The 1968 club starts today, hosted again by Simon and Karen. I have done my homework well everybody, and have already read both books I had selected from the tottering piles I already own (note I did not buy anything specially).
Eva Trout was Elizabeth Bowen’s final novel, written when she was around seventy – it was nominated for the Booker prize – then in its second year, and which was finally won by Bernice Rubens for The Elected Member. I liked it very much, the eponymous character is particularly well drawn, reminding me of a slightly older Portia (Death of the Heart). While, Eva Trout is not my favourite Bowen novel, it is a very good, though occasionally challenging read. It is a novel of many themes, parenting, communication, innocence and betrayal among them.
“The way downhill, into the bottomless incredulity which is despair, was incandescent with flowering chestnut trees.”
Eva Trout herself is an enigmatic character, chaotic, often rather child- like, though she is in her twenties when we first meet her. A conspicuously large, awkward girl, unloved and alone. Eva was raised by a succession of nannies and governesses paid for by her wealthy father, following the death of her mother in a plane crash. Now, her father dead too, she awaits full control of her huge inheritance when she is twenty-five. Driving around the countryside in her Jaguar – Eva is a strange mix of vulnerable innocence and trouble.
Eva has difficulty interacting with the world around her, relationships are conducted with a certain amount of drama and misunderstanding. Her legal guardian is Constantine, a former lover of her father’s – who lives in London and dispenses with his duties concerning Eva from there. Eva craves acceptance, and freedom, and as the novel progresses we see Eva moving from place to place in her bid to find them.
Constantine was delighted to approve Eva’s present living arrangements; a paying guest at Larkins, the home of Iseult and Eric Arble, Iseult a former teacher of Eva’s at the second of only two schools she attended. When she was sixteen. Eva had insisted her father pay for her to go to school. The first school she attended was in a castle owned by her father, here her roommate Elsinore attempts suicide, and the school soon closes. Despite having been very fond of Iseult when she was at school, now Eva is less happy living with the Arbles than she had imagined she would be. Seeking refuge from the Arbles, she makes friends the Danceys who live nearby – a clergyman’s family, with whom she spends a lot of time. Their son Henry – several years younger than Eva is her most particular friend, who she involves in her bid for freedom. Unable to wait for her twenty-fifth birthday – just three months away – Eva decides to rent a house in Kent and live entirely by herself. Despite not even knowing how to boil a kettle. On the day she is to take over Cathay – the house she has selected – she is met by Mr Denge the agent, to whom Eva can’t help but display her absolute ignorance of all household matters.
“‘Must we go far? asked his client, as they drove off.
‘No distance!’ sang out the professional optimist. ‘You are not familiar with our part of the world, Miss Trout?’
‘No. That is why.’
‘I see,’ he said, accustomed to doing so. ‘you will find we are rich in associations, not to speak of celebrities past and present. Charles Dickens –’
‘- Yes. Where do I buy a bicycle?
‘Now, immediately?’
‘Yes.’
Mr Denge altered course. ‘And, Miss Trout, groceries? This is your opportunity. I take it you have brought with you your plate and linen? As we pointed out in ours of the 23rd, those you provide. We trust you understood?’
‘No. What are they?’
‘Ha-ha – sheets, and so on. Spoons and, ha-ha, forks.’
‘How should I possess those?’ asked Eva moodily. ‘Must I buy them? Are they very expensive?’”
Once she is installed at Cathay, Eva receives a letter from Henry – and is visited by Eric – whose visit is interrupted by Constantine. Meanwhile Iseult sits at home in the house vacated by Eva, worrying about Eric’s absence. When Eva and Iseult meet again, Eva helps her former teacher to a terrible misunderstanding, which will adversely affect her already fragile marriage.
From here events move forward eight years, years that Eva has spent in America where she bought/adopted a child, (we assume illegally) a boy – Jeremy who is transpires is a deaf mute. Jeremy is now eight years old, able only to understand Eva. Eva has decided to bring her adopted son back to England.
“The boredom, for Eva, of being a passenger was mitigated by showing Jeremy England. Lambs, elms, cottages, colleges (they passed through Oxford). He missed nothing. From time to time, dread of the impending day overcame her; the aware child, at such moments, went supine against her, shoulder to shoulder. They stopped for lunch at Evesham, roast beef, apple tart, afterwards walking some way along the river looking at boats. ‘You’d like a boat of your own?’ He certainly would. ‘A seagoing boat, with an outboard engine?’ Still better! … Just after three o’clock, the Daimler drew up outside Larkins.”
Living a transient hotel existence Eva begins finally to address Jeremy’s needs – and look around for someone to help him.
The ending is extraordinary – and I won’t say too much about it – except to say it is unforgettable and for me totally unexpected – and took the whole novel up a notch.
Fab review – makes me itch to get back to my bookshelves!
Thank you. If you read it let me know what you think.
Great review Ali, I’d hoped to get to this for the 1968 Club but ran out of time! Bowen is such a compelling writer – I’m intrigued to find out what the ending of Eva Trout is 🙂
She is a compelling writer. Definitely recommend for when it’s the right time.
Eva does sound very intriguing, a complex character trying to find her way in the world. The fact that you’ve likened her to a slightly older version of Portia has piqued my interest. I loved The Death of the Heart, such a brilliant novel.
She’s like Portia in as much as she is orphaned, alone and a bit lost and betrayed by people in her life. Portia is not such a trouble maker.
TO THE NORTH will always be my fave Bowen novel.
To the North is an exceptional novel.
That’s a great review and has certainly piqued my interest, even though I’ve failed to manage the 1968 Club as such!
It’s worth reading for the shock ending alone.
OOooooo. What you’ve said about the ending reminds me of a particular Barbara Comyns novel (shan’t say which, just in case, but I think you’ve read it as well). That doesn’t happen very often – when one reads a lot – so it is nice to enjoy the surprise, isn’t it!
Yes, I think I know the Comyns you mean. It is nice to be surprised.
That does sound intriguing – what a complex character she seems to be. I really must read Elizabeth Bowen!
Hope you enjoy Elizabeth Bowen though I am not certain I would recommend starting with this one. Death of the Heart is a good place to begin.
Lovely review Ali – I’ve not read this Bowen, and most likely won’t get to it this week, but I’m so intrigued!
Good, I’m glad you’re intrigued, would like to know your thoughts.
I didn’t notice this was published in 1968 otherwise I think I would have selected it. Too late now to get via the library unfortunately. You have me intrigued with that comment about the unexpected ending….
Yes I was delighted to find this one was a 1968 book as I had had it a while.
[…] Eva Trout by Elizabeth Bowen Heaven-Ali […]
Bowen is often a very challenging read, and I have to be in the right mood – thanks for covering this one for the 1968 club, Ali, and well done on having done your homework in advance!
I was able to give Elizabeth Bowen the time she deserves when I was away last week. Overall I really like her writing.
I’m reading this at the moment and absolutely loving it. It is my first Bowen. I picked this one because I was sure someone would review it for the 1968 club. It *is* challenging and elusive, but so good !
Oh excellent, really hope you enjoy it, it wouldn’t be my pick for a first Bowen, but you have to start somewhere. You have some great books to look forward to.
What a shame. I have this but when I was looking for something to read to join as well, I didn’t think of this. That ending sounds like a rare thing.
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