Revisiting an old favourite

When I had a cold a month ago, feeling sorry for myself and tired, the latest Slightly Foxed Edition arrived through my door. I was a bit surprised that it was the series’ first fictional offering, but delighted to add to my collection of Diary of a Provincial Lady editions. And, since I was coldy and tired and grumpy, it was absolutely the perfect book to read straight away. As soon as I turn to that first diary entry on November 7th 1929 (my birthday! albeit more than half a century early), I was at home.

I’ve read and listened to Diary of a Provincial Lady by E.M. Delafield so, so many times that I basically know all the words at this point. There is no book more comforting to dive into. The daily reflections, wry asides, embarrassments, and ironies of a 1930s wife and mother are so funny, so self-deprecating, so curiously recognisable even to someone like me who shares very few of her experiences.

This new edition comes with an enjoyable preface by Slightly Foxed favourite Ysenda Maxtone Graham (who is able to make apt references to her own grandmother’s most famous work, Mrs Miniver). I don’t agree with Graham’s assertion that Diary of a Provincial Lady is the best of the series – that honour goes to The Provincial Lady Goes Further in my opinion – but I really appreciated her comparison with Delafield’s more sombre examinations of staid married life in books like The Way Things Are, and why the Provincial Lady books are somehow more effective.

I suspect you’ve all read and loved this book, so instead of a full review, I’m just going to put some quotes that made me laugh – even on the zillionth reading.

February 28th

Notice, and am gratified by, appearance of large clump of crocuses near the front gate. Should like to make whimsical and charming reference to these… but am interrupted by Cook, saying that the Fish is here, but he’s only brought cod and haddock and the haddock doesn’t smell any too fresh, so what about cod?

Have often noticed that Life is like that.

March 1st

Crowds of people at the reception. Know most of them, but am startled by strange lady in pink, wearing eye-glasses, who says that I don’t remember her – which is only too true – but that she has played tennis at my house. How, she says, are those sweet twins? Find myself telling her that they are very well indeed, before I know where I am. Can only trust never to set eyes on her again.

March 9th

Barbara goes to Evening Service, and I go to look in on her mother, whom I find in shawls, sitting in an armchair reading- rather ostentatiously – enormous Life of Lord Beaconsfield. I ask how she is, and she shakes her head and enquires if I should ever guess that her pet name amongst her friends once used to be Butterfly? (This kind of question always so difficult, as either affirmative or negative reply apt to sound unsympathetic. Feel it would hardly do to suggest that Chrysalis, in view of the shawls, would now be more appropriate.) However, says Mrs. Blenkinsop with a sad smile, it is never her way to dwell upon herself and her own troubles. She just sits there, day after day, always ready to sympathise in the little joys and troubles of others, and I would hardly believe how unfailingly these are brought to her. People say, she adds deprecatingly, that just her Smile does them good. She does not know, she says, what they mean. (Neither do I.)

April 11th

Look for Robin and eventually find him with the cat, shut up into totally unventilated linen-cupboard, eating cheese which he says he found on the back stairs.

(Undoubtedly, a certain irony can be found in the fact that I have recently been appointed to new Guardians Committee, and am expected to visit Workhouse, etc., with particular reference to children’s quarters, in order that I may offer valuable suggestions on questions of hygiene and general welfare of inmates… Can only hope that fellow-members of the Committee will never be inspired to submit my own domestic arrangements to similar inspection.)

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If you haven’t read Diary of a Provincial Lady yet then, gosh, you have a treat ahead of you. And if you’re looking for a last-minute stocking filler, then this beautiful new Slightly Foxed edition is perfect.