Thirkell: Wilde Strawberries

Angela Thirkell, Wilde Strawberries

A witty romp through English Country-house life at its most delightfully absurd. At Rushwater House in West Barsetshire, Lady Emily Leslie and her family are entertaining an assortment of house guests, hangers-on, and French monarchists. Amid a perfect welter of rapturous embraces and moonlight madness, a marriage is finally arranged. A glittering summer party provides an hilarious climax to the various intrigues.

From: The Angela Thirkell Companion:

Wild Strawberries. Introduces the Leslie family, some of the most important characters in the novels. Mary Preston, Lady Agnes (Leslie) Graham's niece, is infatuated with David Leslie, who flirts with her in his thoughtless and self-centered way. Widowed John Leslie falls in love with Mary but is discouraged by a remark she makes about John Milton's second marriage. A French family, the Boulles, have leased the vicarage for the summer. Some of the plot highlights: David and Martin show off while driving; a visit to Rushmere Abbey; a visit from the toadying and freeloading garden expert, Mr. Holt; David breaks his promise to bring Mary wild strawberries from London; Mary is jealous of Joan Stevenson of the BBC; a Sunday church service where Lady Emily tries to manage everything; the servants' concert; Pierre Boulle's "heroic rescue" of Emmy Graham from a shallow pool; Martin's eventful 17th birthday party, including an abortive French Royalist demonstration. John wins Mary. Some of the most pleasant and memorable characters in any of Thirkell's novels.