I think I must have had this book tbr for quite a while – and I couldn’t remember where I got it until I saw that it had been registered on bookcrossing (not by me) – so that’s where I got it. Violet Trefusis is a name often coupled with that of Vita Sackville West, because of the relationship they had in the years following the end of the First World War. In her introduction to this edition Lisa St Aubin says that Pirates at Play is an apt name for a novel by someone who herself was a social pirate.
“When she writes about falling in love, about flirting, about manipulating the world around her, she is writing about what she knows.”
(Lisa St Aubin – introduction)
I have of course read several Vita Sackville West novels, and for the most part enjoyed them immensely. Her novel Challenge was the exception – and I read somewhere that Violet Trefusis had something of a hand in it. However, I couldn’t remember at first whether I had read Violet Trefusis herself before. A delve into my own archives reveals I read the letters Violet to Vita edited Mitchell A Leaska, in 2010 and it seems Violet got on my nerves a bit. That’s interesting, and maybe revealing as I vaguely remember starting another Violet Trefusis novel (no idea which one) some years ago and giving up on it.
At this point I should say that I did really enjoy Pirates at Play – though something stopped me from really loving it – and I felt I should have done really, it is well written and witty, and Trefusis’ characters are wonderfully vivid. Her descriptions of Italy and the English country estate of the aristocratic Caracole family are also stunning, creating an evocative sense of place. Violet Trefusis was a gifted writer, of that I am in no doubt.
“The ferocious day, striped white and black, like a zebra, was declining at length, as though loath to let go. A nimbus of dust hung over the bridges, never free of the shuffle of feet. At the angle of the Ponte Vecchio, Beppino, the blind guitarist, scratched at his instrument with the frenzy of one affected with erysipelas, raising his moonstone eyes to the Heavens, whenever he heard a foreign language spoken.”
Trefusis is sharply observant about the society she knew so well, in some ways she is poking gentle fun at it. It is a novel about love in many forms, wish fulfilment and society. Trefusis’ female characters are by far the strongest, beautifully well drawn, they sparkle off the page, however, some of her male characters are rather two dimensional.
The pirates of the title are two very different families, one English, one Italian. Elizabeth Caracole (pronounced Crackle) is the daughter of an old aristocratic family, living on a grand and beautiful estate. Her parents decide to send her to be finished in Florence. Golden haired Elizabeth is to live in the home of a Papal Count (the pope’s dentist). The Papagalli family boast one extraordinarily beautiful daughter; Vica and five sons. Florence is a marvellous setting for this romantic comedy, set during the frantic, roaring twenties.
“Do you think that love has to be requited to be genuine? On the contrary, it thrives on indifference.”
Elizabeth is known to turn male heads herself – and here she is entering into a house full of men! Vica is ambitious and has her own plans, which are set to be thwarted by the very formidable old Principessa Arrivamale. For Elizabeth, Florence is a whirlwind of new experiences, and five brothers to get to know. A grand ball is held with half of Europe it seems to attend. As soon as the old princess sets eyes on Elizabeth, she decides she wants the beautiful English aristocrat as a wife for her nephew Gian Galeazzo – little knowing that Vica also has her sights set on him herself (the princess insists on dismissing Vica as being merely the dentist’s daughter). The princess is a fantastic creation, ever so slightly terrifying, she bullies her companion Miss Walker (Valka) horribly and is quite obviously used to getting her own way. Elizabeth knows she isn’t in love with Gian but allows herself to have her head turned – so swept up, as she is, by all these new experiences she is having in Florence. Elizabeth is all set to get herself into a situation.
Two Englishmen then arrive in Florence too, and set about ruffling feathers and undoing carefully laid plans. One is Charles; Elizabeth’s adored brother, the other is Peter – in Florence at Elizabeth’s mother’s request – Elizabeth’s great childhood friend, himself in love with Elizabeth, and conscious of his almost penniless state. Naturally, Charles takes one look at Vica and is hopelessly smitten. Poor Charles is something of an innocent – and really not equal to Vica’s manipulations.
Pirates at Play is certainly well written and entertaining, yet there is just something about Violet Trefusis’ voice that I don’t engage with quite as much as I would like.
Hmm, I wonder what it is about her voice that you don’t quite engage with. Does she feel a bit remote, above the fray?
I really don’t know, there’s nothing obvious that jumps out that I can put my finger on. I don’t think she does feel particularly remote, although in fact she may have been. It’s a puzzle.
I hasten to add that I haven’t read her at all.
This does sound fun. I’ve only read Hunt the Slipper by Trefusis, which I liked but didn’t love. I’ve a feeling she became more conservative and a bit of a snob as she got older, but I can’t remember where I heard that so I could be doing her a complete disservice!
She probably was a snob, her background being what it was. She would probably have changed as she got older. Following the end of her relationship with Vita she ended up living in Italy, in some kind of exile. That must have been hard.
That cover image looks familiar. VT is one for the pile, I feel. Recently discovered Vita SW, another Bloomsberry, so need to complete the set.
I think VSW is a better writer (though stay away from Challenge it is awful) though Violet Trefusis is a good writer and one who knows how to entertain.
Good discovery – what publisher is this?
This was published by Virago in the 1990s as part of their green spine Virago Modern Classics series. I’m not sure if this one is still in print, though I suspect not.
Doesn’t look like it, but nice edition.
Funnily enough, I’ve just been reading something by Vita Sackville-West (having had a bit of a false start with her a few years back). While I like the sound of the Italian setting here, your comments about the author’s voice would hold me back. Even so, it’s interesting to hear about her – not an a writer I’m very familiar with at all.
Well the voice thing might just be me. However, apart from that one book, I do like Vita Sackville West. Would love to know your thoughts on her writing.
Interesting response Ali. I don’t always love an author, just like them, and I’m not always able to pinpoint why either. I’ve definitely read some Trefusis, as I know I have some on the shelves somewhere, but I can’t tell you what or when. Which may be relevant, because certain books I’ve read over the years have stayed with me vividly! Maybe I’ll avoid her letters… 😉
I think letters can be tricky can’t they. I sometimes feel letter collections are a bit dull and I am always concerned that when they were written, they were intended for a specific audience and I’m not it.
Sometimes you just can’t put your finger on the reason why a book or an author doesn’t resonate with you. often with me I find there is no one thing – it’s just a combination of small things
Yes, I expect it was a series of little things I didn’t even notice in isolation.
I read this years ago, and I remember buying it new from Books etc in Charing Cross Road but I don’t remember too much about it. I do remember that I liked it couldn’t engage with the narrative voice as well as I could with the voices of many others from the period. Maybe we’ve been spoiled by reading so many other wonderful woman authors of the era.
Ah, so perhaps it isn’t just me then. I think you are right, those of us who read a certain kind of book, have been spoiled.
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I’ve had this kind of feeling on occasion as well and, like you, it doesn’t necessarily hold me back from reading the author again, when there is enough that I do enjoy despite that. One name that comes to mind for me is Ivy Compton-Burnett. But I know she is a favourite of many, and she’s obviously very good at what she does! And I like them…
I have only read one Compton Burnett and I didn’t hate it, but I never have read another. We can’t all engage with everyone.
It’s interesting how sometimes a voice doesn’t quite work – and you can’t put your finger on why. I’ve read three of her novels and do really like her (and especially like Echo) but can see that she’d be an acquired taste.
That’s good to hear. I might read another if her books one day, I just probably won’t rush to do so.
I went through a phase of reading a lot of Vita SW and Violet Trefusis, + biographical, + their letters. I liked Violet and her writing a lot more than Vita… but I haven’t read this one. I will try to track it down.
Oh then I am sure you will enjoy this one. Hope you are able to track it down.