Friday, June 13, 2014

Friday Forgotten (or Overlooked) Books: Six D.E. Stevenson Treasures

British painter Russell Sidney Reeve (1895 - 1970) source

Since I have just recently fallen under the spell of D.E. Stevenson's writing (had heard of her for years but had never succumbed before), you will have to pardon my gushing. You know how enthusiastic new converts can be.

Oh how I love this author's books and how glad I am to have found her at just the right time in my life. As I'm writing this I'm sighing with contentment. That's how Stevenson's books have affected me. Of course since I am an old Anglophile from way back when (I think it began with Agatha Christie) finding this treasure trove of books filled with gentle stories of mostly honorable but very human British people going about their business, doing their best as war raged in Europe (or just about to rage or having just finished raging) is for me an event worth celebrating. So I have, with afternoon tea as often as possible and eager trips back and forth to the library.

Dorothy Emily Stevenson (1892 - 1973) was a prolific Scottish writer whose more popular stories took place in the years before, during and after WWII (though some were set later) far as I can tell. Her Wikipedia page is bare bones though it does list all her book titles. But since I haven't read them all - yet - I'm doing a bit of surmising.

I'm reminded by Lyn that this is a D.E. Stevenson website worth perusing, especially for those of you who are new to her books - like me. Besides lots of D.E. Stevenson minutae, the site lists all the books in order and mentions which characters show up in more than one book, among many other interesting facts.

Stevenson's books feature all sorts of people not just the moneyed class, but old family money, understandably, predominates. And just as well, since in that era of tumultuous world doings, happy endings were hard to come by. But money does help settle things nicely I always think - coupled with love and in some cases heroic sacrifice - primary Stevenson people have honor above all else. The women, mostly equipped with intelligence and good basic common sense, are shown to be as strong (in their way) as the men who are often off fighting in distant (and not so distant) lands.

The extraordinary idea that houses were lived in generation after generation always intrigues someone like me who never had anything like that in her life. And there is too the added attraction of characters' lives lived in charming villages of the sort I've always dreamed about. So obviously I was ready, willing and able to fall under D.E. Stevenson's spell.

So here are a few words about the six books I've recently finished reading while I wait for the next bunch to show up at the library. I'll soon exhaust their supply, so I'll be searching online for those titles that I couldn't find otherwise. Most especially Miss Buncle's Book and Miss Buncle Marries. (I understand those were recently re-released so that shouldn't be a problem. Though I can't understand why my library doesn't have them.)

Are you familiar with the work of D.E. Stevenson? Have you read any of the following? If so, are we on a similar wavelength?

THE HOUSE ON THE CLIFF (1966) This was my first Stevenson book and thank goodness. The story of a young woman in penurious circumstances who quite suddenly inherits a distant family house (on a cliff) is just exactly what one would imagine and all the better for it. There are a few surprises but in general it's all so wonderfully familiar: a likable heroine, a worthy hero and a loathsome cad of an interloper, but everything works out properly in the end. As it should. An entertaining, heart-warming read that left me wanting to read more of Stevenson's work.

VITTORIA COTTAGE (1949) In postwar rural England, widow Caroline Dering lives in the village of Ashbridge with her two children. When the time comes, her two will fall love with the county squire's two and that seems to settle things on the domestic entanglement front until Caroline herself becomes intrigued by an enigmatic stranger recently arrived in the village. The book's quiet charm enveloped me almost at once as I was caught up in the day to day doings of Ashbridge friends and neighbors. I enjoyed it enormously. Do yourself a favor and read Lyn's (I Prefer Reading) review here.

FLETCHER'S END (1962) I fell in love with the house first of all, then with the characters. FLETCHER'S END is a sequel to another book (BEL LAMINGTON) but I've read it out of order and don't think I'll read the first one, I love this one so much. Fletcher's End is an old and decrepit house on the outskirts of a country village. The current owner, a young naval officer away on sea duty, could care less about the property and is looking for a quick sale. But with only an old caretaker (who loves the house and takes her duties seriously but is unable to do much other than clean and polish) and no real attempt to keep up the property - the garden is a jungle - the years pass and the house continues to sit empty and forlorn.

Enter Bel and Ellis Brownlee, a happy couple only recently married who are looking to settle in the country. Sigh. You can imagine. They, with the convenient help of an architect friend, will discover that Fletcher's End has fine bones and beautiful structure and, with a few adjustments, is just the perfect place for them to begin their new life together. I adored this book and plan on re-reading it forever.

SUMMERHILLS (1956) Set in Scotland, just after WWII, this book is a continuation of AMBERWELL, which I've yet to read since my library doesn't have it. At any rate, I found no difficulty jumping right into the gentle trials and tribulations of the Ayrton family. When Roger Ayrton, a widower (his wife was killed in the London Blitz) with a young son, comes home to Amberwell (another exceedingly wonderful country house) on leave from army duty he sees that his son Stephen will soon have to be sent to school. But where to send him is a problem. There is nothing close by.

Roger is a wealthy man (thanks to a huge inheritance), so he decides to build a school which will serve a necessary need, it will cater to military men and their families. Fortunately, a nearby estate is for sale, and with the help - both professional and otherwise - of friends and family, he establishes Summerhills. Another book I'll probably reread forever as well.

MRS. TIM CARRIES ON (1941) Written early in the war, this is one of a series of books based on D.E. Stevenson's own WWII diaries. Hester Christie (Mrs. Tim Christie) is the engaging wife of a British Army Officer away on duty. She, as so many wives were, is left behind to man the home-front and take care of family while their men head across the channel and beyond. The day to day, village chores and war-time deprivations are all handled (with rare exceptions) by Mrs. Tim and her neighbors with stoic charm, endurance and tenacity, a combination which helped make the Brits so heroic during 'their finest hour'. What I loved best about this book is its simple truth that life must be lived no matter what, even in war, the minutiae of the every day must still be dealt with. Another book to love and re-read as time goes by.

MRS. TIM GETS A JOB (1947) The war is over and Mrs. Tim's hubby, the Colonel, is still serving in the Army, away in Egypt this time. The children are at school and what with one thing and another, Mrs. Tim is off to Scotland, egged on by her friend Grace, to work for the eccentric Erica Clutterbuck at Tocher House, a country estate in the Highlands. There she will become cautiously involved in the lives of the house's guests and staff and be called upon to give advice and/or listen wisely to various and sundry tales of woe. Something Mrs. Tim, for whatever reason, is suitably fashioned for.

One of the main attractions of this particular book are the fine descriptions of the Scottish countryside, descriptions which entirely capture the imagination, so much so that they appeared in color in my mind's eye. I have been in Scotland and I can tell you that the author does it justice.

There are two other Mrs. Tim books and I propose to read them as I come across them.

Detail of larger painting by Evelyn Dunbar (1944) source

The two paintings I've used on this post are not directly related to D.E. Stevenson in any way. They just happen to remind me of the lives of the people in her story.

Since this is Friday, don't forget to check in at Patti Abbott's blog, Pattinase, to see what other forgotten or overlooked books other bloggers are talking about today.

36 comments:

  1. Yvette, - just enjoyed the top photo. Charabangs, (I think) those `old` coaches were called. And no one complaining about the pipe smoker in the front seat. Nor the snoring dog. :-)
    Dave

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    1. I thought it was 'charabancs' - But I'm not sure. Anyway, they were a great way to travel and dogs were permitted - what could be better than that? I love that painting.

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  2. Yvette, I came across D.E. Stevenson in a review on the Captive Reader blog, a couple of years ago now, and decided to try one. The book I was able to get my hands on - no easy feat, I guarantee you - was Crooked Adam which is a sort of spy novel. I liked it, and now have Gerald and Elizabeth in the TBR pile. I read this review with great interest and may seek out a few more of these novels, though they are not my usual fare.

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    1. I haven't read either of those, Richard, but the ones I have read are top notch if you're in the mood for that sort of thing and appreciate a quiet, well written novel about a specific time and place. I've just brought home a few more from the library - I think it's the last of them. From now on I'm on my own. :)

      If you do try a couple more Stevenson books, make sure and let us know how you like them.

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  3. I surely do wish my library system, and it's a good one - had more. Perhaps I'll try inter loan.

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    1. I think it will definitely be worth the effort. At least I hope so. I wish I had some old Stevenson paperbacks to send you, Richard, but I've been library reading. :)

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  4. Thanks for an interesting post Yvette. This is one author I haven't read, not being sure whether I'd like her books. But now I find myself infected by your enthusiasm for her. :)

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    1. I hope you do try one or two, Neer. Maybe with a nice hot cup of tea by your side. And a crumpet or two. :) For me, these books are so engaging and so curiously relaxing.

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  5. I've read (or listened to) Summerhills as well &, as you say, it didn't matter that it's a sequel. I read the Miss Buncle books out of order too. Do you know this website? http://www.destevenson.org/
    Lots more info than Wikipedia. There's also a very useful table of the different series & which characters pop up in other books. Happy reading to both of us!

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    1. Lyn, I'd love to try the audio versions, but Audible doesn't have any. I'll have to look elsewhere. Thanks so much for the website link. I think I'm going to spend a great deal of time there. I'm also currently looking around for other Stevenson fanatics but I'm afraid to read reviews in detail for fear of finding a bad one. I know it's silly, but I don't want to be influenced negatively.

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    2. I don't know what I was thinking, Lyn. Audible DOES have some of the audios! Hooray!!

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  6. These books are not my cup of tea, so to speak, but I am so glad that you found a treasure trove of them.

    It's always a wonderful treat to find an author one loves and that her/his books are available.

    I hope you have "crumpets" or at least good cookies to go with your tea and the faithful canine companion at your hearth.

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    1. Kathy I have the 'fixings' for some dainty tea sandwiches and some butter cookies. Perfection with Earl Grey tea, my favorite. I understand that this sort of reading is not for everyone, but for me it is just right. Especially at this time in my life.

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  7. so glad you found her.....do try Elizabeth Goudge as well....

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    1. Thanks for the recommendation, Marmee. I'll see what my library has. I'm glad I found Stevenson too. :)

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  8. My personal preferences in tea are English and Irish breakfast, caffeinated and decaffeinated. They also make excellent iced tea, which I drink once the hot weather hits.

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    1. I love those two as well, Kathy. But right now, my fave seems to be Earl Grey. Though when I go to a tea shop I usually order a pot of Darjeeling. Go figure. :)

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  9. Yvette, I was not familiar with D.E. Stevenson or her books until now. Thanks for bringing her to my notice.

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    1. You're welcome, Prashant. I hope you can find one or two or maybe even three. :)

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  10. Yvette,

    We have an online discussion group on yahoo on DES. You are very welcome to join.

    Loved the paintings you posted.

    Tricia

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    1. Thanks for the invite, Tricia. I'll take a look.

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  11. My favorite author whom I've been reading and rereading since the '60s. There is a lot more to her work than is always recognized, though that seems to be changing now. Her books are especially wonderful at getting one through life's difficulties. I hope you continue to read more of them...But dont' skip Bel Lamington!

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  12. Well, if you say so, Kristi. See how easily I'm swayed? Ha. I think my library might have a copy of Bel Lamington. I'm thinking of getting Miss Buncle's Book on audio. Several of the books not readily available in hard copy are available at Audible. Thank goodness.

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  13. Yes, by all means join our yahoo discussion at
    https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/DEStevenson/info
    You're quite welcome to jump in.
    For reading DES, oatcakes are always recommended. Or scones.

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    1. Scones for sure. :)
      I did join the DES yahoo group. But I am hopeless at understanding how to comment. I thought I saw some instruction, but darn if I can find it. Someone needs to let me know (in kindergarten terms) how to comment at the site. At the moment I'm confused. Not all that unusual actually.

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    2. Hooray for me. I think I've figured it out on my very own.

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  14. I love this author because you always end up feeling very satisfied, content and serene after finishing the book. Same goes for Delafield. I think the two images epitomizes the feelings of that era.

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    1. Yes, that's part of what I love about her books, too, Mystica. I haven't read any Delafield - yet - but I plan to.

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  15. I must read one of these books even if they're not my usual cup of tea.

    However, a problem I've had recently. I'm barely reading because I am watching so many movies! A few weeks ago I took 6 ouf of the library, and on Monday another 6, some recommended on this very blog.

    So there goes much of the reading time, and I have to watch Steven Colbert and Jon Stewart regularly now, so between them and the movies, the books are causing a pile up around here!

    Not that I'm complaining but I have to live up to my bookworm persona. What would my reader-parents say about this?

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    1. Oh, movies, movies, movies. I know what you mean. I stay up a lot of nights first watching a movie and then reading some. But mostly I read. I haven't seen any good movies lately (except for my old faves) so I've been reading up a storm. It's hard though, I know.

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  16. I have seen some OKish movies, The Family, Mafioso moved to southern France under witness protection program -- violence, but funny, De Niro is quite a riot. The Way, Way Back -- today, alienated teen, mother being duped by companion, summer amusement park friends; it has merit.
    Above Suspicion, plus others.

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    1. I've lately seen two bad movies and I think maybe I'll talk about them shortly. I don't have a lot of time to watch films so when bad ones are doubly annoying. :)

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  17. I was directed to this blog by a DESSIE at the D.E. Stevenson Fan Club on Facebook. I am so glad to see D.E. Stevenson's novels finding new admirers. I have been reading DES for over 34 years and have about 26 of her novels on my shelves. One can re-read her stories over and over, like any good classic. Audible has a few of her books available including her first published novel, Peter West. I, too, am an Anglophile, and I think I started my journey after reading Agatha Christie, too! My first Agatha Christie was a bit scarier than most, it was "And Then There Were None."

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    1. Hi Teresa, welcome. You are so fortunate to have all those Stevenson books on your shelves. All the ones I've been reading are from the library. (I'm lucky enough to find them there, I know.) But one of these days I must begin to buy my very own copies.

      My first Agatha Christie, if I'm not mistaken (it was eons ago) was A MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES which was, coincidentally Christie's first book. After that, there was no stopping me.:)

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  18. I think my favorites are Katherine Wentworth and The Marriage of Katherine. :)

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  19. Deb, I recently ordered KATHERINE WENTWORTH on audio and am looking forward to putting aside some time to listen. I've heard nothing but good things about this one. (Also ordered MISS BUNCLE'S BOOK)

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