Reviews

‘One of those rare gems that comes to the reviewer out of the blue . . . enough twists to shame a cobra . . . the story fairly rips along, defying the reader to put the book down . . . Christine Poulson should be heralded as the fine entrant to the world of crime fiction she most certainly is.’ [Stage Fright]

- WWW.CHRISHIGH.COM

The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate

PursuitOfLoveIt is the 1930s and eighteen year old Fanny has been invited to a daunting house-party at Hampton Park. Her terrifying hostess Lady Montdore and the fashionable Mrs Chaddesley Corbett call her over and ask her, ‘Are you in love?’

‘I felt myself becoming scarlet in the face. How could they have guessed my secret? ….

“There you are, Sonia,” said Mrs Chaddesley Corbett triumphantly, tapping a cigarette with nervous violence against her jewelled case and lighting it with a gold lighter, her pale blue eyes never meanwhile leaving my face . . . “We’re not going to worm. What we really want to know, to settle a bet, is this, have you always fancied someone ever since you can remember? Answer truthfully, please.”

I was obliged to admit that this was the case. From a tiny child . . . some delicious image had been enshrined in my heart, last thought at night, first thing in the morning  [There follows a long list, including Byron, Rudolf Valentino, blissful Mrs Ashton at school, the guard on the 4.45, Napoleon, and a pompous young man in the Foreign Office].

“There you are you see,” Mrs Chaddesley Corbett turned triumphantly to Lady Montdore. ‘From kiddie-car to hearse, darling, I couldn’t know it better. After all, what else would there be to think about when one’s alone, otherwise?”‘

This is from Love in a Cold Climate, which I am currently reading, having just read The Pursuit of Love, both by Nancy Mitford. I always read them together and I have lost count of how often I have read them. I bought them nearly forty years ago after The Pursuit of Love was mentioned by Mrs Fowle, my wonderful English teacher, and have loved them ever since. They are far from being straightforward romantic novels or even romantic comedy. There are dark accents and some penetrating insights into the pitfalls of love and marriage. And what a marvellous writer Nancy Mitford was: her ear for dialogue is perfect, and there is never a word out of place. The narratives flow so easily that one doesn’t notice how cleverly they are constructed.

She has not been well served by the covers of recent editions of her books (often sadly the case) so I show here the cover to the first edition of The Pursuit of Love.

4 Comments

  1. Helen R Hardie
    January 10, 2015

    Hello Christine
    I have long been absorbed by the Mitfords and a great admirer of Nancy’s novels.
    Recently a kind woman mentioned James Lees-Milne to me and his diaries open up some lovely glimpses of the family. I expect you know JL-M but I have come to that pleasure quite late in life.
    Regards
    Helen

    Reply
    • Christine Poulson
      January 11, 2015

      Good to hear from you, Helen. I also came to James L-M fairly late and have read most of the diaries now. I also love Jessica Mitford’s Hons and Rebels. I expect you have read that, too.

      Reply
  2. Susan D
    January 13, 2015

    And I hope you have access to the wonderful “Love in a Cold Climate” miniseries, which is perfect. The 1980 version, not the pointless 2000 version. (Both books combined into one series, since they do take place simultaneously).

    Reply
    • Christine Poulson
      January 14, 2015

      Thanks! I haven’t seen the miniseries. It is always a bit of a risk when you love a book. But I’ll have a look.

      Reply

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