Nocturne

by Frank Swinnerton, H.G. Wells

This is Frank Swinnerton's 1917 novel, "Nocturne". Written in response to a challenge which required him to write a novel that takes place in a single evening, "Nocturne" is set firmly in the world of the working classes and follows the story of Jenny and Emmy, two sisters whose differences threaten to tear them apart. A masterful and intriguing novel not to be missed by fans of Swinnerton's work. Frank Arthur Swinnerton (1884 - 1982) was an English critic, biographer, novelist, and essayist. During his lifetime he wrote more than fifty books, and aided other seminal writers including Aldous Huxley and Lytton Strachey during his time as a publisher's editor. Other notable works by this author "Tokefield Papers" (1927), "A London Bookman" (1928), and "Elizabeth" (1934). Many vintage books such as this are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this book now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially commissioned new biography of the author.

Genres: Fiction, Ebooks

196 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1917

About the author

Frank Arthur Swinnerton was an English novelist, critic, biographer and essayist.
He was the author of more than 50 books, and as a publisher's editor helped other writers including Aldous Huxley and Lytton Strachey. His long life and career in publishing made him one of the last links with the generation of writers that included H. G. Wells, John Galsworthy and Arnold Bennett.

(wikipedia)

Reviews

[Lisa of Troy]

Unannotated Book in F. Scott Fitzgerald's College of One

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two sisters find their monotonous lives are changed in a single night.
Emmy, the elder sister, keeps house for her father, who is partially paralysed and can no longer work. She is petty-minded, resentful and unattractive, but dreams of keeping house for her sister's brick-like boyfriend, Alf, instead. When her sister discovers this longing, she manipulates Alf into a night out with Emmy.
Jenny, the younger sister, works as a milliner but dreams of independence, adventure and an adventurous sailor, Keith. She is quick-witted, but plagued by self-doubt. While Emmy is out with Alf, Jenny gets a letter from Keith.
Will either or both sisters find love and will their dreams come true? What will happen to poor old Dad?
This is a good book and I enjoyed it, but as another reviewer has remarked, it could have been cut down to a short story.

[Josh Amazonas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank Swinnerton was a prolific author in this day, a man who left school at fourteen and worked his way up from menial jobs to becoming a full time author in his early twenties. He disapproved of pretentious writing and wrote this novel, set firmly in the world of the working classes, in 1917 after he was challenged to write a novel set in a single evening - this is discussed in My Brother Evelyn & Other Profiles (Alec Waugh). Although it does seem dated now, the characters have emotions we can still empathise with.

Jenny and Emmy are two sisters, who live with their 'Pa', now unable to work due to health problems. Jenny works in millinery, augmenting Pa's pension with her low wage and longing for more from life. She is a dreamer, her disappointment in Emmy's bland evening meals causing her to wish for better. Emmy, meanwhile, sees Jenny's escape from the "small houses of Kennington Park" as an adventure in itself. She is full of resentment, which simmers along with her cooking pots, as she stays home and looks after Pa and the house. Both sisters love each other, but they are essentially different and their feelings are stirred by Alf, who sometimes comes to take Jenny out. Jenny is in love with another man, someone she sees as a more exciting prospect, while Emmy obviously has her sights set on Alf as a more realistic prospect. When Alf turns up with two theatre tickets and Jenny suggests he takes Emmy, events are set in motion which will change their lives. For although Jenny has not seen her sailor lover for months, he sends a message while her sister is out.

In this book, which is obviously set some time ago, the two young women's thoughts and desires are very caught up with marriage - a real preoccupation during the years of WWI when many women were left widowed or without husbands due to the amount of young men killed in the war (Singled Out: How Two Million Women Survived without Men After the First World War is an interesting read if you are interested). For many women, who had been brought up to see themselves as naturally becoming wives and mothers, the alternative was low paid work and often bitterness. This is hard to understand now, but the author paints a realistic picture of that time and the longing for escape many women had - Jenny for a glamorous life away from the limiting one of a boring job and drabness, Emmy for a husband and family of her own. Although their desires are different, you sense it is Emmy who will be happier - as Alf considers home cooked meals and comfort and Emmy dreams of looking after him, "no discontent would be theirs". It is Jenny who suffers doubts, guilt and insecurity in her longing to leave the life she is so bored with. Although much is different from now, there is still much that remains the same - jealousy between sisters, the guilt and stress of being a carer and the aspirations to change life for the better are ones we can all empathise with. Overall, it is an interesting read and certainly worth trying if you are are looking at the kindle version, which is free.

[Sieglinde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two sisters find love and gain greater insight into themselves. It's a bit wordy, and although I have come across one or two people who exhibit some of the type of thought processes portrayed in the character of Jenny, thankfully it is a somewhat dated and now rare way of thinking.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Copyright 1917. A story about sibling rivalry and the pursuit of personal goals in pre-war England. Jenny and Emmy live with their father, who is unable to work due to health issues. Jenny works in millinery to help support her father's pension.