The Brother of Daphne

Berry #1

by Dornford Yates

This is a reproduction of the original artefact. Generally these books are created from careful scans of the original. This allows us to preserve the book accurately and present it in the way the author intended. Since the original versions are generally quite old, there may occasionally be certain imperfections within these reproductions. We're happy to make these classics available again for future generations to enjoy!

Genres: Classics, British Literature, Humor, Fiction, Short Stories

Paperback

First published January 1, 1928

About the author

Dornford Yates (real name Cecil William Mercer) was a popular British novelist.

Reviews

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed the airy persiflage that dominated these stories about Boy (hard to believe that even in the 1880s someone would name their son that!), his sister Daphne and her husband Berry & his cousins Jonah and Jill (aka Berry & Co.), the humor was more mild than the laugh-out-loud humor of Wodehouse or Saki. And I couldn't help having the lowering thought that if I were one of the girls that Boy flirted with, I would have been dreadfully dull and said things like "I don't know what you mean"... Still, this 1914 collection was a good light read & I look forward to reading more in the Berry series.

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Dornford Yate's first book is comparable to Wodehouse, at least it's comparable to the Wodehouse of 1914. Fifteen stories narrated by "Boy" Pleydell in each of which he falls for a different girl in a different unlikely situation. "Boy" and his immediate family, sister Daphne, brother-in-law Berry and so on are upper class. moneyed and seeming never do a stroke of work, life for them seems to be one long holiday. The stories are all good, but a certain sameness does quickly creep in, the best are the first two "Punch and Judy" and "Clothes and the man." The first Dornford Yate's book I have read and although not perfect, I am sufficiently impressed enough to want to read more.

[Lady Drinkwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of bright young things tearing around the countryside in their Rolls, having many adventures and being witty and amusing. The most terrible thing that happens to them is losing their cook, but there are clouds on the horizon, they may have to pay income tax.

[Wayne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for me. Could not finish the second story and not interested in continuing on, to look further into the book. Going to try "Blind Corner" however to see if that interests me more.

[Jemma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly a disappointment. I recently discovered that my grandmother (who died when I was only 4)liked these books and given that I never got to have an adult conversation with her, I thought I would try a "Berry" book. Well, this is sub-Woodhouse stuff. There is the occasional amusing bit but largely it is dated in it's humour, not a little sexist and generally the characters have quite unattractive attitudes. The characters would've moved in similar social circles to those in Brideshead and yet you don't feel for them or get inside their heads in the same way. Essentially, you wouldn't be upset if this lot were executed by Soviets, whereas you would care about Charles Ryder, Julia Flyte or Bertie Wooster.

The best parts are incidental details such as new stations being opened (as opposed to closed); travel through Europe and inparticular Munich on the eve of Nazism and peculiarities of speech and manners.

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the characters and the writing, and the old-fashioned sense of chivalry, romantic poetry and gallantry, but there's a certain sameness to the stories which got rather tiresome after a while. I much prefer the ones with more variety in the plots than this endless wooing. I have to admit, I prefer his mysteries!

[Victoria Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Separate stories in each chapter, mainly brother meeting sweet gorgeous women and fllrting with them. Lovely settings, cars, with a life of leisure and luxury. Berry has dry wit as usual. Very gentle and nice escapism.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read but not my sort book.