It is hard to write a review of a book I loved as much as I loved this one, a part of me just wants to tell you to buy it immediately. I haven’t read many novels published this year and this was an impulse buy, when it arrived I decided I wanted to read it right away.
Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves is Rachel Malik’s debut novel, and it is a hugely impressive beginning to what I can only suppose will be a very successful publishing career. The story is based heavily on the life of the author’s maternal grandmother; Rene Hargreaves. While the author makes it quite clear that this is a work of fiction, she kept the names the same and all the incidents in the book seem to have come straight from Rene’s life – and it is a wonderful story spanning more than twenty years.
Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves is the story of two unconventional women, who are brought together by a world gone mad. Elsie Boston is a farmer, working the farm her father signed over to her, the best she can, her brothers killed in the first World War, her sisters have left to get married and as another war gets under way she is alone at Starlight, happy in her solitude and with the animals and the land she loves. In 1940, Elsie applies for a landgirl to help out, gets the spare room ready, nervous about having another person in the house.
Rene Hargreaves arrives, a little older than Elsie had expected, she is a city woman, a widow drawn to work on the land like Elsie. Rene’s past is more complex than Elsie realises at first, she carries the shadows of it with her, never quite escaping her own sense of guilt.
Rene and Elsie come to understand one another quickly, they develop an easy way of life together, playing patience, doing jigsaws and listening to the wireless in the evenings after the work of the farm is done.
“Only last night there had been bombing, heavy enough, far enough away to have them rush out into the dark. They climbed to the very top of the hill, and turning their backs on Lambourn and the valley, they had watched the bright come and go and heard the rumbling and spitting of the bombs, like distant weather. Unable to do anything but stand and wait, they watched as a glow built slowly on the horizon – Portsmouth or Southampton, Colonel Pinkie thought, for he was out there too. They had felt quite jittery and oddly excited, but then a plane shrieked over Inkpen Hill.
‘Close shave, close shave,’ called Colonel Pinkie
‘Whose is it?’ shouted Rene
‘Don’t know, doesn’t matter.’
And then Elsie and Rene had rushed into the dark, into the house, frightened but laughing all the same.”
There is s night time expedition to the White Horse carved into the hillside, covered with turf because of the war the pair uncover it walk down the hill to gaze at it and walk back up to cover it back up, they laugh and swap confidences. Soon the two women can’t imagine a life a part. Rene is warm and sociable, has a great love of cinema, and slowly she begins to change Elsie, helping her overcome her almost crippling shyness.
Together they endure sadness and hardship; a conniving neighbour helps the Ministry for Agricultural take Starlight from Elsie, so he can get his hands on the land – there is nothing they can do. Determined to work the land they love and stay together; the pair become itinerant farm workers and move from farm to farm across the country – starting in Cumbria and ending in Cornwall in the late 1950s. It is a hard life – they no longer have the comfort of their wireless, though they do get to live in a series of tiny farm cottages, dividing the household tasks between them. Sometimes Rene has to work away at other farms, looking forward to Friday evening when she comes home. This though is nothing to the battles that lie ahead of them.
As they begin to think of settling for good at Wheal Rock in a small Cornish community, with a dog a cat and a wireless, part of Rene’s past arrives, threatening their way of life – and much more. Their lives will be turned upside down, held up for examination by the media, and subject to a high-profile court case.
“At dusk though, the exterior began to change: the chimney smoke wreathed and twisted against the darkening sky, the rickety extensions turned opaque and the dishevelled garden grew blurry and indistinct. By the time it was dark and the lamps glowed orange in the windows, the cottage seemed invulnerable. Rene loved returning when it was dark, her first sight of the lights through the trees as she cycled up the lane. Coming home: Elsie in the kitchen window, standing at the sink, washing, waiting. Sometimes it felt to Rene as if they would always live at Wheal Rock; it was foolish, but sometimes she couldn’t help herself.”
What I particularly loved about this book was how strongly rooted in the British countryside it is, showing a fierce love and understanding for the countryside and the lives lived by agricultural workers. The relationship between Elsie and Rene is sensitively and delicately portrayed – we never know exactly how far their relationship progressed, whether they in fact were lovers – it doesn’t matter at all – their commitment to their shared way of life is what is important.
To think, that this incredible story was hidden away inside Rachel Malik’s family history, waiting for her to discover it. What an exciting discovery it must have been, and how lucky we are that she chose to share it in this way. (Oh, and the cover art for this hardback edition is just perfect).
How lovely to hear that you enjoyed this novel so much. Like you, I have read very few newly published titles this year – just a handful for book group, often with mixed results. I must admit that at first I had assumed this was an older book – the cover has that vintage look, like a beautiful first edition from the 1940s.
As someone who loves vintage fiction, as you know, I was very much drawn to the cover. However I think the novel probably would suit readers of vintage novels, it does have that kind of feel.
It’s heartening to hear that such books are being published. Hopefully publishers have realised the appeal of vintage novels but not in a twee commercial sense. Just very good writing and character led stories. I shall be seeking this one out. Thank you Ali.
Definitely. I would love to see more novels like this being published. I’m sure you would love it.
I was approached by the author to review this one which I’m afraid I usually dodge – it’s too personal – but I was so impressed with what she had to say that I agreed to do it and having read your review I’m glad that I did. I’m going to save it until the paperback in January.
Oh excellent really hope you enjoy it. I think you will.
I let her know that the book had arrived today and pointed her at your review – she’s delighted!
I know she is, thank you.😀
Thank you so much for putting this our way, it sounds wonderful. It has gone to the top of the list!
Glad to hear that 😀 hope you enjoy it too.
This sounds tremendous, what an achievement for a first novel. I wonder how much she had to fictionalise
Yes I wondered the same. I expect there were details she couldn’t possibly know so had to fictionalise. It makes for a great story.
It does indeed
Lovely review Ali. I hadn’t heard of this one but it sounds like a marvellous read!
It really was, not bad for an impulse buy.
This sounds marvellous (as long as the animals and pets are OK) and so pleased that such a happened-upon read gave such joy to you!
The animals all fair pretty well. It was such a lucky find.
How nice that you enjoyed this book so much. I saw your Twitter updates about loving the book. Isn’t is lovely that the best stories are often in one’s own family. The author has definitely left a strong mark in your mind since you found it to be an excellent debut.
Aren’t the stories hidden in families absolutely fascinating. Goodness knows what secrets lay undiscovered.
I’m sorry now that I picked this up and put it down again, because the opening didn’t grab me. You’ve definitely convinced me to give the book another try.
Sometimes we pick things up at the wrong moment, I hope you give it another try.
I’ll be adding this to my TBR! I hadn’t heard of it before. Sounds lovely!
I’m glad you like the sound of this one, its a lovely story.
I’m so glad you loved this as much as I did. It’s such a wonderful story of the bond between two women although, as you say, whether Elsie and Rene’s relationship is friendship or something more is left to the reader’s imagination.
Yes I think the relationship between the two women was so well explored. The characters will really stay with me.
Yes, well said. I don’t re-read books often but I’m sure I’ll make an exception for this one at some point. Plus I only read it as an eARC and I’m sorely tempted to buy a hardback copy for the lovely cover.
It is beautiful.😀
[…] Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves by Rachel Malik, a newly published novel – I read few of those and this one turned out to be my book of the month. A wonderful impulse buy, a debut novel inspired by a story from the author’s own family – I realised after I had finished how the story and the style suits a reader of vintage fiction so well – probably why I loved it so much. […]
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[…] Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves by Rachel Malik – A novel I bought by sheer chance, on something of a whim. It definitely has […]
[…] the hardback edition on something of a whim, I devoured the book. You can read my full review here, though I am copying some of it across here to help you decide whether you would like to read it […]
[…] friend had reviewed the novel positively in the Sunday Times which swayed me and Heavenali’s review sealed the deal. The old bookseller in me thought it would be better to hold back a review until […]