Sunday 10 March 2013

A Letter of Introdution

 This past week I have felt rather like Florence Nightingale at the base hospital in Scutari:


This image of Florence Nightingale is a detail of a picture that comes from Wikipedia.

Which is rather apt considering that I live in the place where she did a lot of her studies...

At present, Kaiserswerth is in the grip of a raging influenza virus that is knocking people over like ninepins.  AGA has been confined to bed with it for five days and today is his first day up and about.  He told me, that the doctor told him, that nearly half the town has it!  The usual suspects: Extreme tiredness, lack of appetite, a rumbling cough, aches and pains.  What we need is sun, sun and more sun but what we have is rain and overnight we apparently have an 87% chance of snow!  I wish Spring would get a move on.

However the purpose of this post is not to whine about illness and the weather, but rather to serve as a letter of introduction for Miss Mary Mitford and her charming book.

No, I am not referring to one of those famous (and sometimes infamous) Mitford sisters.

The Mary Mitford of whom I write was born in 1787 and died in 1855.
This image of Mary Mitford comes from Wikipedia

Here is a little something about her:
Mart Russell Mitford was born in 1787, the daughter of a Dr George Mitford who, while seemingly a very engaging personality, was a thorough wastrel and really quite a dreadful man, who spent his wife's entire fortune.
Then, when things seemed quite hopeless for the family, his daughter Mary had the good luck to pick a winning lottery ticket.  The prize was 20,000 - a large sum of money in those days and worth around 650,000 today.  Dr. Mitford with cheerful but selfish abandon, managed to spend most of that too.

It was this lack of money that spurred Mary to turn her hand to writing in an effort to support herself, and her now ageing parents.  To this end she met with some fair degree of success and while for many years the spectre of poverty was never far from the door, she was able to live a fairly comfortable life.

And while she had dreamt of becoming a poetess, and a playwright, it is for her series of country-life sketches (we might call them 'essays') that she is best remembered.  These grew out of a necessity to earn money.  The first set of sketches were published in a subscription magazine and when they proved popular, more where composed and eventually compiled in book form entitled 'Our Village'. Several more books in the same vein followed.

* * * * * *

'Our Village' is a delightful book: Both intimate and enticing.  A little window into country-life in Regency England.
The book contains no malice; no waspishness.  It is neither judgemental nor condescending.  The author is generous to her subjects and as you begin to read, you find yourself drawn into Mary's world, to extent that it is hard to put the book down!
The complete series of sketches forms a relatively large book.  I have an edition back in Melbourne but I was fortunate enough to encounter, while strolling along the Portobello Road with AGA, a truly delightful slimmer volume, dating from 1893 and consisting of a selection from the five volumes of the same title.  This forms a good introduction to her works.
The added treasure and delight of this particular book is that it is illustrated by that incomparable artist: Hugh Thomson (1860-1920).  Interestingly, the Irish-born Mr. Thomson is also known for his quality illustrations for the works of Jane Austen, Mary Mitford's contemporary and sometimes friend.

The cover (designed by the illustrator) is itself a charming piece of work, undertaken in gold leaf:
The stiff but easily removable plastic cover came with the book and I am retaining it until such time that  the book returns to Melbourne with me so that the gilding on both cover and pages, remains as bright as when it was first published.

The frontispiece gives an indication of what to expect within:

'...And one hundred illustrations by Hugh Thomson' -  Who could ask for more?

Here is the opening paragraph of the first sketch, which is entitled 'Country Pictures':
"Of all situations for a constant residence that which appears to me most delightful is a little village far in the country; a small neighbourhood, not of fine mansions finely peopled, but of cottages and cottage-like houses, 'messuages or tenements', as a friend of mine calls such ignoble and nondescript dwellings, with inhabitants whose faces are as familiar to us as the flowers in our garden; a little world of our own, close-packed and insulated like ants in an ant-hill, or bees in a hive, or sheep in a fold, or nuns in a convent, or sailors in a ship; where we know every one, and are known to every one, interested in every one, and authorised to hope that every one feels an interest in us.  How pleasant it is to slide into these true-hearted feelings from the kindly and unconscious influence of habit, and to learn to know and to love the people about us, with all their peculiarities, just as we learn to know and to love the nooks and tuns of the shade lands and sunny commons that we pass every day."

The illustrations are charming:



And each chapter has a delightful illustration to accompany it:

The character studies of the various inhabitants leaving one feeling that ones knows them as well as Miss Mitford did.  You can feel the affection she has for her fellow villagers, from the eldest down to the youngest.
One can tell that she has a deep love for the countryside and this shines forth in her descriptions.  Her love of animals is also evident and her description of village cricket (a sport she loved to watch) has led to her being described as being among the first to write on the subject.

I do like the description she gives of her own house and garden:
"Divided from the shop by a narrow yard, and opposite the shoemaker's is a habitation of whose inmates I shall say nothing.  A cottage - no - a miniature house, with many additions, little odds and ends of places, pantries and what not; all angles, and of a charming in-an-outness; a little bricked court before one half, and a little flower-yard before the other; the walls, old and weather-stained, covered with hollyhocks, roses, honeysuckles, a great apricot-tree; the casements full of geraniums (ah! there is our superb white cat peeping out from among them); the closets (our landlord has the assurances to call them rooms) full of contrivances and corner-cupboards; and the little garden behind full of common flowers, tulips, pinks, larkspurs, peonies, stocks and carnations, with an arbour of privet, not unlike a sentry-box, where one lies in a delicious green light, and looks out on the gayest of all gay flower-beds.  That house was built on purpose to show in what an exceeding small compass comfort may be packed."

I recommend to you, not only Mary Mitford but her wonderful book as well!  Do see if you are able to buy a copy, or if that proves impossible then to borrow one from your library.

39 comments:

  1. I just ordered a copy from Amazon. Unfortunately, it doesn't have gold leaf. Sigh...

    Tell AGA to get well soon.

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    1. Adrienne,
      My friend!
      It is so good to see you again.
      Thanks for visiting. I think you will really like this book.
      Bye for now
      Kirk

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  2. Hello Kirk, These sound like charming sketches of village life, and I just added them to my book list. I like the sample you give, full of detail and good-humor. The style reminds me of Flora Thompson, author of Lark Rise to Candleford, who is perhaps a bit later. Have you read her books?

    Stay away from the flu, both you and AGA.
    --Road to Parnassus

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    1. Hello Jim,
      You are right: Her works abound in detail and good humour. I think that is what makes them so enjoyable to read. Not frothy lacking in substance; but not too in-depth as to be turgid. Yes I have read Fora Thompson and I see what you mean by similarities.
      When I read Mary Mitford I always wish that I could have met her. What an entertaining dinner guest she would make.
      Bye for now
      Kirk

      PS
      I am taking all the preventative measures I can to stave off the 'flu.

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  3. Hi Kirk,

    What a delightful find! The book not only looks beautiful, but sounds like a pleasant read too. I must admit that I am more familiar with the work of the Mitford sisters than Mary Russell Mitford. I recently read 'Wait for me' by Deborah Devonshire, which is quite an enjoyable book too! Full of interesting details and humour.

    I will see if I can find your book in Holland.

    Hope Aga wil be his old self again soon! Hope you won't be the next victim of the influenza!

    Have a lovely new week!

    Madelief

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    1. Hi Madelief,

      Those MItford sisters! I have read 'Mme du Pompadour' and 'The Sun King' both by Nancy Mitford and we have a book on Chatsworth by Deborah Devonshire. I like much of their writing too.

      I feel sure that Our Village would be available. Interestingly I am having something of a Dutch week in my library having just bought the Dolfje the Werewolf series in Dutch, as recommended by one of our Dutch students. I think that they are going to be very popular!
      I hear the weather is going to return to winter so stay warm!

      Kirk

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  4. Hello Kirk,
    What a wonderful post, I like the story, the images, and the strength of Mary. That edition of Our Village is beautiful. I hope Aga will be better. I can see that this horrible virus can travel hundreds of kilometres.

    Hugs from Jerez

    Marina

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    1. Thank you Marina,
      It is indeed a beautiful looking book as well as one that is nice to read.

      I think this virus we have is similar to the one you had.

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  5. Hello Kirk,

    Hoping that the AGA is feeling better but I think it will be a little longer, I am still not 100% 3 weeks on!

    Thank you for this post, I would very much like to read this charming book, but do I order a new copy or send the Parents on a book hunt (which they would enjoy!) - I think I would love the one hundred illustrations by the Hugh Thomson in the mix!
    Wishing you both a good week.

    Ivan

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    1. Hello Ivan,
      AGA is better-ish. Hero that he is, he is going to work today and comforting himself with the fact that he only has two more weeks until we go on holiday.
      I do recommend this particular edition so I guess send 'les parents' on a book hunt!
      Our weekend was made all the more comfortable by a raspberry and apple pie...
      Bye for now and enjoy the week.

      Kirk

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  6. Your Mary seems to have been a great optimist and tireless worker, Kirk. A beautiful edition of 'Our Village' you've got there!

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    1. Thanks Faisal,
      I think that you would enjoy this book.
      I readily admit that when I saw that particular edition sitting on the shelf in the shop, I grew extremely covetous and knew that I had to have it or else!

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  7. What a great book! A few months back I asked on our blog for some ideas for books that might make for great reading and no one mentioned this one. I love the idea behind it and the samples you shares sound just lovely.

    Hope Aga gets better, sending some warm Texas sunshine your way!!

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    1. 1st Man you have to get this book. You will love it. Another nice thing about it is that some characters weave their way through the essays and when they pop up again you feel that you are meeting old friends. That is the consummate skill of the authoress shining through.

      AGA is getting better. He has even decided to go to work today. He is a brave chap!

      Texan sunshine - yes please!

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  8. Dear Kirk,

    Your Mitford books sounds quite charming. I found it interesting that Mary knew Jane Austin. Wouldn't it be interesting if correspondence between the two resides somewhere? Actually, the precarious finances of the Mitford family do fit into a jane Austin novel.

    I hope AGA is over the flu by the time this is posted!

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    1. Dear Mark,
      AGA is over the 'flu now - or nearly over it.
      I am rather a Jane Austen fan - but prefer the books to the various films and made for TV extravaganzas. The books have a quality to them that the screen just cannot match.
      Mary Mitford's letters have been produced as a book. I wonder if there is correspondence between them although I rather doubt it as there is a twelve year age difference. Having said that though, I think that Miss Mitford's letters would be charming to read!

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  9. It's interesting that Miss Mitford lived in Shinfield, Berkshire and her stories are based on that village. She talks about the crowded cottages being like an ant-hill. My great grandmother lived in a nearby village, Binfield, and started her married life in a cluster of humble cottages called Emmett's Nest- or ants nest. I suspect Miss Mitford might have known this place.

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    1. That's interesting. When I was writing this post I thought it might be nice to visit these places and see what they are like now.

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  10. Thanks so much for the info on Mary Mitford. I'll see if I can find the book. The cover is beautiful.

    I hope AGA is completely recovered soon. Did he like you in your Florence Nightingale outfit? (Mary Mitford appears to have gone in for a bit more color.)

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    1. AGA is making progress. He has been back to work but finds it tiring. THey say it takes about three or four weeks to get over it.
      I think more sombre colours are appropriate when one is nursing as one doesn't want to excite the patient too much.
      I hope you are able to get this book. It is such a nice book to read.

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  11. Dear Kirk,
    Thanks so much for this post, although I have to say, that it brings a pang of regret: a while back, having amassed an embarrassing pile of books at a used book store, I had a (later) copy of "our Village" in my hands, and then put it back on the shelf!!!! I shall have to mount an internet search to rectify this mistake! Lesson learned: never leave an old book behind-- there's always room for one more! Mary Mitford sounds like such a wonderful writer: generous and sincere, one to visit and revisit... Fabulous.

    I'm so sorry to hear that AGA has been ill with the flu and send my sincere best wishes for a speedy recovery! (Perhaps more of your wonderful baking will do the trick???)
    With warm and healthful wishes,
    Erika

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    1. Dear Erika,
      Buyer's regret - I know the feeling.
      If I am in a similar situation AGA always advices against ending up with buyer's regret at a later stage. At least in this instance you can rectify the issue via the Internet. However, even better than using the Internet, perhaps this is a good excuse to go on a book hunting expedition!
      Home baking is certainly helping the patient to recover. Raspberry and apple pie is on the menu at the moment.

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  12. This book you write about, Kirk, puts me in mind of the Miss Read books which I read years ago and which contain the same simply village life themes as Miss Mitford specialized in. This one taking place during the Regency era though makes it that much more intriguing to one whose favorite book is PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.

    Thanks for introducing me to this gem, Kirk. I will definitely be trying to get my hands on a copy.

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    1. Dear Yvette,
      Being a 'fan' of the Regency period is what induced me to buy my first copy. As a Jane Austen reader I delighted in the simple yet colourful descriptions that Miss Mitford gives.
      I hope you are able to obtain the book!

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  13. Kirk, I've never known about Mary Mitford and her book. I liked that you re-told this book, but I think it should be difficult for me to read it in original. I'll try to find it in a good translation (not Google!).
    I hope you are well, the flu's gone away your town. Need sun? I send you some sun with cold: as we have such weather today.
    Have a nice weekend!

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    1. Dear Nadezda,
      Sun has arrived. Thank you! The cold has come with it but that is okay because we have blue skies and it is slowly getting warmer.
      I agree with you that a good Russian translation of this book would be good. That way you get the flow of the writing.
      I hope that you are enjoying the week,
      Kirk

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    2. Happy Easter!
      I hope you're well and have nice holiday with your friend.

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  14. My copy just arrived. It's a 1906 copy and does have a rather pretty red cover. The inside is exactly like your copy. It only cost $4.95, which seemed like a pretty good deal...

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    1. Dear Adrienne,
      A beautiful book at a bargain price. What could be better?
      I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I. When I open the pages and start to read I am transported far away. I think that that is one of the signs of a good book.
      Bye for now
      Kirk

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  15. Thank you for that introduction! I think I will try to get to know her better!

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    1. Thank you Jayne,
      I think that you will enjoy that book!

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  16. Replies
    1. Happy Easter (albeit belated) to you too, David

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  17. Happy Easter Kirk!
    Regards, David & Peter.

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    1. Thank you David and Peter, our best (but belated) wishes at this very important time are sent in return to you both!

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  18. Haven't seen a post from you in awhile. Just worried about you guys. Hope all is well. Happy April!

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    1. Thank you 1st Man,
      That is very nice of you.
      Flu + Real Life + Holidays meant no time to even to look at the internet, let alone check blogs!
      All is back to normal now.
      Happy sun filled, flowery April to you too!

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  19. Hello Kirk,
    I was think of you all at Easter enjoying the delights of Paris...
    Hope you are well and had a wonderful time.
    Ivan

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    1. Dear Ivan,
      The last three weeks have been a whirl of activity culminating in yesterday driving from Vassy, via Paris, back to Dusseldorf.
      A lovely but chilly holiday in both Paris and in your part of the world!
      Kirk

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