between the sexes with her husband. Captain Tim, himself, doesn't play a large part in the book. He is there often enough to be a fully defined character but he's off to work each day leaving Hester time to get up to her escapades or be caught up in someone else's.
Not too far into the book the move to Scotland is made and this is where the main plot of the story takes place. Hester meets all sorts of eccentric characters who are not too keen on befriending service people. She does make great friends with her next door neighbour, an elderly lady with a lot of spunk, whom she tells of her strange encounters with the villagers. Then Hester is invited to stay with her neighbour at her cottage by the sea for a fortnight and finds they've been followed by the dashing Major Morley who delights in spending his time courting Mrs. Tim. She takes this in her stride but when her friend's Navy son also visits and vies for her attentions the hilarity ensues but Hester will let the men make fools of themselves charmingly a they know she is a devoted wife.
Truly wonderful writing, with real people that one can imagine. Though full of eccentricities they are not overdone and one can simply imagine people one meets in real life having a few of these foibles. D.E. Stevenson brings every single one of the people you meet on these pages come to life and love them, whether they are likable are not. Some of them are lovable because they are so unlikeable. I'd love to see this played out as one of those British television series. I'll say the first 70 pages were the slowest read for me then after that I spent a whole day and stayed up late that night until I finished the book. I love epistolary books, this one being a series of diary entries, one point being they are so fast to read. It is so easy to just keep reading one more entry until the next thing you know time has slipped away from you. Mrs. Tim of the Regiment is laugh out loud hilarious and if I had to choose one Bloomsbury Group book for you to read this would be the one. If you like British cozies, don't miss out on this book!
I am so thankful that this is the first in a quartet, hopefully Bloomsbury intend to publish the rest of the books eventually as none of the others are still in print. I'll wait a bit and see what happens before otherwise trying to hunt them down through the Inter-Library system.
June 29, 2025
Loved this so much more on the re-read, 13 years after the first read! I even think, in a way, that I was unconsciously influenced by it — in the tone I use when I’ve occasionally journaled in the time since then.
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Original review, 2012:
Was able to read this in Kindle format by borrowing it from someone for two weeks. The Kindle format sometimes misses punctuation, which can be distracting, but to a tolerable degree.
This book is technically two books put together, but I understand that they have pretty much always been published together, and there is nothing to indicate where one stops and the other begins.
Hester Christie is the wife of a military man, which means that her life can change at any moment if her husband is assigned to a new area. She's only in her early 30's and you can tell that she feels fairly young and fresh in spite of a hectic life.
The first half of the book is very light on plot. It seems that much of it is drawn from D.E. Stevenson's own journals, and is therefore at least somewhat autobiographical. At the beginning we are introduced to Hester's household, family, and get a few entertaining episodes. Then her husband is moved to a post in Scotland, so they make the move and attempt to fit in to their new surroundings and find people that they can befriend.
The second half of the book was rather nicer to read, as Hester and her daughter get to take a two-week vacation in the highlands of Scotland with a new friend. There are some slightly more substantial plot threads here--elopement, engagement, feuding and general quirkiness of various neighbors.
An intriguing character is Tony Morley, one of Hester's husband's colleagues in the regiment. He is a witty, humorous friend who is both trustworthy and alarmingly unpredictable. Unfortunately he seems to be a little too attached to Hester, though she is unaware of it. He keeps himself in check and manages to be a pretty unselfish, respectable guy in spite of his feelings, but it would be nice if in the ensuing books he found somebody for himself.
I loved that there were a few incidental references to Jane Austen. In fact, one time Hester relates a comment that she made to her husband and says he didn't pick up on the quotation. I mulled this over after she said it was a quotation, because it sounded vaguely familiar to me. Then I realized--she was quoting almost verbatim, not from one of Jane Austen's novels, but from one of her letters! Now that is a Janeite.
This book is probably not where I would recommend someone should start if reading D.E. Stevenson for the first time, but it was enjoyable enough, and D.E. Stevenson's writing was, as always, as cozy as a cup of tea.
——————————————————
Original review, 2012:
Was able to read this in Kindle format by borrowing it from someone for two weeks. The Kindle format sometimes misses punctuation, which can be distracting, but to a tolerable degree.
This book is technically two books put together, but I understand that they have pretty much always been published together, and there is nothing to indicate where one stops and the other begins.
Hester Christie is the wife of a military man, which means that her life can change at any moment if her husband is assigned to a new area. She's only in her early 30's and you can tell that she feels fairly young and fresh in spite of a hectic life.
The first half of the book is very light on plot. It seems that much of it is drawn from D.E. Stevenson's own journals, and is therefore at least somewhat autobiographical. At the beginning we are introduced to Hester's household, family, and get a few entertaining episodes. Then her husband is moved to a post in Scotland, so they make the move and attempt to fit in to their new surroundings and find people that they can befriend.
The second half of the book was rather nicer to read, as Hester and her daughter get to take a two-week vacation in the highlands of Scotland with a new friend. There are some slightly more substantial plot threads here--elopement, engagement, feuding and general quirkiness of various neighbors.
An intriguing character is Tony Morley, one of Hester's husband's colleagues in the regiment. He is a witty, humorous friend who is both trustworthy and alarmingly unpredictable. Unfortunately he seems to be a little too attached to Hester, though she is unaware of it. He keeps himself in check and manages to be a pretty unselfish, respectable guy in spite of his feelings, but it would be nice if in the ensuing books he found somebody for himself.
I loved that there were a few incidental references to Jane Austen. In fact, one time Hester relates a comment that she made to her husband and says he didn't pick up on the quotation. I mulled this over after she said it was a quotation, because it sounded vaguely familiar to me. Then I realized--she was quoting almost verbatim, not from one of Jane Austen's novels, but from one of her letters! Now that is a Janeite.
This book is probably not where I would recommend someone should start if reading D.E. Stevenson for the first time, but it was enjoyable enough, and D.E. Stevenson's writing was, as always, as cozy as a cup of tea.
January 27, 2011
Back when I was in High School I read a ton of D.E. Stevenson's books, but I don't remember reading this one, although I know it was in our library.
Anyway, if you like gentle reads with not much going on set in an England that is/was like none of my midwestern American life you might enjoy these. It is comparable to the Miss Read books. Or for a more contemporary author, Jan Karon. The perfect read with a cup of tea and scones.
Anyway, if you like gentle reads with not much going on set in an England that is/was like none of my midwestern American life you might enjoy these. It is comparable to the Miss Read books. Or for a more contemporary author, Jan Karon. The perfect read with a cup of tea and scones.
July 21, 2020
Meet Mrs. Tim Christie: wife of a British military officer, mother of two children, and diarist extraordinaire. Set in the 1930s, the book follows her adventures as a military wife and all the ups and downs of never staying in one place long. (Which means lots of complaining about finding new servants. The horror!)
The story is in journal format and based off D.E. Stevenson's (also a military wife) own journal.
Some parts I found utterly charming and funny. In fact, most parts I found utterly charming and funny. Stevenson is brilliant with characters and human emotion. The first part of the book is a comfortable, rambling coze as she handles moving to the wilds of Scotland and making new friends. The second is a more focused narrative as she takes a vacation and gets caught up in a love triangle/square/pentagon thing.
The second half, while more enjoyable, somewhat dimmed my enthusiasm for this book. I feel like I am just stealing from this review but it hits it on the head. You have a man romantically interested in Mrs. Christie but her "innocent naiveté" keeps him at bay. Which loses something for the story. With Stevenson's ability to capture an awkward situation, I expected a little more nuance. But then again, this was one of her first books.
A fun little jaunt if looking for something vintage and refreshingly funny and wry.
The story is in journal format and based off D.E. Stevenson's (also a military wife) own journal.
Some parts I found utterly charming and funny. In fact, most parts I found utterly charming and funny. Stevenson is brilliant with characters and human emotion. The first part of the book is a comfortable, rambling coze as she handles moving to the wilds of Scotland and making new friends. The second is a more focused narrative as she takes a vacation and gets caught up in a love triangle/square/pentagon thing.
The second half, while more enjoyable, somewhat dimmed my enthusiasm for this book. I feel like I am just stealing from this review but it hits it on the head. You have a man romantically interested in Mrs. Christie but her "innocent naiveté" keeps him at bay. Which loses something for the story. With Stevenson's ability to capture an awkward situation, I expected a little more nuance. But then again, this was one of her first books.
A fun little jaunt if looking for something vintage and refreshingly funny and wry.
November 21, 2019
I had forgotten how funny D. E. Stevenson is. There were times during this novel — which is told in diary format from the perspective of Hester Christie, a military wife and mother who follows her husband, Captain Tim Christie, across the UK at the whim of the war office — when I was actually hyperventilating I laughed so hard.
Sharply observant, wry and with a lively sense of the absurd, this is the kind of novel where not too much happens outside of various housekeeping disasters, but that is exactly all that needs to happen.
Especially of note is the second half of the novel (originally published separately, as Golden Days) in which Mrs Tim takes a holiday in the Scottish Highlands and meets a truly remarkable cast of characters (and also becomes the object of some pointed affection from a Mr. Darcy-esque officer, though of course both are far too honourable to do anything about it).
I cannot recommend this enough, and I am very much looking forward to the next one in the series.
Sharply observant, wry and with a lively sense of the absurd, this is the kind of novel where not too much happens outside of various housekeeping disasters, but that is exactly all that needs to happen.
Especially of note is the second half of the novel (originally published separately, as Golden Days) in which Mrs Tim takes a holiday in the Scottish Highlands and meets a truly remarkable cast of characters (and also becomes the object of some pointed affection from a Mr. Darcy-esque officer, though of course both are far too honourable to do anything about it).
I cannot recommend this enough, and I am very much looking forward to the next one in the series.
September 2, 2020
Miss Buncle's Book remains my favourite, but I did love this one too and will certainly be reading on in the seties.
December 22, 2019
A somewhat witty but mostly dull diary-turned-novel. This is my least favorite read of Stevenson so far (the best being Miss Buncle's Book) for several reasons, the first being the absence of a decent plot. There was no real rising action or climax to speak of, which makes the journey unsatisfying and the ending lackluster at best.
A little over halfway through, I started skimming the long narratives by minor characters (i.e., any time Mrs. Falconer opens her mouth) and the overlong descriptions of irrelevant people and places, all which had 0% to do with the story.
Also, I was unsettled at the numerous instances where the protagonist (a happily married woman with 2 children) is cruising about the Scottish country side alone with another man, the major in her husband's regiment, while she is on vacation while her husband is away. They go swimming alone on one of their drives and I couldn't help feeling ill at ease the whole time (what in heavens' name would her husband say?!?). The major is exorbitantly romantically interested in Mrs. Tim and bemoans several times that he cannot steal Mrs. Tim away for his own. And the protagonist is absolutely naive about it, to the point of utter stupidity. Nothing sexual results, but the overall feel basically leaves you sick to your stomach.
The characters are life-like and there were several passages that elicited a small chuckle, but that's probably the most I can give it.
The story had potential but it was a definite disappointment so I won't be reading the following Mrs. Tim books or rereading this one.
A little over halfway through, I started skimming the long narratives by minor characters (i.e., any time Mrs. Falconer opens her mouth) and the overlong descriptions of irrelevant people and places, all which had 0% to do with the story.
Also, I was unsettled at the numerous instances where the protagonist (a happily married woman with 2 children) is cruising about the Scottish country side alone with another man, the major in her husband's regiment, while she is on vacation while her husband is away. They go swimming alone on one of their drives and I couldn't help feeling ill at ease the whole time (what in heavens' name would her husband say?!?). The major is exorbitantly romantically interested in Mrs. Tim and bemoans several times that he cannot steal Mrs. Tim away for his own. And the protagonist is absolutely naive about it, to the point of utter stupidity. Nothing sexual results, but the overall feel basically leaves you sick to your stomach.
The characters are life-like and there were several passages that elicited a small chuckle, but that's probably the most I can give it.
The story had potential but it was a definite disappointment so I won't be reading the following Mrs. Tim books or rereading this one.
March 3, 2021
One of my all time favorite D.E. Stevenson books! Though I adore the Katherine Wentworth series, Vittoria Cottage and Miss Buncle's Book, this book might be the top of the list. I'd been feeling low in spirits the past year and promptly decided to read a book that promised entertainment and great characters. What a perfect choice! Not only do I love it because it's in diary form (love this style of novel), but the writing is lighthearted, hilarious and just full of quirky characters. I love the main character of Hester Christie (Mrs. Tim) and I wish that she was a real person so she could be my best friend. I love her attitude towards life, which is honest, accepting and sweetly resigned at times. I already ordered the rest of the series and can't wait to continue. If you're searching for a book that will brighten up your day, Mrs. Tim of the Regiment is the book for you. Highly, highly recommended!
June 19, 2025
5+ stars!!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 All the stars... I loved this book so much!! ❤️ I loved getting to know Hester Christie through her journal entries as she navigates life as a mother and army wife during the inter-war years. Every entry made me smile, some made me laugh out loud, many made me just fall in love more and more with Hester. I love her innocence and pure heart, love of life and empathy for those around her... She reminded me SO much of my mom! I can't gush about this book enough... The Christies' army friend, Tony, was also a favourite, swoon-worthy character! I was nervous about his obvious attraction to Hester and where that would lead, but appreciated he remained honourable throughout the entirety of his time with her and her family, never stepping over boundaries. There isn't much of a traditional plot thread throughout and sometimes it feels like not much happens, but I really enjoyed the episodical / epistolary format and never felt bored. It also helps that I really took my time with this book, reading it over two months. The second half of the book is set over a fortnight as Hester enjoys a little holiday away in the Scottish Highlands with her daughter and good friend Mrs. Loudin. This section was glorious, the descriptions of the highlands, breathtaking!! SO GOOD! A new favourite book of all time! ❤️❤️❤️
October 14, 2022
Tim accompanies us to the gate, giving jocular advice to Betty as to her behaviour in school towards teachers and fellow scholars. Try to point out to Betty as we walk up the hill that of course it is ‘Only Daddy’s fun’, and she must be very good and quiet and do all she is told; to which Betty replies gaily, ‘Oh yes, I never take any notice of what he says.’ Feel that this is not quite the lesson I intended to impart, but am powerless to put my meaning into words.”Mrs. Tim of the Regiment was effectively D.E. Stevenson’s first novel. It is steeped in the atmosphere and culture of England between the two world wars. She did write one before but it was 10 years prior. And this one started off her career as a much beloved and popular novelist. The book was originally a diary she wrote as a young wife of an army officer. She lent it to the mother of a new army wife to help her understand what her daughter was getting into. Acting on a suggestion, D.E.S. fictionalized it and it was published to great success. About a year later she continued Mrs. Tim’s adventures (and I use that term generously) with Golden Days. The version I read was the two books combined into one, originally titled Mrs. Tim Christie. I wanted to read it because it is highly rated, was published to great acclaim at the time, and was the book that started her career as an author. It is probably the series she was best known for (There were three more "Mrs. Tim" books to follow: two in the 1940s, one set during the war years, and one shortly after. The last one was published in 1952). The other reason I wanted to read it, was that I remember picking it up as a young girl, always being on the lookout for new authors when I had read and re-read all my favorites. I couldn’t get into it at all. It was a bad choice to start off with and I wish I had picked another one. But I thought that now, knowing and enjoying Ms. Stevenson and “getting” her now that I am very much older (very very), I would give it another try. And of course, there was the bonus that if I really liked it, I would have 3 others in the series to look forward to.
I chose to read it on audible narrated by Christine Rendel. She was excellent and a good actress with all of the different voices, but I found her voice too mature sounding for the young vibrant Mrs. Christie. The first part of the book had a lot of characters which I knew would not be on the scene for long as I knew Mrs. Tim would be moving on sooner or later, so I was not really invested in them. But it was very pleasant and somewhat entertaining. Mrs. Tim, Hester Christie, is a thoroughly charming, sensible, and nice woman. Reading between the lines, we know she is a beauty and is admired and respected by everyone. Her husband, Tim, seems like a good guy, a little typical with his old-fashioned masculine traits both good and amusingly clueless and transparent. Hester is devoted to him and we see him through her eyes, so we are pretty sure he is worthy of her love and returns her devotion. Also, they are the loving parents of Brian, 10, and Betty, 6.
Things pick up when Tim is transferred to Scotland and Hester is invited to visit a new friend, the trenchant, frank, and dignified Mrs. Loudon, at her estate in the Highlands. There we meet Guthrie, Mrs. Loudon’s son, who is in the toils of a frivolous, beautiful, rather common, and thoroughly unsuitable young lady. We have an encounter with a ghost and suffer with Hester when Betty sneaks out to look for kelpies in the river and gets lost in the mists. We help with an elopement between the offspring of two families who have been feuding for hundreds of years and deal with the obnoxious social-climbing Mrs. McTurk. Most interestingly we have the appearance on the scene of the handsome and amusing Major Morley, a friend from Captain Tim’s previous posting, who is head over heels in love with Hester. She is blissfully unaware of his feelings, but they are obvious to everyone else. Through it all, we have the muddled reminiscences of Mrs. Loudon’s garrulous elderly cousin. It is charming and amusing, especially with the perspective of the lovely inside and out Mrs. Christie. Unfortunately, all of the little threads end somewhat anticlimactically, with the least drama possible. In the end, even Major Morley leaves the scene right before Tim’s anticipated arrival, eliminating any chance for any kind of interesting interaction between the trio.
All in all, I did like the book, but in the context of listening to it while doing other things. I kept saying, “maybe I’ll give it one more session before moving on” to listen to some very anticipated recently acquired audibles. I kept giving it one more day until, before I knew it, I was painlessly finished with the book. But I probably won’t read the others in the series.
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings....
March 27, 2017
Re-read March, 2017
Mrs. Tim had to be part of my road trip of books in preparation for my upcoming UK trip. We will be staying a couple of nights in Aviemore, so Mrs. Tim's vacation in the Highlands was perfect. Too bad I won't have a car so I could actually go to Avielochan.
Re-read Jan. 2015
I need to clear the cobwebs from my brain with my dear Mrs. Tim.
Original Review
Thank-you, thank-you Bloomsbury group for re-issuing this book that has been out of print for many years! I can't even get it in my library anymore. Now if they would just reprint the rest of the Mrs. Tim books I would be a happy, happy camper. These are books that are based on D.E. Stevenson's own diaries of the days before and during WWII. They are the story of Hester Christie, her husband Captain Tim and their 2 children. This one is set before the war and just tells about their life. It is sweet, funny, and leaves you feeling happy. I love all the references to other books and authors that Hester makes. Example:
"Grace has made up her mind not to think about the woman any more as she is not worth a moment's thought, and she has been worrying about it ever since Thursday. Am irresistibly reminded of Mrs. Palmer's fulminations on the egregious Willoughby, but realise that Grace is too upset to see the humour of it so content myself with making soothing noises."
Or just her everyday thoughts on life:
"Am wildly excited all day at the prospect of Tim's return as I have not seen him for a whole week. Husbands are annoying at times, but they are a habit which grows on one, and life is extraordinarily dull without them. Spend the day tidying up and putting fresh flowers in the vases, though I do not suppose for a moment that Tim will notice them."
There are no vampires, no faeries, no weird creatures, just a sweet story about real people living in a world I've always dreamed of. Love it, love it, love it.
Mrs. Tim had to be part of my road trip of books in preparation for my upcoming UK trip. We will be staying a couple of nights in Aviemore, so Mrs. Tim's vacation in the Highlands was perfect. Too bad I won't have a car so I could actually go to Avielochan.
Re-read Jan. 2015
I need to clear the cobwebs from my brain with my dear Mrs. Tim.
Original Review
Thank-you, thank-you Bloomsbury group for re-issuing this book that has been out of print for many years! I can't even get it in my library anymore. Now if they would just reprint the rest of the Mrs. Tim books I would be a happy, happy camper. These are books that are based on D.E. Stevenson's own diaries of the days before and during WWII. They are the story of Hester Christie, her husband Captain Tim and their 2 children. This one is set before the war and just tells about their life. It is sweet, funny, and leaves you feeling happy. I love all the references to other books and authors that Hester makes. Example:
"Grace has made up her mind not to think about the woman any more as she is not worth a moment's thought, and she has been worrying about it ever since Thursday. Am irresistibly reminded of Mrs. Palmer's fulminations on the egregious Willoughby, but realise that Grace is too upset to see the humour of it so content myself with making soothing noises."
Or just her everyday thoughts on life:
"Am wildly excited all day at the prospect of Tim's return as I have not seen him for a whole week. Husbands are annoying at times, but they are a habit which grows on one, and life is extraordinarily dull without them. Spend the day tidying up and putting fresh flowers in the vases, though I do not suppose for a moment that Tim will notice them."
There are no vampires, no faeries, no weird creatures, just a sweet story about real people living in a world I've always dreamed of. Love it, love it, love it.
July 18, 2018
I enjoyed this, because the first half of the book in particular is like a much less cynical version of E.M. Delafield's Diary of a Provincial Lady. While the Provincial Lady's biting wit can be extremely funny, Mrs. Tim seems to have more of a cheerfully humorous outlook on life and people in general, and to be rather a better housekeeper and more affectionate with her husband and children. It's refreshing to read a book where a woman reflects on how well she loves her husband (even if it's a little bemusing, given that Tim seems to be depicted as impatient or oblivious most of the time he's present in the book).
In the second half of the book, in which Hester goes to visit a friend for a vacation in the Scottish Highlands, Stevenson seems to half forget about the diary-entry format and develop a sudden interest in creating a plot. This part of the book doesn't read entirely believably as a diary, with its lush descriptions and careful recording of long conversations, but as a pleasant story narrated in first-person-present. Had to roll my eyes a bit over Hester's own cluelessness about Major Morley (since up to this point she hasn't given the impression of a particularly dense or unobservant person); but the supporting characters are amusing, the setting lovely, and the book in general just light enough to be relaxing reading without being absolute fluff. I'd certainly be willing to pick up another book in the Mrs. Tim series.
In the second half of the book, in which Hester goes to visit a friend for a vacation in the Scottish Highlands, Stevenson seems to half forget about the diary-entry format and develop a sudden interest in creating a plot. This part of the book doesn't read entirely believably as a diary, with its lush descriptions and careful recording of long conversations, but as a pleasant story narrated in first-person-present. Had to roll my eyes a bit over Hester's own cluelessness about Major Morley (since up to this point she hasn't given the impression of a particularly dense or unobservant person); but the supporting characters are amusing, the setting lovely, and the book in general just light enough to be relaxing reading without being absolute fluff. I'd certainly be willing to pick up another book in the Mrs. Tim series.
February 2, 2010
I loved, loved, loved this dear book. It was also published under the title "Mrs. Tim Christie." It was written in 1936 yet the situations that the main character, Hester (Mrs. Christie) experiences are timeless and universal...and hilarious at times! The book is written in a diary format by Hester; she is the wife of an English military officer and her life and times as an officer's wife and mother of two in pre WWII England are just so interesting to me. I laughed out loud in the first page of the book and fell in love with the writing style and good-natured outlook of the heroine (and the author). :)
Example from the first page of the book and what had me laughing:
"Rush downstairs and try to keep the children quiet at breakfast, which is difficult owing to a fall of snow, and the thrilling prospect of a snowman in the Square Gardens. Betty says it is going to be as big as a real man, and Bryan--with his mouth full of bacon--tries to say "Bigger" with disastrous consequences."
Ah, British wit! :)
This series would be perfect for a nice vacation--easy to read, well-written and characters you want to learn more about...thank goodness this is a series. AND DE Stevenson has written a lot of books--I can't imagine not liking any of her books...so excited to have another author to read through...:)
Example from the first page of the book and what had me laughing:
"Rush downstairs and try to keep the children quiet at breakfast, which is difficult owing to a fall of snow, and the thrilling prospect of a snowman in the Square Gardens. Betty says it is going to be as big as a real man, and Bryan--with his mouth full of bacon--tries to say "Bigger" with disastrous consequences."
Ah, British wit! :)
This series would be perfect for a nice vacation--easy to read, well-written and characters you want to learn more about...thank goodness this is a series. AND DE Stevenson has written a lot of books--I can't imagine not liking any of her books...so excited to have another author to read through...:)
January 28, 2019
I'm not sure where to start with my review of Mrs. Tim of the Regiment except to day it has become an absolute favorite of mine. Hester, the narrator, is so delightful and I love reading her diary entries of her life. I laughed out loud on numerous occasions while reading it and even described some of the scenes to my kids and husband who all thought it sounded funny, too. The book consists largely of two parts (which makes sense as it was originally published as two books that were combined for later editions). The first half consists of Hester's life as a mother and a wife of a Regiment man. In the second half, Hester records the tale of a vacation she takes in Avielchan where she stays with friends. The book is a diary of Hester's life in the 1930s, but it is so much more and I can't recommend it high enough. I am really excited to read the other three books in the series.
September 19, 2024
Mrs. Tim
Such a treat to reread this old friend. It has been a while. Such an innocent, so in love with Tim that she doesn’t understand Tony’s feeling for her AT ALL. Looking forward to re reading them all!
Such a treat to reread this old friend. It has been a while. Such an innocent, so in love with Tim that she doesn’t understand Tony’s feeling for her AT ALL. Looking forward to re reading them all!
February 8, 2016
1932 or 1934 (debatable? different dates in different places).
This was the beginning for Dorothy Emily Stevenson. Taken from her diary as an army wife, spruced up for publication of course. Very reminiscent of E. M. Delafield's "Diary of a Provincial Lady" in tone, similar sense of humor and scope. Delafield's was published two years earlier if the 1934 publication date is correct, but this diary was supposedly written years before that. I wonder if they read each other.
Thoughts. Not very instructive for anyone, just meandering.
1. It's very amusing/charming/interesting historically.
2. It's pretty good writing. There are a few little descriptive gems in there.
3. What did these women (Stevenson and Delafield) have to complain about when they had a cook, a nursery-maid and one or two other maids plus a gardener? They're always so exhausted and yet they didn't seem to have to do a lot of the work. They might darn a few socks and make up the menu (I do hate doing that) and their relationships with their cooks are always quite uncomfortable, but really. I do wonder.
4. This book was not a picture of what it would be like to be an army wife during a war. She doesn't speak of the first war (Stevenson was an army wife during both wars though the second hadn't begun yet). The first half was indeed about the pains and travails of being constantly on the move with a family as the army man is transferred around and around to different army occupations. However, the second half finds our heroine on personal leave in the lovely Scottish Highlands. This is where we forget this woman is an army wife and almost forget she's a wife as we hardly see the child who is with her or hear of the child who isn't or of the husband himself as she's being enchanted by the glories of the scenery and charmed by two handsome and mutually jealous swains who would like to forget she's married (she doesn't forget and remains innocently unaware that these two men have crushes on her). The adventures and the characters are amusing and the scenery is indeed lovely and personal leave in the Scottish Highlands with maids and cooks and nursemaids sounds an absolute delight but one does wonder if Mr. Tim would have been all pleased with the attentions paid his dear little wife.
I think the other books in the series follow the characters into WWII but the libraries here don't have them. Alas. This is charming comfort food.
This was the beginning for Dorothy Emily Stevenson. Taken from her diary as an army wife, spruced up for publication of course. Very reminiscent of E. M. Delafield's "Diary of a Provincial Lady" in tone, similar sense of humor and scope. Delafield's was published two years earlier if the 1934 publication date is correct, but this diary was supposedly written years before that. I wonder if they read each other.
Thoughts. Not very instructive for anyone, just meandering.
1. It's very amusing/charming/interesting historically.
2. It's pretty good writing. There are a few little descriptive gems in there.
3. What did these women (Stevenson and Delafield) have to complain about when they had a cook, a nursery-maid and one or two other maids plus a gardener? They're always so exhausted and yet they didn't seem to have to do a lot of the work. They might darn a few socks and make up the menu (I do hate doing that) and their relationships with their cooks are always quite uncomfortable, but really. I do wonder.
4. This book was not a picture of what it would be like to be an army wife during a war. She doesn't speak of the first war (Stevenson was an army wife during both wars though the second hadn't begun yet). The first half was indeed about the pains and travails of being constantly on the move with a family as the army man is transferred around and around to different army occupations. However, the second half finds our heroine on personal leave in the lovely Scottish Highlands. This is where we forget this woman is an army wife and almost forget she's a wife as we hardly see the child who is with her or hear of the child who isn't or of the husband himself as she's being enchanted by the glories of the scenery and charmed by two handsome and mutually jealous swains who would like to forget she's married (she doesn't forget and remains innocently unaware that these two men have crushes on her). The adventures and the characters are amusing and the scenery is indeed lovely and personal leave in the Scottish Highlands with maids and cooks and nursemaids sounds an absolute delight but one does wonder if Mr. Tim would have been all pleased with the attentions paid his dear little wife.
I think the other books in the series follow the characters into WWII but the libraries here don't have them. Alas. This is charming comfort food.
May 7, 2015
A re-read.
I hadn't read this one in years and had forgotten how entertaining it is!
Mrs. Tim, (Hester Christie), a British Army wife, goes through ups and downs from life at the barracks to life in Scotland, as they are transferred and Tim gets a promotion. Her anecdotes about housekeeping, servants, organizing the home and dealing with new neighbors (in between raising her two children, Betty and Bryan), are so fun to read!
There are dinner parties, afternoon teas, awkward social situations, and ultimately, Hester is called upon to assist in breaking up a less-than-desirable match between a friend's only son and his trendy girlfriend.
"He is really a very nice man, though a trifle too scurrilous for my liking."
"Scurrilous!' gasps Mrs. McTurk.
"It just means very talkative," explains Mrs. Falconer kindly. "Dear Papa used such long words, and us girls got into the habit of saying them, just from hearing him - much to Mama's horror. Poor Mama was always telling us we would never get husbands if we used such long words. It was not fashionable to be clever in my young days. Poor dear Mama was always telling us about it. "Let your conversation be yea yea and nay nay" she used to say. That's out of the Bible, of course, so I've no doubt it is very good advice, but if we all did that, and went about saying "yea yea and nay nay" we should look rather silly, and there would not be any conversation at all."
"Mrs. Tim of the Regiment", according to the background note, was based on Stevenson's own diary that she kept while married to a young Army officer. D.E. Stevenson writes with humor, and her observations upon life in general and upon her neighbors are a treat to read!
"Meet Mrs. Benson on the way home; she is coming to see me to lend me a 'Little book" which is so wonderful - she knows it will help me to bring up the dear children. I accept it with gratitude and spend the afternoon studying its pages.
According to this book I have been sowing the seeds of complexes and cultivating inhibitions in Bryan and Betty ever since they were a few months old. Feel much worried about this, but decide that it is too late now to do anything, and that Bryan and Betty must just take their chance."
I hadn't read this one in years and had forgotten how entertaining it is!
Mrs. Tim, (Hester Christie), a British Army wife, goes through ups and downs from life at the barracks to life in Scotland, as they are transferred and Tim gets a promotion. Her anecdotes about housekeeping, servants, organizing the home and dealing with new neighbors (in between raising her two children, Betty and Bryan), are so fun to read!
There are dinner parties, afternoon teas, awkward social situations, and ultimately, Hester is called upon to assist in breaking up a less-than-desirable match between a friend's only son and his trendy girlfriend.
"He is really a very nice man, though a trifle too scurrilous for my liking."
"Scurrilous!' gasps Mrs. McTurk.
"It just means very talkative," explains Mrs. Falconer kindly. "Dear Papa used such long words, and us girls got into the habit of saying them, just from hearing him - much to Mama's horror. Poor Mama was always telling us we would never get husbands if we used such long words. It was not fashionable to be clever in my young days. Poor dear Mama was always telling us about it. "Let your conversation be yea yea and nay nay" she used to say. That's out of the Bible, of course, so I've no doubt it is very good advice, but if we all did that, and went about saying "yea yea and nay nay" we should look rather silly, and there would not be any conversation at all."
"Mrs. Tim of the Regiment", according to the background note, was based on Stevenson's own diary that she kept while married to a young Army officer. D.E. Stevenson writes with humor, and her observations upon life in general and upon her neighbors are a treat to read!
"Meet Mrs. Benson on the way home; she is coming to see me to lend me a 'Little book" which is so wonderful - she knows it will help me to bring up the dear children. I accept it with gratitude and spend the afternoon studying its pages.
According to this book I have been sowing the seeds of complexes and cultivating inhibitions in Bryan and Betty ever since they were a few months old. Feel much worried about this, but decide that it is too late now to do anything, and that Bryan and Betty must just take their chance."
January 16, 2022
I was pleased to find a library consortium copy of this book after reading Mrs. Tim Carries On and Mrs. Tim Gets A Job on Kindle. The second half (originally a separate book) is especially enjoyable, with DES in her element both geographically and narratively. The newcomer with a delightful neighbor (and one or two irksome villagers for contrast); the decency of middling people living their lives; tea and calling on neighbors and relatable domestic scenes; gentle humor—all the DES elements that bring me back to her books time and again.
The first half is more military, and unfortunately DES’s army wives (with the exception of Hester) are among my least favorite of her characters—so petty and unpleasant. Also, some of the minutiae about how the men interact is probably only interesting if one is living that life. But I do like Hester as a character, and Mrs. Tim of the Regiment’s endearing aspects make it a book that I will read again.
The first half is more military, and unfortunately DES’s army wives (with the exception of Hester) are among my least favorite of her characters—so petty and unpleasant. Also, some of the minutiae about how the men interact is probably only interesting if one is living that life. But I do like Hester as a character, and Mrs. Tim of the Regiment’s endearing aspects make it a book that I will read again.
March 9, 2022
Audiobook narrated by Christine Rendel.
An enjoyable book, and I’m keen to listen to the next one in the series especially as it’s narrated by Leslie Mackie.
I liked this book so much more once I’d adapted to the narrators odd inflexions and got past the first part of the story – I don’t do well with diaried accounts - and after adjusting to the mindset that the author had a happily married woman, Mrs. Tim, gadding about with a single man (more than one) while her husband is elsewhere working: one of the blokes is seriously attracted to her, he makes a comment to someone else who calls him out on his pursuit of the lady, that she’s hedged about with innocence (clueless about how he feels about her so it's okay. Really?). Let’s hope Tony ends up with someone of his own in one of the proceeding books.
I think young Betty is a delight!
*Read for a Goodreads retro-read.
An enjoyable book, and I’m keen to listen to the next one in the series especially as it’s narrated by Leslie Mackie.
I liked this book so much more once I’d adapted to the narrators odd inflexions and got past the first part of the story – I don’t do well with diaried accounts - and after adjusting to the mindset that the author had a happily married woman, Mrs. Tim, gadding about with a single man (more than one) while her husband is elsewhere working: one of the blokes is seriously attracted to her, he makes a comment to someone else who calls him out on his pursuit of the lady, that she’s hedged about with innocence (clueless about how he feels about her so it's okay. Really?). Let’s hope Tony ends up with someone of his own in one of the proceeding books.
I think young Betty is a delight!
*Read for a Goodreads retro-read.
July 3, 2017
I quite liked the diary format and engaging heroine to start out, thinking it rather like Diary of a Provincial Lady in charm and humor, but with its own vivid characters and setting. However, the end rather fell off: the heroine becomes far too Mary-Sue-ish (with multiple men madly in love with her) and the tone more schmaltzy and less witty. I did generally enjoy it, though.
February 7, 2025
I’ve been wanting to read more Stevenson after loving the Miss Buncle trilogy. This was based on the author’s real diaries of being a soldier’s wife. I loved the first half of this book, but the second half went downhill for me. I will probably continue the series though
December 14, 2017
It was slightly amusing but I'm not going to continue with the rest of the series.
January 18, 2019
D. E. Stevenson IG read along hosted by @bagfullofbooks - January 2019
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