This book was kindly sent to me by the publisher in return for an honest review. Furrowed Middlebrow, based on the blog of the same name, is a new imprint of Dean Street Press, which exists to “rediscover and reissue entertaining and important works by lesser-known British women novelists and memoirists”. Well, we like that kind of thing around here, don’t we, and it’s so lovely to see so many people rescuing these great authors, remembering the Margery Sharp and Mary Hocking reissues earlier in the year. You can see a list of the first tranche of books behind that link – there’s lots to enjoy, published in the 1930s to 1950s, with a bit of an emphasis on the WWII experience and with some crime as well (see the postcard in the image).
The books are available in print or e-book format, and this book has a lovely cover illustration by Eric Ravilious, enclosed by the house roof frame which seems to be used throughout the range.
Winifred Peck – “Bewildering Cares”
Published in 1940, this is the fictional diary of a week in the life of a clergyman’s wife in a small town near to Manchester, which operates as a ‘teacup’ with its own storms, including inappropriate sermons from the curate, whispers of middle-aged love affairs and, being set in that year, the first inklings of wartime shortages and privations.
I find books written and published during the war very moving, thinking of how the author didn’t know how it was all going to work out, and this was no exception. As with “Mrs Miniver” and “The Provincial Lady in Wartime”, as well as Peck’s own “House-Bound”, which I read and reviewed back in 2010, the comedy moments and scenes from general life are underpinned by very real worry and the tang of the horror of war:
Living in war-time is rather like skirting the edge of a bottomless pit. The least slip over some tiny obstacle may make one lose one’s footing and sink into the black gulf of despair awaiting you.
There is of course much gentle humour around the situations of dealing with one’s ‘help’ and the inevitable items that go from one jumble sale to a next via special drawers in which such unwanted items are placed on arriving home. There are a few very English and very Anglican musings from a lovely central character whose philosophical husband despairs of her as being too fond of analogies; these are punctured by the everyday interfering as ever.
Thirkell, Whipple and Delafield are mentioned – and preferred by the central character to George Eliot, amusingly – and the clergy and small town setting would appeal to lovers of these authors as well as those keen on Pym, Taylor, D.S. Stevenson, Ann Bridge and Margery Sharp.
A lovely book; quite a quick and gentle read, but very comforting and satisfying, and I will definitely watch out for more from this new imprint!
You can find out more about Dean Street Press on their website and the books will be available via the usual outlets, including Amazon, from today.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 03, 2016 @ 10:45:20
Sounds like a lovely comforting read, Liz – isn’t it fab that Scott’s got his own imprint? 🙂
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Liz Dexter
Oct 03, 2016 @ 19:45:07
It is, and such a lovely range of books, too. Always glad to see more reprints!
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Jane @ Beyond Eden Rock
Oct 03, 2016 @ 11:55:30
Now that sounds very you, and I think it’s going to be very me too.
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Liz Dexter
Oct 03, 2016 @ 19:45:36
It was indeed very me, and you would love it, too!
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heavenali
Oct 03, 2016 @ 16:16:40
This sounds marvellous. I may have to seek it out. Currently coming to the end of my first Furrowed middlebrowe read A Chelsea Concerto.
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Liz Dexter
Oct 03, 2016 @ 19:46:09
I’ll look forward to reading your reviews of the ones you received – very exciting!
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Vipula
Oct 03, 2016 @ 20:22:13
Nice review ! The books remind of the titles in Persephone Press. Do you know how this is different from them as they also focus on forgotten/lesser known British female writers from the early and mid 1900s?
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Liz Dexter
Oct 03, 2016 @ 20:25:01
Yes, indeed – one of Winifred Peck’s other novels is published by Persephone. I think this imprint seems to be concentrating on several books by each author at the moment, but I’m not sure where the division lies – do have a look at the links in the post, which might tell you more.
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Vipula
Oct 07, 2016 @ 21:28:46
Will do. Thanks!
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Tina
Oct 06, 2016 @ 10:43:48
I once borrowed 3 Peck books from the library but only read one and did not enjoy it.The titles were–VEILED DESTINIES EASTERN WINDOWS and A CLEAR DAWN.
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Liz Dexter
Oct 06, 2016 @ 16:27:18
Sorry you didn’t enjoy the one you read – I suppose we all have different tastes, I can’t bear Dickens, for example!
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Lynda
Oct 06, 2016 @ 10:44:47
This is like a novella and i prefer something more substantial.
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Liz Dexter
Oct 06, 2016 @ 16:28:56
Thank you for stopping by and commenting – welcome to my blog! I like to have a mixture of smaller and more substantial reads so this didn’t bother me too much, but I would have enjoyed it if there had been more of it, too.
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Terra
Oct 21, 2016 @ 03:41:09
From your review I am sure I would like this book, a vicar and his wife, war time privations, private musings, some humor, these all appeal to me.
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Liz Dexter
Oct 26, 2016 @ 14:20:09
It’s really a very charming book, I’m sure you’d enjoy it! Lots of cups of tea, too, of course!
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