Showing results by author "E. M. Delafield" in All Categories

Set in the English countryside in the 1930s, The Provincial Lady introduces us to a protagonist with a sharp eye, but even sharper wit. Through various diary entries, she records the quiet chaos of her everyday life, as well as her attempts to keep her footing in the genteel yet absurd world of upper-middle-class domesticity. Featuring a loyal (if aloof) husband, two reasonably behaving children, a cook who consistently threatens to quit and a garden that refuses to grow what it ought to, The Provincial Lady evokes a hilarious yet exhausting balancing act of budgets, egos and expectations which resonates and amuses in equal measure.

The Essential Classics: Volume 8 brings together 5 of the greatest classics ever written, perfectly read by an esteemed cast including Emma Gregory, Lucy Scott, Mark Meadows, and Rachel Atkins. From the quiet introspection of Persuasion, where Anne Elliot faces the complexities of love and second chances, to the thrilling escapades of The Scarlet Pimpernel, this volume offers a diverse array of experiences. The Mysteries of Udolpho will immerse you in gothic suspense, while The Provincial Lady offers a humorous and sharp look at the life of a woman in the early 20th century.

“Notice, and am gratified by, large clump of crocuses near the front gate. Should like to make whimsical and charming reference to these and try to fancy myself as ‘Elizabeth of the German Garden’, but am interrupted by Cook, saying that the Fish is here, but he’s only bought cod and haddock, and the haddock doesn’t smell any too fresh, so what about cod? Have often noticed that Life is like that.” First published in 1930, this charming, funny book is a warm portrait of a middle-class English family and their village life. Our heroine recounts the mundane delights and disasters of ...

Laura Temple faces the predicaments of many British middle-class wives and mothers living in country villages between the World Wars. Her too-large house, inherited by her husband Alfred, requires three servants to keep it running: generally unsatisfactory servants whom she is perpetually concerned will leave her employ for greener pastures, which they inevitably do. Her modest success as a short story writer helps augment their income but still, there is never enough money. She is a devoted mother to her two sons, although she shamelessly prefers one over the other. And she is deeply unhappy.

The Provincial Lady in Wartime, though the last of the Provincial Lady series, is one of the finest. No further ‘Diaries’ had appeared since The Provincial Lady in America (published in 1934) when, in 1939, Harold Macmillan, then chairman of Macmillan publishers and a fan, made a personal...

Edmée Elizabeth Monica Dashwood, née de la Pasture (1890-1943), was a prolific English author who wrote under the pseudonym E. M. Delafield. She 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. In 'Squirrel in a Cage', she tells the story of the ending of a relationship between two lovers.

Edmée Elizabeth Monica Dashwood, née de la Pasture (1890-1943), was a prolific English author who wrote under the pseudonym E. M. Delafield. She 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.

No one could have been more surprised than our Provincial Lady to receive an invitation from her American agent to travel transatlantic and embark upon a programme of lectures and signings. She was particularly amazed because, having received an overture sometime before and feeling that she...

'Lady B. stays to tea. (Mem.: Bread-and-butter too thick. Speak to Ethel.) We talk some more about bulbs, the Dutch School of Painting, our Vicar's wife, sciatica, and All Quiet on the Western Front. (Query: is it possible to cultivate the art of conversation when living in the country all the...

The Provincial Lady Goes Further is the immediate sequel to Diary of a Provincial Lady - and life mirrors art. Our Provincial Lady has found herself, unexpectedly, with a literary success on her hands! She is suddenly 'somebody', both in her Devonshire environs and in London, where she...

Brought to you by Penguin. This Penguin Classic is performed by Kirsty Besterman, an experienced TV and theatre actress known for her leading role as Lady Macbeth in the National Theatre Tour, as well as a number of roles with Shakespeare's Globe and the RSC. 'January 22nd - Robert startles me...

In this early work by the author of Diary Of A Provincial Lady, set against the backdrop of World War I in the Midlands, we encounter a unique establishment where soldiers find solace in the form of sandwiches and a semblance of comfort. Run by the formidable Miss Vivian, an upper-class woman whose controlling and manipulative nature belies her seemingly unwavering dedication, the place is revered by many. Yet, beneath the surface of admiration lies a web of emotional manipulation that only Grace Jones, a newcomer, can unravel. As Grace seeks to help Miss Vivian confront her flaws, the story ...

When the prestigious position of ‘Lady Superintendent’ opens up at the Commercial and Technical College for South West England, the calm and competent Pauline Marchrose emerges as the top candidate. This is welcomed news for Sir Julian, the college director, who holds her diligence and skills in high regard. However, Mark Easter, Sir Julian’s agent, finds himself captivated by Pauline, his admiration quickly turning into romantic feelings. Yet Mark is already bound to a wife, albeit in a loveless marriage. Complicating matters further, Sir Julian’s wife, Lady Edna Rossiter, uncovers ...

In Heel of Achilles, we follow Lydia Raymond, a girl from a lower middle-class background, as she navigates the challenges of her upbringing and strives to carve out her own identity. Her journey up the social ladder reveals the sacrifices and struggles that come with ambition. This poignant tale delves into her childhood, her quest for self-discovery, and her complex relationship with her daughter, Jane. A fairytale turned on its head, this story explores the bittersweet nature of transformation and the weight of personal choices. - Summary by Stav Nisser.

Set against the backdrop of late Victorian England, “Consequences” tells the story of Alexandra Clare, a girl born into an affluent Catholic family in London. Designed from birth for the refined life of a wife and mother, Alexandra struggles to conform to her familys expectations, finding herself at odds with the roles laid out for her. As she navigates the challenges of education, the marriage market, and family life, she grapples with the feeling of never quite belonging.

The Modern Age is one of information overload. Bombarded, surrounded, and battered by facts, figures, opinions and seemingly whatever else comes out of anyone’s head from all directions at all hours of the day and night. It’s exhausting. In the pens of such luminaries as Henry James, E M Delafield, C E Montague, Charlotte Perkins Gilman and many others we connect with old fashioned media from publishing and advertising to telegrams and radio and everything in between in ways that are surprising, enlightening but always entertaining.