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The Red House
"Conventionally our life-story ended in a shower of rice at the church door, amid the scent of white flowers, with a flutter of white favors all about us." Thus begins The Red House, Nesbit's charming novel of Chloe and Len, newlyweds adjusting to a new life and a new home. When Len inherits a house in the country from his uncle, Chloe insists they live there, whether the rumors of a ghost be true or not. When mysterious events happen, they are always blamed on the ghost. But the ultimate surprise rests in who that ghost really is.
140 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1902
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About the author
E. Nesbit
1,038 books1,000 followers
Edith Nesbit
(married name Edith Bland; 15 August 1858 – 4 May 1924) was an English author and poet; she published her books for children under the name of E. Nesbit.
She wrote or collaborated on over 60 books of fiction for children, several of which have been adapted for film and television. She was also a political activist and co-founded the Fabian Society, a socialist organisation later connected to the Labour Party.
Edith Nesbit was born in Kennington, Surrey, the daughter of agricultural chemist and schoolmaster John Collis Nesbit. The death of her father when she was four and the continuing ill health of her sister meant that Nesbit had a transitory childhood, her family moving across Europe in search of healthy climates only to return to England for financial reasons. Nesbit therefore spent her childhood attaining an education from whatever sources were available—local grammars, the occasional boarding school but mainly through reading.
At 17 her family finally settled in London and aged 19, Nesbit met Hubert Bland, a political activist and writer. They became lovers and when Nesbit found she was pregnant they became engaged, marrying in April 1880. After this scandalous (for Victorian society) beginning, the marriage would be an unconventional one. Initially, the couple lived separately—Nesbit with her family and Bland with his mother and her live-in companion Maggie Doran.
Initially, Edith Nesbit books were novels meant for adults, including The Prophet's Mantle (1885) and The Marden Mystery (1896) about the early days of the socialist movement. Written under the pen name of her third child 'Fabian Bland', these books were not successful. Nesbit generated an income for the family by lecturing around the country on socialism and through her journalism (she was editor of the Fabian Society's journal, Today).
In 1899 she had published The Adventures of the Treasure Seekers to great acclaim.
She wrote or collaborated on over 60 books of fiction for children, several of which have been adapted for film and television. She was also a political activist and co-founded the Fabian Society, a socialist organisation later connected to the Labour Party.
Edith Nesbit was born in Kennington, Surrey, the daughter of agricultural chemist and schoolmaster John Collis Nesbit. The death of her father when she was four and the continuing ill health of her sister meant that Nesbit had a transitory childhood, her family moving across Europe in search of healthy climates only to return to England for financial reasons. Nesbit therefore spent her childhood attaining an education from whatever sources were available—local grammars, the occasional boarding school but mainly through reading.
At 17 her family finally settled in London and aged 19, Nesbit met Hubert Bland, a political activist and writer. They became lovers and when Nesbit found she was pregnant they became engaged, marrying in April 1880. After this scandalous (for Victorian society) beginning, the marriage would be an unconventional one. Initially, the couple lived separately—Nesbit with her family and Bland with his mother and her live-in companion Maggie Doran.
Initially, Edith Nesbit books were novels meant for adults, including The Prophet's Mantle (1885) and The Marden Mystery (1896) about the early days of the socialist movement. Written under the pen name of her third child 'Fabian Bland', these books were not successful. Nesbit generated an income for the family by lecturing around the country on socialism and through her journalism (she was editor of the Fabian Society's journal, Today).
In 1899 she had published The Adventures of the Treasure Seekers to great acclaim.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 13, 2012
What a beautiful little book. I am so pleasantly surprised. I read it because I also enjoyed another of Nesbit's books for adults, the Incomplete Amorist (she primarily wrote children's books). I found the Incomplete Amorist so different and refreshing I decided to give this one a try, and I'm so glad I did! The Red House is different because it skips all the drama of courtship and marriage and starts just after the leads, Len and Chloe, are married and settled into a tiny apartment. Len gets a notice that he has inherited a large, sprawling house in the country, and Chloe just can't wait to move in. Len takes some convincing, as he's not sure he's up for all the work and costs and servants that living in a large house will require. They eventually do move in, and that's where this lovely story gets interesting.
I especially enjoyed how smart and surprisingly modern the characters were. They really thought hard about how to live so that they would be happiest. This is a very romantic book, but not in the sense that we are used to. The leads are undoubtedly in love, but it is more about the little things one does when one cares very deeply about another person than any dramatic scenes with high emotions. The book is also about work and what tradeoffs one must make in order to make one's living but also be a happy person.
As you can see, this novel seems like a very simple story but it contains some surprising deep ideas that get you thinking. In this respect it is reminiscent of Elizabeth von Arnim's writings. I highly recommend The Red House!
I especially enjoyed how smart and surprisingly modern the characters were. They really thought hard about how to live so that they would be happiest. This is a very romantic book, but not in the sense that we are used to. The leads are undoubtedly in love, but it is more about the little things one does when one cares very deeply about another person than any dramatic scenes with high emotions. The book is also about work and what tradeoffs one must make in order to make one's living but also be a happy person.
As you can see, this novel seems like a very simple story but it contains some surprising deep ideas that get you thinking. In this respect it is reminiscent of Elizabeth von Arnim's writings. I highly recommend The Red House!
June 10, 2016
A magazine writer and his illustrator wife inherit a house thats far too big for them to comfortably manage. Its a little bit like 'The Money Pit'.
An ALMOST offensively nice story, just managing to avoid being twee due to some excellent characterization.
Its very unusual to find a marriage relationship this well written and with such equality. Especially from something of this period. I had no idea Nesbit wrote non-childrens books so this was a very pleasant surprise.
An ALMOST offensively nice story, just managing to avoid being twee due to some excellent characterization.
Its very unusual to find a marriage relationship this well written and with such equality. Especially from something of this period. I had no idea Nesbit wrote non-childrens books so this was a very pleasant surprise.
December 31, 2009
This is an awesome book. It's not your typical E. Nesbit novel—it features adults (a newly married couple) instead of children. Nevertheless, E. Nesbit still delivers her characteristic light-hearted story.
The book if rife with quotes. There are loads of terms, idioms and French sayings you might not know—so have a really old (ca. 1902) British dictionary handy (the Internet's great, isn't it?), and you'll learn a lot of things.
I was quite surprised to see that this book is intertwined with another E. Nesbit novel I've read. I mean, in that book, there is a common event, with the same characters (although told from a different perspective). I was surprised to learn that I had read about the main characters in this novel already, in the other novel (although I don't know that it mentions their names). I like it when stuff like that happens.
Anyway, I guess since this /is/ about a newly married couple and their house you could say it's somewhat of a clean romance story—although it may not be of the typical style in that regard. Nevertheless, it's about a lot more than romance, and I think anyone could benefit from it.
There is a scene that might at first seem terrifying and out of character for this book, but don't fret. Read on and you'll see what's going on.
There are some interesting morals to be gained from this book—not ones I've seen a lot of elsewhere; particularly through Yolande's character.
Just as a personal note, I finished this book not long after midnight (so perhaps I should have marked it as being finished on the 28th instead of the 29th—I figured I'd be precise).
I was a little put out about certain attitudes of the main characters, particularly toward Albert Morrison. They call him a muff, and they don't give any reason—I think the other characters did that in the other book, too, but I'm not sure. Also, they seem a little uppity in their attitudes at times (fortunately, not all the time, and not enough for me to disregard the book as a favorite).
The book if rife with quotes. There are loads of terms, idioms and French sayings you might not know—so have a really old (ca. 1902) British dictionary handy (the Internet's great, isn't it?), and you'll learn a lot of things.
I was quite surprised to see that this book is intertwined with another E. Nesbit novel I've read. I mean, in that book, there is a common event, with the same characters (although told from a different perspective). I was surprised to learn that I had read about the main characters in this novel already, in the other novel (although I don't know that it mentions their names). I like it when stuff like that happens.
Anyway, I guess since this /is/ about a newly married couple and their house you could say it's somewhat of a clean romance story—although it may not be of the typical style in that regard. Nevertheless, it's about a lot more than romance, and I think anyone could benefit from it.
There is a scene that might at first seem terrifying and out of character for this book, but don't fret. Read on and you'll see what's going on.
There are some interesting morals to be gained from this book—not ones I've seen a lot of elsewhere; particularly through Yolande's character.
Just as a personal note, I finished this book not long after midnight (so perhaps I should have marked it as being finished on the 28th instead of the 29th—I figured I'd be precise).
I was a little put out about certain attitudes of the main characters, particularly toward Albert Morrison. They call him a muff, and they don't give any reason—I think the other characters did that in the other book, too, but I'm not sure. Also, they seem a little uppity in their attitudes at times (fortunately, not all the time, and not enough for me to disregard the book as a favorite).
July 11, 2018
I have rarely been so completely charmed by a book. With every page I loved it more and more - completely captivated, utterly delighted. This is a book I have every intention of owning as soon as possible.
E. Nesbit’s children’s books rank among some of my favorites, so I was vaguely pleased when I came across this one. My mild interest rapidly expanded, and continued to increase to the very last word of the story. And, as a fan of her other books, it was a treat to see the Bastables make a couple of cameo appearances, quite unexpectedly. Getting to watch them through the eyes of an adult was a special bonus.
If anyone ever wants to know what a married couple who is completely in love with each other looks like, I shall recommend this book to them. A treasure from beginning to end. Do yourself a favor and read it.
E. Nesbit’s children’s books rank among some of my favorites, so I was vaguely pleased when I came across this one. My mild interest rapidly expanded, and continued to increase to the very last word of the story. And, as a fan of her other books, it was a treat to see the Bastables make a couple of cameo appearances, quite unexpectedly. Getting to watch them through the eyes of an adult was a special bonus.
If anyone ever wants to know what a married couple who is completely in love with each other looks like, I shall recommend this book to them. A treasure from beginning to end. Do yourself a favor and read it.
March 14, 2022
Interesting. A pleasant early 20th century romance in which E. Nesbit describes the misadventures she and her husband had living in a huge manor house, here called the Red House, but also portrayed as the Moat House in the Bastable stories. This idealised picture (the couple have only been married a year and are young and beautiful) includes discussions about doing one’s proper work, and the great joy of doing anything else (housework; one’s spouse’s work) instead. We also see the visit of the Bastables as described in the New Treasure Seekers from the other side.
April 18, 2017
Charming story about the first years of a marriage in Victorian England written in that time period.
February 21, 2020
A young couple -- a writer and an artist -- inherit a moldering mansion and try to set up housekeeping on the do-it-yourself principle. They're aided, and discouraged, by a friend who believes strongly that they'd be better off concentrating on their paying careers and hiring out the housework.
The characters and setting have great charm, but despite a few minor setbacks, their life meanders on idyllically and nothing much ever happens.
Nesbit shines as a children's writer (incidentally, the Bastable kids from "The Story of the Treasure Seekers" make a cameo appearance in this novel), but her grown-up books don't seem to have the same magic.
February 12, 2024
Quite a sweet story about a young couple who inherit a house in the country and go to live there. He is a writer and she is an illustrator, and as they can’t get a servant at first, they do the housework themselves, which they find quite exciting. There is also a slight mystery which isn’t too difficult to solve. Nothing very remarkable happens in the course of the book, but the characters are agreeable and it is pleasant to spend time with them in their charming home.
July 8, 2011
ebook available here
April 30, 2019
I was charmed!
June 19, 2019
I have the sense that Nesbit never really got this work off the ground, and was wandering around trying to figure out the right angle on it.
February 1, 2021
A young married couple inherit a rambling old house which may (or may not!) have a ghost... A delightfully rambling (and ultimately inconsequential) story with some genuine laugh-out-loud moments and even a guest appearance from the Bastable children! I adore E Nesbit and this was just what I needed for a winter's night read. Kindle edition has a few typos - might be hunting down a real second hand copy some time soon!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews