I was inspired by the latest Backlisted episode to pick up a Bowen – specifically the one they covered, Death of the Heart, but it turns out that I don’t own it – so I substituted a novella of 151 pages, Friends and Relations (1931). It’s not one I see people talk about all that much, but I thought it on par with her others – the usual hallmarks of exceptionally beautiful and perceptive writing, and a plot that is never quite obvious.
The story opens at the wedding of Laurel Studdart and James Tilney. It is a very proper, slightly passionless affair. I loved this exchange, showing Bowen’s talent for dialogue that does a lot more than is evident on the surface.
‘You might hold your lilies,’ said Mrs Studdart, who had discovered the sheaf on a hall table specially cleared for the top-hats.
‘Oh, Mother, I can’t; they’re heavy.’
‘But don’t you think it would be nice, Edward, if she were to hold her lilies?’
‘I don’t know,’ said Edward. ‘Do people generally?’
‘They’d be such a strain on one arm all the time. You see I can’t change them; I must keep my right arm for shaking hands.’
‘And shake hands lightly,’ said Mrs Studdart, ‘don’t grip.’
‘Did I look …?’
‘Lovely, lovely,’ said Mrs Studdart. She was looking round distractedly for a vase and soon found one, a kind of Italian urn in which she arranged the lilies beside the bride.
It’s not long before Laurel’s sister Janet gets married – though this is rather more of a surprise to the family, as Janet was not expected to do anything so fortunate and conventional. What’s a little less conventional is that she is marrying the nephew of the man who had an adulterous affair with Edward’s mother. If that sentence is a little confusing, fear not, it’s clear in the book – essentially the dark horses in the family tree of both sisters’ new husbands are tangled together.
I found Laurel and Janet both rather unknowable. I’d be hard pressed to describe their personalities, and perhaps that reflects the rather controlled conversations they have with each other – appropriately sisterly to appearances, but without giving too much away.
On the other hand there is Theodora, easily my favourite character in Friends and Relations, and the most vivid. We see her first as a 15 year old at the wedding, pressing ice creams on unwilling guests and believing herself to be doing a great kindness, loudly berating her parents for huddling together, and evading speaking to the bride by walking outside and round the building to get to the food. She dominates her parents, finding them deeply embarrassing and forever correcting things that only a child would notice. It is a pitch perfect portrait, and funny too.
We move forward ten years into the past – both marriages have children, Theodora is still around, and the dark horses of the past are still having their effect on the future. There is a turning point in this section, but also the sense that the past lingers long over future generations.
I found I didn’t always know exactly what was going on, partly because Bowen’s writing is too complex to rush-read in a novella-a-day challenge, and partly because everybody prevaricates. The dialogue is never there for exposition; it is more realistic, and gives a rich sense of the relationships between people, rather than the details of the plot. I had to go back and re-read bits to try and piece things together. But it didn’t stop me enjoying Bowen’s striking writing. So many lovely sentences – I noted down one about a cat, of course: “The Siamese, reappearing like a malign sun over the cushions, looked at his mistress with penetration, without sympathy.”
Ultimately, I might land more on admiring Bowen than loving her – but there is so much to admire that that is no weak praise.
I absolutely enjoyed this review. Thanks. I’ve never read a Bowen but now I’m rather curious to explore her writing.
Thanks Tia!
Bowen is one of my favourite authors, so it’s nice to see you’re dipping in to her oeuvre, Simon. I enjoyed Friends and Relations, too, although I read it so long ago, I might be due for a reread. The Death of the Heart is wonderful, so do try to snap that one up. I did my undergrad Honours thesis on the lacunae in Bowen’s narratives. The unsaid is a powerful theme in all her novels.
I also want to thank you for promoting the Backlisted podcast. It’s now my favourite podcast after Tea or Books. So many fabulous recommendations and a knowledgeable but chatty atmosphere.
Oh I’m so glad you’re enjoying it – they’re wonderful, and often such interesting choices.
I know exactly what you mean about admiring Bowen rather than loving her. I’ve felt that (to a certain extent at least) with both her debut novel, The Hotel, and a later, critically-acclaimed one, the House in Paris. The Death of the Heart, however, I unreservedly love! As you say, reading Bowen quickly is probably not ideal due to the complex nature of her prose; but there’s still much to enjoy, even if certain aspects of her books remain tantalisingly out of reach!
Clearly I will need to get hold of The Death of the Heart! And read it a bit more leisurely.
Your description of Theodora reminds me of Cordelia in Brideshead Revisited, also a favourite character. Elizabeth Bowen does sound wonderful and I thought I hadn’t read any of her books, but I checked and discovered I’d read The Heat of the Day and only gave it a two-star rating, commenting “it’s written in that utterly infuriating buttoned-up, uptight English style of the post-war period.” And yet, there are images in it that occasionally pop into my head when reading something else. Worth revisiting and reading more of her books, methinks.
Oo interesting that the images stayed with you – funny how that happens sometimes. And you remind me that I still haven’t read Brideshead Revisited, despite buying it in 2004.
You captured perfectly why I struggle with Bowen. I know its good but I can’t quite get my hands on what’s going on or why. Maybe I need to let that go and just enjoy her beautiful writing and accept that in life we rarely get full explanations about the plot we are caught up in.
Very glad it is not just me!
I remember enjoying this when I read it but also being baffled at times and having to re-read it! in fact, your review took me straight back to being on the train to Manchester and flicking back through pages trying to pick up a thread I’d completely lost! At one point I did plan on reading Bowen for this May project (The Hotel) but decided my brain couldn’t manage whizzing through her right now.
I kept re-reading The Letter and trying to work out why it was so cataclysmic!
Bowen’s prose is not straightforward, definitely, but I do love her books. I think you’re right about not rushing her, and it’s ambitious to tackle her as part of a time sensitive challenge – well done! Her short stories are marvellous and definitely worth exploring if you haven’t.
Yes, next time I’ll definitely linger longer. I have read The Demon Lover collection, which I enjoyed in parts.
I know the feeling of getting lost in Bowen a little and admiring more than loving her. I’m reading a novella in May by mistake at the moment – Strange Journey. I could have saved it until Novellas in November – but I couldn’t and I’m glad I didn’t!
So glad you enjoyed Strange Journey, and thanks for the review!