The Diary of a Provincial Lady

Product Information

Edmée Elizabeth Monica Dashwood, née de la Pasture (9 June 1890 – 2 December 1943), commonly known as E. M. Delafield, was a prolific English author. She is best known for her largely autobiographical Diary of a Provincial Lady, which took the form of a journal of the life of an upper-middle class Englishwoman living mostly in a Devon village of the 1930s. In sequels, the Provincial Lady buys a flat in London, travels to America and attempts to find war-work during the Phoney War. Delafield's other works include an account of a visit to the Soviet Union, but this is not part of the Provincial Lady series, despite being reprinted with the title The Provincial Lady in Russia. Written in 1930, this is a delightful romp through the joys and tribulations of a being an upper crust housewife in the country. England. The setting mainly a village in Devon full of self important characters - the Vicar's wife for one and we have our very self effacing lady. Who would like to retort cleverly and smartly and never does and gets taken advantage of left, right and centre. I am pretty sure I added this book this book because someone recommended it to me as a feminist classic. (I now see I shelved it 'detection club' which puts me in doubt of this conclusion.) Once I read the synopsis, I figured I was entirely wrong about the feminism thing since the plot sounded like a D.E. Stevenson novel. And now that I've read the novel I'm even more confused because while it does have moments of satirism that might make this a feminist favorite, it might just as likely be a favorite of anyone with occasionally acerbic thoughts. (I.e. all of humanity.)

Unavoidable Query presents itself here: Would a verdict of Justifiable Homicide delivered against their mother affect future careers of children unfavourably?)"Think of several rather tart and witty rejoinders to this, but unfortunately not until Lady B.'s Bentley has taken her away." As you may well know by now, Simon and Karen are running another of their ‘Clubs’ this week, this one focusing on literature first published in 1930. (You can find out more about it here.) For my contribution to the event, I’ve decided to write about E. M. Delafield’s The Diary of a Provincial Lady, the first of four books included in the Penguin collected edition of the series. (The first book appeared in 1930, with further instalments following in 1932, 1934 and 1940.)

As Book Two opens, The Provincial Lady is ready to spread her wings. This book is entitled, “The Provincial Lady Goes Further”. She’s had a book published, has a literary agent, and rents a flat in London, where she is introduced to modern ideas of feminism and self-expression. She’s horrified at all suggestions by her new acquaintances that she may one day ditch her husband Robert and her ‘dull’ life in the country. I was horrified in turn at a detail that would never be written today: her little girl is handed over to the guard in a train on her way to school, and asks if she can sit in the guard’s van with him – off they go, hand in hand! Can you imagine, today? Late and Soon (1943) - dedicated to Kate O'Brien. Valentine Arbell is the widowed chatelaine of a large country house in WW2. Her loose daughter Primrose is having an affair with Valentine's former admirer Rory, but Rory rekindles his passion for Valentine and they marry. Note: The workings of the infant mind very, very difficult to follow, sometimes. Mothers by no means infallible.)"July 3rd.—I am moved to exclaim—perhaps rather thoughtlessly—that the most wonderful thing in the world must be to be a childless widow—but this is met by unsympathetic silence from Robert, which recalls me to myself, and impels me to say that that isn't in the least what I meant. This is a charming, humorous and at times poignant novel of a largely domestic life in a bygone age. In spite of its firm footing in the late 1920s/early ‘30s, Delafield’s book still holds some relevance to the modern world, especially in terms of the emotions and dilemmas portrayed. In some respects, it may well have paved the way for later diaries capturing the lives of more contemporary women and characters, books like Bridget Jones’s Diary (1996) and Love, Nina: Despatches from Family Life (2013). I have meant to read E.M. Delafield’s The Diary of a Provincial Lady for years, although I really didn’t know what it was. An Edwardian gardener’s observations (lots of flowers on some editions)? A turn-of-the-century suffragist speaking on the Question of the Day? Here is an example of her drollness (her maid upped and left her, so she is looking for a new maid):

January 22nd - Robert startles me at breakfast by asking if my cold - which he has hitherto ignored - is better. I reply that it has gone. Then why, he asks, do I look like that? Feel that life is wholly unendurable, and decide madly to get a new hat' March 12th. —Resign from Book of the Month, owing to wide and ever-increasing divergence of opinion between us as to merits or demerits of recently published fiction. Write them long and eloquent letter about this, but remember after it is posted that I still owe them twelve shillings and sixpence for Maurois's Byron."The War Workers (1918) - the travails of working in a Supply Depot under the tyrannical control of Charmain Vivian, who meets her match in a newly arrived clergyman's daughter Grace Jones. As I was contemplating my review for this witty little novel about an English housewife’s struggle to navigate the waters between middle and upper class life, run a household, and keep the finances from collapsing, it occurred to me that the humor in the novel is a veneer that covers the pathos, just as the lady herself covers the stress and demands of her life with her sarcastic diary entries.

Cook says she hopes I enjoyed my holiday, and it is very quiet in the country. I leave the kitchen before she has time to say more, but am only too well aware that this is not the last of it. Query, mainly rhetorical: Why are nonprofessional women, if married and with children, so frequently referred to as “leisured”? Answer comes there none.” Delafield’s writing would be perfect for such an indulgence. It’s entertaining and self-deprecating and relatable. Well, the parts where she has trouble with the cook and finding a parlour maid were not at all relatable, but the travelling parts, where the woman across from you is upset that the train lavatory door keeps popping open--those parts were relatable.May 13th. — Regrettable but undeniable ray of amusement lightens general murk on hearing report that Cousin Maud Blekinsop possesses a baby Austin, and has been running it all around the parish with old Mrs. B., shawls and all, beside her. Cousin Maude, adds Robert thoughtfully, is not his idea of a good driver. He says no more, but I at once have dramatic visions of Mrs. B. flying over the nearest hedge, shawls waving in every direction, while Cousin Maud and the baby Austin charge a steamroller in a narrow lane. Am sorry to record that this leads to hearty laughter on my part, after which I feel better than for weeks past."