The Foolish Gentlewoman was Margery Sharp’s thirteenth novel in a seemingly long and prolific writing career, yet it is the first that I’ve read. Judging by this novel alone, I feel I have made a discovery; another author I will want to read more of and like so many authors of this era is crying out to be re-issued. Today of course is Margery Sharp day, and I can’t wait to read lots more reviews of books I will almost certainly want to get my hands on.
The Foolish Gentlewoman is set soon after the end of World War Two, when houses are still being repaired from the bombing, and young men and women are slowly picking up the threads of their lives. When Isabel Brocken makes a rare visit to church, she hears one particular line of an otherwise unmemorable sermon, and takes to heart its message. It is a message that will have a lasting effect on the inhabitants of her household, and even upon her own future.
Isabel Brocken is the foolish gentlewoman of the title, a wealthy, childless widow in her mid-fifties. Isabel returns to her home, Chipping Lodge, after seeing the war out in Bath. A former ATS girl Jacqueline lives with her as companion and in another part of the house live the Pooles, a mother and her teenage daughter Greta, originally employed by Simon as caretakers for Isabel during her absence. Mrs Poole, likes to dress up and go dancing, Greta loves film magazines, they are devoted to one another. As the novel begins, Simon Brocken, unmarried, sixty, a little pompous and set in his ways, comes to stay while repairs are undertaken on his own home. Also staying is Isabel’s nephew Humphrey, recently de-mobbed, he is the son of Isabel’s sister, Ruth in New Zealand. Simon considers his sister-in-law to be entirely foolish, and is at a loss to understand why Isabel treats him so kindly and with obvious affection.
Simon remembers a perfect time, before the first war, when Isabel and her sister were girls, and he and his brother Mark were regular visitors at Chipping Lodge. In these days there were dances and house parties, and visitors, the girls had a poor relation as companion, Tilly Cuff, who left later for a lifetime in similar positions.
Now with Isabel certain that she once did Tilly Cuff a great wrong back in those long ago halcyon days, and the memory of that sermon ringing in her ears, Isabel determines to set things right. Her astounded household are soon made aware that Isabel intends to invite Tilly to come and live with them, and further, that in time, she will tell Tilly of her intention to give Tilly almost all her money. Simon is beside himself with disapproval; Isabel’s money had once been his dear brother’s money after all. Humphrey and Jacqueline are a little more sympathetic.
No one it seems is quite ready for the Tilly Cuff of the 1940’s. A lifetime of needing to secure positions for herself in other people’s homes has soured Tilly, and her appearance is stuck firmly and rather incongruously in the past.
“As a rule the chosen style is that of the wearer’s prime, women go on dressing as they dressed when they liked their clothes. The unfortunate thing about Tilly Cuff was that this sartorial turning-point, or rather sticking-point, marked a period not of complacency but of fear. In 1928 Tilly Cuff was forty; it was the period of all others when a youthful appearance was most prized, when all women tried to look like little girls if they could not look like little boys; for six months Tilly was out of employment. She knew then that if she were to survive she must stay young. All advertisements demanded young, bright companions. Young and bright therefore she became; and she still clung to the fashions that had helped her to seem so. “
Tilly is duly installed at Chipping Lodge, and her presence is soon, very much felt by everyone. Tilly insinuates herself everywhere, used to be employed, with things expected of her; Tilly has little to fill her time, and so finds things to do. Tilly is interfering, she involves herself in things she has no need to, she completely monopolises Isabel’s dog and changes the entire atmosphere of Chipping Lodge with her thoroughly unlikeable, disruptive presence. Simon, Humphrey and Jacqueline take to hiding in a bathroom to discuss everything to do with Tilly or Isabel, as Tilly has a rather unnerving habit of appearing whenever she isn’t wanted. In Jacqueline and Humphrey, Tilly recognises a young couple beginning slowly to develop feelings for one another, however in Jacqueline, Tilly thinks she recognises the difficult position, she herself once held, and starts to plant seeds of doubt in Jacqueline’s mind. The Pooles, companionable existence is also threatened by Tilly, who sensing a secret and having nothing better to do, is determined to winkle it out, somehow.
Isabel has to admit that Tilly is not as nice as she had thought she would be, however she is endlessly patient, and despite Simon’s continued disapproval is determined to go ahead with her plan to give Tilly her money.
“He looked across at his sister-in-law. Isabel sat plump and innocent beside Miss Cuff like a pigeon by a battered macaw; her simple face wore an expression of bewilderment. For once Mr Brocken sympathised with her. In the old days Tilly’s chief characteristics had all been negative: she was unassuming, undemonstrative, unobtrusive; now it was as though she had turned herself inside out.”
Living nearby is Dora Tremayne, another contemporary of Isabel, Ruth and Tilly’s she knew them all as girls, and now, having lost all her own money through unwise investment, works as a receptionist at a beauty salon. Dora understands where Simon is scathing, her view of the future for both Tilly and Isabel is rather more positive than the residents of Chipping Lodge believe.
I am so glad that I chose The Foolish Gentlewoman for Margery Sharp day; I loved every bit of it. It is a novel of great insight, humour and warmth; it is a truly delightful read.
This does sound lovely, and I’m so tempted to take my copy from the shelf. Thank you for taking the time and trouble to find a book for the day.
😉 thank you for the idea, which allowed me to discover this author.
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Lovely review Ali – the book sounds very appealing!
I certainly found it delightful 🙂
Wonderful Review…must explore her work!
I hope you do 🙂
And the ending is not what one would expect – isn’t that another point in favour!?
Margery Sharp is such a difficult writer to pigeon hole. Though most of her books touch here and there (or indeed occasionally focus) on the continual dance of the sexes, they are not “romantic comedies” or even stock romances. They are, instead, books about people, about people’s eccentricities, and their great commonalities, and the odd things that happen and the choices that the characters make and what happens when one goes down the more unexpected path when coming to the fork in the road, as it were.
The Foolish Gentlewoman is an exceedingly thought-provoking book, under its slightly deceptive comedic overlay. I am thrilled that you enjoyed it, Ali. And slightly envious that you still have so many of Margery Sharp’s books to discover. If you liked this one, you’re on your way. Good hunting, and happy reading!
Now off I must go to cobble together a review of my own for Margery Sharp day. After much inner debate I decided to re-read and review Harlequin House (1939) because it is one of the slightly more obscure titles by this brilliant and inexplicably neglected (by the re-publishers, anyway) writer.
Happy Birthday, Margery!
Oh yes you’re right. I hadn’t wanted to say too much about the ending but it is a nice surprise when an aurhor surpises the reader. Especially considering the time it was written the ending is not really what you expect. 🙂
This sounds marvelous, another insightful book from Sharp. Can’t wait to read it (though I will have to until I can actually find a copy).
🙂 well that is always the problem with out of print authors.
I was trying to remember where I knew the author’s name from: Britannia Mews–there’s an interesting film version of it.
Thanks for the review
Another one for me to look out for then. 🙂
This sounds absolutely delightful and I must look out for this author too.
Glad you like the sound of it 🙂
This sounds like another great Margery Sharp – I loved her humour and looking forward to reading more.
🙂 so do I.
Sounds brilliant – too much reading on the go to do M. Sharp day but I will definitely indulge in some soon!
I’m sure that you would like her too.
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Another author whose name I’ve not heard of before. Sigh
There are so many to be discovered 🙂
This one sounds lovely. I’d not come across Margery sharp until I read Jane’s post, so I read The Nutmeg Tree, which is wonderful, but was late posting it up, so I missed the ‘party’.
The nutmeg tree is a lovely sounding title I will look out for it.
This sounds so familiar. I wonder if I’ve actually read this? I did read some of her books when I was a child after I made my way through the Rescuers books. Anyway, it sounds like great fun and I’ll keep an eye out for it!
Hope you are able to find a copy it is so lovely.
Thanks for this review. I am about 100 pages into “Cluny Brown,” the first book I’ve ever read by Margery Sharp, and it is utterly delightful, so I’m on a quest to find out more about her other titles. She reminds me a bit of Dodie Smith in “I Capture the Castle,” one of my all-time faves. I’m just a bit too late for Margery Sharp Day, it seems, but better late than never!
Absolutely. Glad you are enjoying Cluny Brown, I would love to get my hands on some more Margery Sharp books.
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