Retro Reads discussion

This is the longest part, so I have given it it's own section. This one is titled The Summer Holidays

Please use spoiler tags if necessary! :)

The title The Demon in the House seems an obvious play on the Victorian notion of the "angel in the house" about which so much is made in feminist lit-crit circles, and I was curious to see how Thirkell would play with that. But she seems not to have thought of it at all beyond its usefulness as a witty title. Disappointing!

Abigail wrote: "The title The Demon in the House seems an obvious play on the Victorian notion of the "angel in the house" about which so much is made in feminist lit-crit circles, and I was curious to see how Thi..."

Guess not, I think she was just going for recounting the adventures of Tony - almost like one of those schoolboy books George Knox so laments! I love how aggravated he gets, and he forgets what he’s even saying- I always picture John Lithgow playing him, hair standing out, ranting and raving and “acting” for all he’s worth (probably because every time Thirkell introduces him to a scene, she explains what character George is in his mind - American author, Victorian squire, etc. - hilarious! Gets me every time!)

Reminds me, one of my favorite Christmas rereads is Christmas at High Rising - it’s a recent re-issue, I don’t think it was initially published as a book, and there is only one really Christmas-themed story, where George Knox wants to take Laura and Tony up to London for a Christmas pantomime. It’s hilarious, and, icing on the cake, Donk is there with his family for Tony to embarrassingly yell hello to as the harassed and exhausted George hustles his party out...

Not quite done with my reread, but I was struck last night by Thirkell’s lovely writing of the bathing party, and Tony’s enchantment with “Paradise Pool”.

First time I read it, years ago, it brought a tear to my eye - she writes so beautifully of those childhood memories where a feeling of sheer happiness, or natural beauty, is seared on a child’s memory to treasure forever. Loved it!

I've read the first three stories in this section.

The Nurserymaids Gives Tony's character (view spoiler)[ a lot more charm & depth. (hide spoiler)]

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "I've read the first three stories in this section.

The Nurserymaids Gives Tony's character [spoilers removed]"

I thought Nurse was funny - she seems to push George’s buttons!

I can see so many British character actors playing George -- perhaps Tom Wilkinson. Someone burly and loquacious.

Tony's verbal mannerisms are priceless, especially the one where he answers: "I know," no matter what the subject.

Elinor wrote: "I can see so many British character actors playing George -- perhaps Tom Wilkinson. Someone burly and loquacious.

Tony's verbal mannerisms are priceless, especially the one where he answers: "I kn..."

Yes, Tony is quite the know it all! And thank you for giving me another actor to imagine as George - I kept seeing Lithgow in a manic “acting” mode, it’s refreshing to imagine someone else.

I'm quite fond of Donk and his mouth organ (clearly a substitute for talking). Donk is really a sweetheart--I love it that he's so taken with Sybil's baby and misses his own baby sister so much.

Shrewd observation about Donk, Hana! I hadn't thought of him in that light.

Hana wrote: "I'm quite fond of Donk and his mouth organ (clearly a substitute for talking). Donk is really a sweetheart--I love it that he's so taken with Sybil's baby and misses his own baby sister so much."

Yes, I think he’s a sensitive little guy.

I'm also very fond of Donk, and the descriptions of Miss Coates are just adorable.

Donk and Tony are an interesting pair. Maybe Donk talks when there are no adults in the room but we are never privy to those conversations. Tony seems to have appointed himself Donk Spokesman and even Rose gets in on the Donk interpretation game.

Didn't Donk speak at school, about oversleeping? He seems rather overwhelmed by his stay in someone else's house. I like the indirection Thirkell uses in illuminating his personality. If it weren't for Donk, I wouldn't still be reading--Tony reminds me of my know-it-all older brother and fills me with eidetic rage.

Neither of the seems like a thirteen-year-old, more like nine or ten.

Abigail wrote: "Neither of the seems like a thirteen-year-old, more like nine or ten...." That was my impression, too. Same thing with the girls.

I thought maybe she didn't have children of her own so I looked Angella Thirkell up on Wikipedia and she had three boys, one of whom, Colin MacInnes, became an author. Colin's best-known book Absolute Beginners looks fairly interesting (and certainly Retro!) but not quite my cup of tea.

I must have missed the mention of how old Tony and Donk are; she keeps referring to them as the "little boys," and I thought from their behavior that they are nine- or ten-year-olds.

Maybe Donk just can't get a word in edgewise with Tony around. :)

Hana wrote: "Abigail wrote: "Neither of the seems like a thirteen-year-old, more like nine or ten...." That was my impression, too. Same thing with the girls."

That's probably true, Peggy! There is one scene where Donk-Robert is addressed directly and opens his mouth to speak, only to get run over by another Tony monologue.

LOL There really was someone called Wesendonck and it seems Richard Wagner was in love with her and wrote five Wesendonck Lieder. They are almost as painful to listen to as Donk's harmonica :D

Oh, clever Angela! The first of the Wesendonck lieder is Der Engel (The Angel). Did she know this? Of course she did--she married a professional baritone in 1911.

And George Knox makes a musical reference to Wesendonck when he's talking about historical associations with people's names. It went over my head--thank you for tracking it down, Hana!

That Colin MacInnes book looks like Beat Noir. Not my cuppa either! I wonder what his mother thought.

Just about everything George Knox says goes right over my head--I suppose that's his intention ;)

About Tony's age, in the first story it says that Dora is "twelve and a year younger than Tony."

I do love Knox's polymath turns! Have known a few George Knoxes in my day and she hits him off just right. It's especially funny when he loses his way in his run-on sentences.

It turns out Angela Thirkel's eldest son Graham McInnes was also a writer. His autobiographical tale The Road to Gundagai looks quite interesting and my library has it.

Abigail wrote: "I do love Knox's polymath turns! Have known a few George Knoxes in my day and she hits him off just..."

As the nurse would say, George is 'A scream.'

Thanks for clearing up Dora's age...I couldn't find that bit.

Interesting biographical notes on Graham and Colin McInnes: http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mcinn...

The relationship between Tony & the two girls seems very pre teen though.

More innocent times.

Yes, Carol. That was the aspect that struck me--as you say--more innocent times, at least in some ways.

Abigail wrote: "About Tony's age, in the first story it says that Dora is "twelve and a year younger than Tony."

I do love Knox's polymath turns! Have known a few George Knoxes in my day and she hits him off just..."

Yes, I always pictured George almost pulling his hair out as he babbles...

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "The relationship between Tony & the two girls seems very pre teen though.

More innocent times."

Totally agree - the boys seem very young for modern 12 and 13 year olds, but in the much more innocent pre-war period, I’m assuming they were appropriate- as written by a mother of three boys (even if they spent most of the time at school, I’d think she’d be familiar with their ways).

Loved The Paradise Pool - standout story for me so far! (view spoiler)[ loved seeing an adult who was able to handle Tony! (hide spoiler)]

I think that was my favorite too; I loved the moment when (view spoiler)[the beauty of the view of the lake as seen from the culvert below got through to both Tony and Donk. A lyrical and humanizing moment. (hide spoiler)]

Abigail wrote: "I think that was my favorite too; I loved the moment when [spoilers removed]"

I loved Sylvia!

Hana wrote: "Interesting biographical notes on Graham and Colin McInnes: http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mcinn..."

Wow, that is interesting - the light it casts on all three of them!

Hana wrote: "Interesting biographical notes on Graham and Colin McInnes: http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mcinn..."

Wow - does not sound like a happy family, does it?

One of these days I'd like to explore in what ways Angela was so "awful" and difficult. Not at all the impression I've derived from reading her novels. She certainly had a lot of bumps in her road!

As did the sons, of course. I wonder what Lancelot George thought of The Demon in the House!

Abigail wrote: "One of these days I'd like to explore in what ways Angela was so "awful" and difficult. Not at all the impression I've derived from reading her novels. She certainly had a lot of bumps in her road!..."

I agree, I’d like to read a bio of Angela Thirkell - I’ve gotten so much pleasure from her books. Also, that description of her family life and her relationships with her sons make me curious...

I found A Quiet Day at high Rising hilarious!

I find the whole book hilarious!

What a great discussion! Must confess, I hadn't picked up on the Angel in the House reference, even though I have read the poem by Coventry Patmore. Also fascinating to learn about the musical references - and I agree Thirkell's whole family are very interesting.