The Diary of a Provincial Lady – E.M. Delafield
Virago Modern Classics, 2008
Originally published 1930
After loving Consequences so much last year, and hearing so much praise about this book from other bloggers (although not everyone loved it) I just *had* to read it. I very much enjoyed reading The Diary of a Provincial Lady, though my love for it is not as strong as that of some others. I feel that, perhaps, it was overshadowed a little by my love for Consequences.
That is not to say that I did not enjoy this. Nor could I help but fall for the provincial lady’s way with words and the cadence of her diary entries, which, as Thomas pointed out, “brilliantly capture the episodic, shorthanded cadence so typical of how one thinks about things. Not always in lovely complete sentences, but short bursts of thought, like thousands of brain synapses firing directly onto the page.” The book is humorous and had me laughing repeatedly. I can imagine this working as quite a good “pick me up” book on days when you need a little comfort.
What I enjoyed about The Diary of a Provincial Lady is that it is funny in a sympathetic manner. It manages to poke fun at the characters without losing the reader’s sympathy for the Lady or the other characters. It reminded me a little of Henrietta’s War in the gentle mocking of neighbours, while Delafield, like Joyce Dennys, does not shy away from laughing at the Provincial Lady herself.
There are moments when the age of the book shows. It shows in some of its charms, but also in its seeming acceptance of class and gender boundaries. There is the endless issues surrounding her overdraft and spending too much money, there are the complaints about a male servant, questions of how to maintain boundaries with servants, there are the times when the lady, through her minor complaints, seems to take her position and lifestyle for granted. However, I wonder if this isn’t part of the comedic nature of the book as well, is not the reader supposed to see the absurdity of some of these complaints? I don’t know. In part, these topics made me feel a little uncomfortable. On the other hand, the reader is often invited to laugh at them.
Besides humourous, the lady can also be very observant and reflective. There are hints of tentatively questions why it is accepted that servants will always be servants, there is many a time when she reflects on the absurdity of social standards and the pretence of her lifestyle, or moments when she questions her role as a woman:
“Query, mainly rhetorical: Why are nonprofessional women, if married and with children, so frequently referred to as “leisured”? Answer comes there none.”
or:
“Lady B. at once adds that she always advises girls to marry, no matter what the man is like, as any husband is better than none, and there are not nearly enough to go round.
I immediately refer to Rose’s collection of distinguished Feminists, giving her to understand that I know them all well and intimately, and have frequently discussed the subject with them. Lady B. waves her hand–(in elegant white kid, new, not cleaned)–and declares That may be all very well, but if they could have got husbands they wouldn’t be Feminists. I instantly assert that all have had husbands, and some two or three. This may or may not be true, but have seldom known stronger homicidal impulse.”
The interactions between Lady B. and “The Provincial Lady” were particularly entertaining as they included many of the above type of back and forth, in which, somehow, Lady B. always manages to have the last word, using remarks on the other lady’s being well-read or intelligent as a way to cut her off or make her opinion less important.
In short: there is much to love in The Diary of a Provincial Lady. I particularly enjoyed the comedy and observations in which no one is overlooked or “right”. At the same time, however much I enjoyed reading this, I think I may prefer Delafield’s more tragic Consequences to this comedy. They are difficult to compare, really, since they are so different in tone and style. Whereas that novel compelled me to keep on reading, I was more comfortable dipping in and out of Diary. I think it is just that sort of book: a book that you are able to read in one go, or quite comfortably read a few pages at a time.
Other Opinions: Still Life With Books, Things Mean A Lot, My Porch, Shelf Love, Jenny’s Books, A Work in Progress, Stuck in a Book, A Good Stopping Point, Savidge Reads, Ela’s Book Blog, Verity’s Virago Venture, The Sleepless Reader.
Did I miss yours? Let me know and I will add your review to the list.
Isn’t it interesting that it was first published in “Time and Tide”, a feminist paper? My first feeling was that it wasn’t ground-breaking at all when it came to women’s emancipation, but then quotes like the ones you’ve chose pop-up.
Please add my review to your list: http://thesleeplessreader.com/2010/10/11/the-diary-of-a-provincial-lady-by-e-m-delafield/
Alex, sorry that I had not included your review. Is your blog part of the book blogger search engine? Because that’s what I usually use to find reviews. I have to admit that I usually stop at the point where only other books come up from the same author, or giveaways, so I may just have missed it in my hurry to get this post published.
That is interesting. I was not aware that Time and Tide was a feminist paper. I can see how this book can be read as both non-feminist and feminist. Also depending on your definition of feminism
It is interesting to think about.
I really enjoyed this too, and feel it must have been at least partly the basis for Bridget Jones’ Diary (which was inferior).
I am so glad you brough Bridget Jones up, because at one point during my reading of this book I thought of Bridget! Yes, it might very well have influenced Helen Fielding, I think
It is amazing how different Delafield’s style is, across her range of books. The Provincial Lady series are not only my favourite of hers, but possibly my favourite books (certainly right up there) and I find them hilarious. I have to be honest, I tend to accept most gender and (especially) class issues as being of their time, and don’t worry much about them. Having said that, I think Delafield was a feminist of the variety which wanted to show how valid women’s lives were in any sphere. Certainly, the PL herself comes across much more vividly and validly than Robert.
Thank you Simon. I think you are right that she was feminist in portraying the validity of women’s lives in any sphere. I sometimes find it hard to switch off the gender/class issues when reading a book. I do accept that things were different at the time, but at the same time I want to be able to bring up these questions. It is a difficult subject, because I in no way mean to say that this book is less good because of the acceptance of the status quo at times, but I also can’t seem to not notice, reading this so many years later.
I loved the excerpts that you posted and think they gave me a great flavor of the book, which I do want to read at some point. I have heard a lot of others say that this was a very involving read, and I am sure I would agree! Great review today!
I’ll look forward to your opinions once you have read it. I think you could quote any part of The Diary of a Provincial Lady and it would give you a taste of the style of the book. I very much enjoyed it.
A new writer to me Iris ,but I like books about class a very english thing and a very english sound book ,all the best stu
I don’t think the class thing is limited to the English per se. However, when reading it, its style very much reminded me of some of my favourite English bloggers. Just the expressions used etc, it made me smile and a little warm inside.
Having trouble commenting so sorry if you get loads comments Iirs seems like a good book on class all the best stu
No problem, Stu
I did delete the rest of the comments that said the same.
Before I read Consequences I had written off Delafield as a fossil from the past, but how wrong I was! I did not like Diary at all because of the inherent classist attitude: I just couldn’t laugh along with the jokes, even though the book was written long ago. It just did not sit right with me, somehow, to laugh at people of a lower class or different nationality. Anyway, I am glad you introduced me to Consequences, because that is one powerful book, and it really is amazing how Delafield could write in different styles to suit her market. I was SO wrong about her.
“It just did not sit right with me, somehow, to laugh at people of a lower class or different nationality.”
I originally included a question in this post, asking if the laughing at part of the book is a way of subservance of expectations, or if it could be seen as a way of dismissing the issues, or as the Dutch say “laughing the problem away”.
COnsequences really is a gem. I am so glad you enjoyed it too.
I just finished reading this one on my flight back from Ireland. I enjoyed it, but I didn’t love it, either, the way so many others did. Maybe because it was built up so much in my mind? I thought it was amusing in a frivolous way (and there is nothing wrong with that- I love frivolous amusement), but it wasn’t enough for me to LOVE it.
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