by A Book Set in a Village
There was no shortage of books to choose from for this category. And even once I’d selected an author, narrowing down the my final choice took some thought. However, in the end, I went for Taken By the Hand by O Douglas, partly because it includes Christmas.
Beatrice Dobie is probably the most lacklustre of O Douglas’ heroines. The daughter of a long-deceased Glasgow businessman and his second wife, Beatrice is shy, self-deprecating and inclined to fade into the background. She has been educated at home and has few friends, spending most of her time with her mother. Janie Dobie is her opposite in every way. A kind, generous and busy woman, she has interested herself in helping others. Now, however, she is dying and realises that she has failed with Beatrice by not teaching her to stand on her own feet. She knows that her daughter will not only grieve for her, but will struggle to make a life of her own. Her prayer is that someone will take Beatrice by the hand…
And someone does. The central part of the book is set in a small village near Oxford where Beatrice goes to spend Christmas with a new friend Cicely Sellars and her family. Between then and her mother’s death she has been living with her step-brother, an MP, and his wife in London where there is little comfort to be had in spite of their wealth. In the Sellars’ home in Oxlip there is love and understanding, and the village social circle is varied and interesting. Beatrice stays on after Christmas and settles into a quiet round of life.
This is my favourite part of the book. Yes, it’s idealised but it’s still grounded in truth. There’s humour too, and some gentle drama. This section is followed by an account of a voyage to India that Beatrice makes with one of the women she meets in Oxlip but the book ends back in the village. In the course of the novel Beatrice develops a sense of her own worth. She’ll never be a social butterfly or take her mother’s place chairing committees but she comes to accept that she has something to offer the wider world.
Pictures and Conversations 
My second favourite O.Douglas book, which I re read every year.
Which is your favourite Cate?
It is “Jane’s Parlour.” It used to be “The House That is our Own” but it got gently pushed aside. into third place I have all of her novels now and have made a hobby of buying vintage copies, one by one.
I have all the books too, and my favourite changes all the time. The House that is Our Own is always in contention, as is The Setons.
I will go off to bed now but I cannot tell you how delightful it is to have found your blog with all the excellent posts and book recommendations. I am trying to find “Listening Valley” as I really enjoyed “Five Windows” but it seems as if it is one that is not on Kindle but is quite pricey as a paperback. I am also thrilled to meet someone else who loves Anna Buchan and has all her books. I hope one day to come back to Scotland and visit Peebles. The Setons felt quite autobiographical to me. Was that your impression as well. Night, Cate.
I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed reading the blog. I’d keep an eye on Kindle/Kobo for Listening Valley. It has been available (in the UK anyway) before and I expect it will be again.
Sorry, I meant to say that The Setons is loosely autobiographical, as are many of the O Douglas books. What I like particularly about it is that it was written during the First World War. So we’re not reading memories but a contemporary account, albeit fictionalised.
Now that I have read “Unforgettable, Unforgotten”, the biography by Wendy Forrester and also “Farewell to Priorsford And Farewell to O.Douglas”, I see the many autobiographical, family details that pop up as scenes or characters in her novels. It makes me feel as if I know her a little and can recognise her life in it. I wonder of she ever had people complaining to her that they were sure they were Mrs XWZ in her latest work?