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The Spanish Farm trilogy #1
The Spanish Farm
Life in the war-zone in Flanders during WWI, through the eyes of a peasant girl living on a farm.
248 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1924
About the author
Ralph Hale Mottram
34 books1 followerRalph Hale Mottram FRSL was an English writer. A lifelong resident of Norfolk, he was well known as a novelist, in particular for his Spanish Farm Trilogy, and as a poet of World War I.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 13, 2023
"The Spanish Farm" provides a remarkable portrait of the life of civilians living in French Flanders the during WWI. The protagonist is Madeleine Vanderlynden a resourceful and determined Flemish peasant who at the age of 20 is thrust in the role of family head. Madeleine is hardworking, determined, quick-witted and a natural leader. Due to a convent school education, she can cope very well with paper work and is able to negotiate effectively both with the local French bureaucrats and the British military authorities who billet soldiers on her property. Without being dishonest Madeleine shows a great flare for manipulating people to her advantage.
Madeleine's one weakness is falling in love with men that she can never have which she fully understands. Thus Madeleine becomes adept at concealing her romantic adventures. Predictably at the end of the war, the farm is still intact with Madeleine firmly in control. There is however no man in her life. Her triumph is to have survived.
The Vanderlynden farm is referred to as the "Spanish Farm" because its principal buildings were erected by the Spaniards several centuries earlier when the region was ruled by Spain. The author chooses to use this name to reinforce one of his main points which is that Flanders is a borderland and that occupation by foreign armies is a constant feature of life.
Stylistically, the novel is quite Balzacian; that-is-to-say the principal characters are all very well developed, their motivations are clearly explained and their actions are highly logical given their circumstances.
However well written it is, the prime strength of "The Spanish Firm" is the remarkable description that in contains of civilian life near the front during WWI. It is thus more likely to interest history buffs than literature lovers.
Madeleine's one weakness is falling in love with men that she can never have which she fully understands. Thus Madeleine becomes adept at concealing her romantic adventures. Predictably at the end of the war, the farm is still intact with Madeleine firmly in control. There is however no man in her life. Her triumph is to have survived.
The Vanderlynden farm is referred to as the "Spanish Farm" because its principal buildings were erected by the Spaniards several centuries earlier when the region was ruled by Spain. The author chooses to use this name to reinforce one of his main points which is that Flanders is a borderland and that occupation by foreign armies is a constant feature of life.
Stylistically, the novel is quite Balzacian; that-is-to-say the principal characters are all very well developed, their motivations are clearly explained and their actions are highly logical given their circumstances.
However well written it is, the prime strength of "The Spanish Firm" is the remarkable description that in contains of civilian life near the front during WWI. It is thus more likely to interest history buffs than literature lovers.
third-in-line
August 22, 2017R H Mottram served in France from 1914 to 1919. The Spanish Farm was first published in 1924 and won the Hawthornden Prize. Mottram wrote some sixty books altogether and in 1966 he was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters by the University of East Anglia. He died in 1971.
November 19, 2012
fantastic short novel of flemish farmer girl turned hardnosed international holtelier and modern woman on the sexual front. detailed, believable really good novel.
July 4, 2021
This is not a World War I history, at least it is not an account of the horrors of war in great detail. It tries to tell the story of one young woman surrounded by everchanging events over which she has little control. You might like her, you might not. You might feel sorry for her, you might consider her actions foolish. Other people in the story cope in their own ways, but her story is tied to the place where she was born and became mistress of when her mother died. She and the Spanish Farm are one.
As you read, remember that this was first published in 1921 and the writing is different from what you will usually see. Some extremely long sentences which at times confused me, requiring a reread of a section. Very descriptive at times and perhaps a little boring. Much as life must have been between the insanity of WWI's advances and retreats and hopelessness.
Well worth your time.
As you read, remember that this was first published in 1921 and the writing is different from what you will usually see. Some extremely long sentences which at times confused me, requiring a reread of a section. Very descriptive at times and perhaps a little boring. Much as life must have been between the insanity of WWI's advances and retreats and hopelessness.
Well worth your time.
March 20, 2019
The civilians’ WW1
told from the point of view of a farm woman who manages to survive it, in body if not in spirit. The tone is somber and dispassionate. She is neither starved nor raped nor wounded, and is perhaps spared from greater suffering by a lack of imagination. She recognizes, albeit slowly, the coming of a main chance and takes advantage of it. She experiences little joy, but like her farm, she endures.
told from the point of view of a farm woman who manages to survive it, in body if not in spirit. The tone is somber and dispassionate. She is neither starved nor raped nor wounded, and is perhaps spared from greater suffering by a lack of imagination. She recognizes, albeit slowly, the coming of a main chance and takes advantage of it. She experiences little joy, but like her farm, she endures.
January 10, 2021
An account of the Great War with a difference, told from the point of view of the French civilians just behind the frontline in Flanders and their encounters with the Tommies who billeted in their villages, and cleverly reflecting on identities, the impact of conflict and survival in hard circumstances.
September 30, 2022
Read directly after Billy Budd in a collection and oh my god this is so much better. Beautifully written.
July 11, 2015
This is a book from a particular place and time about a particular place and time. Although Madeleine is the main character, it is not character driven. Neither she nor any of the other people in the story are more than types. Madeleine is portrayed as being more intelligent than most of the others in her neighborhood and class, but she is neither reflective nor introspective. (And the author remarks on that time and again.) The primary characters are the Spanish Farm itself and World War I. The people in the story live, act, and feel (almost) entirely in response to those greater, impersonal elements. Madeleine is also prompted to act by her passion for Georges, the young nobleman with whom she has been having an affair, but that serves more as a way of broadening the canvas on which the war is portrayed rather than by deepening her character.
Because of that, I had a difficult time becoming involved in the story, but eventually I relaxed into it -- as opposed to getting caught up in it. Once I accepted it on its own terms it became more interesting. It's a war story, but it's not exciting. There are illicit intimate relationships, but no romance or titillation. There are cultures and ways of life running up against each other, but no drama, only transactions. And yet the writing is strong enough that I was able to accept these as choices of style (and, again, probably characteristic of the time in which it was written) rather than weakness.
This isn't a novel for everyone, and I don't know who I would recommend it to, but if the description catches your attention it's worth sampling. Just don't push modern expectations onto it.
Because of that, I had a difficult time becoming involved in the story, but eventually I relaxed into it -- as opposed to getting caught up in it. Once I accepted it on its own terms it became more interesting. It's a war story, but it's not exciting. There are illicit intimate relationships, but no romance or titillation. There are cultures and ways of life running up against each other, but no drama, only transactions. And yet the writing is strong enough that I was able to accept these as choices of style (and, again, probably characteristic of the time in which it was written) rather than weakness.
This isn't a novel for everyone, and I don't know who I would recommend it to, but if the description catches your attention it's worth sampling. Just don't push modern expectations onto it.
August 3, 2015
A very well written book. A lot of descriptive words of 1924 when the original book was written. R.H. Mottram served in WW1. I wonder if he came across or was billet at a "Spanish Farm" during the War.
July 15, 2015
I was thoroughly uninterested in this character, in her activities, and in the events happening around her. When I saw it was set during WW1, I thought I'd get more of a flavor for life during this time period, but I was let down on all counts.
August 13, 2015
I was totally uninterested in this character and all that surrounded her. When I saw it was set during WW1, I thought I'd get more of a flavor for life during this time period, but I was let down. I hoped for less of a 'story' and more history, oddly enough.
December 27, 2015
It was interesting to get a somewhat different insight into WW1, namely that of a young French woman trying to get on with her life. However, the woman in question was quite irritating and sometimes ridiculous, which spoiled the story for me a bit.
July 22, 2015
Completely different
A different perspective of war, that I found very enjoyable and entertaining. A style of story telling that was captivating.
A different perspective of war, that I found very enjoyable and entertaining. A style of story telling that was captivating.
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August 3, 2015doesn't translate well from 1924
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews