As I said earlier, I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to get my hands on anything else that she has written, I might have to be patient though as they don’t seem to be easy to come by.

The Brandons is set in 1939 in Barsetshire, Anthony Trollope’s fictional creation and has that lovely 1930s atmosphere permeating the whole book. Pre-war comfort with wealthy people having plenty of servants who are often the ones in charge of everything. It reminded me of E.F. Benson’s Mapp and Lucia books although it doesn’t have the acid wit of those, and Richmal Crompton’s Just William ones, except for adults. Niranjana (Brown Paper) I think you would really love Angela Thirkell, but maybe you’ve already read her.

Lavinia Brandon was widowed after only a few years of marriage and has been left with a young son and daughter, a large house and plenty of money. Now Delia and Francis are young adults but they still have Nurse looking after them because their mother couldn’t ask her to leave. Nurse seems to spend her time making knickers for Delia and talking about them in front of the vicar. Mrs Brandon charms everyone she comes into contact with but the book is full of likeable characters.

It’s all vicars, church fetes, golden summer days and a great aunt who is always going on about her will. Very English, quaint and twee but hilarious at the same time and it just makes you long for the past when life seemed to be so much more genteel.

In reality of course I would probably have got T.B. or rickets. But that doesn’t stop me from dreaming.

Angela Thirkell’s Books is a great web site which has information on all of her books and I can see that I’m going to have to print it out and carry it around with me when I’m out book hunting.