Finally, I am reviewing my last read of November. It feels like such a long time since I read this book – which turned out to be easily one of my favourite reads of the month. Out of the Red into the Blue was the last Barbara Comyns book I had to track down, and I found a plain, ex library copy for around £30 – I had to snap it up. So, the pictured edition isn’t what my edition looks like – mine wouldn’t make a very pretty picture, but I am so happy I own it – and all Barbara Comyns’ books, in a variety of editions.
Out of the Red Into the Blue is a memoir not a novel and having so loved her novels, I admit my expectations weren’t high. However, I needn’t have worried, I loved this book. It is possible though, that I am not very objective when it comes to my favourite writers, of course this isn’t like The Vet’s Daughter or Their Spoons Came From Woolworths – we couldn’t expect it to be. Yet, Comyns voice is recognisable, quirky, and sometimes rather odd. We all know that person who tells a good, funny story of things that have happened to them, to who we always say, ‘oh my goodness, that could only happen to you!” Barbara Comyns must surely have been that person for all her friends. When her son sends her a strange little beeswax figure of a man, Barbara immediately decided it will bring her family good luck and puts it in pride of place in the drawing room. When she and her husband have a row in Spain – she runs away and ends up hiding up a fruit tree in the dark to escape guard dogs.
“There were two to begin with, but later they were joined by a tiny dog that was even fiercer than the others, and eventually I was forced to climb a tree to escape them while the dogs barked and snuffled below. It was a horse’s banana tree – at least I always called them that, but later I learnt they were called alcarrobas. Fortunately this was a large tree and I could get quite high, but every now and then a banana (or pod) would fall on the ground and start the dogs off again. Men came from the farm-houses with torches to see what was causing all the noise, and I was terrified they would see me up the tree and think I was mad – it would have been impossible to explain what I was doing up there at that time of night in Spanish.”
This is the story of how Barbara Comyns and her family left England for life on a Spanish island. The Island they settle on is called Ciriaco in the book, only that doesn’t exist, so I assume she decided to fictionalise the place – Wikipedia claim it was Ibiza where they lived briefly before moving to Barcelona. There are also some other things which are ignored or glossed over, and the timeline is slightly confusing – as the book seems to span less than two years – ending with a return to England. Only, the family actually spent many years in Spain. None of that really matters – as for a Comyns fan this book gives a delicious little glimpse into the slightly chaotic world of Barbara Comyns.
The book opens with Barbara her husband, daughter, and several dogs living in a large house in London that they can barely afford. Barbara’s son Nicholas is away in Cyprus doing National Service. Barbara’s husband Raymond she describes as a civil servant – who has recently lost his job, and is finding it hard to get another one. The truth was slightly more colourful of course – her husband (real name Richard) had in fact worked for MI6 alongside Kim Philby – and was laid off due to his association with the renowned double agent. About her own career she is rather self-effacing describing herself as having written a bit and published a couple of books.
For several chapters we follow the family in the year or so before they move to Spain – a time of money worries, difficult lodgers, worries with pets, and a new housekeeper in the basement. It is Barbara who comes up with the idea of Spain – and it takes a while to sell the idea to her husband. They must also contend with the trauma of disposing of a house they love, and what to do with the pets. Eventually, Barbara goes alone – to find a house – her husband joining her later. Her grown up children don’t make the move to Spain initially but join their parents later on a series of visits. Tasked with finding a house – Barbara is staying in a small, cheap hotel – where she is rather horribly uncomfortable – and until the weather improves very cold – it’s an inauspicious start.
“Although I was very lonely, my days were happy until it became dark and cold and I had to return to my hotel. As soon as I went into that dreary street my spirits sank. It was one of those streets where the road is always up and the wind always blows. I would go into my room and try and make it comfortable by lighting the little oil stove and putting the saucepan of water on top, but, besides making a great smell, the stove made very little difference to the room because the ceiling was so high and the window so large. When it became dark I always tried the electric light hopefully, but it never came to more than a faint glow. I bought a 100 watt bulb instead of the tiny one provided, but to my horror the weight pulled the whole light fitting out of the wall, so I had to rely on candles.”
Finally Barbara finds the first of two houses the family live in on the island – and while it isn’t perfect – it has a wonderful view of the sea and Barbara who is desperate to find a home – takes it. Raymond arrives with the youngest of the dogs they had had in London – and the house’s impracticalities soon become apparent – having to get water from a well in the kitchen, terrible problems with drains and small rooms all opening off the living room. However, in great enthusiasm Barbara sets about trying to create a garden. They are visited by Raymond’s father and Caroline their daughter – who ends up staying a long time – and Nicholas pays a flying visit too.
The second house they move to is in the town, in a rather poor street – but the house has other advantages – being in a sunny position having its own back yard with trees. Here they settle in, and Caroline is soon very much a part of the island, an attractive young woman she attracts a lot of young men – falling in love with a young man called Pepe. There are more dramas around dogs – and a falling out with the local dog catcher (quite unpleasant to read about) – Barbara’s family certainly seem to make their mark – and their time on the island is always eventful.
This book was a joyful treat for me – because I love Barbara Comyns – but it actually made me want to know more about her the woman and her family. I could have read many more pages of this stuff. Delightful.