It doesn’t really seem all that long since I last read an Angela Thirkell novel, but a Facebook group I’m a member of was holding an Angela Thirkell reading week – which finished yesterday, so I am a tad behind in my review. When I read The Brandons – I finally felt as if I started to connect with Angela Thirkell. I have now read seven or eight Angela Thirkell novels – and I think I could honestly say that I like them – but with reservations. One or two have contained elements that were just a bit too silly – and I certainly need to be in the mood for Thirkell. However, The Brandons was my favourite to date. Whenever I have reviewed Angela Thirkell novels I have had people tell me that her 1940s novels are her best, so, I snapped up this ancient orange Penguin of The Headmistress when I saw it in a charity shop several months ago. It’s a slightly longer novel than some of the other novels, something I didn’t immediately appreciate as my copy has only 320 pages, but the print is small.
Mostly I enjoyed The Headmistress – I had a few reservations – more of that later – but Angela Thirkell’s voice though still recognisable, is very slightly more sombre – it all seems a little bit more grown up – a sign, perhaps of the times in which Thirkell was writing.
War has come to the world of Barsetshire, bringing great change. Financial difficulties have obliged the Belton’s to let their large country house to the Hosiers’ Girls’ Foundation School. The school; evacuated from London had been seeking a more happier arrangement than the one they have had on a temporary basis in Barchester. Miss Sparling; the headmistress of the school, superintends the move, relieved on a personal level having had to lodge with Miss Pettinger, of the Barchester school, for which she is pitied by everyone. So, while the school set up home at Harefield Park, the Belton’s take a very nice house in the village.
The Belton’s three young adult children are all involved in wartime service, the eldest, Freddy is a Commander in the Navy, youngest son Charles in the Army – training in various places he is yet to be posted abroad. While the middle child Elsa – is involved in what is commonly called hush hush work, in a place that no one is supposed to have heard of, but everyone has. Mrs Belton is fortunate that her three children are able to get home fairly frequently – Charles, a little irreverent, energetic and often wildly enthusiastic about something or other, he had for me a touch of the Tony Morelands about him, while older brother Commander Freddy Belton, is a more measured man, reflecting the experiences he has already had. Elsa, has a little growing up to do, despite engaging herself to a wealthy Captain, fifteen years her senior. She is deeply upset at the sight of school girls galloping all over her former home.
There are many changes to be got over. The Beltons find it very strange to see a school setting up in their family home, school girls sleeping in their old bedrooms. Mrs Belton, rather likes the house in the village, from where she attends wartime working parties, yet she also feels something of the strain of helping her family adjust to the changes. Meanwhile, Elsa is doing her spoilt daughter act – she so wants to help her father – but goes about it in the wrong way and embarrasses both him and her new fiancé. Mrs Belton has a lot to worry quietly about and putting a brave face on things all the time is so very hard.
“What she would really like, she thought, would be to throw every single thing in her wardrobe out of the window and have everything new and to stop feeling tired and looking her age and go somewhere warm, if there was any warm place left in this horrible world now…”
Miss Sparling, the headmistress, is dauntless and practical, ably steering her girls through the changes that coming to Harefield Park has brought them. She soon makes her own friends among the locals, Mrs Belton is just one of them, elderly Mr Oriel the vicar – who once knew her grandfather, and Mr Carton, a middle-aged Oxford don vie for her society. There are some wonderful peripheral characters in The Headmistress – one of my favourites is Mrs Updike, surely drawn from life. Mrs Updike, is fairly accident prone, scalding herself, or cutting herself almost on a daily basis, happily declaring that she has ‘a perfect thing about…’ whatever it might be and launching into a long, involved and usually slightly muddled explanation.
Shakespeare readings, servants gossip, and a little romance find their way into the lives of this community in wartime.
“I never did take sugar in my tea, or in coffee,’ said the Vicar. ‘I have always disliked it. But I understood that by taking saccharine, we were somehow assisting the war effort.”
Heather Adams is the only one of Miss Sparling’s school girls that we really get to know – who in her typical class-conscious way, Thirkell lets us know that these girls are very much not of the same class as the Belton family. Heather is an unappealing girl, the daughter of a self-made man, she develops a rather crippling crush on Commander Belton.
So yes, there is quite a lot to like in The Headmistress – about which I had heard generally very good reports from other readers. It is witty and engaging, a gentle comedy of wartime manners. However, as I hinted above – I did have one or two small reservations and irritations.
Firstly, I was annoyed by the portrayal of a woman doctor – Dr Morgan, a rather peculiar figure, who tries to analyse her patients – no one seems to have any confidence in her – and all are rather relieved when good old (male) Dr Perry is able to sweep in with his reliable good sense and there is a sense that everyone is smiling indulgently behind the eccentric lady doctor’s back. Miss Sparling the headmistress has the confidence and admiration of everybody, presumably a spinster headmistress is within the scope of woman but a doctor! I am aware I might be being a little over sensitive. Then there was this little exchange:
“ …It’s no good asking you not to worry, Mrs Belton, but I would like to say again that I have every intention of marrying Elsa whether she likes it or not.’
‘What she needs is a good beating,’ said her mother, much to Captain Hornby’s surprise. ‘I’m ashamed of her.’
‘And Christopher’s the man to do it.’ Said Commander Belton unexpectedly.
‘I would like to beat her; very much indeed,’ said Captain Hornby dispassionately. ‘But I can’t stop to do it now. I’ve got to get back early tomorrow morning…”
Sorry – but what absolute bloody nonsense. It might well be tongue in cheek – but I don’t like it. It may have been a different era however I would say – in defence of different eras – that there were plenty of women writers writing at this period who would never have penned such stuff.
I’m now wondering if my reaction to the book was in any way affected by the physical edition that I read. Last week felt like a very long week, I was absolutely exhausted I still am – I was out two evenings after work, and so it ended up being a pretty slow reading week. Added to that I was struggling with the print size in that orange Penguin – and I began to wonder whether I would have got as irritated with parts of the novel had I not been squinting so uncomfortably at it.
I’ve made a few attempts at her books but never took to them. I’m not surprised at your quibbles – no need to make excuses!
No, I shouldn’t make excuses you’re right although I think being irritated by the print might have affected me a bit too. I probably should give up on Thirkell shouldn’t I?
No, no! Clear print on white paper should be our birthright – if only they’d invested in acid-free paper in those days.
At my age print size is everything.Need to get one of those big magnifying sheets?That said i always get the impression you dont “really like” Thirkell but feel you ought to?
You may have a point although there are things about the books I like, perhaps there aren’t quite enough.
I have still to try Thirkell but as one of the two books of her on my tbr shelf is The Brandons perhaps I should finally take the plunge.
Yes. I really enjoyed The Brandons. Hope you do too.
I’m yet to try Thirkell. I do think the edition has quite an impact on the reading experience though. I love an orange Penguin but sometimes the print is absolutely minute!
Yes, the edition one reads does have an impact on the overall experience. I love orange penguins too, it’s the print size I’m not keen on.
I have read only one book by Thirkell. I liked the read (cannot recollect the name now) but it was something I could enjoy when in the mood for something very light. I haven’t read The Headmistress. But I am certainly irked by the paragraph that you have mentioned here and the treatment towards Dr. Morgan
Yes she is the kind of writer to read when we need something light. She is worth reading for the light, humour and cosy nature of the story – especially if you enjoy 1930/1940s village life.
Interesting review Ali, and I’m sorry you had a bad week. As you might remember, I didn’t get on well with Thirkell at all, and the things you quote would have annoyed me mightily too. As you say, plenty of other women writers of the time would *not* have said such things and there is no reason for it. And the print size – yup, I’m with you on that too! :)))
Yes, I have cone to expect that dreadful class-consciousness but I couldn’t forgive her for those other faults. I’m not surprised you didn’t get on with her.
You have not encouraged me to read more by Angela Thirkell. I read High Rising several years ago and found it rather slight. I know she has quite a following, but I can’t quite see it myself.
Thanks for the review, however.
Caroline
High Rising is very slight, I actually enjoyed that one rather more than the couple I read after it. She does have a big following.
Ali, I read Wild Strawberries a couple years ago and disliked it, I found it too silly. I was told that was one of her inferior books to give her another go so I have picked up a couple here and there at charity shops, but haven’t read them yet. I’m a little hesitant. One of them is The Head Mistress so maybe I’ll start again with that one. Also have The Duke’s Daughter and Northbridge Rectory.
Wild Strawberries was one I got particularly annoyed by I thought it was silly. The Headmistress is a lot better than that one.
[…] and she read the book (in a different edition) at the same time as me – see her review here. We had quite similar views (and reservations) about this book, so it’s nice that we’ve […]
I have finished this now and done my review https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2017/11/13/book-review-angela-thirkell-the-headmistress-viragobooks-amreading/ – I do like that we’ve reviewed it on the same day, especially as you gave me my copy. I agreed with you mostly; I didn’t see Miss Morgan in the same light, but I was really cross with the weird casual anti-refugee racism, which is probably due to current sensitivities. I do like her more than I don’t like her, and will carry on (I cannot remember what I thought of Wild Strawberries!) but I do like a lighter book than you do sometimes, or a different kind of light.
Yes, I did notice that refugee racism, but forgot to mention it. I probably like the idea of these books more than I actually do, I’m beginning to realise.
I rather enjoyed Thirkell’s High Rising when I read it last year. It was light and fluffy with some nice comic touches – all in all a decent comfort read. But then I went on to try a short collection of her stories (Christmas at High Rising?) and it was a different matter all together. A few of the pieces were marred by some blatantly racist remarks, so much so that they put me off reading her for a while. I still have a copy of Pomfret Towers somewhere, so I’ll see how I get on with that before going elsewhere with her. 🙂
Pomfret Towers is OK, though I recommend being in the right frame of mind.
I agree with practically all of this! The fascinating thing for me is that a 21st century social democrat can find endless interest in Thirkell’s work. What doesn’t come over in many reviews is her wit. It really needs to be directly quoted as by definition it can’t be paraphrased. I think people feel this is a bit stodgy and academic?
The other major element that entertains me and other members of the Angela Thirkell Society is her habit of quotation – not just Dickens – as it informs her way of thinking and so frequently she doesn’t tell us she’s doing it. So I have to be on permanent alert!
The social aspect of these books is fascinating, and she does show great wit and some of her characterisation is a delight. Thanks for the comment.
I just tried Thirkell for the first time the other week, with The Headmistress. I couldn’t get through it because of the snobbery. Also, I found the headmistress a rather tedious character and worried she might take over the book eventually, when the Beltons were much more interesting (to Thirkell as well?). I haven’t given up on Thirkell though. I’m going to give High Rising a try.
High Rising is very light, though charming enough. I think that snobbery is repeated throughout her work.
The beating thing is certainly an odd shorthand for showing that Elsa needs to develop a relationship with a strong man. Perhaps the cruelty that Angela had to endure in her first marriage (which ended in divorce at a time when this meant social disgrace) being infidelity and sexual “aberration” meant that she saw physical violence as comparatively innocuous and easier to tolerate. And beating is a word whose significance has increased in severity nowadays since it has been outlawed. Or maybe I should stop playing the amateur psychologist!
This isn’t the only reference either: I think there is one in connection with Clarissa Graham.
It’s the unexpected in Thirkell that adds to her interest for us I think – why would someone so apparently a supporter of middle class morality introduce a lesbian couple and describe their bed?! Just as she has a clergyman condoned unmarried mothers.
Sorry that not much of this is about The Headmistress … .
Thanks for that, that’s interesting background.
I enjoyed this review, and I am pretty sure this was the first Thirkell I read. I do remember Heather and her father, better than the headmistress herself!
Yes, I do think they were both more memorable as characters.
There is much more mileage in Sam Adams and Heather, Kat, you’re right. Once Miss Sparling has got her girls organised and chosen the right man there is not a great deal left for her to do. As Thirkell herself found out – in later books you can see Sam gradually working his way into Barsetshire society and I think he was doing the same with his author. (You hear about writers saying that a character assumes a life of its own and they watch, fascinated, as the character does all sorts of things they never thought they would.) I’ll stop short of the Spoiler, however!
You make me want to reread Angela Thirkell! I have read several of them out of order, and would have had a better grip on all the characters if I’d started from the beginning. I reread the first three a few years ago and must pick up and go on to Pomfret Towers.
A very good review, followed by some very interesting comments. My experience of Thirkell is also mixed. Snobbery I can put up with, as it can be entertaining and, broadly speaking, it never killed anybody, even though it may at times have reduced people’s chances in life. The “elements that were just a bit too silly” have so far proved my main stumbling block. It’s a pity about the anti-refugee sentiments in The Headmistress; I’m not sure I can take that right now. Nor have I generally had much success putting up with the tiny print and sandpaper-like pages of many old paperbacks. When it comes to older books, I much prefer reprints or even e-books.
Yes, I’m beginning to see Angela Thirkell is something of a Marmite author. There are things in her books that make lots of us today feel a little uncomfortable.
[…] of was having an Angela Thirkell reading week towards the beginning of the month. I chose to read The Headmistress as I had found a fragile old copy of it several months ago while browsing in a second-hand bookshop. […]