Beyond the vicarage

Third in Noel Streatfeild's slightly fictionalised autobiographical books. She writes in the third person about 'Victoria Strangeway', who she acknowledges is herself. In this volume, which stands alone, we meet her in her early twenties, returning from an international tour as an actress.

Victoria stops off in Thailand to see her brother, then returns to the UK and pre-war England. She becomes involved in her family again, despite an unexpected tragedy, and begins writing.

Most of the book either describes her experiences working for a voluntary aid organisation in London during the war, or gives insights into the writing process that surrounded each of her books. I hadn't realised she initially wanted to write novels for adults; she is show more best known for her children's fiction.

Somewhat rambling in places, with anecdotes and opinions that are not necessarily chronological. Still, this is a very readable account that's fascinating both from the personal viewpoint of working during the war, amidst some stark and unpleasant scenes, and also because of the background to some of her much-loved books.

Recommended if you're interested in wartime experiences, or in Noel Streatfeild as a writer. show less

In this third autobiographical novel, she has decided to leave acting and become a writer. I liked her descriptions of how she became a writer, always a subject I like to read about. And then during WWII she becomes a volunteer in London, bringing food to people in air raid shelters and doing other jobs during the Blitz. At the end of the books she's old and infirm but still interested in life.