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Scenes from Provincial Life
236 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1950
2 people are currently reading
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About the author
William Cooper
33 books14 followersH.S. Hoff (William Cooper) was an English novelist, born in Crewe. After graduating from Christ's College, Cambridge in 1933 he became a science teacher in Leicester, an experience on which he seems to have drawn for his novel, Scenes from Provincial Life. Hoff served in the Royal Air Force in World War II, and later became a civil servant, associating closely with C. P. Snow, who appears in light disguise as Robert in Scenes from Provincial Life and its sequels. After retiring he held an academic position with Syracuse University, New York, lecturing on English literature to its students in London.
Hoff wrote four novels between 1934 and 1946 under his own name but made his reputation with his first novel under the pen name William Cooper, Scenes from Provincial Life (1950), the first of five more or less autobiographical novels published over the ensuing half century.
Hoff wrote 17 novels in all as well as short stories, two plays and a biography of his friend C.P.Snow. In 1971 he published an account of the trial of the Hosein brothers.
[from Wikipedia]
Hoff wrote four novels between 1934 and 1946 under his own name but made his reputation with his first novel under the pen name William Cooper, Scenes from Provincial Life (1950), the first of five more or less autobiographical novels published over the ensuing half century.
Hoff wrote 17 novels in all as well as short stories, two plays and a biography of his friend C.P.Snow. In 1971 he published an account of the trial of the Hosein brothers.
[from Wikipedia]
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 12, 2024
This is a semi-autobiographical novel...or perhaps a semi-demi-autobiographical one, since Harry Hoff used the pseudonym William Cooper to write about a novelist called Joe Lunn, the narrator of “Scenes from Provincial Life”.
Published in 1950 and set in 1939, it tells the story of a science teacher at a provincial school (Hoff taught in Leicester) who shares a country cottage with his friend Tom. Joe spends time with his girlfriend there, whilst Tom spends time with his boyfriend. A contemporary reviewer recommended the book to “everybody who wants to be shocked” ...but it is now difficult to see exactly where these shocks were to be found. Joe has no interest in teaching, does not want to marry his girlfriend, and accepts his gay friends without a second thought, so perhaps it is Joe Lunn – self-interested, lacking moral fibre, and untroubled by his own self-confessed failings – whose attitude shocked a generation that had just gone through the war. Certainly, he is the forerunner to the better-known anti-heroes of later British novelists.
Read today, Scenes from a Provincial Life has lost its originality, but is still amusing in places (though not ”hilariously funny”, as C.P. Snow seemed to think) and sharply observed in others, despite its deceptively lightweight tone. It has gained some period charm too - all bicycles, tea shops, and trams - and surely deserves to be rediscovered.
Published in 1950 and set in 1939, it tells the story of a science teacher at a provincial school (Hoff taught in Leicester) who shares a country cottage with his friend Tom. Joe spends time with his girlfriend there, whilst Tom spends time with his boyfriend. A contemporary reviewer recommended the book to “everybody who wants to be shocked” ...but it is now difficult to see exactly where these shocks were to be found. Joe has no interest in teaching, does not want to marry his girlfriend, and accepts his gay friends without a second thought, so perhaps it is Joe Lunn – self-interested, lacking moral fibre, and untroubled by his own self-confessed failings – whose attitude shocked a generation that had just gone through the war. Certainly, he is the forerunner to the better-known anti-heroes of later British novelists.
Read today, Scenes from a Provincial Life has lost its originality, but is still amusing in places (though not ”hilariously funny”, as C.P. Snow seemed to think) and sharply observed in others, despite its deceptively lightweight tone. It has gained some period charm too - all bicycles, tea shops, and trams - and surely deserves to be rediscovered.
September 14, 2020
Endearingly bonkers. Standout writing*. Sometimes irritating&.
"Scenes from Provincial Life" is anything but bland... and, for me at least, is the kind of book that needs a couple of days to digest after it's finished.
The lead character, Joe Lunn -- it's written in the first person -- is an inveterate skiver but has many fine qualities. And besides, his foibles and his honesty about them are part of the appeal.
The characters are well drawn but somehow distant, as if they remain a mystery to each other and themselves (as Miss Marple once said, or words to that effect). That may be intentional, of course...
For all its zany traits, this book also illustrate the complexity of humans - even before love and affection come into the equation.
No spoilers here, but the conclusion leaves the reader wanting more. Whether straight away or after more digestion, let's see...
(*I wrote a LinkedIn post after reading a sentence early on that left me flabbergasted.
& I wasn't sure about the "speaking directly to readers" thing; still, there weren't many instances of that... so on balance, only a small fly in the ointment.)
"Scenes from Provincial Life" is anything but bland... and, for me at least, is the kind of book that needs a couple of days to digest after it's finished.
The lead character, Joe Lunn -- it's written in the first person -- is an inveterate skiver but has many fine qualities. And besides, his foibles and his honesty about them are part of the appeal.
The characters are well drawn but somehow distant, as if they remain a mystery to each other and themselves (as Miss Marple once said, or words to that effect). That may be intentional, of course...
For all its zany traits, this book also illustrate the complexity of humans - even before love and affection come into the equation.
No spoilers here, but the conclusion leaves the reader wanting more. Whether straight away or after more digestion, let's see...
(*I wrote a LinkedIn post after reading a sentence early on that left me flabbergasted.
& I wasn't sure about the "speaking directly to readers" thing; still, there weren't many instances of that... so on balance, only a small fly in the ointment.)
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April 13, 2021I have owned this book for a number of years now. I must have bought it from the stalls underneath Waterloo Bridge (when they were open). Finally got round to reading it last month and really quite enjoyed it. Not sure I fully appreciated the subtleties of character portrayed - but that is my own social failing. Strangely, I think I have read this book before -but cannot recall the details and failed to record the completion date on the final page.
Recommended for portrayal of the narrator Joe and girl friend Myrtle.
Recommended for portrayal of the narrator Joe and girl friend Myrtle.
April 30, 2020
I picked this up at a book sale, attracted by mention on the back of the Angry Young Men and the male anti-hero. I enjoyed it but I can see why it isn't as well known as books like Saturday Night and Sunday Morning.
May 30, 2014
3.5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews