Our Elizabeth A Humour Novel

by Florence A. Kilpatrick

This book is part of the TREDITION CLASSICS. It contains classical literature works from over two thousand years. Most of these titles have been out of print and off the bookstore shelves for decades. The book series is intended to preserve the cultural legacy and to promote the timeless works of classical literature. Readers of a TREDITION CLASSICS book support the mission to save many of the amazing works of world literature from oblivion. With this series, tredition intends to make thousands of international literature classics available in printed format again - worldwide.

Genres: Humor

156 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1924

About the author

(née Calvert in 1888, later married name Crowder)
British author of nearly 30 novels in the 1920's to 1940's, including a humorous series featuring a main character named Elizabeth. Died 1968.

Reviews

[Miss M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, light summer reading--free download from Gutenberg.

The domestic dramas of Netta Warrington and her domestic with a heart of gold, Elizabeth. Bit like Diary of a Provincial Lady...

"The annoying thing about Henry [husband], too, is his lack of discernment regarding men. I have known him speak glowingly, and with unabated enthusiasm, of 'a most interesting chap' he has met at his club, referring to him as 'altogether delightful,' 'a charming conversationalist,' and so on, until I have felt impelled to ask Henry to bring this treasure home to dinner. Then, after expending myself in the preparation of such things as hors d'oeuvres and iced cocktails and putting on my most becoming frock Henry has walked in with a veritable monster of a man. You know the kind I mean. Quite good and God-fearing and all that, but with one of those dreadful clematis moustaches which cling half over the face, beginning at the nostrils and curling under the chin, a form which undulates in the region of the waistcoat, and a slow and pompous conversation (mainly devoted to the discussion of politics in the 'fifties).

I remember, shortly after one of these visitations, Henry ringing me up on the 'phone and asking if it was convenient to bring a man home to dinner that evening. 'What is he like?' I inquired, still smarting under recent experiences, 'has he much moustache—I mean, is he nice?' Henry paused. 'Oh, all right. I don't know whether you'd care for him. Perhaps I'd better not——' 'Yes, bring him if you want to, dear,' I conceded. I am not one of those fussy wives. I like Henry to feel that he can bring a friend home whenever he likes; but on this occasion I did not make unusual preparations. After bidding Elizabeth turn the cold meat into curry and judiciously water the soup to make it enough for four instead of three, I tidied my hair and descended into the hall to see Henry helping a man off with his overcoat—and such a man! It was the dashing, the handsome, the witty Harvey Trevor (political writer on the Morning Sun). It was too late to back upstairs again and improvise upon my toilette, for they both looked up and saw me at that moment. So there I stood, like a stag at bay, with my nose unpowdered (Henry would say that a stag doesn't powder its nose, but you will know what I mean) wearing my dullest and most uninspired house-frock, and hurling silent anathemas at my heartless husband."

Sadly, the other Elizabeth books only appear to be available in pricy OOP editions.

[Eleanor · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book of its time and period, but I found the "aren't the lower classes quaint" attitude very grating. Some amusing passages, but not as good as the first two Provincial Lady books for me.

[Elisabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mildly funny in places, but not out of the top drawer, so to speak. I did smile at this one line:

It is surprising, when you come to think of it, how full the world is of writers trying to make a good impression on publishers. Yet no one has met the publisher who ever tries to make a good impression on any one.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pleasantly appealing bit of froth. There was a tendency to drop little spoilers here and there but overall it was an entertaining light read.

[Alisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Netta, a very funny housewife with literary aspirations, is in despair. Her homemaking skills are rather lacking, and she and her husband are both glum over their depressing meals. The solution: hire a cook. The one she ends up with, Elizabeth, is superb in some ways and alarming in others. But her biggest escapade will come when Netta's sister, the perpetually single but lovely Marion, and their friend, the rough and bearlike bachelor William, cross paths. Elizabeth believes that these two should get married, even though: 1) Marion dislikes William, and 2) William is totally indifferent to Marion.

Elizabeth tells each of them that she knows for certain the other is hopelessly in love. This causes each of them to hastily form all sorts of plans to break the attraction...which sort of backfires. Even at the end, though, I couldn't be totally sure that it was all for the best.

At any rate, Netta's narrative was very funny.

[Ritika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two pages into the book, I announced to the spouse that someone had written a book on us. Then I proceeded to read the first two chapters aloud while being complete incoherent as I was snorting with laughter throughout. The first half is a very funny look into the travails of housekeeping of a couple with very little talent for domestic work and an overreliance on eggs as meal solutions.

The second half takes a strange turn, and loses a lot of the humour as a result. But I can see myself re-reading the first few chapters every time I am expected to do my part of housekeeping. It is just nice to be seen.

[Shari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

A nice story about a domestic helper (Elizabeth) who tends to stick her nose into everything. Elizabeth drives the lady of the house crazy but she can't get rid of Elizabeth because of a shortage of domestic help.