In my younger days I worked in the library system and spent quite a few years at a Carnegie designed library in Highgate. It was an interesting old building and was directly opposite Highgate Cemetary and with a Russian Delegation down the road. I had some interesting times during my sojourn...
While I was there I noticed that a lot of books by Dorothy Whipple and D E Stevenson were borrowed by the slightly older readers who loved these authors - such 'nice' books was their cry. I turned up my nose. Well, years later I read all the books of Whipple when they were gradually all published by Perspehone Books. 'Nice' is not the right word for these wonderful books dissecting human nature and discussing infedility and abusive marriage. However, when I read D E Stevenson the word that comes to mind IS nice.
I do not mean this in a denigrating way. I really enjoy reading them and there are over forty if you can track them all down. Many of them are now being issued for the Kindle and in the last week or so I have read about five. The Mrs Tim books are delightful, though there are times when I think the shade of E M Delafield Diary of a Provincial Lady looms large. I reviewed one of these some years ago when Bloomsbury issued Mrs Tim of the Regiment, link here, and I note that I said exactly the same thing then.
I always say that when reading books written in an earlier age, one should not get cross about use of languagw and mores of the time they were written. Language which, quite frankly, can appear offensive or racist at times cannot be condemned as it reflects the prevailing attitude. Having said that I do find it slightly difficult to tolerate Mrs Tim. It is clear that a recurring character in the books, Major Morley, is madly in love with her and yet she seems totally oblivious of this and, in fact, when she hears a rumour from an acquaintance that it is 'well know that Tony Morley is in love with a married woman' she dismisses it with the comment that he would never do that. When she is in difficulties she tends to weep and turn to a man to sort things out though it is clear she is perfectly capable in other spheres. Odd that I find this more annoying than anything else!
I have also read Spring Magic which tells the story of Frances who has never been away from home after looking after an invalid aunt but who finally breaks away. She goes to a small village in Scotland because she saw a picture of it in a paper and liked the look of it. As good a reason as any I think. It is set at the start of the Second World War and she meets up with some officer's wives who are travelling there as their regiment is to be stationed in that part of the world. Through them and getting to know their husbands, friends and soldiers her horizon is broadened and, naturally, she finds love. It is charmingly written and I enjoyed it all. Some of her books are too light at times but this had a bit of grit in it.
Smouldering Fire I simply cannot recommend. I found the Scottish feyness laid on with a heavy hand and the upright and noble laird intolerable. It also ends with a murder and the way it is shrugged off is ludicrous.
Dorothy Emily Stevenson was born on November 18, 1892. Stevenson’s father, David Alan Stevenson, used to work as a lighthouse engineer and was related to Robert Louis Stevenson as a first cousin.Dorothy was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and was educated by a governess as her parents did not want her to go to school.. She had developed a great deal of interest in writing when she was a child and had started writing from the age of eight. It seems her parents, who sound a right pair, did not approve of it. As a result, she was forced to keep her hobby of writing a secret to herself. They also refused to allow her to go to University so I wonder what they made of her turning into a published and popular author. Once she got going she produced a book a year.
Good for her.
Alexander McCall Smith writes the introduction to the new Kindle editions. He agrees that her books are easy, and there is a certain sameness to them but they still have enormous appeal. He says that 'the novels bring pleasure and remind us of a world, and of a country, that has changed out of all recognition. And, as that world becomes more unhappy and divided, the attraction of authors such as Stevenson, perhaps becomes stronger'
He is right.
