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E. M. Delafield's largely autobiographical novel takes the form of a journal written by an upper-middle-class lady living in a Devonshire village. Written with humour, this charming novel is full of the peculiarities of daily life. The Provincial Lady of the title attempts to avoid disaster and prevent chaos from descending upon her household. But with a husband reluctant to do anything but doze behind The Times, mischievous children and trying servants, it's a challenge keeping up appearances on an inadequate income, particularly in front of the infuriating and haughty Lady Boxe. As witty and delightful today as when it was first published in 1930, Diary of a Provincial Lady is a brilliantly observed comic novel and an acknowledged classic. This beautiful Macmillan Collector's Library edition features an introduction by author and journalist Christina Hardyment.Designed to appeal to the book lover, the Macmillan Collector's Library is a series of beautiful gift-editions of much loved classic titles. Macmillan Collector's Library are books to love and treasure.… (more)
lydiabarr: Austen and Delafield are often compared...both have shrewdly observational sense of humor and an elaborately deadpan style. I love them both.
Bjace: Seems odd, but both Delafield and MacDonald were city gals transplanted to country situations and their reactions and sense of humor were similar.
nessreader: Domestic, uppermiddle class, very English, 1930s delafield, 1940s anderson. Thirkell's barsetshire novels, though more insubstantial, mine tge same vein of humour.
(Because the selection of matching book covers for this vintage series isn't the greatest, I'll be adding my own matching fan art covers to my reviews.)
I'd never heard of this English author before I stumbled upon this work of autobiographical fiction from 1930, originally published serially. While I could tell soon enough that this "diary" is indeed one of humor, it took a little while for me to get into the style and rhythm of the Provincial Lady's vignettes about her everyday life.
Once I got used to the style, the reading became funnier and funnier to me.
Even through my amusement, though, I would feel for the Lady during her awkward and discouraging moments. Her monetary troubles. Her worries about her looks and health and fashion. Her doubts about her motherhood and household capabilities.
I'd also feel touched at times when one experience or another of pleasure or kindness would make the Lady jot in her diary "Am touched." I found her brief accounts of actively playing with her two young children to be pretty adorable (even if it would once result in her hair and clothing being mussed in the sudden presence of unexpected guests), and so many of her sentiments jibed with me.
Like her figuring she'll think up a great answer/comeback to deliver on a subject—at some time after the conversation has long been over, and it'd be inappropriate by then to go spouting off her answer. While she's sitting in church or something. And her wondering how much she sacrifices the truth, not expressing what she really feels and thinks, for the sake of not rocking the social boat.
Now, one particular moment portends a war that she doesn't know is coming: when the Lady meets a lady who makes an offhand mention that something bad must be imminent concerning the Jewish people. Besides that, I couldn't help my little inward cringe at the one appearance of the outdated term for the Romani people. And some light reference to "Jamaica children" got an eye-roll from me, despite any non-malicious intent that may have been behind it.
There's also a lightly handled event that isn't too detailed but still cringey for animal lovers. Like the thought of what eventually happens to stray animals at certain animal pounds.
Even so, on the whole, this was an enjoyable old-fashioned read for me. I'm curious enough to go further into the series. ( )
Published in 1930, Diary of a Provincial Lady is a humorous, laugh-out-loud account of a wife and mother in the English countryside. Although this is fiction, it was based on E. M. Delafield's experiences. I first came to this book a couple of years ago and got up to the part in which the lady's husband disposes of some kittens. I couldn't go on with the rest and the husband annoyed me. This time however I was in the mood to enjoy it's merits. She writes in such a way describing everyday situations which is great fun and very amusing. https://readableword.wordpress.com/2021/05/29/the-diary-of-a-provincial-lady-by-...( )
I enjoyed reading this book in which the narrator is self-deprecating while dealing with life events that we all must have at some point: expenditures greater than income; unruly children (with occasional showing of good manners); want for fulfillment; poor domestic outcomes; and trying to keep up pretenses when classes are valued. The narrator tries to balance honesty with civility which is very difficult at times. The lens through which this diary is written finds humor even when life isn't what was expected. ( )
Note: This book, Diary of a Provincial Lady (Prion, 1853753688) (Virago, 1844085228) (Remploy, 0706610342) (Chicago, 0897330536) is NOT the same as the omnibus editions, The Diary of a Provincial Lady (Virago, 0860685225) and The Provincial Lady (Macmillan, pre-ISBN) which contain 4 stories: "Diary of a Provincial Lady"; "The Provincial Lady Goes Further", "The Provincial Lady in War Time"; and, "The Provincial Lady in America".
Please do not combine this work with The Diary of a Provincial Lady (Virago, 0860685225) or The Provincial Lady (Macmillan, pre-ISBN).
17.05.14 All the Virago editions are omnibus editions as are some of the other recent editions. They have already been mixed up.
E. M. Delafield's largely autobiographical novel takes the form of a journal written by an upper-middle-class lady living in a Devonshire village. Written with humour, this charming novel is full of the peculiarities of daily life. The Provincial Lady of the title attempts to avoid disaster and prevent chaos from descending upon her household. But with a husband reluctant to do anything but doze behind The Times, mischievous children and trying servants, it's a challenge keeping up appearances on an inadequate income, particularly in front of the infuriating and haughty Lady Boxe. As witty and delightful today as when it was first published in 1930, Diary of a Provincial Lady is a brilliantly observed comic novel and an acknowledged classic. This beautiful Macmillan Collector's Library edition features an introduction by author and journalist Christina Hardyment.Designed to appeal to the book lover, the Macmillan Collector's Library is a series of beautiful gift-editions of much loved classic titles. Macmillan Collector's Library are books to love and treasure.
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Behind this rather prim title lies the hilarious fictional diary of a disaster-prone lady of the 1930s, and her attempts to keep her somewhat ramshackle household from falling into chaos: there's her husband Robert, who, when he's not snoozing behind The Times, does everything with grumbling reluctance; her gleefully troublesome children; and a succession of tricky servants who invariably seem to gain the upper hand. And if her domestic trials are not enough, she must keep up appearances. Particularly with the maddeningly patronising Lady Boxe, whom our Provincial Lady eternally (and unsuccessfully) tries to compete with.
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I'd never heard of this English author before I stumbled upon this work of autobiographical fiction from 1930, originally published serially. While I could tell soon enough that this "diary" is indeed one of humor, it took a little while for me to get into the style and rhythm of the Provincial Lady's vignettes about her everyday life.
Once I got used to the style, the reading became funnier and funnier to me.
Even through my amusement, though, I would feel for the Lady during her awkward and discouraging moments. Her monetary troubles. Her worries about her looks and health and fashion. Her doubts about her motherhood and household capabilities.
I'd also feel touched at times when one experience or another of pleasure or kindness would make the Lady jot in her diary "Am touched." I found her brief accounts of actively playing with her two young children to be pretty adorable (even if it would once result in her hair and clothing being mussed in the sudden presence of unexpected guests), and so many of her sentiments jibed with me.
Like her figuring she'll think up a great answer/comeback to deliver on a subject—at some time after the conversation has long been over, and it'd be inappropriate by then to go spouting off her answer. While she's sitting in church or something. And her wondering how much she sacrifices the truth, not expressing what she really feels and thinks, for the sake of not rocking the social boat.
Now, one particular moment portends a war that she doesn't know is coming: when the Lady meets a lady who makes an offhand mention that something bad must be imminent concerning the Jewish people. Besides that, I couldn't help my little inward cringe at the one appearance of the outdated term for the Romani people. And some light reference to "Jamaica children" got an eye-roll from me, despite any non-malicious intent that may have been behind it.
There's also a lightly handled event that isn't too detailed but still cringey for animal lovers. Like the thought of what eventually happens to stray animals at certain animal pounds.
Even so, on the whole, this was an enjoyable old-fashioned read for me. I'm curious enough to go further into the series. (