The centre of the novel, set in Ireland, is Montefort, a dilapidated country house. The
period is the 1950's. The novel was written in 1952. Elizabeth was a prolific and outstanding Irish author who had associations with the Bloomsbury Group.
Elements of the novel may be autobiographical. Elizabeth_Bowen biography.
Bowen inherited Bowen's Court and Antonia inherits Montefort from her cousin Guy who has been killed in WW1. Montefort is a fading relic of Protestant Irish aristocracy kept going by an illegitimate progeny, Fred Danby.
Bowen is renowned for her ghost stories and in this romantic story of a girl's coming of age, Guy haunts the novel, his photograph in the hall and his letters discovered in the attic add to the reader wondering who he really was. All the women seem to be entranced by him. Alicia, the divorced cousin and his ex fiancee have idealised memories of his charm. There is one exception and that is Danby's second daughter who pervades the house as an evil genius presence. Jane is the heroin the first daughter. There seems a very unfair comparison between the two daughters. One is beautiful and admired, the other is ugly and unliked.
The family is poor and declining in status in the community. Irish history in regard to agriculture and politics is very complex. However, the Irish among us may understand the nuances of this situation. There is also a criticism of Bowen's use of dialogue. I did not find it too difficult to understand once I decided it was Irish brogue.
I thought that Bowen's prose was beautifully poetic. There were times that I would read a sentence over twice or three times just because her choice of words seemed to sink into my mind with a depth of emotion I could only marginally understand in one reading. I really loved this aspect of the novel.
There has also been criticism of the ending of the novel. I found it quite creatively splendid. I have tried to write romantic novellas myself and the way Bowen carefully leads the reader through Jane's eyes towards the ending is remarkable. For those that believe in "love at first sight", as I suspect that Bowen did ( she had many affairs that have been recorded and a happy marriage), then this is a virtuoso. I fell in love with the description of the romantic hero too.
My criticism would be the tone of the interactions between Lilia and 1. Fred and 2. Antonia and her tone towards Lilia. I found it too negative. However, there comes into being a reconciliation of sorts between Lilia and Fred and it is understated but hopeful.
I really enjoyed discovering this novelist. I am reading her short stories at the moment and shall go on to read another novel. I thank Elizabeth Rapp at Dillington House for introducing me to Elizabeth Bowen and I thank all members of the Book Group for all their helpful comments.
As I write, it is Christmas Eve. I shall be looking forward to 2019 Book Groups at Dillington House and meeting up again with the book lovers of the group. Happy Christmas.
Zoe Ainsworth-Grigg
http://www.zoeainsworthgriggbooks.com/339348241 Zoe's biography
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