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Barsetshire #6
Pomfret Towers
Lord and Lady Pomfret are giving a party at their home, Pomfret Towers, and a number of the neighborhood's eligible and not-so-eligible inhabitants have been invited. Originally published in 1938, this is Angela Thirkell at her best -- giving us an insider's look at the pomp, ceremony, and general goings-on during a pre–World War II English house party given by the landed gentry.
298 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1938
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889 people want to read
About the author
Angela Thirkell
59 books258 followers Angela Margaret Mackail was born on January 30, 1890 at 27 Young Street, Kensington Square, London. Her grandfather was Sir Edward Burne-Jones the pre-Raphaelite painter and partner in the design firm of Morris and Company for whom he designed many stained glass windows - seven of which are in St Margaret's Church in Rottingdean, West Sussex. Her grandmother was Georgiana Macdonald, one of a precocious family which included among others, Stanley Baldwin, the Prime Minister, and Rudyard Kipling. Angela's brother, Denis Mackail, was also a prolific and successful novelist. Angela's mother, Margaret Burne-Jones, married John Mackail - an administrator at the Ministry of Education and Professor of Poetry at Oxford University.
Angela married James Campbell McInnes in 1911. James was a professional Baritone and performed at concert halls throughout the UK. In 1912 their first son Graham was born and in 1914 a second son, Colin. A daughter was born in 1917 at the same time her marriage was breaking up. In November 1917 a divorce was granted and Angela and the children went to live with her parents in Pembroke Gardens in London. The child, Mary, died the next year.
Angela then met and married George Lancelot Thirkell in 1918 and in 1920 they traveled on a troop ship to George's hometown in Australia. Their adventures on the "Friedricksruh" are recounted in her Trooper to the Southern Cross published in 1934. In 1921, in Melbourne Australia, her youngest son Lancelot George was born. Angela left Australia in 1929 with 8 year old Lance and never returned. Although living with her parents in London she badly needed to earn a living so she set forth on the difficult road of the professional writer. Her first book, Three Houses, a memoir of her happy childhood was published in 1931 and was an immediate success. The first of her novels set in Trollope's mythical county of Barsetshire was Demon in the House, followed by 28 others, one each year.
Angela also wrote a book of children's stories entitled The Grateful Sparrow using Ludwig Richter's illustrations; a biography of Harriette Wilson, The Fortunes of Harriette; an historical novel, Coronation Summer, an account of the events in London during Queen Victoria's Coronation in 1838; and three semi-autobiographical novels, Ankle Deep and Oh, These Men, These Men and Trooper to the Southern Cross. When Angela died on the 29th of January 1961 she left unfinished the last of her books, Three Score and Ten which was completed by her friend, Caroline LeJeune. Angela is buried in Rottingdean alongside her daughter Mary and her Burne-Jones grandparents.
Angela married James Campbell McInnes in 1911. James was a professional Baritone and performed at concert halls throughout the UK. In 1912 their first son Graham was born and in 1914 a second son, Colin. A daughter was born in 1917 at the same time her marriage was breaking up. In November 1917 a divorce was granted and Angela and the children went to live with her parents in Pembroke Gardens in London. The child, Mary, died the next year.
Angela then met and married George Lancelot Thirkell in 1918 and in 1920 they traveled on a troop ship to George's hometown in Australia. Their adventures on the "Friedricksruh" are recounted in her Trooper to the Southern Cross published in 1934. In 1921, in Melbourne Australia, her youngest son Lancelot George was born. Angela left Australia in 1929 with 8 year old Lance and never returned. Although living with her parents in London she badly needed to earn a living so she set forth on the difficult road of the professional writer. Her first book, Three Houses, a memoir of her happy childhood was published in 1931 and was an immediate success. The first of her novels set in Trollope's mythical county of Barsetshire was Demon in the House, followed by 28 others, one each year.
Angela also wrote a book of children's stories entitled The Grateful Sparrow using Ludwig Richter's illustrations; a biography of Harriette Wilson, The Fortunes of Harriette; an historical novel, Coronation Summer, an account of the events in London during Queen Victoria's Coronation in 1838; and three semi-autobiographical novels, Ankle Deep and Oh, These Men, These Men and Trooper to the Southern Cross. When Angela died on the 29th of January 1961 she left unfinished the last of her books, Three Score and Ten which was completed by her friend, Caroline LeJeune. Angela is buried in Rottingdean alongside her daughter Mary and her Burne-Jones grandparents.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
January 20, 2025
4,5 stars
So far, I find this has been the best and my favourite instalment of Thirkell's Barsetshire series.
“There is no happiness in love, except at the end of an English novel.” - Anthony Trollope
What a sparkling, light and totally charming book.
Angela Thirkell has joined the ranks of authors (like D.E. Stevenson, Dorothy Whipple or Barbara Pym) that were unknown to me for a long time, but I am so glad I discovered them via Goodreads recommendation. And while for me she is not quiet on par with the ladies I just mentioned, she still comes close and the entertainment value is considerable.
I was also not aware of the fact until now that she placed her novels in Anthony Trollope 's fictional Barsetshire, but it also added more interest.
And how they compare? Let's put it this way: her Barsetshire novels are pastel pics to Anthony Trollope's oil paintings. They are of course not in the same league: there is not the the same texture, vivid colouring and brushwork and deep impression, but they are very pleasing to look at and then slowly and gently fade away from your mind.
The book was published in 1938 and though it's not mentioned, the narrative takes place around the same time (Hitler and Mussolini are mentioned en passant, as political figures not to be parodied by the Young in decent British households).
Recommended to readers who like to read (about)
√ Forgotten classics
√ Comedy of errors
√ Books with P.G. Wodehouse-like humour & excellent, though not too serious characterisation
√ "The Good Old Days"
√ Big British Stately Home in the country
√ Shy Ingenues launched into Society for the first time and falling for the Wrong Guy first
√ Young Men & Women and the issue of who's getting together with whom
√ Happily Ever Afters
So far, I find this has been the best and my favourite instalment of Thirkell's Barsetshire series.
“There is no happiness in love, except at the end of an English novel.” - Anthony Trollope
What a sparkling, light and totally charming book.
Angela Thirkell has joined the ranks of authors (like D.E. Stevenson, Dorothy Whipple or Barbara Pym) that were unknown to me for a long time, but I am so glad I discovered them via Goodreads recommendation. And while for me she is not quiet on par with the ladies I just mentioned, she still comes close and the entertainment value is considerable.
I was also not aware of the fact until now that she placed her novels in Anthony Trollope 's fictional Barsetshire, but it also added more interest.
And how they compare? Let's put it this way: her Barsetshire novels are pastel pics to Anthony Trollope's oil paintings. They are of course not in the same league: there is not the the same texture, vivid colouring and brushwork and deep impression, but they are very pleasing to look at and then slowly and gently fade away from your mind.
The book was published in 1938 and though it's not mentioned, the narrative takes place around the same time (Hitler and Mussolini are mentioned en passant, as political figures not to be parodied by the Young in decent British households).
Recommended to readers who like to read (about)
√ Forgotten classics
√ Comedy of errors
√ Books with P.G. Wodehouse-like humour & excellent, though not too serious characterisation
√ "The Good Old Days"
√ Big British Stately Home in the country
√ Shy Ingenues launched into Society for the first time and falling for the Wrong Guy first
√ Young Men & Women and the issue of who's getting together with whom
√ Happily Ever Afters
July 20, 2022
4.5★
My favourite Thirkell so far!
I will be honest & say that until I devoured this book, I didn't quite get the Thirkell Mania that some of the members of the Retro Reads feel. But this title charmed me! It didn't quite make 5★ because, for me, there was a bit of a lull after an absolutely sparkling beginning.
This book is mainly about shy (extremely shy) Alice Barton receiving a normally much sought after invitation to join a weekend party at Pomfret Towers. While Alice's shyness becomes tiresome after a while, as a shy person myself, I can understand the agonies Alice went through.
But the party, while a bit difficult & full of lively characters leads to Alice having both her first infatuation & finding true love.
I particularly liked the characters of writers, Mrs Barton & Mrs Rivers. I think possibly Ms Thirkell gave them elements of her own personality. (I can remember reading an article about Thirkell where one of her sons said he loved his mother, but she was completely bonkers!) The good Angela & the bad Angela?
I was also relieved that there was none of Thirkell's usual casual racism.
If you are wanting to escape to another world (& in 2022 who can blame you!) & enjoy lighthearted humour, I can recommend this book.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...
My favourite Thirkell so far!
I will be honest & say that until I devoured this book, I didn't quite get the Thirkell Mania that some of the members of the Retro Reads feel. But this title charmed me! It didn't quite make 5★ because, for me, there was a bit of a lull after an absolutely sparkling beginning.
This book is mainly about shy (extremely shy) Alice Barton receiving a normally much sought after invitation to join a weekend party at Pomfret Towers. While Alice's shyness becomes tiresome after a while, as a shy person myself, I can understand the agonies Alice went through.
But the party, while a bit difficult & full of lively characters leads to Alice having both her first infatuation & finding true love.
I particularly liked the characters of writers, Mrs Barton & Mrs Rivers. I think possibly Ms Thirkell gave them elements of her own personality. (I can remember reading an article about Thirkell where one of her sons said he loved his mother, but she was completely bonkers!) The good Angela & the bad Angela?
I was also relieved that there was none of Thirkell's usual casual racism.
If you are wanting to escape to another world (& in 2022 who can blame you!) & enjoy lighthearted humour, I can recommend this book.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...
January 3, 2017
A nice cozy way to end the year - at a house party at Pomfret Towers in the late 1930's British countryside. Thirkell's Barsetshire books are perfect for reading with a cup of tea under a comfy blanket during a snow storm.
September 23, 2015
Pure escapism.
I just love Angela Thirkell and especially this book.
It is lively,witty and deliciously entertaining.
Pomfret Towers is the setting for a grand house party.
Whose hand will Mr Foster seek in marriage and who will win Alice's heart?
I just love Angela Thirkell and especially this book.
It is lively,witty and deliciously entertaining.
Pomfret Towers is the setting for a grand house party.
Whose hand will Mr Foster seek in marriage and who will win Alice's heart?
June 28, 2022
In the sixth Barsetshire novel, a group of quirky characters comes together at a large country house, Pomfret Towers, for a weekend party, including the modest heroine Alice, the gruff and terrifying lord who owns the place, the egotistical would-be artist, his social-climbing mother, and others. Before the book ends, all the loose ends have been tied up -- a couple of romances have been resolved, and various problems have found solutions. The only challenge with reading the Barsetshire novels in order is that each one introduces a wide cast of characters and I barely have them all sorted before the book ends. The writing, however, makes up for this small drawback -- Angela Thirkell is so witty that every page brings a chuckle.
Just finished my second read and enjoyed it as much as the first -- if not more!
Just finished my second read and enjoyed it as much as the first -- if not more!
April 5, 2018
I read Thirkell because of passages like this one:
"There's Chloe," said Sally, as a scratching and whining which had been going on ever since the dogs left the room was succeeded by several loud flaps against the door. "Isn't she a lamb? She has taught herself to knock on the door with her tail. Come in, angel." She opened the door to the lurcher, who entered with a smile and stood waving her tail fatuously, then came straight up to Alice, put her forepaws on her lap and breathed affection into her face."
No other author I can think of would have a dog waving its tail fatuously. This makes up for so much.
"There's Chloe," said Sally, as a scratching and whining which had been going on ever since the dogs left the room was succeeded by several loud flaps against the door. "Isn't she a lamb? She has taught herself to knock on the door with her tail. Come in, angel." She opened the door to the lurcher, who entered with a smile and stood waving her tail fatuously, then came straight up to Alice, put her forepaws on her lap and breathed affection into her face."
No other author I can think of would have a dog waving its tail fatuously. This makes up for so much.
February 5, 2023
I was absolutely delighted with this read and wished I had discovered it during the stressful and depressing year of 2021. This book was my second foray into a full length Barsetshire novel and I was not disappointed with the fare. Delightfully funny, this installment of the Barsetshire chronicles reminded me of the wit and humor of Jane Austen and E.M. Delafield. It filled me with delight to read this enchanting and delectable historical novel.
I want to rush out and purchase all of the rest of the books in the series.
I want to rush out and purchase all of the rest of the books in the series.
October 28, 2017
2.75 stars?
Mrs. Barton, the absentminded author of historical works and mother of two young adult children is often away from home and absorbed in her work. She keeps in close contact with her neighbor Lord Pomfret for research purposes. On a rare occasion when Lady Pomfret and Mrs. Barton are both in England, Lady Pomfret invites Mrs. Barton's Guy and Alice to a small house party at Pomfret Towers. Alice, who was sickly as a child, dreads socializing with her peers. She is happy knowing her friends Roddy and Sally Wicklow will be there. At Pomfret Towers Alice meets Phoebe Rivers, a sort of cousin to Lord Pomfret and also a daughter of a literary mother. Alice also the acquaintance of the nice Mrs. Foster and Phoebe's Byronic artist brother Julian. Friends are made, attachments formed and overbearing mothers must be got around before the young people can have their happily ever after.
I already knew who ended up with whom having read later books in the series. Now I properly know these characters, I need to reread the series in order to find out what happens to them. Knowing the couples did not take away from my enjoyment of the novel. The surprise comes in how they get past the obstacles to get together. This book is more of a straight up romance than other books in the series. There is social satire here. Angela Thirkell skewers her own craft and creates a very funny picture of the publishing world. Her sharpest barbs are reserved for Julian, a wannabe surrealist artist. If you don't take him as seriously as he takes himself, it's quite obvious he's meant to be funny.
The characters here are hit or miss. I liked most of them. The weakest character here is Alice. She's meek and timid. I understand she seems to have a crippling social anxiety disorder and I get why she wouldn't want to go to the party. I wouldn't either. I felt like she needed to put herself out there and socialize more so she wouldn't be so shy. She does but it doesn't entirely save her personality from being completely bland and annoying. Julian Rivers is a spoiled, selfish, moody, broody young man. He's not meant to be liked but the reader will LIKE to hate him. Phoebe is much better. She's shy and uncertain like Alice but she puts herself out there and fakes it until she can make it. She knows what she DOESN'T want and that is her overbearing mother meddling in her life. Gilly is quite nice. He's shy and timid like Alice but he wants to be more social. He's kind, caring and thoughtful. Alice's brother Guy is the opposite. When he thinks of his sister he's nice but he is fairly selfish and stupid. I didn't like his plot.
As for the adults, Hermione Rivers is not winning any mother of the year awards. She spoils Julian, picks on Phoebe and involves herself in her children's lives where she shouldn't and ignores them when she should be paying attention. Mr. and Mrs. Barton have a strange relationship. I'm not sure that would work in real life. They're kind parents for all Mrs. Barton's absentmindedness. They want their children to be happy and want what is best for them, unlike Hermione who only wants what SHE wants. Lord and Lady Pomfret are wonderful. They're sweet, adorable with each other and gracious hosts. Miss Merriman, Lady Pomfret's efficient secretary is a complex character. She's mostly likable but she does have a weakness as far as romance is concerned and I felt she meddled a bit more than she should have, not understanding what was happening with the young people.
I enjoyed this installment on the Barsetshire series and I look forward to the next one.
Mrs. Barton, the absentminded author of historical works and mother of two young adult children is often away from home and absorbed in her work. She keeps in close contact with her neighbor Lord Pomfret for research purposes. On a rare occasion when Lady Pomfret and Mrs. Barton are both in England, Lady Pomfret invites Mrs. Barton's Guy and Alice to a small house party at Pomfret Towers. Alice, who was sickly as a child, dreads socializing with her peers. She is happy knowing her friends Roddy and Sally Wicklow will be there. At Pomfret Towers Alice meets Phoebe Rivers, a sort of cousin to Lord Pomfret and also a daughter of a literary mother. Alice also the acquaintance of the nice Mrs. Foster and Phoebe's Byronic artist brother Julian. Friends are made, attachments formed and overbearing mothers must be got around before the young people can have their happily ever after.
I already knew who ended up with whom having read later books in the series. Now I properly know these characters, I need to reread the series in order to find out what happens to them. Knowing the couples did not take away from my enjoyment of the novel. The surprise comes in how they get past the obstacles to get together. This book is more of a straight up romance than other books in the series. There is social satire here. Angela Thirkell skewers her own craft and creates a very funny picture of the publishing world. Her sharpest barbs are reserved for Julian, a wannabe surrealist artist. If you don't take him as seriously as he takes himself, it's quite obvious he's meant to be funny.
The characters here are hit or miss. I liked most of them. The weakest character here is Alice. She's meek and timid. I understand she seems to have a crippling social anxiety disorder and I get why she wouldn't want to go to the party. I wouldn't either. I felt like she needed to put herself out there and socialize more so she wouldn't be so shy. She does but it doesn't entirely save her personality from being completely bland and annoying. Julian Rivers is a spoiled, selfish, moody, broody young man. He's not meant to be liked but the reader will LIKE to hate him. Phoebe is much better. She's shy and uncertain like Alice but she puts herself out there and fakes it until she can make it. She knows what she DOESN'T want and that is her overbearing mother meddling in her life. Gilly is quite nice. He's shy and timid like Alice but he wants to be more social. He's kind, caring and thoughtful. Alice's brother Guy is the opposite. When he thinks of his sister he's nice but he is fairly selfish and stupid. I didn't like his plot.
As for the adults, Hermione Rivers is not winning any mother of the year awards. She spoils Julian, picks on Phoebe and involves herself in her children's lives where she shouldn't and ignores them when she should be paying attention. Mr. and Mrs. Barton have a strange relationship. I'm not sure that would work in real life. They're kind parents for all Mrs. Barton's absentmindedness. They want their children to be happy and want what is best for them, unlike Hermione who only wants what SHE wants. Lord and Lady Pomfret are wonderful. They're sweet, adorable with each other and gracious hosts. Miss Merriman, Lady Pomfret's efficient secretary is a complex character. She's mostly likable but she does have a weakness as far as romance is concerned and I felt she meddled a bit more than she should have, not understanding what was happening with the young people.
I enjoyed this installment on the Barsetshire series and I look forward to the next one.
June 7, 2019
Although I admit, it wasn't as hilarious or bitter-sweet as some other of Thirkell, nonetheless, it was another one of the best by Thirkell I have read. What made it so perfect was the thoughtfulness, integrity of the novel (story). It was easy to see that the author knew how to write a good novel, loved to do it and had fun doing it.
There was wit (which I adore so much), of course, a bit of satire of society and the people, a little romance, many great characters. Simply perfect.
PS And as much as Alice annoyed me a bit from time to time, Roddy made me sigh (such a wonderful beta hero).
There was wit (which I adore so much), of course, a bit of satire of society and the people, a little romance, many great characters. Simply perfect.
PS And as much as Alice annoyed me a bit from time to time, Roddy made me sigh (such a wonderful beta hero).
September 5, 2014
In Pomfret Towers we have another lovely slice of 1930’s silliness, I loved it.Unashamedly cosy alert! Angela Thirkell’s Barsetshire novels are beloved of many readers, for their humour and charm, Virago have been re-issuing them a few at a time, with these rather delicious looking covers. I now have the next three waiting for me, as I felt I needed them to look forward to.
Full review:
http://heavenali.wordpress.com/2014/0...
Full review:
http://heavenali.wordpress.com/2014/0...
January 20, 2025
I've been a big fan of Thirkell for many decades, but had to just read whichever book happened to pop up at a library or used bookstore, in no particular order. Now that I'm in a town with a really efficient Inter-Library Loan system I can read them all in order. What fun! Thus, I'm reading Pomfret Towers for the first time.
This book centers on exceedingly shy Alice, her family, friends and neighbors. Alice unwillingly attends a weekend party and, instead of constant humiliation and loneliness, finds friendly people and even develops a crush. As usual in Thirkell, various people are falling for each other, sometimes very inappropriately. With this author you can never be sure who is going to end up with whom, some pair off in ways the reader may not like and others will remain single. This book was especially puzzling me with it's various inter-connected couples. I wasn't even sure how I want them to get together, but ultimately I was satisfied.
The plot is slight - the party and some events afterward - but I love her style andthe characters she creates, so I was happy even without much actually going on. I like the interrelated characters who show up occasionally and I enjoy Thirkell's evident fondness for the people, while skewering them happily. This book did focus almost solely on the very young ones, and I missed having more of various age groups featured. I think that's why it rates 4 stars from me. I was just a bit disappointed not to get more of the very interesting grownups in this story.
NB - I just finished reading Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, published in the same year. Though the books are very different, it's interesting to see two stories about a shy female coming into her own through forced social contact with strangers. I don't have any profound conclusions, just an observation.
Which one is this?
This book centers on exceedingly shy Alice, her family, friends and neighbors. Alice unwillingly attends a weekend party and, instead of constant humiliation and loneliness, finds friendly people and even develops a crush. As usual in Thirkell, various people are falling for each other, sometimes very inappropriately. With this author you can never be sure who is going to end up with whom, some pair off in ways the reader may not like and others will remain single. This book was especially puzzling me with it's various inter-connected couples. I wasn't even sure how I want them to get together, but ultimately I was satisfied.
The plot is slight - the party and some events afterward - but I love her style andthe characters she creates, so I was happy even without much actually going on. I like the interrelated characters who show up occasionally and I enjoy Thirkell's evident fondness for the people, while skewering them happily. This book did focus almost solely on the very young ones, and I missed having more of various age groups featured. I think that's why it rates 4 stars from me. I was just a bit disappointed not to get more of the very interesting grownups in this story.
NB - I just finished reading Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, published in the same year. Though the books are very different, it's interesting to see two stories about a shy female coming into her own through forced social contact with strangers. I don't have any profound conclusions, just an observation.
Which one is this?
December 8, 2021
Amusing very light comedy reading. Somewhere between Barbara Pym and P. G. Wodehouse.
See this review for more details.
See this review for more details.
July 13, 2022
4.25*
Had only ever read High Rising from Thirkell, a novel I had enjoyed but not loved. Therefore, I was a little apprehensive when I started this one. Obviously, I shouldn’t have been :O)
Pomfret Towers is a light and addictive read, following mostly a very reserved young woman’s first step in society. Alice finds herself ‘forced’ by her parents to attend a house party when she would much rather stay in her studio and paint. Being chronically shy, this social event terrorises her and her resulting anxiety is palpable. Thankfully, things aren’t as bad as feared, and as she meets new people, her perception changes, with some misunderstandings and funny scenes.
Thirkell adds to this several other plot strands, orchestrating the whole thing with dexterity, while entertaining us with the portrayal of her cast. I smiled often and couldn’t stop reading till the end.
Had only ever read High Rising from Thirkell, a novel I had enjoyed but not loved. Therefore, I was a little apprehensive when I started this one. Obviously, I shouldn’t have been :O)
Pomfret Towers is a light and addictive read, following mostly a very reserved young woman’s first step in society. Alice finds herself ‘forced’ by her parents to attend a house party when she would much rather stay in her studio and paint. Being chronically shy, this social event terrorises her and her resulting anxiety is palpable. Thankfully, things aren’t as bad as feared, and as she meets new people, her perception changes, with some misunderstandings and funny scenes.
Thirkell adds to this several other plot strands, orchestrating the whole thing with dexterity, while entertaining us with the portrayal of her cast. I smiled often and couldn’t stop reading till the end.
July 19, 2022
It is with this novel that Angela Thirkell really hits her stride in the Barsetshire series. This is vintage Thirkell at her gently skewering best.
The scene is a winter weekend house party at Pomfret Towers, the ridiculous Victorian pile of a seat of the Earl of Pomfret. His wife, who lives mostly in Italy, is in town so he invites a “small” group of some thirty heterogeneous guests to entertain her. The book was published in 1938 so the family is still enjoying between-the-wars opulence, and the arrangements and number of servants are eye-popping. The house party also provides a numerous enough cast of characters that almost nobody is too annoying for the reader to tire of the maneuvers and varying attractions. (There is one character who is described from the start as being so annoying that everybody hates her on sight, but she’s the exception.)
The central character seems to be Alice Barton, the painfully shy daughter of a successful architectural restorer who is a tenant on the earl’s estates. I say “seems to be” because she starts out as the focus of the story but becomes rather less engaging as the story goes on, leading the reader to attach to other characters and their storylines. Alice is cartooonishly panicky about attending the house party, but so many people go out of their way to be kind to her that she starts to enjoy herself—and that is where the reader’s sympathy wanes a bit.
A central tenet of Thirkell’s books is that whenever you think you know somebody, you’re nearly always mistaken, so you shouldn’t judge too quickly. Some characters who appear boorish or trivial at first develop depths, while the better manners of others conceal a fundamental self-centeredness. If I would criticize this book at all, it would be to say that there are too many young people, in that phase of young adulthood when everything is about oneself. Most of us go through that phase so we shouldn’t criticize harshly, but perhaps too many characters here acted off that one note. The older folk were more interesting.
Thirkell is able to make fun of people without meanness, instead exploiting their quirks for laughs while maintaining the viewpoint that a little eccentricity lends a spice to life and everyone has redeeming qualities. She’s less vicious than early Austen while mining the same lode of social comedy to lighter ends. One of my favorite escapist authors.
The scene is a winter weekend house party at Pomfret Towers, the ridiculous Victorian pile of a seat of the Earl of Pomfret. His wife, who lives mostly in Italy, is in town so he invites a “small” group of some thirty heterogeneous guests to entertain her. The book was published in 1938 so the family is still enjoying between-the-wars opulence, and the arrangements and number of servants are eye-popping. The house party also provides a numerous enough cast of characters that almost nobody is too annoying for the reader to tire of the maneuvers and varying attractions. (There is one character who is described from the start as being so annoying that everybody hates her on sight, but she’s the exception.)
The central character seems to be Alice Barton, the painfully shy daughter of a successful architectural restorer who is a tenant on the earl’s estates. I say “seems to be” because she starts out as the focus of the story but becomes rather less engaging as the story goes on, leading the reader to attach to other characters and their storylines. Alice is cartooonishly panicky about attending the house party, but so many people go out of their way to be kind to her that she starts to enjoy herself—and that is where the reader’s sympathy wanes a bit.
A central tenet of Thirkell’s books is that whenever you think you know somebody, you’re nearly always mistaken, so you shouldn’t judge too quickly. Some characters who appear boorish or trivial at first develop depths, while the better manners of others conceal a fundamental self-centeredness. If I would criticize this book at all, it would be to say that there are too many young people, in that phase of young adulthood when everything is about oneself. Most of us go through that phase so we shouldn’t criticize harshly, but perhaps too many characters here acted off that one note. The older folk were more interesting.
Thirkell is able to make fun of people without meanness, instead exploiting their quirks for laughs while maintaining the viewpoint that a little eccentricity lends a spice to life and everyone has redeeming qualities. She’s less vicious than early Austen while mining the same lode of social comedy to lighter ends. One of my favorite escapist authors.
December 20, 2015
While reading it, I have been watching the very dramatic and emotional (to me anyway) final season of Downton Abbey, so I feel I might be a bit unfair to this story. Three stars seem lukewarm, but I can't find a fourth one in my heart. That said, it's been quite enjoyable, well written and authentic, charming and funny. It was clear quite soon who would end up with whom, and everybody got what they deserved. Not too memorable, there are better Barsetshire stories - and worse ones, too.
October 12, 2022
This was my first experience reading Angela Thirkell, and my first thought upon finishing was that I needed to go buy more.
Truly though, this book was delightful. It reminded me some of P.G Wodehouse with his Wooster and Jeeves, probably mostly because of the time period and the slang used during that time, but also because of her satire and amusing characters, some of whom are delightful and others purely exasperating.
So many great quotes too.
I definitely look forward to reading more by this author.
Truly though, this book was delightful. It reminded me some of P.G Wodehouse with his Wooster and Jeeves, probably mostly because of the time period and the slang used during that time, but also because of her satire and amusing characters, some of whom are delightful and others purely exasperating.
So many great quotes too.
I definitely look forward to reading more by this author.
May 15, 2022
What could be better than a weekend house party on the estate of an earl? Especially if the earl is a crusty old man with a kind but depressed wife, and his guests include his conceited cousin who writes romance novels for middle-aged women, her long-suffering publisher, and her two passive-aggressive children, plus several other young people in various states of being in or out of love?
This is the book that got me hooked on Angela Thirkell. It contains what I think is one of the funniest paragraphs ever written:
(watch out, I'm going to quote it now and spoil the surprise)
(scene: at dinner, the meeting between a painfully shy young lady and a self-centered young man)
"You're Miss Barton, aren't you?" he asked, looking intently at her.
On hearing these remarkable words Alice at once fell in love. It had never happened to her before except with people like Charles I, or Sydney Carton, but she knew at once that it was the real thing. As Julian Rivers turned his face towards her, gazing with deep-set dark blue eyes into her very soul, his delicate mouth twitching, only that was not quite the right word, with sensitiveness, his black locks thrown recklessly and very untidily above his marble brow, a romantically dark shade on his cheeks, upper lip and chin, because he had told his mother before dinner that he was hanged if he would shave twice a day to please anyone, as those staggering phenomena met her eyes, Alice felt that the culminating point of her whole visit had been reached in one blinding, searing moment. In that flash of ecstasy she suddenly knew what all poetry, all music, all sculpture, except things like winged Assyrian bulls, or the very broken pieces in the British Museum, meant.
I laughed out loud when I first read that paragraph maybe ten years ago, and I laughed out loud when I read it again this week. And not just a chuckle, either. It was kind of hard to stop laughing.
This is the book that got me hooked on Angela Thirkell. It contains what I think is one of the funniest paragraphs ever written:
(watch out, I'm going to quote it now and spoil the surprise)
(scene: at dinner, the meeting between a painfully shy young lady and a self-centered young man)
"You're Miss Barton, aren't you?" he asked, looking intently at her.
On hearing these remarkable words Alice at once fell in love. It had never happened to her before except with people like Charles I, or Sydney Carton, but she knew at once that it was the real thing. As Julian Rivers turned his face towards her, gazing with deep-set dark blue eyes into her very soul, his delicate mouth twitching, only that was not quite the right word, with sensitiveness, his black locks thrown recklessly and very untidily above his marble brow, a romantically dark shade on his cheeks, upper lip and chin, because he had told his mother before dinner that he was hanged if he would shave twice a day to please anyone, as those staggering phenomena met her eyes, Alice felt that the culminating point of her whole visit had been reached in one blinding, searing moment. In that flash of ecstasy she suddenly knew what all poetry, all music, all sculpture, except things like winged Assyrian bulls, or the very broken pieces in the British Museum, meant.
I laughed out loud when I first read that paragraph maybe ten years ago, and I laughed out loud when I read it again this week. And not just a chuckle, either. It was kind of hard to stop laughing.
May 4, 2023
3.5 stars, a highly entertaining piece of fluff. This is a 1930’s English country house murder mystery without the murder mystery, and it’s a rom-com without much actual romance. These books all take place in Barsetshire (Trollope’s fictional English county) but they are not very connected and they stand alone perfectly well.
Lord and Lady Pomfret are having a big house party and they have invited a group of “young people” to liven it up. This includes the exquisitely shy Alice, who is reluctant to attend because of “nightgowns and housemaids and tips and all that sort of thing”; Sally, who is surrounded by well-bred but ill-behaved dogs (Wuffy, Chloe and Chips); Gillie Foster, who will inherit Pomfret Towers and is rather worried about it; and Julian, the artist whose mournful, self-absorbed mien fascinates the inexperienced Alice but ticks off the unimpressed servants.
Two of the older generation are writers: the kind, if distracted, Mrs. Barton is the author of “several learned historical novels about the more obscure bastards of Popes and Cardinals”, and the obnoxious Mrs. Rivers writes popular novels about unappreciated middle-aged English women who travel to exotic countries to be tempted by handsome, admiring young men. Her long-suffering publisher is also in attendance, although he has made arrangements to have a telegram sent to him every day from his office containing the words ‘Return if possible urgent’, in case he wants an excuse to leave early.
The book is mostly humor, but there are a couple of brief serious threads: Lord and Lady Pomfret lost their grown son years ago and have never really recovered from the loss; and then the pleasant, competent, intensely private Miss Merriman might be less cheerful than she seems.
Lord and Lady Pomfret are having a big house party and they have invited a group of “young people” to liven it up. This includes the exquisitely shy Alice, who is reluctant to attend because of “nightgowns and housemaids and tips and all that sort of thing”; Sally, who is surrounded by well-bred but ill-behaved dogs (Wuffy, Chloe and Chips); Gillie Foster, who will inherit Pomfret Towers and is rather worried about it; and Julian, the artist whose mournful, self-absorbed mien fascinates the inexperienced Alice but ticks off the unimpressed servants.
Two of the older generation are writers: the kind, if distracted, Mrs. Barton is the author of “several learned historical novels about the more obscure bastards of Popes and Cardinals”, and the obnoxious Mrs. Rivers writes popular novels about unappreciated middle-aged English women who travel to exotic countries to be tempted by handsome, admiring young men. Her long-suffering publisher is also in attendance, although he has made arrangements to have a telegram sent to him every day from his office containing the words ‘Return if possible urgent’, in case he wants an excuse to leave early.
The book is mostly humor, but there are a couple of brief serious threads: Lord and Lady Pomfret lost their grown son years ago and have never really recovered from the loss; and then the pleasant, competent, intensely private Miss Merriman might be less cheerful than she seems.
April 17, 2016
Set in the 1930s world that vanished with World War II, Pomfret Towers takes place in the eponymous Big House owned by Lord and Lady Pomfret. The occasion is a house party, and young Alice Barton is making her social debut of sorts. Painfully shy, Alice has a dread of being despised by the servants and having to make conversation with strangers. In short order, Alice is introduced to three possible suitors: Giles Foster, heir but one to the estate; Julian Rivers, a pretentious but very good looking artist; and Roddy Wicklow, her comfortable childhood friend. Underneath the drawing room comedy and social satire, there seems to be a marriage plot brewing . . . but it may not be the one the reader is set up for.
This is an entirely closed society -the same cosy, provincial Barsetshire that Trollope created - and it is peopled by the Pomfret's tenants, estate workers and connections (blood and social). It's a world of breakfast trays, hunting and good cigars in the library. There's not even a hint of war brewing up, although the Pomfrets are haunted by the loss of their only son in WWI. Nothing much happens, really, but the writing is sharp and enjoyable. There are some wonderfully absurd characters - particularly Mrs. Rivers and her son - but they are all pretty harmless. It must have been good escapism in 1938, when it was published, and I found it pretty good escapism for 2016 as well. My first Thirkell novel, but not my last!
This is an entirely closed society -the same cosy, provincial Barsetshire that Trollope created - and it is peopled by the Pomfret's tenants, estate workers and connections (blood and social). It's a world of breakfast trays, hunting and good cigars in the library. There's not even a hint of war brewing up, although the Pomfrets are haunted by the loss of their only son in WWI. Nothing much happens, really, but the writing is sharp and enjoyable. There are some wonderfully absurd characters - particularly Mrs. Rivers and her son - but they are all pretty harmless. It must have been good escapism in 1938, when it was published, and I found it pretty good escapism for 2016 as well. My first Thirkell novel, but not my last!
July 11, 2016
This has to be my favourite Angela Thirkell so far - timid Alice is persuaded to attend a weekend house party at the eponymous Pomfret Towers where the kindness of other guests helps her begin to emerge from the shyness that cripples her. The characters in this book are all delightful - or in the case of Mrs Rivers and her son, perfectly ghastly! Apparently Mrs Rivers is a cutting caricature of the author, Ann Bridges - what she'd done to offend Angela Thirkell, heaven knows! (Bookshelved)
December 28, 2024
I enjoyed this one significantly more than HIGH RISING! The humor was (to me) more humorous and the characters more enjoyable. The heroine is silly, with a slight Madeline Bassett feel to her, but you still can't really dislike her; and the antagonists are insufferable but hilarious in their insufferability. What makes it so cozy, I think, is that most of the people are good eggs who recognize the obnoxiousness of the bad eggs. There are no sneaky characters; only the rather stupid heroine is deceived, but you know that ultimately she's not going to be permitted to get herself into any serious scrapes. This makes for a fun, sort-of-Wodehousian vibe with great asides and quirky little observations about human nature. I confess I don't quite see the point of these stories being set in Trollope's Barsetshire -- the setting doesn't seem to have any impact on the plots (though I've only read two of them so far so maybe I'm missing something) -- and they definitely aren't up to Trollope's level of story-telling. But it's kind of cute imagining this as Barsetshire in the 1930s...? I guess?
March 15, 2018
Прелесть какой роман. Половину можно растащить на цитаты. Не Толстой, правда -- ну и слава Богу.
July 13, 2022
I read this for the first time several years ago, and did not leave a review. This reread with the Retro Reads group was such a delight! I still consider this a five-star read, so I wanted to write a short review to explain what I loved about it.
I have been reading Thirkell’s Barsetshire books slowly over the last 10 to 15 years. I struggled at first to find her books, occasionally finding a used copy at a bookstore. It has become easier in the last five years or so to find her books, either reissues or as e-books and audiobooks. Since I started the series so many years ago, I sometimes forget the younger exploits of the ever-increasing cast of characters. That’s why I am enjoying my rereads so much. In the last books of the series, no spoilers, but many characters are parents with adult children or grandparents, or may even have died in World War II. It is wonderful to revisit them when they were so young!
In this story, painfully shy Alice Barton is invited to Pomfret Towers for a weekend house party with her older brother Guy. Always “delicate”, Alice never went away to school, and hasn’t yet had been in society much. She dreads looking foolish, not knowing what to say or how to carry on, but is reassured that Roddy and Sally Wicklow, a brother and sister who are dear childhood friends, will be there too. Roddy is a large, kind, good-natured young man, and Sally is “the best seat in the county”, a superb horsewoman, great with dogs, knows the countryside and Pomfret estate as well as her brother, who is an assistant to the Pomfret land agent. Both are very kind and protective of Alice.
There are many people at the house party, some comical, some ridiculous, and Alice, Guy, Roddy and Sally make new friends, enjoy the weekend, and Alice imagines herself “In Love” with a mannerless, rude young artist, a cousin to Lord and Lady Pomfret. Thirkell, as always, has great fun skewering snobbish, self-important characters, to this reader’s appreciative enjoyment. I laughed out loud a few times, and was very entertained by the audiobook.
I look forward to continuing my rereads of these delightful books, and reacquainting myself with characters that have become old friends.
I have been reading Thirkell’s Barsetshire books slowly over the last 10 to 15 years. I struggled at first to find her books, occasionally finding a used copy at a bookstore. It has become easier in the last five years or so to find her books, either reissues or as e-books and audiobooks. Since I started the series so many years ago, I sometimes forget the younger exploits of the ever-increasing cast of characters. That’s why I am enjoying my rereads so much. In the last books of the series, no spoilers, but many characters are parents with adult children or grandparents, or may even have died in World War II. It is wonderful to revisit them when they were so young!
In this story, painfully shy Alice Barton is invited to Pomfret Towers for a weekend house party with her older brother Guy. Always “delicate”, Alice never went away to school, and hasn’t yet had been in society much. She dreads looking foolish, not knowing what to say or how to carry on, but is reassured that Roddy and Sally Wicklow, a brother and sister who are dear childhood friends, will be there too. Roddy is a large, kind, good-natured young man, and Sally is “the best seat in the county”, a superb horsewoman, great with dogs, knows the countryside and Pomfret estate as well as her brother, who is an assistant to the Pomfret land agent. Both are very kind and protective of Alice.
There are many people at the house party, some comical, some ridiculous, and Alice, Guy, Roddy and Sally make new friends, enjoy the weekend, and Alice imagines herself “In Love” with a mannerless, rude young artist, a cousin to Lord and Lady Pomfret. Thirkell, as always, has great fun skewering snobbish, self-important characters, to this reader’s appreciative enjoyment. I laughed out loud a few times, and was very entertained by the audiobook.
I look forward to continuing my rereads of these delightful books, and reacquainting myself with characters that have become old friends.
September 11, 2015
http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2015/09...
I was so excited about this book that when I finished it, I immediately attempted to blog about it from my phone (I was babysitting)--of course, that didn't get much beyond the title, but that shows you how caught up I was in this charming and slightly silly story. It was written in the 1930s and it's about one of those house parties rich British people always seem to be having, but there's lots of interesting class stuff and some sly looks at the author/publishing types. There are some annoying people but no one is a villain, most of the characters are nice, and there are some super funny moments. I was just delighted the whole time I read this--Thirkell's writing really carries you along. I can't wait to read more books by her. A/A-.
I was so excited about this book that when I finished it, I immediately attempted to blog about it from my phone (I was babysitting)--of course, that didn't get much beyond the title, but that shows you how caught up I was in this charming and slightly silly story. It was written in the 1930s and it's about one of those house parties rich British people always seem to be having, but there's lots of interesting class stuff and some sly looks at the author/publishing types. There are some annoying people but no one is a villain, most of the characters are nice, and there are some super funny moments. I was just delighted the whole time I read this--Thirkell's writing really carries you along. I can't wait to read more books by her. A/A-.
April 8, 2015
I can thank Barbara Pym for finding out about Angela Thirkell's existence. She is so funny! And, since she's not bothered by reality, she's not depressing. Reading many books like this in a row would probably be annoying, but one every now and then is great! I hope, though, I will not buy all the books in the series in the next year. One does not absolutely need to have them all. I hope.
November 11, 2017
3.5 stars
September 9, 2021
So light and fluffy it wouldn't do to read too many of these at once, but one is quite nice as a diversion. A prose with a witty, sentimental, straight-faced touch. Old-fashioned satisfactions: love found, justice done, smiles evoked.
October 28, 2015
Alice Barton is shy, and when she is invited to a weekend party at Pomfret Towers, she is filled with dread and dismay!
"Would people be in the green drawing-room where they had assembled last night, or in the yellow drawing-room where they had played that dreadful game after dinner, or in the library, or in one of the other rooms that she hadn't yet seen? Just then she saw Miss Merriman coming out of a door at the far end, so she went quickly back to the foot of the stairs and began walking across the hall again, so that Miss Merriman should think she had only just come down.
'Good morning. You look rather lost,' said Miss Merriman, thus shattering her hopes that she would be taken for a hard-boiled, self-possessed society girl. 'You'll find it warm in the yellow drawing-room.'
She led the way briskly to the other side of the hall, opened the door, almost pushed Alice in, and went off on one of her many household errands."
Who will save Alice Barton from her sea of timidity? Enter Phoebe Rivers, who immediately (and kindly) befriends her, rescues her from dealing with unknown servants, and introduces her to all of the quirks and vagaries of a society weekend.
Thirkell's characterization if both humorous and creative!
"It was Mr. Johns's practice, whenever he went away to a strange house, to have a telegram sent to him every day from his office, containing the words 'Return if possible urgent'. This telegram he tore up if he was enjoying himself, but if he was bored he was able to exhibit it mournfully to his host and ask if he could be sent to the station in time for the best afternoon train."
I found myself enjoying several of the characters, and was suitably dismayed when I came across Mrs. Rivers' pretensions and her son Julian's rude and selfish behavior. My heart was drawn away by Roddy, who has known Alice since childhood and makes for an estimable bodyguard, and I admired Sally (Roddy's sister)'s confidence and self-assurance. I even found myself pleasantly surprised that by the end of the book, I had changed my initial opinion of some of the characters, and it was fun watching Alice grow a backbone.
Pomfret Towers is light, entertaining, and a fast read. I have often noticed reviews of Thirkell that are always positive, and this was my introduction to her writing, but it won't be my last!
"Would people be in the green drawing-room where they had assembled last night, or in the yellow drawing-room where they had played that dreadful game after dinner, or in the library, or in one of the other rooms that she hadn't yet seen? Just then she saw Miss Merriman coming out of a door at the far end, so she went quickly back to the foot of the stairs and began walking across the hall again, so that Miss Merriman should think she had only just come down.
'Good morning. You look rather lost,' said Miss Merriman, thus shattering her hopes that she would be taken for a hard-boiled, self-possessed society girl. 'You'll find it warm in the yellow drawing-room.'
She led the way briskly to the other side of the hall, opened the door, almost pushed Alice in, and went off on one of her many household errands."
Who will save Alice Barton from her sea of timidity? Enter Phoebe Rivers, who immediately (and kindly) befriends her, rescues her from dealing with unknown servants, and introduces her to all of the quirks and vagaries of a society weekend.
Thirkell's characterization if both humorous and creative!
"It was Mr. Johns's practice, whenever he went away to a strange house, to have a telegram sent to him every day from his office, containing the words 'Return if possible urgent'. This telegram he tore up if he was enjoying himself, but if he was bored he was able to exhibit it mournfully to his host and ask if he could be sent to the station in time for the best afternoon train."
I found myself enjoying several of the characters, and was suitably dismayed when I came across Mrs. Rivers' pretensions and her son Julian's rude and selfish behavior. My heart was drawn away by Roddy, who has known Alice since childhood and makes for an estimable bodyguard, and I admired Sally (Roddy's sister)'s confidence and self-assurance. I even found myself pleasantly surprised that by the end of the book, I had changed my initial opinion of some of the characters, and it was fun watching Alice grow a backbone.
Pomfret Towers is light, entertaining, and a fast read. I have often noticed reviews of Thirkell that are always positive, and this was my introduction to her writing, but it won't be my last!
May 5, 2012
Who would have thought that a weekend house party at a pre-WorldWar II English mansion would be the catalyst sparking off family drama in a rollicking good way. A timid woman finds herself starting to come out of her shell when she meets a sulky spoiled man proclaiming to be an artist. A loud and overbearing author of romance novels stalks after her publisher and her daughter in turn, believing herself entitled to a higher advance to her next book and blatantly trying to orchestrate a relationship between her daughter and the heir to the mansion respectively. Throw into the mix, an ever patient and efficient secretary to Lady Pomfret, an archdeacon, a brother and sister of more humble origins, an illustrious author of historical research, Lord Pomfret, a cantankerous aristocrat, and staff who see and hear more than they are noticed, and you have a wonderful cast of characters to make up this delightful jolly gem of a read.
Perfect for a gloomy rainy afternoon.
Perfect for a gloomy rainy afternoon.
March 26, 2014
Barsetshire, the county created by Trollope, is continued by Angela Thirkell in 'Pomfret Towers' where a country house party takes place and where all the guests vie for position.
'Pomfret Towers', all the action in which takes place in the house itself, is a novel of modes and manners and it sees Alice and Guy Barton, sister and brother, guests of the host and mixing with the likes of the Rivers family, the Wicklows of the country set, and Giles Foster, nephew and heir of Lord Pomfret.
Foster, the eligible bachelor, is uncertain who he wants to marry and tries his hand with a number of the ladies before settling for ...
It is a lightly amusing novel, sometimes slow moving and very much action-less but a gentle read for all that!
'Pomfret Towers', all the action in which takes place in the house itself, is a novel of modes and manners and it sees Alice and Guy Barton, sister and brother, guests of the host and mixing with the likes of the Rivers family, the Wicklows of the country set, and Giles Foster, nephew and heir of Lord Pomfret.
Foster, the eligible bachelor, is uncertain who he wants to marry and tries his hand with a number of the ladies before settling for ...
It is a lightly amusing novel, sometimes slow moving and very much action-less but a gentle read for all that!
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