Review copy from the publisher
In 1918, towards the end of The First World War Rose Macaulay began to write What Not. It was a world wearied by war, death and hunger. Many were already starting to wonder about the kind of world that would come out of the war. Rose Macaulay was then twenty-seven – and she had already been writing since 1906 and had published several novels. This, she would of course continue to do – though perhaps her two best known novels would not be published for more than thirty years. When the novel was ready for publication it was decided that part of it would not be suitable for publication as it could have led to legal action against the publishers. Now, that repressed section of the novel has been re-instated in this new edition from Handheld Press.
What Not is a lost feminist classic, of newspaper manipulation, First World War eugenics and that is said to have influenced Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World.
“The Ministry of Brains, a vast organisation, had many sections. There was the Propaganda Section, which produced pamphlets and organised cinema shows (Miss Grammont had been lent temporarily to this section by her own branch); there was the Men’s Education Section, the Women’s, and the Children’s; the Section which dealt with brain-tests, examinations, certificates, and tribunals, and the Section which was concerned with the direction of the intellects of the Great Unborn.”
Kitty Grammont works for the Ministry of Brains, which seeks to prevent another World War by eradicating stupidity and ensuring that only people of like minds come together. With the passing of the Mental Progress Act everybody in the country has been categorised according to intelligence or their family history – and people are only supposed to marry and have children in line with the restrictions of the ministry. Brain training courses are encouraged for people of a lower rating.
In the village of Little Chantreys, at End House live Kitty Grammont (when not in London), her brother Anthony, Miss Pansy Ponsonby who he is co-habiting with (and their child; the Cheeper). Ivy Delmer daughter of the local vicar also works at the Ministry of Brains, and rather looks up to Kitty. Though of course those living at End House are rather shocking.
“Into this house, standing hospitably open-doored in the May evening, its owner and his friends entered. It affected them in various ways. Anthony Grammont was proud of his house and his garden, his Pansy and his Cheaper. He was young enough to be vain of being head of a household, even of an ambiguous household, and of course anyone would be proud of the dazzling and widely-known Pansy, whose name had always been one of two in large type in advertisements of the shows in which she figured (she was good as all that); and he was tired enough, mentally and physically, by his life of the last few years, its discomforts, its homelessness, its bondage, its painful unnaturalness, to sink with relief into Pansy’s exotic cushions and all they stood for.”
Kitty’s father has been worried by the new restrictions due to the distressingly large numbers of abandoned babies. He has naturally had to think very carefully about his sermons on Sunday, though he is very little altered in himself by the new laws. He has been forced to explain to Miss Pansy Ponsonby that her way of life is somewhat at odds with attending church.
The Minister of Brains himself is Nicholas Chester – who is passionate about what the Ministry are trying to achieve. However, Chester has been categorised as Uncertified because of his siblings’ mental disability – and so is not permitted to marry or have children. Kitty is certified A and so when she starts to feel an attraction for Nicky Chester, and he for her – they know there could be great difficulties. The popular press is determined to end the Brains regime – and any chance for a scandalous exposure will be exploited to the full.
Macaulay’s world is a little futuristic (for 1919) and although it is supposedly soon after the war – she has created a whole new transportation system (an aero bus). This little bit of whimsey surprised me a little – but it doesn’t intrude – and can be pretty much ignored. As the novel progresses, we see that this society is altered in many small but important ways, and it soon becomes apparent that many people believe it is far from perfect. It is a world where the state controls agriculture, where certain books are banned, babies are taxed, and censorship is everywhere. The Prime Minister has been replaced by a United Council and (rather disturbing to me) Jewish people repatriated to Jerusalem. There are certainly some very big, and pretty dark themes here.
I really enjoyed this rather satirical novel, it isn’t Macaulay’s best novel I don’t think, but it is one that deserves to be back in print. It is fascinating for the ideas that it suggests writers, and thinkers were toying with in those dark, weary days at the end of a brutal, world changing conflict.
Handheld Classics are rather attractive volumes with nice clear print, introductions and end notes – and my own personal favourite French Flaps – I do like a nice French flap! I also have Desire by Una L Silberrad tbr, which of course I bought a few months ago and have yet to read. It looks very good though.
What Not is published by Handheld Classics on March 25th
How interesting that sounds, and I can see why they say it influenced Huxley. What was the nature of the suppressed bit – do they explain which bit it was and why? And French Flaps – hooray!
Yes, it is made clear why it was repressed and where the original text comes in. See Kate’s reply below.
Interesting dystopian view, taking some of the more controversial issues of that era and projecting them forward, I wonder if someone was working on an aerobus or whether that’s pure author imagination?
That recent history of the pursuit of eugenics in Britain and the US seems like one of those aspects of history that isn’t really discussed, an embarrassment, or an underlying fear perhaps, I do find it strange that the world appears more willing to discuss and dissect the extremes that Germany went to, and much literature portrays that, but little explores the policies and beliefs that were active in the West leading up to then, that are at the deepest core of much racial/ethnic tension today.
Interesting idea, that Macaulay may have heard about plans for an aerobus. You’re right how unusual for these kinds of ideas – so often portrayed from a German perspective – to be written from an English perspective.
While this probably isn’t for me (I’m not a big fan of sci-fi-related stories), it has reminded me that I need to read Rose Macaulay at some point this year. I guess it also demonstrates a degree of breadth to Macaulay’s writing – an ability to explore futuristic ideas alongside some of the more traditional domestic/family-based issues which feature in some of her other novels.
The Sci fi element is very slight, really like that of Cold Comfort Farm which others have mentioned. I definitely recommend reading Rose Macaulay though.
So, (you may have done this already) what are French Flaps? Given the cover illustrations i invariably must-read as French Flappers!
French flaps are extensions to the cover that fold inside and can be used to mark your place. It usually has some kind of blurb printed on. (See Kate’s reply below).
Sounds very different from the two novels of hers that I know – Trebizond and Crewe Train – both witty and sharp. Like Jacqui, I’m not too keen on futuristic dystopias, but this has some of the aura, from your account, of Stella Gibbons’ CC Farm, which also has an odd sci-fi element (though never much developed, as it is here and in Huxley)
Yes this is very much in a similar vein to Stella Gibbons, and doesn’t intrude as much you might think. She is definitely very sharp here too.
Part of this review reminded me of Cold Comfort Farm – also set in the future, but the lifestyle was very 1930s (when it was written) apart from transport rather like the areobus. There must have been a strong pre-war interest in the possibilities of flight for everyday travel.
Yes I can see why it reminded you of Cold Comfort Farm. It is interesting to see the direction some people’s thoughts were going.
Fascinating! I’d not come across this novel before but it seems to be a very early example of feminist dystopian fiction. The eugenics strand is particularly interesting given what came after in the Second World War. Great review, Ali, and thanks for alerting me to this one.
The eugenics theme is chilling and fascinating. Particularly so as you say as we know what happened in Europe some years later.
Here speaks the publisher … and I’ve published research on Rose Macaulay myself. French flaps are the inward-folding flaps on book covers that you can use as bookmarks if the book isn’t too thick. They add bulk to a thinner book, but also give space for a blurb. The repressed passages were spotted in 1918 when the book was first published, and so the book was withdrawn rapidly. How and where the repressed text was discovered you can read about in the Introduction! And yes, the science fiction elements in What Not are at the same level of those in Cold Comfort Farm: slight background setting, but not critical for the plot or characterisation, just separating the story enough from the present day to show that it’s a satirical fantasy. What Not is one of the very rare contemporary novels to show how appalling eugenics was, at a time when politics in the US and UK were beginning to make eugenicist ideas approachable, almost respectable.
Thank you Kate. It’s such a fascinating novel, and I agree the Sci fi is very much in the background.
A surprising genre for her. So interesting that Huxley was influenced by it. It also sounds like she was way ahead of her time.
Btw, I love French Flaps as well.
I think she probably was a little ahead of her time.
Lovely post Ali – I’m covering it for Shiny and isn’t it great? (and unjustly neglected). Interestingly, I picked up on the CC Farm echoes as well – very odd, so there’s obviously something there that hints at it. Very keen to read more Macaulay now…
Ooh I will be to look out for your Shiny review.
I’ve had this for years unread, and it’s not at all what I thought it would be about – intriguing!
Ooh lovely, I hope you enjoy it too. I’m glad I could make my own mind up about it, as some Goodreads readers were not very keen.
I’m with you on French Flaps! And thank you for once again introducing me to a new author – this book sounds like a lot of fun.
I’ve read a few Rose Macaulay now, and heartily recommend her.
That’s more than good enough for me! 🙂
This sounds intriguing. I’m not a big sci-fi reader but the Cold Comfort Farm comparisons reassure me.
No, I am generally not a sci-fan fan (barring one or two exceptions) and this one is still very much within my comfort zone.
[…] What Not by Rose Macaulay (1918) another review copy (trying hard to catch up with those I have) is to be re-issued by Handheld Press at the end of March. I thoroughly enjoyed this rather satirical, dark comedy – published with the repressed material from 1918 reinstated. […]