Jutland Cottage is set in 1952, and begins with the death of King George VI in February*. Barsetshire is understandably in a somber mood, but soon normal country life resumes. Margot Phelps is spending her middle-aged years caring for aging parents which she does gladly, but this leaves little time for herself. The community takes note and quietly organizes a “Friends of the Phelpses” effort. Some spend afternoons with Margot’s parents so that she can have some free time. Others take advantage of that free time to take Margot shopping for new clothes, or to have her hair done. This is community at its best, and Margot is much the better for it. But there is still a looming concern about her financial livelihood, as her parents will have little to pass on. The solution to this problem is, sadly, much the same as it was centuries earlier: marriage. But to whom? Margot herself doesn’t appear to be giving this much thought but you can bet everyone else is.

Meanwhile, some of the usual devices are in play: garden parties, Sunday lunches, and gently poking fun at certain character types. The inevitable second romantic storyline occurs quite late in the novel and seemed rather hastily put together. Margot’s storyline has a happy ending (as always), although in my opinion Thirkell made the wrong choice for Margot. But what do I know? And in any case, this was an enjoyable installment in a long-running series.

* I enjoyed reading the Barsetshire community’s thoughts about the new Queen, speculation about how long she would reign, and whether she had any suitable heirs. ( )

While the romance angle was sweet, the humor was mostly missing or slightly off kilter and certain descriptions were repeated far too often. Nothing really wrong with this book but it isn't up to the standard to which Thirkell has accustomed us in the Barsetshire series ( )