790. August Folly (Angela Thirkell)

Synopsis from Amazon:
A favorite summer pastime is the amateur theatrical. Here it serves as the stage for the farce that society can become when played in deadly earnest.

My rating: 4 stars

155. Happy Returns (Angela Thirkell)

Hemerocallis "Happy Returns"

Synopsis from Amazon:
Set in 1951 and first published in 1952, the characteristically witty, nostalgic 25th novel in the beloved Barsetshire series describes the lingering effects of WWII on the fictional village that Thirkell adapted from its Victorian inventor and chronicler, Anthony Trollope. Classical scholar Eric Swan, part of a conspiracy to get his friend Charles Belton married to the lovely Clarissa Graham (once beloved by young Lord Ludovic Lufton), finds himself falling for librarian Grace Grantley, who in turns falls for Lord Lufton. The dowager Lady Lufton, widowed and melancholic, finds solace in a platonic friendship with her rich tenant, while the birth of several babies to various members of the leading families brings renewed hope to those of the older generation who are unable to adjust to the suffering and social upheavals brought on by the war.

My rating: 4 stars

Publication information:

• 1952 by Hamish Hamilton, UK
  

154. Ankle Deep (Angela Thirkell)

Synopsis from Amazon:
Fanny Turner is a crafty woman who "would have felt sentiment of an infuriated kind" if her family duties had ever interfered with her frenetic social life. One weekend she invites Valentine Ensor, a divorced school friend of her husband Arthur, for a weekend, along with an older couple, the Howards, who bring along their daughter, the somewhat dour Aurea Palgrave. Aurea is now married and living quite unhappily in Canada, but Arthur had once been in love with her. The weekend is a somewhat predictable time of star-crossed love and slight misunderstandings that lead nowhere.

My rating: 4 stars

Publication information:

• 1933 by Hamish Hamilton
  

46. The Demon in the House (Angela Thirkell)

Synopsis from Amazon UK:
In her second Barsetshire novel, Thirkell continues the saga of the irrepressible Tony Morland. An actual boy must be lurking somewhere in the background as it would be impossible to make up such a monumental Pest. Grown ups and children alike are ground into submission by his everlasting chatter and overweening 'self-esteem'. Only Dr Ford, whose conversation with Tony is confined to the phrase 'Shut up' and Sylvia Gould, the swimming instructor, who exposes Tony's vaunted diving ability as phoney, come anywhere near even temporarily quashing him. Tony and his silent friend Donk (but how could he be otherwise around Tony?) are referred to as the 'little boys' at age thirteen and Rose, age fourteen, is comforted by Mrs Morland while holding her on her lap; how times have changed! Perhaps brought together by a common exasperation towards Tony, Dr Ford and Sylvia appear headed for the altar. It would now be PC to describe Tony as inherently loveable; but I won't.

My rating: 5 stars

Publication information:

• 1934 by Hamish Hamilton