With thanks to the publisher for the ebook.
If your idea of hell is an unwelcome house guest/tenant who upsets the rhythm of your home and spoils your most loved possessions, then this is a book that will resonate strongly. As someone who has lived alone a long time, and despite having lots of great family and friends who I love spending time with, appreciates my own company, this novel played into all my anxieties. Within a few pages I found myself shuddering at the predicament the central character of Not at Home finds herself in.
Elinor MacFarren is a middle aged single woman, and in the summer of 1945, finds herself obliged to enter into a house share with another woman. She is living in what has been the family home, where she lived once with her brothers, and where she helped to raise her nephew. Now she is alone, and money is tight. Miss MacFarren has spent her adult life writing about botany, publishing several books, and has something of a reputation in the field. She also has a wonderful collection of old botanical prints and some beautiful, antique pieces of furniture in the house of which she is very proud. Two china cats are her particular pride and joy, and their welfare the reader can’t help but fear for throughout the book. From the first page I was #teamMacFarren all the way – even though Elinor is a bit stuck in her ways (who isn’t).
Elinor has one live in servant – who may not like the idea of two people to run after in the house – so that is the first problem to be faced.
“On the step was a woman laden with flowers, a wonderfully smart woman with a white cloth coat, a yellow taffeta turban draped in the newest style, and white wedge-heeled shoes as complex as a Chinese puzzle. Her hair was pale gold and her ivory-coloured face suggested rather than achieved the most extraordinary beauty. With a smile of such radiance as lies only in the consciousness of flawless teeth, she extended from amongst the flowers a lemon-coloured suede glove.”
When Mrs Antonia Bankes comes to discuss the prospect of a house share she assures Elinor – that she is quiet – has few guests – will help with the domestic duties around the house etc. Having been recommended to Elinor through a mutual friend Mrs Bankes – whose American correspondent husband is still in Europe – seems like the perfect tenant. Elinor divides the rooms in the house between them – giving all the best rooms – as her nephew Mory declares in amazement – to Antonia. Mory works in film – and lives a pretty rackety life- especially compared to his aunt – she is frequently ready to be shocked by his exploits.
“It was not that she was ignorant of young men and their ways; she had read books, she had grown up with two brothers. But Mory sowed wild oats as systematically as if he were bedding out some useful vegetable for the kitchen garden, He seemed to invite one to approve of his crop.”
Naturally, things don’t turn out quite as poor Elinor MacFarren has expected. Antonia Bankes we quickly learn is quite able to present to the world which ever face is most advantageous to her – even when that is about as far from the truth as you can get. She is quite simply an appalling tenant. Soon the ‘shared’ spare room is constantly filled with Antonia’s friends – they troop in and out of the house at all hours of the day and night – dropping cigarette ash all over the carpets in the sitting room that has been given over to Antonia. The china cats are in daily peril, often used – to Miss MacFarren’s horror – as doorstops. The house soon starts to suffer, Antonia never lifts a finger – the servant Manders does her best – but in time she predictably leaves them to it.
Whenever Antonia breaks something or Miss McFarren has to politely remind her about something she behaves as if poor Elinor is being ever so fussy and silly – poor Elinor is constantly on edge and is unable to do a stroke of work. Antonia, Elinor realises is like a spoilt child, incapable of seeing the consequences of her actions or having any conscience at all. Some domestic pets unfortunately come in for poor treatment by Antonia Bankes too – a cageful of birds bought on a whim and later a fox terrier that she is supposed to be looking after for a friend. Animal lovers – I’m afraid the dog doesn’t last long – but is thankfully not dwelt upon or described in too upsetting a way.
Time moves on and Elinor finds herself unable to evict her nightmare tenant – the thought of living with her for a month under such conditions simply horrifies her. When Antonia’s husband Joss arrives home on leaves he loves the house, and Miss MacFarren realises he is much better than his wife, but his visits are short lived. Elinor’s adored nephew Mory introduces her to the beautiful Maxine Albert – a young actress, of whom, Miss MacFarren isn’t sure she approves at first – but the two soon become unlikely friends and co-conspirators in the fight to rid the house of Mrs Bankes. Others are brought into Miss MacFarren’s plans too – Harriet – who first introduced Mrs Bankes – has to finally admit that Antonia isn’t at all what she thought, and Dr Wilmot who Elinor always saw as a rival – soon shows himself to be a friend too. Poor Elinor is desperate to have the house back to herself.
Not at Home is the first novel by Doris Langley Moore that I have read – it won’t be last I am sure, Dean Street have re-issued a few. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel of domestic disharmony – and enjoyed absolutely loathing Antonia Bankes.
This made me nervous just reading about it. I don’t think I could cope with it unless I know Antonia gets her comeuppance in the end. What an awful woman. Might be fun!!
Well I don’t want to spoil it, but I think you would approve of the ending.
I can see there’s quite a lot of fun to be had with this situation in fiction, although not in real life!
Oh yes the situation gives so much to play with in a novel but in real life, oh my goodness! Nightmare.
I loved the premises and I have not read any of Doris Langley Moore’s works but this seems just the thing! Great review!
Thank you, it was a great introduction to the writing of Doris Langley Moore. I will read more.
I’m like TravellinPenguin, I don’t think I’ve got the nerve to read this it is so completely my idea of utter utter hell! I’d be a nervous wreck before the end of the first chapter.
I felt quite nervous too tbh, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Oh dear, I think this sounds so stressful I’m not sure I could handle it! I would want to step into the book and deal very forcefully with the dreaded Antonia. I can only hope she got her comeuppance in the end!!!
Lol it is a bit stressful but I enjoyed hating Antonia and the ending is quite satisfying.
How do you find so many great old novels?
I like older, backlisted books, so buy some things second hand. Also lots of publishers re-issue backlisted titles like Dean street press do, virago press of course and Persephone. I just like women writers of the period roughly between 1920 and 1960 so make an effort to find them.
Oh, my goodness! This really does sound very good indeed. I’m already fearful that Elinor’s beloved china cats might not make it to the end, especially if they’re being used as doorstops.
(PS The next time we Zoom, I shall have to show you my pair of china penguins, Peter and Penelope – not a euphemism!)
It’s very enjoyable, and I enjoyed feeling enraged on Elinor’s behalf.
I shuddered at the first line, I must read it and weep!
Ha ha, yes the very idea is just dreadful.
Lovely review, this is an author I am unfamiliar with.
I hadn’t heard of her either until Dean street brought out a few of her books.
I’m telling you, this Dean Street Press is marvelous, exposing us to all these older books! I’m reading Miss Mole by E.H. Young right now after they sent me the ARC. What gets me is not just the originality of these books, but that you see how the styles of these authors’ writing was so unique and individual. This one sound great!
Miss Mole is a wonderful novel, I read it several years ago. I love Dean Street too.
Like several others, I became nervous just reading the review; I, too, would need to know that a happy ending is in store in order to proceed (I’m afraid I’m one who sometimes reads the end before reading the middle when stressful situations are involved). The novel does sound like a wonderful period piece (I loved the cover BTW) and I’ll definitely check out the publisher, who is new to me.
I don’t want to spoil the ending for others, but I think you would be happy with the conclusion of this one.
I’ve just read this on your recommendation, and loved it. I’ve never been disappointed in any of the Furrowed Middlebrow books, and I’m now trying to decide which Doris Langley Moore to read next.
Oh brilliant, I am so glad you enjoyed it. I am just about to start another Dean Street Press book, they really do never disappoint.
I really enjoyed this, too, while shuddering away (and yes, I had to check what happened to the cats, too; the dog thing is sad but dealt with well and briskly and is very necessary for the plot and showing the woman’s character). I came to love Maxine, too, and thought it was a great read.
Oh yes, I loved Maxine too. I really enjoyed the unexpectedness of their friendship.
Oh that sounds so painfully brilliant, I’m not sure I could bear to read it.
Having anyone apart from my immediate family living in my house would be nightmare enough, even if they were well-behaved, but someone as dreadful as this would just about finish me off.
Isn’t it interesting how such excellent stories can be written about what would seem to some to be trivial matters? I think this scenario will strike a chord with so many people – the horror of being completely stuck in such a dreadful situation in ones own home is one with which it so easy to identify.
I once had very noisy, very ‘sociable’ downstairs neighbours and I recall so well how miserable I was about that – it’s the feeling that your personal, space is no longer sacrosanct.
Maybe I will have to read this – bit worried about the animals though…
I think that’s what’s so enjoyable about these Furrowed Middlebrow titles, ordinary domestic settings and these seemingly small matters that come to loom large in the lives of the characters in the stories. This is certainly a situation that would challenge me!
What a nice feeling, to have read and enjoyed just one of her books, knowing that there are several that have already been “rediscovered” and reprinted, simply waiting for you!
In the apartment we rented previously, we were on the main floor and basement and the owners were in the second and third floors. They had a cottage and in the beginning of our rental term with them they said that we could use their place while they were away occasional weekends. They were just being kind, I think, but it seemed so strange to us, that we never thought twice about it and, of course, never set foot in their space. But it seemed to hurt their feelings and as we never went anywhere we could hardly reciprocate (not that we’d’ve been inclined to do so)! It’s so interesting, how differently each of us feels about our spaces.
Yes we all feel very particular about our homes I suppose. How kind and trusting of those owners, I would have felt the same as you about it though.
[…] at Home by Doris Langley Moore – Again this came via a wonderful recommendation by Ali. Set in 1945 post war England, Elinor MacFarren, middle aged, unmarried, horticulturist, is forced […]