Saving Face and Other Stories

by Norah Lofts

A selection of nine unusual and provocative tales, set in a normal English village, focuses on the lives of some ordinary citizens who are suddenly confronted with some extraordinary situations

229 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Norah Ethel Robinson Lofts Jorisch (27 August 1904–10 September 1983) was a 20th century best-selling British author. She wrote over fifty books specialising in historical fiction, but she also wrote non-fiction and short stories. Many of her novels, including her Suffolk Trilogy, follow the history of a specific house and the residents that lived in it.

Lofts was born in Shipdham, Norfolk in England. She also published using the pseudonyms Juliet Astley and Peter Curtis. Norah Lofts chose to release her murder-mystery novels under the pen name Peter Curtis because she did not want the readers of her historic fiction to pick up a murder-mystery novel and expect classic Norah Lofts historical fiction. However, the murders still show characteristic Norah Lofts elements. Most of her historical novels fall into two general categories: biographical novels about queens, among them Anne Boleyn, Isabella of Castile, and Catherine of Aragon; and novels set in East Anglia centered around the fictitious town of Baildon (patterned largely on Bury St. Edmunds). Her creation of this fictitious area of England is reminiscent of Thomas Hardy's creation of "Wessex"; and her use of recurring characters such that the protagonist of one novel appears as a secondary character in others is even more reminiscent of William Faulkner's work set in "Yoknapatawpha County," Mississippi. Norah Lofts' work set in East Anglia in the 1930s and 1940s shows great concern with the very poor in society and their inability to change their conditions. Her approach suggests an interest in the social reformism that became a feature of British post-war society.

Several of her novels were turned into films. Jassy was filmed as Jassy (1947) starring Margaret Lockwood and Dennis Price. You're Best Alone was filmed as Guilt is My Shadow (1950). The Devil's Own (also known as The Little Wax Doll and Catch As Catch Can) was filmed as The Witches (1966). The film 7 Women was directed by John Ford and based on the story Chinese Finale by Norah Lofts.

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saving Face and Other Stories is actually a collection of nine short stories by Norah Lofts. The title story is actually the third story in the collection, although all nine stories are set in and around the same little village in the English countryside. Despite this being a normal, tightly-knit English village, each tale is unusual and provocative - and focuses on the lives of some fairly ordinary citizens who are suddenly confronted with some extraordinary situations.

I have always loved Norah Lofts as an author - and even though I haven't read that many short stories in the past - because Norah Lofts wrote them, I was sure that I would no doubt enjoy the book. I was absolutely right, this was a wonderful book and I give it an A+!

[Shadoshard · Rating 3 out of 5]

A compilation of stories from the perspective of different characters, Nora Lofts writes about the darker side of life at her period of time. The stories are succinct and gripping and dig like a razor behind the human mask of civility and harmony. The stories can be cold and cruel but accurate in the worst ways, twisting the reader as only a fine writer can.

The first story sets the stage for the rest and though dark, it begins a dark though compelling journey through the darkness of the human experience with one another.

[Cassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this as much as I like her historical fiction. It was fun to read though.