105/2020. Well-written, as one would expect from this author, with an interesting use of embedded narrative as a plot device later in the story. The plot is basically a bildungsroman except the protagonist is in her twenties. She doesn't want to settle down to upper middle class English life, or have the responsibility of children, but instead of rebelling she falls in love and marries so her fate is sealed.

Quote

Christmas is too commercialised these days (1926 version): "Every year, in the deep mid-winter, there descends upon this world a terrible fortnight. A fortnight, or ten days, or a week, when citizens can not get about the streets of their cities for the surging pressure of persons who walk therein; when every shop is a choked mass of humanity, and purchases, at the very time when purchases are most numerously ordained to be made, are only possible at the cost of bitter hours of travail; a time when nerves are jangled and frayed, purses emptied to no purpose, all amusements and all occupations suspended in favour of frightful businesses with brown paper, string, letters, cards, stamps, and crammed post offices. This period is doubtless a foretaste of whatever purgatory lies in store for human creatures." ( )

My introduction to Rose Macaulay was with her 1950 novel The World my Wilderness – which I absolutely loved. I was therefore delighted that Virago has seen fit to re-issue some of her novels – and while I’d always prefer a shabby old green these new editions are lovely to be going on with.

Crewe Train is a much earlier novel and yet there are several similarities to Macaulay’s later novel especially in the character of Denham Dobie. Like Macaulay’s later character Barbary Deniston, Denham has been allowed to run wild, growing up abroad in a less than conventional household. There’s an untutored, childishness about Denham as a young woman – who prefers to be alone out of doors, to not have to talk or socialise or play host in any way to relatives from England.

Denham’s father – a former Church of England vicar, had taken his daughter away, seeking a quieter life abroad, having become sick of having to ‘bury dissenters or to baptise illegitimate infants’ and wanting to be less busy and less sociable. Having found Mallorca to be too sociable they moved to Andorra – where Denham’s father re-marries in a moment of weakness providing Denham with a step-mother and half siblings who he immediately has cause to regret and she doesn’t care for at all. To the horror of Mr Dobie and Denham – visitors from England begin to arrive in Andorra – and with them come relatives of Denham’s mother. When Denham’s father dies – her beautifully groomed, still young Aunt Evelyn and her smart cousins Audrey, Guy, Noel and Humphrey contrive to spirit Denham away – to London, where they can civilise her.

Before I go any further – a word or two about the title – which really puzzled me. A Twitter conversation about it put me out of my misery. The title refers to the lyrics of a once popular music hall song – which describes a mis-directed traveller. This is also explained in the introduction to this edition – but of course I don’t read introductions until I have finished the book.

Oh! Mr Porter, what shall I do?
I want to go to Birmingham
And they’re taking me on to Crewe,
Take me back to London, as quickly as you can,
Oh! Mr Porter, what a silly girl I am.

In London, Denham is introduced to a world she really doesn’t understand. The world of society writers and publishers, where people are always coming together to socialise – to talk! Her Gresham relatives are very well meaning and kind – but they struggle to understand Denham – who immediately dislikes London – and she struggles to understand them. Denham has no idea what to talk about at dinner – each social situation more agonising than the last.

“At dinner that night, when her neighbour said to her, ‘Did you see the Guitrys last week?’ she replied in the manner of Ollendorf, ‘No, but the hair of my dog is coming out. Do you know the best treatment for it?’

The Greshams are conventional, gossipy, self-absorbed and shallow. Denham is something of a rebel – tongue-tied and awkward in company – she soon recognises her relatives and their friends for what they are.

Denham loves the outdoors, prefers the country to London, she likes to be alone, likes fishing and playing games. She dresses just how she likes – she doesn’t understand her aunt’s horror of her apparel – and when Evelyn says she really can’t go out like that – Denham can’t understand it – as she just did. Denham meets Arnold – her uncle’s junior partner in the publishing firm. They fall head over heels – Denham reminds Arthur how much he loves some of those things too. Together they go fishing, play games in front of the fire. However, Arnold also loves society, he likes London and has to be there for work. To the Greshams disapproval Denham and Arnold get married. Denham is horrified by all the domestic conventions she must adhere to.

“But Evelyn gave Denham the true reason why they must not put all the food on the table at once.
‘You mustn’t try to be original yet, Denham dear. You don’t know well enough yet how to keep rules to break them safely. You must wait a bit, and meanwhile do things like other people. You see, when you break social rules, you should always seem to be ahead of fashion and convention not lagging behind them, do you see what I mean?’

On a holiday to Cornwall Denham discovers a cave with a secret passage leading up to a small, disused cottage. This is just the thing to delight the newly-weds – and they set about arranging to rent it for a year. They are like a couple of kids playing house – taking bits and pieces over to the cottage – Denham insisting that Arnold keep the secret passage a dead secret. The novelty of the cave and passageway to the sea soon wears off for Arnold– who finds he doesn’t like sleeping there. So, it isn’t long before cracks are beginning to show – with Denham wanting to stay by the sea in Cornwall with their little dog, and Arnold needing to return to London. Denham stays at the cottage for an extra few weeks – and Arnold returns to London. Here, the Greshams gossip and interfere causing all sorts of mischief at the couple’s expense. Will Denham ever be able to settle down to life with Arnold? – host afternoon tea, manage the servants, know the right conversation?

In this novel Macaulay highlights the absurdity in conventional society – the so called civilised way of life that Evelyn Gresham and her family are so much a part of. Macaulay is frequently very funny in her recreation of this world. In this entertaining comedy of manners Macaulay provides sharply observed social commentary. However, Crewe Train is also the poignant story of a young woman going relentlessly in the wrong direction.

"I don't care what I am. Rough."
By sally tarbox on February 19, 2018
Format: Paperback
An utterly original work, featuring memorable heroine, Denham Dobie. Brought up in a remote spot by a father who sought to avoid the world, his daughter has totally inherited his mindset. She enjoys freedom, flouting societal 'norms' - not through perversity but an honest failure to understand WHY (and sometimes the reader can see her point.)

"One room thoroughly turned out each day, too- that's most important."
"Turned out..." Denham repeated it vaguely.
"Yes, turned out, The things all taken out of the room and put back again, you know."
What for, Denham silently wondered,. The same result would surely be achieved, with less effort, by leaving things where they were.

Finding herself an orphan, aged nineteen, she is brought back to England by her well to do relatives. This is a massive culture shock; they enjoy clothes, culture, socialising, none of which Denham has any time for. She eschews novels in favour of maps and in totally uninterested in gossip. Fleeing a country weekend, she is discovered by bachelor Arnold Chappel "seated on a pile of faggots and making a whistle." A magical afternoon whittling and sailing model boats together leads to more... but how will this ill-matched couple fare...?

Entertaining read with some solid truths along the way. I entirely concur with Denham's question on parties: "Why do people like them? ( )

Denham Dobie's father gave up being a vicar because he just couldn't be bothered with people. He moves to a remote, inaccessible region of Andorra where, when Denham's story begins, he has been irritated to death by a visit from his late wife's witty, erudite and sociable family. Denham returns with these relatives to London, where she valiantly tries to hold up her end at endless dinners and evening entertainments. Her aunt has told her that "women who don't talk when they are out are a public nuisance," so Denham casts around desperately for topics: the diseases of dogs; the weather. She has some success with, "What is your favourite pudding?" I loved Denham for her social ineptitude.

Poor Denham. She falls in love with Arnold, a publisher who, like almost everyone in Denham's new social circle, is writing a book. She never does understand why they must do everything together, why they can't live where they like and do the things that they enjoy.

An entertaining, yet thought-provoking book. I felt for the direct, silent Denham who, misrepresented by gossip and hounded by her chattering aunt, asks herself, "Why must these people talk so much?" ( )

This curious, dated novel set in the early 1920's is very much of its time and is set in chattering upper middle class London society. Although the main protagonist introduced into this society quickly rebels against it and the society seen as wasteful and unnecessarily formal, the characters are only drawn from this level of society, with housemaids and fishermen merely mentioned.

First published in 1926, not 1967 as detailed on the cover! ( )