Reading the 20th Century discussion

I've only read one book by Jocelyn Brooke, and that is the first book in the 'The Orchid Trilogy' - 'The Military Orchid'

Jocelyn Brooke blends memoir, botany and even satire to recall his lifelong quest in search of the flower that was his obsession: Orchis Militaris.

'The Military Orchid' (1948) recall Jocelyn Brooke's lifelong quest in search of the flower that was his obsession: Orchis Militaris aka the Military Orchid, I wanted to know what they look like...





By the way, the Military orchid (Orchis militaris) was thought to be extinct in the UK, but was rediscovered by an amateur botanist in 1947, although he would not reveal its location. It was then found at Homefield Wood, Buckinghamshire, a forestry commission site which has since been managed to protect the species and consequently the numbers have increased. The orchids were protected by cages as orchids tend to attract people and worn paths leading to and from them lead to compaction of the soil and the resulting drainage problems can damage the plants and result in less plants establishing around them.

Named because its "lateral lobes" look like a soldier's arms, with its spotted body like a buttoned tunic. It is now being carefully conserved.

Here's my review of 'The Military Orchid’ (1948) by Jocelyn Brooke - the first book in the 'The Orchid Trilogy'

It's disarming and lyrical and a forgotten book that deserves to be rediscovered. I hope this will happen as 'The Orchid Trilogy' was republished for Kindle on 24 August 2017.

Click here to read my review

From Amazon...


A disarming, lyrical hybrid of fiction and autobiography, this forgotten masterpiece of post-war English fiction follows a small boy through his First World War childhood and teenage years on the Kentish coast, then into the army and frontline service in the Second World War.

Obsessed by his strange twin passions for orchids and for fireworks, the author-narrator paints a haunting portrait of a childhood and adulthood interleaved with one another in a near-mystical rural idyll. Defined by his unspoken homosexuality, the books capture the unfolding of a melancholy, often painfully sensitive male consciousness.

First published in the late 1940s as three separate but interlinked volumes – “The Military Orchid”; “A Mine of Serpents” and “The Goose Cathedral” – The Orchid Trilogy conjures up a rapturous, fantastical portrait of England at war and peace in the 20th century. Witty, subtle and deceptively simple, this unjustly neglected classic that has yet to be surpassed in its exploration of the magical world of childhood. "

Currently only a mere £2.99 on Kindle in the UK...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Orchid-Trilo...



Yet more intriguing and enticing information about 'The Orchid Trilogy' here...

http://jocelynbrooke.com/an-introduct...

FANTASTIC FICTION have an entry about 'The Orchid Trilogy' by Jocelyn Brooke....

A disarming, lyrical hybrid of fiction and autobiography, this forgotten masterpiece of post-war English fiction follows a small boy through his First World War childhood and teenage years on the Kentish coast, then into the army and frontline service in the Second World War. Obsessed by his strange twin passions for orchids and for fireworks, the author-narrator paints a haunting portrait of a childhood and adulthood interleaved with one another in a near-mystical rural idyll. Defined by his unspoken homosexuality, the books capture the unfolding of a melancholy, often painfully sensitive male consciousness. First published in the late 1940s as three separate but interlinked volumes - "The Military Orchid"; "A Mine of Serpents" and "The Goose Cathedral" - The Orchid Trilogy conjures up a rapturous, fantastical portrait of England at war and peace in the 20th century. Witty, subtle and deceptively simple, this unjustly neglected classic that has yet to be surpassed in its exploration of the magical world of childhood.

https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/jo...

SYNOPSIS

A disarming, lyrical hybrid of fiction and autobiography, this forgotten masterpiece of post-war English fiction follows a small boy through his First World War childhood and teenage years on the Kentish coast, then into the army and frontline service in the Second World War.

Obsessed by his strange twin passions for orchids and for fireworks, the author-narrator paints a haunting portrait of a childhood and adulthood interleaved with one another in a near-mystical rural idyll. Defined by his unspoken homosexuality, the books capture the unfolding of a melancholy, often painfully sensitive male consciousness.

First published in the late 1940s as three separate but interlinked volumes – “The Military Orchid”; “A Mine of Serpents” and “The Goose Cathedral” – The Orchid Trilogy conjures up a rapturous, fantastical portrait of England at war and peace in the 20th century. Witty, subtle and deceptively simple, this unjustly neglected classic that has yet to be surpassed in its exploration of the magical world of childhood.

One of those too-rare books whose enjoyability makes it seem too short – Elizabeth Bowen

It is a kind of collage of sharply drawn bits of real life, excellently described and artistically arranged – Stephen Spender

Reminiscence and reflection and description are woven together to make a curious and fascinating tapestry – David Cecil

Mr. Brooke's finely shaped prose, his wit, percipience, and liveliness in the description of people, places, and states of mind are a rare delight – The Scotsman

A sad, funny, densely detailed yet continuously readable experience – The Observer

One of the most exciting creative artists of our time and one who will consistently evade all the literary categories – John Pudney

https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/...

And here's the man himself....


Jocelyn Brooke

Nigeyb wrote: "I've only read one book by Jocelyn Brooke, and that is the first book in the 'The Orchid Trilogy' - 'The Military Orchid'

Jocelyn Brooke blends memo..."

Given my interest in lgbt books and writers I cannot believe that Jocelyn Brooke had completely passed me by. I have just spent half an hour researching him online and I have just included him on my list of writers I must try. I will probably start with The Orchid Trilogy but some of his other novels also look interesting.

Hurrah. Glad to have another convert on board.


I need to read the rest of the Orchid Trilogy before much longer.

Wouldn’t you know it? Anthony Powell was both friend and admirer of Jocelyn Brooke.

I have just started reading The Image of a Drawn Sword, my first Jocelyn Brooke novel. From the description of the novel it ticks quite a few of my literary boxes.

Splendid news Andrew. I look forward to your reaction.


I hope to continue with 'The Orchid Trilogy' before too long

I have just finished reading The Image of a Drawn Sword. I found this to be a quite remarkable book and I have rated it 4*. I will add some further comments about it later.

Splendid - I look forward to more observations. I am delighted to hear the you enjoyed it, and consider it remarkable.

A bit delayed but here are my comments on The Image of a Drawn Sword. The novel centres around Reynard Langrish, a young man who served in the army during World War 2 but was discharged for medical reasons. He is unhappy with his live in a small country town where he lives with his mother. A chance encounter with a young officer, Captain Archer leads to him training for a new battalion which is being formed because of the Emergency.

The book has an otherworldly feeling with the passage of time seeming to speed up or slow down, geographical features appearing to move or disappear. The plot revolves around Langrish trying to understand what is happening to him and the nature of the Emergency.

In places the novel reminded me of Kafka, and in other places, particularly the climax of the novel and the descriptions of the countryside, it reminded of the weird fiction of Arthur Machen.

There is also a homoerotic subtext running throughout the novel, particularly with the relationship between Langrish and Captain Archer

The novel leaves many things unresolved but I found it one that has left a permanent impression on me.

Thanks Andrew. That all sounds most intriguing. I must get back to 'The Orchid Trilogy'


The Orchid Trilogy: "Military Orchid", "Mine of Serpents" and "Goose Cathedral"