Persephone Books discussion

Here we can discuss our thoughts/discussion questions on finishing Milton Place

I felt I was held at arms length by this book, never properly let in, very much how Anita must have felt at first I suppose. But sadly, it never improved for me.
But it did make me realise how strong a character the house actually is in the book, and how strong an affect it has on all the characters in the book. We tend to think of the English Country House novel and its heyday during WW 1/2 and of course this is much later. But the values, the social underpining, its very presence in the fabric of the countryside still has a very strong affect on people, for healing as with Anita, with pulling together as with the Village Fete and with all the various agendas the family members have for it. Its bricks and mortar stand for so much more which deW writes with such sensitivity about.
I'm still processing it, I think, because I'm really not sure I got the most out of it or got into it.
Toast

I loved this beautifully written story and the descriptions of all the plants and flowers in the grounds of Milton Place.
What a terrible character Emily is ! I think she thought she had her father's best interests at heart but she never considered his true feelings. I'm not really sure if I like the character of Anita either and was surprised when she started an affair with Mr Barlow's grandson Tony. I felt she was betraying Mr Barlow's kindness in a way.
It made me think about many English country estates that had to start opening their doors to the public to be able to survive and maintain the many repairs needed.
The ending made me cry a little and was very sad. I really thought Mr Barlow would have put his own happiness first and stayed in Milton Place.
I can't believe publishers turned down this great story.

But Karen, isn't Emily just a bit too panto wicked witch? That someone who is obviously so sensitive as Mr Barlow wouldn't have had a child like her to begin with?
I wondered about Anita coming over all Mrs Robinson too.
And the ending is so sad - Mr Barlow just gave up. He couldn't leave it to Tony. Maybe he didn't want to after learning about him and Anita? that he thought it better to just roll over to Emily's dastardly plans.
The whole ending of The Country Estate was such a major social upheaval, a real rupturing of the social fabric that maybe the less sentimental - the Emily's of the world - had to take the bull by the horns and bring on the violent change that was desperately needed if 'Modern' Britain was to emerge on into Space Age Britain. Like the Industrialists of Victorian Britain, the future couldn't include the Country Estate model.
I don't know - what does everyone else think?????
Toast

Toast wrote: "But Karen, isn't Emily just a bit too panto wicked witch? That someone who is obviously so sensitive as Mr Barlow wouldn't have had a child like her to begin with?
I wondered about Anita coming ov..." Hi Toast, I was looking forward to the part where Mr Barlow let Emily know he knew about her scheming behind his back but Elisabeth de Waal left that scene to our imagination.So sad also that Cecilia was treated so bad by her husband.

I didn't dislike Anita and though I was a bit surprised when she started an affair with Tony, I thought maybe it was because he was too young to have been corrupted. She was deeply hurt, I think, by her husbands activities.
I did love the descriptions of the house and grounds, too.

Tania wrote: "I didn't dislike Anita and though I was a bit surprised when she started an affair with Tony, I thought maybe it was because he was too young to have been corrupted. She was deeply hurt, I think, b..."
Hi Tania, I was quite baffled when Anita said she loves Mr Barlow when he proposed to her (page 309). Was she in love with Mr Barlow and his grandson Tony do you think?

I thought she loved Mr Barlow as more of a Father figure. He took her in, listened, and helped her to heal after her bruising experiences during the war. The same with him, he didn't seem to be contemplating marriage in a traditional sense, but as a way of allowing her to stay at the house with no questions being asked, and no more having to apply for Visas.

I really liked it.

De Waal’s style charmed me and I really felt for Mr Barlow and Anita. They felt like kindred souls. As for Milton Place, I ended up loving it too. There is something about houses that have souls...

Yes, I was surprised when Anita and Tony became lovers, but the author’s way of dealing with it was very well done. How old was Anita? 30 something or 40 something? Tony to me felt too young in his personality but I don’t think she corrupted him. They both got something out of it and I don’t mean just the obvious. When you see how Tony’s parents treated him, and everyone around him it seems, no wonder he would fall in love with anyone that listened to him and showed him any respect and kindness.

To me, Anita loved Mr Barlow on the ’soul’/mental side, they were kindred spirits, while with Tony, it was the more physical side - the way they would go walking off the tracks. In a way, an amalgamation of the two men would have been perfect. Mind you, didn’t Anita say that her family had the knack to fall in love with Englishmen at the wrong age. Seems the Barlow men have the same problem but towards one woman.

Emily and Celia were such sad, and yes, often detestable, characters. I didn’t see them as panto villains but people who made their life choices and never really learnt to look at themselves. They kept making the same mistakes time and time again. It is tragic really. The stark contrast with the lovely Mr Barlow is shocking but sadly it does happen - this huge character difference between parents and children, or indeed between siblings.

I didn’t mind Anita. In fact I did like her even though she surprised the hell out of me. Mr Barlow however is the one I’ll keep. He reminded me a little of my grandfather, who was for all instances my dad and mum all in one. There was 60 years in between us and yet we were kindred souls too.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Veronique wrote: "I really liked it.

De Waal’s style charmed me and I really felt for Mr Barlow and Anita. They felt like kindred souls. As for Milton Place, I ended up loving it too. There is something about house..."
Hi dear Veronique, I'm pleased you enjoyed this novel too.
Milton Place was a character too in the book I thought and I loved the descriptions of the gardens.
Such a sad ending too : (
I'm glad Persephone decided to publish this great story
Thanks for joining in x

It is such a sad and abrupt ending. I guess Mr Barlow didn’t want to have those memories of her connected to the house, and at least he took ownership of his decision. There is that at least.

Right - Greenbanks next :O)
First, I have a couple of books I need to finish. Shall probably start G next week.

Veronique wrote: "It is such a sad and abrupt ending. I guess Mr Barlow didn’t want to have those memories of her connected to the house, and at least he took ownership of his decision. There is that at least.

Righ..." Hi Veronique, no worries, join in when you've time : ) x

Glad you enjoyed it Veronique. It certainly got people thinking and talking about it didn't it?
Hope you enjoyed your time in London too, despite the rain? We decided to throw in an Election campaign to cheer things up a bit while you were over.
Toast

Toast wrote: "Glad you enjoyed it Veronique. It certainly got people thinking and talking about it didn't it?
Hope you enjoyed your time in London too, despite the rain? We decided to throw in an Election campai..."

LOL!
It was good, thanks :O) Got 6 books - how could I resist??? - and already looking at more titles. I’m sure this is an illness or at the very least an addiction (Persephonitis?)

Veronique wrote: “I’m sure this is an illness or at the very least an addiction (Persephonitis?)”.

Lol. I must have this illness, too! And having a name for it will come in handy: “Sorry, I can’t go out today. I’ve got a bad case of Persephonitis and have to stay home and indulge, I mean, treat it. ;)”

Susan wrote: "Lol. I must have this illness, too! And having a name for it will come in handy: “Sorry, I can’t..."

:0)

I enjoyed the rich journey of reading about Milton Place, Mr Barlow, Anita, and Tony and would have loved to take a stroll through the springtime gardens or to sit in the sunshine in the hidden courtyard. The most surprising thing that occurred for me was Anita and Tony disguising themselves and telling fortunes at the fete, but I guess it emphasized the playfulness of their relationship. I think Anita brought so much to Mr Barlow with her companionship (and also her practical housekeeping skills). About the ending, I guess with her departure and Tony’s military service, the two people who meant the most to Mr Barlow were leaving Milton House, leading to his decision to sell. Unfortunately I’ve known people who talk about their elderly relatives just as his daughter Emily does, which made her believable to me. And it’s not that she’s wrong about the eventual fate of the house — but her father and his staff were managing for the time being with the cutbacks and changes, and it was really not cool for her to try and manipulate her father and the county councilors. I hope the process of county approval was slow enough to give Mr Barlow another spring with his garden.

Someone asked why Mr Barlow didn’t leave Milton Place to Tony at the end. I think this passage from page 103 explains: “It saddened him, he [Mr Barlow] said, that Tony would never be able to own Milton Place and to live there. He knew how deeply the boy loved it, but even if he were to disregard his daughters and leave it to him, death duties would force him to part with it. He would not have the means to keep it up. Tony knew this…”

Susan wrote: "Someone asked why Mr Barlow didn’t leave Milton Place to Tony at the end. I think this passage from page 103 explains: “It saddened him, he [Mr Barlow] said, that Tony would never be able to own Mi..." Hi Susan, happy you enjoyed this one too. Such a sad ending...Mr Barlow saying goodbye to Anita, Tony and his house : (