Anderby Wold (picked by a poll)

[Mela]

In a poll for September 2025 won Anderby Wold by Winifred Holtby.

Who is going to read it? How do you like it?

If you have read it already, or you are reading it at another (later) time - write here what you think about the book too.

[Please keep in mind to hide spoilers in spoiler brackets.]

[Laura]

Hi - I'm reading and loving it so far. I've worked out that Hardrascliffe - Mary's local town for shopping, with a cinema and golf links could well be Bridlington. And the fictional Market Burton - the main cattle market is quite probably Driffield.

I love working out the geographical locations. Although of course I understand that Holtby probably used an amalgamation of towns and villages that she was familiar with - in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

[Mela]

I liked it so far too, especially the "light style".

[Petra]

I’ve just started this today.
It probably doesn’t help that the previous book I read was ‘The Woodlanders’ by Thomas Hardy, but I’m definitely noticing the difference in writing and poor Winifred Holtby is coming up wanting against Hardy! But I’m only at chapter 5, so hopefully Hardy’s brilliance will recede a bit from recent memory to give Holtby more of a chance.
The first chapter, seen through the eyes of the spiteful Sarah Bannister, made me think that Mary was so disliked by Sarah because she married her brother and therefore took his attention away from his sister. But the following couple of chapters are now making me think that Sarah actually has a point about Mary! Mary is coming across as pretty shallow and that she likes to be seen to be doing things for others rather than having a deep altruistic streak. She’s presenting herself as ‘Lady Bountiful’ and is charming most of the villagers but not all, especially the school master, Mr Coast.

[Laura]

Hi Petra -

I never saw Mary as shallow - although I could certainly understand that her "helping" the villagers was not always wanted - patronising perhaps. Although some have definitely benefitted from her attentions - Mike O'Flynn had pneumonia - and Mary nursed him back to health.

I think part of the problem - was the lack of children - Mary felt this as a hole in her life - and I think we could say in todays terms - overcompensating by involving herself with other peoples' families?

There is also the great Victorian tradition of altruism or Philanthropy - whereby the lady of the manor visited the poor and sick - along with the parish priest etc. I'm reading The Tenant of Wildfell Hall - and that's what Helen Huntingdon does - she visits the sick and poor within her parish - and offers help. In the past we didn't have any Social Services - it's the old system - the relationship between the workers and the Lord of the manor.

Mary and John have the largest farm in the village - and most of the villagers work for them - so in a sense it is a closed system - the farm is dependant on the village and vice-versa - so a good working relationship is essential - but the criticism directed at Mary - I think really is her ambition. She is young and has plenty of energy and wants to make both the farm and village the best in the area.

But I'm reading with hindsight . . .

[Petra]

Up to Chapter 16 and the scene in the top field has happened.
I’m still not feeling Mary! And I’m still thinking that her ministrations to the village are as much (or more) for her own benefit so she remains ‘Queen’ of ‘her village’ as she herself refers to it.
And poor John! Okay, so he’s not got a lot to say for himself but he’s solid, dependable and gets things done stoically. Why do so many women in books like this fall in love so quickly with the fly-by-nights after just one kiss?!
I realise it’s a plot device and as a means to highlight women’s dissatisfaction in life. But Winifred Holtby was a Socialist and a Feminist so I’m surprised that she went this route.
Maybe, there’ll be more satisfaction at the end of the book.

[Laura]

Sorry - but Mary has fallen in love with David Rossitur long before the kiss. He's almost the opposite of everything John is. David is skinny, his wrists always sticking out below the sleeves of his shirt/jacket. He is filled with energy and passionately about his beliefs and his writing. He is eloquent -although the village men respond more to his passion more than words. His thoughts are swift and exciting to Mary - she is attracted to his intellect, his youth (John is 52) his physical appearance - his vibrant red hair.

I felt the character of Mary was very real - she wants to do good, but she is also very young - 28 when we meet her - she hasn't yet learnt to recognise that others will be jealous of her - Mr Coast, or that she cannot "command" people without running up against resentment. She hasn't learnt diplomacy or to dissuade with sensitivity - the way she speaks to Mr Coast reference the field he wants to buy for the school is a big mistake - and then later firing the worker who has beaten the boy she has taken out of school - all mistakes. She could have given the man (Eli) a warning - or docked part of his wages - but to put him completely out of work is very harsh - in that instance she should at least have consulted with John - but she doesn't. She is overly righteous and also arrogant - and worst of all doesn't realise any of her mistakes.

We also have to remember that for 10 long years Mary's done nothing but struggle to pay off the mortgage and since December 1912 - the farm is hers for the first time since her alcoholic father, Ben Robson, took it to the brink of ruin. So yes Mary is also on a mission to prove they can hold their heads high - and especially in relation to the other members of her family - the haughty Ursula - married to rich Foster Robson, the solicitor Toby Robson everyone looks to for advice. Janet Robson - married to the rich Donald Holmes (Janet lives in hotels - Harrogate is mentioned - spa-town, made me laugh). Only Sarah Bannister and Tom - they have a farm - are not rich? The other farmers in the area - The Wilson's - I forget the name - also big land owners.

Mary wants to prove herself and her capabilities - to hold her own against the critical Sarah and the gossips - who all live comfortably in Market Burton - they're retired from the hard practises of farm-life - Uncle Dickie, Aunt Jane - the unwed sisters - Louisa and Anne - and Richard (I forget his profession) brother to Sarah, married to Tilly.

And the final point - she's unable to produce an heir. 10 years of marriage to John and no children - Mary feels the pressure to prove herself in some other way.

There is also that rather subtle and insidious accusation against her that she only married John, in order to keep her farm. She's 18 when her father dies - and John visits his cousin to offer help. Sarah alludes to that visit - as the opportunity Mary took to get him. John had his own farm at Littleburton? (forgot the name).

Sarah thinks - that Mary should have been a nice submissive wife and sold her own farm and at least in marrying John should have gone to his farm. So there is quite a lot of family history - that Mary has to live down. She's a strong woman - knows her own mind in a time when strong, clever women were suppressed - the minute they overstepped their designated realm of nursery and home management !!

Look at how domesticated the golf-club swinging Ursula becomes the second her child is born - because she is rewarded for fulfilling her role. All the attention and adoration she receives - primarily from the other women, the men also. Do any of the other women step outside the conventions?

[Petra]

I’m afraid that early on in the book I wasn’t a fan of Mary and it hasn’t lessened any! I can appreciate her motivations and the reasons why she does what she does, but for whatever reason, I’m lacking in sympathy for her.

And perhaps it’s because I’ve read too many books recently where ‘Love’ has been bandied about very freely and can be summoned at the drop of a handkerchief (quite literally in the case of ‘The Woodlanders’). Call it infatuation, having your head turned, a passing fancy, a crush or whatever, but Love is a deep emotion based on prolonged intimate, spiritual, intellectual connections and it’s often used too frivolously. Maybe, I’m a bit grumpy and therefore a bit critical at the moment but there’s something about this book that I don’t feel deeply invested in.
I’m going to try and finish it today.

[Laura]

I think it's worth exploring those grumpy feelings - as reviewers it's natural for us to laud all the pleasant aspects of our reading experience - but thinking carefully about why a book repulses us, or shuts us down, or doesn't meet our expectations - can also be quite fruitful.

Of course I'm now going back over Mary - Yes, I do agree, it's very quick, her passion for David; and there is so little for her - and us on which to base it. I think we could say - she is projecting a lot onto him - perhaps he represents many qualities that she wishes she could explore or develop in herself. Maybe his freedom - to roam, to travel wherever he likes, his education, his passion to put his ideas to the test - and the fact that he carries them out.

I've just been reading A Tenant of Wildfell Hall - and I know - I can feel it in my bones that Holtby read the Brontes - there are scenes so similar - the one where Mary requests David to pick up the cotton reel - that is in Tenant. So maybe Holtby - in her presentation of Mary - is also examining all the qualities that Mary has but can not develop - her masculine side. Her feminine has been thoroughly squashed in her inability to reproduce - and Holtby endlessly emphasizes her tall, broad-shouldered and strong physique.

Also it's Holtby's first novel - written in her EARLY twenties - 22, 23? At some point I will read South Riding - let's propose it in one of the groups. Have you read it already?

[Petra]

Yes! That’s a brilliant point about Mary’s very masculine nature - that hadn’t occurred to me at all but now it’s glaringly obvious that she actually isn’t at all one of those feminine coquettish characters that we’re often presented with. This could even explain some of her apathy towards John. In some ways, she ‘wears the trousers’ more than he does, particularly in business matters, so possibly she has never really felt like an object of feminine desire before and unknowingly, just wants and needs that giddy feeling of being ‘wooed’. So when David comes along, it’s kindled inside her but she doesn’t act coquettish - but they do have good ‘banter’ together, which is something she and John don’t share.
I still feel sorry for John though. It’s likely that Mary’s masculine energy isn’t giving him something he needs too.

I actually have a copy of South Riding, so I’m happy to read that soon.

[Laura]

Yes - I feel sorry for John also. I don't know if you've reached the scene - but Mary totally loses her temper with the working men - when they decide to strike. And John, tries repeatedly to forestall this very unwise behaviour on her part. He shows a much better judgement of the situation. And I really thought Mary - WRONG, when she dismisses the man Eli - he's beaten the school-lad quite badly - but still that doesn't give Mary sole right to dismiss this farmhand. I think she makes a very bad and arrogant mistake there.

But yes - your phrase - she would like "to wear the trousers" - sums it up. She's impatient with John's 'slowness' without appreciating his long experience of farming - after-all, is it not primarily John who has taken the farm out of debt?

Yes - the debate is pretty interesting in terms of sexual attraction. Does a masculine woman - put off a certain type of man. And I don't remember just how much David returns Mary's ardent feelings - Yes -he writes and apologizes - Yes, he turns up at her door, because he doesn't want to leave without seeing her again. But she's the instigator, the one fanning the flames. . .

Again it comes back to Bronte's idea - this concept of having equality between partners or at least recognising that equality can be achieved through the joining of qualities and resources. I mean maybe Mary has more drive and ambition - and this would have been good as long as she appreciated and respected John's steadier hand. Like a true farmer he doesn't rush things - in fact I think we could easily say - there is a big chunk of John missing from the text. He never gets a moment !!

And I have a copy of The Land of Green Ginger, which I was initially reluctant to follow through on - but I'm quite interested to see how Holtby's ideas evolve and develop. I've not read any others by her. I need to find a copy of South Riding - probably Internet Archive. :)

[Petra]

I’ve just finished.
What a rotter Mr Coast was! I won’t say any more in case people are still reading though.

[Laura]

Yes - Coast is revolting.

And we've never touched upon sexual frustration - Mary has been married to John for 10 years - 18-28. Isn't that the time in a person's life when desire is at it's peak? I mean it varies but. Isn't there a suggestion of "hysteria" in Mary's behaviour? That old-fashioned word that I dislike - meaning sexual frustration.

Or even the idea that Coast could be attracted to her - her antagonism to him is because she is a married woman, but couldn't it also be - she feels his attraction but - diverts her response into antagonism - which in a more modern society may have been recognised - by Mary - as attraction on her part also?

I don't know probably a very flighty theory - but Coast hates his wife - he insists she call him Mr Coast - which sounds ridiculous.

Coast is the only other "intellectual" - and quite possibly Mary's only equal in the whole area. ? The aggression between them is thwarted sexual attraction?

I mean - that would be a set-up to look for in Holtby's other novels. A specific attraction presented as aggression between two characters - because it cannot be resolved.

Again in Bronte's book - the thwarted males - noticeably Hargrave, but also Gilbert - both display aggression and violence - as a result of not getting the woman they want.

And what about Ursula - also very aggressive to Mary - but why? There are three specific scenes with Ursula attacking Mary - not openly of course but the hidden aggression is very unpleasant.

Are the characters of Coast and Ursula just there to move the plot along, or are they believable individuals (given what we know of their background/circumstances) In other words do their actions towards Mary make sense within their own stories?

[Petra]

Mr Coast was coming across as a bit of an incel! He was so enraged at being bested by Mary - a mere woman! Any mentions of his interactions between himself and his wife and himself and Mary were just hateful. But modern day incels do seem to come from a place of sexual rejection and frustration, so Mary probably made him feel silly and little (amongst other things) when he didn’t get his own way.

[Laura]

I had to look up "incel" - I really wasn't sure of it's meaning.

google says: "a member of an online community of young men who consider themselves unable to attract women sexually . . ."

But yep - I think I've had enough of Anderby Wold. Onwards to projects new.