Parentless, twenty-three year old Jean Jardine lives in a little town in Scotland and is raising her three younger brothers. They can barely make ends meet, but their home is filled with love and books. Miss Pamela Reston is a rich, bored heiress who comes to Priorsford to escape the whirl of social activities that no longer hold any interest for her.
Douglas quotes her as saying, “I am not going to face old age bolstered by bridge and cosmetics. There must be other props, and I mean to find them. I mean to possess my soul. I’m not all froth, but, if I am, Priorsford will reveal it.” (p. 15)
This is a “happily ever after story” like most light fiction of the early 20th Century, but it's above average for several reasons. The writing is good. And the characters are extremely literate (even the children!) They are always quoting Shakespeare, the Bible or some other famous tome. Everybody worth liking has a library positively bursting with books.
Wikipedia describes Douglas’ novels as “gentle domestic dramas,” yet this story is grounded in history too. Written in 1920, it addresses some of the suffering caused by World War One.
I have to agree with the reviewer over at Leaves and Pages who wrote that while the book is not earth shattering, "it is attractive in its simplicity." In the last chapter Jean tells her husband that the four nicest things in the world are “tea, a fire, a book, and a friend.” If you agree with her, you’ll enjoy this little book.
(O. Douglas was the pen-name for Scottish author Anna Buchan, sister to novelist John Buchan. Three of her novels are available for free on Kindle: The Setons, Penny Plain, and Olivia in India.)
5 comments:
Here is yet another free Kindle book that sounds wonderful! I love books about Scotland, and books with characters who love books - sounds like a perfect winter read! Thanks for sharing!
Hope!
Penny Plain is one of my favorite "comfort food" books. I read it about once a year, often at one sitting. I adore Jean Jardine.
This was my first O. Douglas title. Since I first read it (in the 1990s) I've gathered half a dozen of her books. But Penny Plain has remained my favorite.
I read Olivia in India in 2012; I was happy to be able to read it without paying dearly to get it from the UK.
Thanks for this happy post.
This book sounds really good! I think I've heard the title before, but I never knew what it was about. Thanks for calling my attention to it.
This book has everything I love in a book, plus the emotional pleasure you derived from it is akin to my pleasure in reading Mrs. Miniver. I'm going to order this book NOW.
I found an old copy of this book on Ebay and snatched it up for $5.00! Can't wait to read it as it sounds like one best read by the fireside with a cup of tea and a few biscuits within easy reach.
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