Happy Returns

After a short gap I feel ready to embark on some more Barsetshire. Angela Thirkell's attitudes are still as dreadful as ever but I still enjoy her characters and like the happy endings provide for (most of) them.

The 1952 Thirkell, dominated by the author’s undisguised joy at Churchill’s victory over “Them” (as she always calls Attlee’s Labour Government) in the general election of October 1951. Barsetshire society is mostly settling into marriage and doing its share to contribute to the post-war baby boom, and Thirkell is having trouble finding a few younger characters she hasn't yet hitched up. There isn't a great deal in the way of big scenes this time - it's mostly rather low-key, with the focus more on rhetorical tricks, literary jokes and apostrophes to the reader than on action and dialogue. It's as though Thirkell has got a bit fed up of writing down to her audience and wants to show us that she isn't entirely uneducated.

Pleasant entry in the Barsetshire series, but not one of its best. It was fun to see Tony Moreland's friend Swan all grown up!

She's almost as good as reading Trollope.
Was really liking this until it got into the election and business.
Hope it goes back to humorous dinners and teas.

I guess I'm just too Thirkelled out - again I found it too difficult to follow, and just gave up

Started, but worse than SUMMER HALF. Just couldn't face it!

One of a series my father liked (chiefly, I think, because they were set in a m,odern version of Trollope's Barsetshire). I like Trollope's Barsetshire novels, but have not read these.