Persephone Books discussion

This month it's a Dorothy Whipple book. I read this one a few years back, but looking forward to rereading it.

I have started it already. It is an interesting character-driven novel.

It certainly is. I will probably be starting later today.

I've started.

Me too. I had forgotten how awful the Major is.

"Since he was very economical in everything that did not directly affect his own comfort, the household had to wait for light until he wanted light himself."

I finished last night - I just love the way Whipple reveals her characters in all their strengths, frailties, settings and time period.

BTW I love cricket and am booking forward to the Ashes starting in two weeks time!!!

Cphe wrote: "...I just love the way Whipple reveals her characters in all their strengths, frailties, settings and time period..."

I agree. A fascinating character study.

I'm just getting started! And the Major is already horrible in the first chapter! That was a good quote, Tania...
And I also love Whipple's character portrayal - this is a stark contrast to last month's book, Mrs Blencarrow!

Gina wrote: "I'm just getting started! And the Major is already horrible in the first chapter! That was a good quote, Tania...
And I also love Whipple's character portrayal - this is a stark contrast to last mo..."

Oh yes, I hadn't thought of that.

I do feel sorry for Anthea, she's trying too hard to be liked and the family have already made their minds up about her. I guess the fact that she fell for the Major when he went out for a duck means that she has mistaken him for an underdog and will allow him to walk all over her.

What struck me early on is just how set in their ways they all were.
Aunt Victoria and both Christine and Penelope.

Cphe wrote: "What struck me early on is just how set in their ways they all were.
Aunt Victoria and both Christine and Penelope."

The really are. None of them wanted her there simply because they didn't like change, I don't think it was because they didn't like her.

Whipple does let you understand all the characters motivations, so although we might not like there actions, I find in most cases I can find some sympathy for them.

I have found that there is a copy available on Internet Archive, so if anyone would like to read the book, but is struggling to find it you can read it here

https://archive.org/details/in.ernet....

I came across this passage, ch 35, p425

"People say : Oh, it’s not like that for girls But it is, and it’s going to be more like it than ever, it seems to me. According to these papers it is. Women are being pushed back into homes and told to have more babies. They’re being told to make themselves helpless. Men are arming like mad, but women are expected to disarm, and make themselves more vulnerable than they already are by nature. No woman is going to choose a time like this to have a baby in. You can’t run very fast for a bomb-proof shelter if you have a baby inside you, and a bombproof shelter is not the place you would choose to deliver it in. No protection against gas is provided for children under three, this paper says, so presumably the baby you have laboured to bring into the world must die if there is a gas attack."

I think this one highlights what Persephone Books call "Domestic feminism". Whipple is probably one of the best when it comes to this, her writing is pretty plain and simple, and then she can slip something like this in.

Tania wrote: "I have found that there is a copy available on Internet Archive, so if anyone would like to read the book, but is struggling to find it you can read it here

https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dl..."

Thanks so much for the link, Tania! But right now it has an error message saying the link has been taken down :(

I'll try again, it is still there.

https://archive.org/details/in.ernet....

I checked this link and it seems to work.

Thanks, Tania. I’ll give it another try. I went ahead and ordered a copy, but it won’t be here for 2 weeks…

I ended up buying all my Whipple books from eBay - they at least offered free postage to Australia from England.
Must say the condition of them has been excellent.