Reading the 20th Century discussion

Here's a dedicated thread to discuss E.M. Delafield


Edmée Elizabeth Monica Dashwood, née de la Pasture (9 June 1890 – 2 December 1943), commonly known as E. M. Delafield, was a prolific English author who is best-known for her largely autobiographical Diary of a Provincial Lady, which took the form of a journal of the life of an upper-middle class Englishwoman living mostly in a Devon village of the 1930s, and its sequels in which the Provincial Lady buys a flat in London and travels to America. Other sequels of note are her experiences looking for war-work during the Phoney War in 1939, and her experiences as a tourist in the Soviet Union.

Daughter of the novelist Mrs. Henry De La Pasture.

Chrissie wrote: "Alwynne, I am reaching the end of the first of the four books in Diary of a Provincial Lady and I do definitely like it a lot. I don't quite know how Delafield manages to pull this of..."

Like Alywynne and Chrissie, I enjoyed Diary of a Provincial Lady

I've just retrieved my review from 2015...

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thanks Nigeyb, some things people interested in E. M. Delafield might like:

Article:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/boo...

Article:

https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-en...

Podcast discussion:

https://www.lostladiesoflit.com/podca...

Lecture on E. M. Delafield in 'Time and Tide':

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpL8o...

Audiobook on Youtube of 'Diary of a Provincial Lady'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe9Ep...

Thanks Alwynne - what a wealth of interesting links. I shall settle down with a pot of Earl Grey and work my way through them

I've been wanting to read E.M. Delafield but didn't even know she was a woman!

Ang wrote: "I've been wanting to read E.M. Delafield but didn't even know she was a woman!"

Yes indeed. I wonder why she chose to adopt EM as her writing name

In 1929, the large-circulation feminist weekly magazine Time and Tide, wanted something light and readable, preferably in serial form, to fill the centre pages, and thus The Provincial Lady was born. Seemingly at once, E.M. Delafield discovered her true vocation was as a comic writer.

I have very much enjoyed Diary of a Provincial Lady by E.M. Delafield. It is cheerful, a perfect choice for the dark days we are in.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

I meant to carry on with the series but, to date, have not done so. As you say Chrissie, the light humour is a delight, and a pleasurable contrast when things elsewhere are less joyous

Thank-you for starting this discussion Nigeyb. I haven't read any E.M.Delafield yet but she's just come on to my radar as I'm currently reading Mrs Tim by D.E, Stevenson which has been described as being written in a similar style, which I'm really enjoying.

Nigeyb, thank YOU for the thread!

I'd agree with that, I found the first half of Mrs Tim Of The Regiment very similar to the Provincial Lady books.

I'd like to read more of her more serious books as well. I really liked Consequences, and hope to get to Thank Heaven Fasting soon. I'd also like to get hold of a copy of Messalina of the Suburbs based on the Edith Thompson and Fred Bywaters case,

The British Library Women Writers series is going to bring out Tension in May next year, so I look forward to that one too.

I agree Tania, I thought the D. E. Stevenson was similar but not as memorable, for me anyway. I've got a copy of Thank Heaven Fasting which I've been meaning to get to as well. I hadn't seen the next one from the BL series thanks for flagging it.

It's on Amazon for pre-order along with Mamma which I'm also very keen to read.

So far, I like D.E. Stevenson and other similar writers more than E M Delafield - I was disappointed by the first Provincial Lady book and didn't bother with the others in the series, but maybe I should give her another try, as sometimes books appeal more at different times.

Which are D. E. Stevenson's best books?

In my opinion, her best book is Miss Buncle's Book, a light-hearted village comedy. She was certainly prolific.

Tania wrote: "In my opinion, her best book is Miss Buncle's Book, a light-hearted village comedy. She was certainly prolific."

Tania, thank you for the suggestion, but it looks extremely light to me--lighter than Delafield's book was.

I really liked Amberwell by D.E. Stevenson, a family saga - there is also a sequel, Summerhills. I've read quite a lot more by her too - and she has her own thread here!

Getting back to Delafield, I really liked her novel Consequences, which is published in Persephone, but it is a serious tale, not at all like the Provincial Lady books.

Tania wrote: "In my opinion, her best book is Miss Buncle's Book, a light-hearted village comedy. She was certainly prolific."

I love that one, the sequels aren't quite as good, but read the first one at least twice!

I haven't tried Consequences looks as if I should Judy.

Has anyone read Mrs Miniver? It's a very similar idea to 'Provincial Lady' but less tongue-in-cheek, and set just before and in the early part of WW2.

Yes, I have. I thought Mrs Miniver was great. I also liked the similar Henrietta's War: News from the Home Front 1939-1942 and Henrietta Sees It Through: More News from the Home Front 1942-1945 by Joyce Dennys

Judy wrote: "Yes, I have. I thought Mrs Miniver was great. I also liked the similar Henrietta's War: News from the Home Front 1939-1942 and [book:Henrietta Sees It Through: More News from the Hom..."

It is great, isn't it, wish it was twice as long. I haven't tried the ones you've mentioned will look out for them!

Alwynne wrote: "Has anyone read Mrs Miniver? It's a very similar idea to 'Provincial Lady' but less tongue-in-cheek, and set just before and in the early part of WW2."

I have it, but haven't yet read it. Should try to get round to it soon.

Consequences is great, it has a similar tone to The Rector's Daughter.

Alwynne wrote: "Has anyone read Mrs Miniver? It's a very similar idea to 'Provincial Lady' but less tongue-in-cheek, and set just before and in the early part of WW2."

Yes. And like Judy, noticed the similarity with Henrietta's War: News from the Home Front 1939-1942. I'm still working on Henrietta Sees It Through: More News from the Home Front 1942-1945.

Series tend to bore me. I really liked Diary of a Provincial Lady, the first in a series by E.M. Delafield. It is so very funny! I have just completed the series' second title--The Provincial Lady in London. It is funny, but it still bored me.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Chrissie wrote: "Series tend to bore me. I really liked Diary of a Provincial Lady, the first in a series by E.M. Delafield. It is so very funny! I have just completed the series' sec..."

I like a good series, but it's always disappointing when you enjoy the first book and look forward to reading more then the second one just doesn't live up to expectations. It's often, as you found, because the interesting story has all been covered in the first book and the next one just repeats the formula rather than coming up with something new.

I've come across readers who are very enthusiastic about this series, comparing it to other similar books which they don't think come up to the mark, such as the Mr Tim books by D.E.Stevenson. I read the first Mrs Tim book and loved it, but haven't tried any E.M.Delafield yet.

I did enjoy the whole series, though I felt the first one was the best. Lots of people think the 4th one The Provincial Lady in Wartime is the best one. Ruth, I think if you enjoyed Mrs. Tim Christie you will like this one too.

Tania wrote: "I did enjoy the whole series, though I felt the first one was the best. Lots of people think the 4th one The Provincial Lady in Wartime is the best one. Ruth, I think if you enjoyed [..."

Thanks Tania, I will probably try them at some point. The comparison had made me curious. Can you dive in with the 4th book or is it better to read them in order?

You can do, but I think it is better to start with the first. After that, they don't really have to be read in order.

We recently read The Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley over on Reading the Detectives. According to the introduction by Martin Edwards, one of the characters is based on EM Delafield, who shared Berkeley's fascination with true crime - so if anyone is reading that one it could be interesting to bear in mind.

Others like series, but I know I rarely do. I laughed myself silly with the first of the Provincial Lady series, so Ruth maybe you should read Diary of a Provincial Lady and then skip to the fourth, as Tania recommends.

I have read D.E. Stevenson's Amberwell and I found it just OK

A series which I can highly recommend are the books of Ellis Peters' Cadfael series. The first book need not be read until later it is not that good and if you start with that you will not want to continue. That is what happened to me. Then I read the second book One Corpse Too Many) and I was sold. The stories are all different, so you do not get bored, and the more you learn of the characters the more you love them. This is a series I can recommend. As usual, there is an exception to every rule. They also have interesting historical facts. If you have not read these books you really must!

I’ve tried reading Mrs. Tim but could not get into it. I did enjoy the Provincial Lady series but I think it would be more enjoyable if you spread them out over time. I would also recommend the Mrs ‘arris (Harris) novels by Paul Gallico. The first is definitely the best but they are all fun and charming.

Judy wrote: We recently read The Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley over on Reading the Detectives. According to the introduction by Martin Edwards, one of the characters is based on EM Delafield, who shared Berkeley's fascination with true crime - so if anyone is reading that one it could be interesting to bear in mind.

Thanks Judy! I missed that when I read The Poisoned Chocolates Case, but so interesting to know. I always find it fascinating learning how some authors or their work are connected. I'll be reading The Diary of a Provincial Lady next month, so I'm going to look into her a little bit more as an author.

Thanks for all the recommendations. I watched the Cadfael series on TV which starred the wonderful Derek Jacobi, but I don't think I've ever actually read any of the books so I may well try one as I'm in the mood for something historical.

Ruth. I think you'll have fun with the Cadfael series, but put of the first book until later! This is terribly important.