Reading the 20th Century discussion

Welcome to our buddy read discussion about...


To Serve Them All My Days by R.F. Delderfield

Here's the Wikipedia page...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Serv...

To Serve Them All My Days mirrors the history of Britain in the post-Great War era, casting David's experiences against the difficulties, contradictions, and social issues of the inter-war years. David's life focuses on how Britain comes to terms with the turmoil of the Great War, the General Strike, socialism and the formation of the National Government in particular. Some commentators have remarked on the similarities between this book and the earlier Goodbye, Mr. Chips, which has a similar theme but is less pointed politically and socially.

There have been adaptations you might have come across...

First published in 1972, the book was adapted for television in 1980. It has been adapted twice by Shaun McKenna, first as a stage play at the Royal Theatre Northampton (Royal & Derngate) in 1992 and again as a five-part series of 45-minute plays for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in January 2006.

This discussion will open in mid September 2019

I am currently about a third of the way through....


To Serve Them All My Days by R.F. Delderfield

The earliest section is particularly good at showing the trauma and after effects of shell shock but also how relative normality and patience can be so beneficial.

It quickly moves on from this and is very compelling.

I've had tears in my eyes on a few occasions - how moving are you finding (did you find) this book?

I'm only about 100 pages in, so a long way to go! I'm also finding it moving and agree the first section is very good - the mention of the old school photo where scores of the boys were already dead was a heartbreaking moment.

Nigeyb, I see the edition you have posted has a photo from the TV series starring John Duttine - I'm tempted to try this. I see there is a cheap Dutch DVD box set available.

Who else is reading this one? Despite being a long book, I have a feeling it will turn out to be quite a quick read.

Judy wrote: "Nigeyb, I see the edition you have posted has a photo from the TV series starring John Duttine - I'm tempted to try this. I see there is a cheap Dutch DVD box set available."

I'm very intrigued by the TV series. Please do keep us informed if you go ahead and watch it

Judy wrote: "Despite being a long book, I have a feeling it will turn out to be quite a quick read."

It's certainly an easy read and very addictive. I'm a bit busy at the moment so am not so sure it will be that quick for me.

It reminds me of London Belongs to Me by Norman Collins. Although the context is very different it has the same episodic, slightly soapy feel, that makes it a pleasure to read, as the reader enjoys the ups and downs of the lives of the recurring characters. There are also moments of great tragedy and wonderful happiness. I'm really enjoying it so far.

I've finished the first two sections now, and agree about the episodic and slightly soapy feel - I can see that must have made it perfect for a TV adaptation. Running through the various episodes is the feeling of David becoming ever more devoted to the school and its pupils.

In my edition R.F. Delderfield explains that between 1917-29 he worked as six schools and one commercial college. I think this familiarity with school life and education really shines through in To Serve Them All My Days.

I'm now on page 262 of 572, the early stages of Part Five. I still think it's a wonderful read. There have been big changes at Bamfylde School and it makes for more intriguing plot developments.

Setting a book in a school is a great way of exploring the history of Britain in the post-Great War era and the difficulties, contradictions, and social issues of the inter-war years.

Nigeyb wrote: "In my edition R.F. Delderfield explains that between 1917-29 he worked as six schools and one commercial college. I think this familiarity with school life and education really shi..."

I also read his introductory comments like this at first, but, from looking at his biography, he only attended the six schools and commercial college as a pupil/student - he was born in 1912, so was a child during the era he describes so vividly in the early part of this book. He did become a school governor, though.

This is a link to the biography:
https://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.u...  

Ah. Thanks Judy. That makes the achievement even more extraordinary.

Thanks, Nigeyb. I suppose he would have had a lot of behind the scenes info as a governor anyway though...

I'm finding it's a bit difficult to discuss this book in any detail without spoilers, due to the episodic plot.

Who else is reading? Shall we have a separate spoiler thread or use tags?

Yes, it certainly is a plot-driven book and to go into any detail about what happens would take away some of the enjoyment for readers further behind in the narrative.

The thing with a spoiler thread, in this instance, is that we can only start discussions there when we've finished the book, but whoever finishes first should set one up.

I'm almost halfway, what about you Judy?

I'm pretty sure Elizabeth and one other (sorry to whoever you are, I can't remember who you are now) are planning to read it.

Perhaps others are also planning to read it? Or tempted by it?

Nigeyb wrote: "The thing with a spoiler thread, in this instance, is that we can only start discussions there when we've finished the book, but whoever finishes first should set one up...."

That makes sense to me, thanks, Nigeyb. I'm about 40% of the way through.

I've just watched a few minutes of the TV adaptation via YouTube and it looks to me as if it is probably very good - it was adapted by Andrew Davies, a top screenwriter who has also done many classic adaptations, including Dickens, Austen, Thackeray and Tolstoy.

The picture quality on YouTube is very poor and I have no intention of watching the whole series there, but just wanted to get an idea of its quality - I will now either treat myself to the DVDs or drop hints to my family as I have a birthday next month. :)

Thanks Judy. As I read on I conclude it would be perfect for a TV adaptation.

I’m really enjoying the section I’m on at the moment which has just touched on how the Wall Street Crash and the depression might impact the school

I've just read that bit about the Wall Street Crash too, Nigeyb, so we must be at more or less the same point.

I've moved on a bit from there but not much Judy


I am enjoying the way characters develop and change in this book, and of course the shifting alliances.

I'd be interested to see how the TV adaptation portrays Alcock - 'The Noble Stoic', and one of the most striking, if unknowable, characters so far.

I am intrigued by Howarth and how whilst he is also hard to read he pops up at key moments with wise counsel and insight.

There's also a new female character, a would be Parliamentary candidate, who shows great promise and will hopefully stick around for a good section of the narrative.

All in all, bloomin' marvellous

Just poised to start Part Six. Part Five ends on a really dramatic note. I cannot wait to continue now PJ has sought, and received, wise counsel from Algy Herries

I've just scratched the surface and didn't quite get to the end of Part I yesterday. (Things interfere sometimes!) Anyway, the beginning allowed me to feel a part of this, even thought it is a completely different world from me. The Neurologist was from Sutherland. My most recent Scots ancestor was from the Highlands and his surname was Sutherland. A few paragraphs/pages later was David's comment about how quiet it was. There are days here on our morning walks when I've made a similar comment. Probably not as quiet, but it would be mornings with no engine noises, no tires on streets, no people banging cans around, etc. Quiet, where you can feel at one with the world.

Yes indeed Elizabeth. And anyone coming back from a few years in the trenches would value a quiet environment very highly indeed.

Yes, you could almost see his shoulders relax even just a tiny bit.

I first heard of To Serve Them All My Days by R.F. Delderfield from the wonderful (and highly recommended) Backlisted Podcast.

Back in November 2017 they had an episode on this book.

You can find out more here...

https://www.backlisted.fm/episodes/53...

The podcast is also available on iTunes and all the other usual podcast providers.

I'm looking forward to relistening once I have finished the book.

I have to admit not being especially interested in podcasts. I read, I don't watch nor listen. Maybe it's an attention span thing, but I think it also has to do with a diminished hearing capacity. And, because I don't hear as well as I might, accents are an increased problem.

I can understand how diminished hearing would make podcasts less attractive.

Apropos of nothing, I'm glad this is the book immediately after my reading of Lady Chatterley's Lover.

I've now crosssed the threshold from Part Five: Impass and into Part Six: Cut and Come Again

National politics are looming large in the plot as the depression intensifies class tensions

Meanwhile the school politics at Bamflyde are mirroring the tension of the national mood and things come to a head at the start of Part Six in a very dramatic and quite surprising way.

There's certainly plenty of incident in this book. It makes me wonder about R.F. Delderfield's other books. Is To Serve Them All My Days considered his masterpiece? Or are there others which are even better?

I'll try and answer those questions myself - and I will of course report back. Any other intel would be gratefully received

Nigeyb wrote: "It makes me wonder about R.F. Delderfield's other books. Is To Serve Them All My Days considered his masterpiece? Or are there others which are even better?"

This biography goes some way to answering the question I posed as well as providing other useful information about R.F. Delderfield, this book, and some of his other work.....

Ronald Frederick Delderfield was a popular English novelist and dramatist, many of whose works have been adapted for television and are still widely read. Born in London in 1912, Delderfield moved with his family to South Devon in 1923, when his father, William James Delderfield, became editor of the Exmouth Chronicle. Ronald attended West Buckland School (1926-1928), before completing a business course at Fulford's Business College in Exeter. In 1929 he joined the staff of the Exmouth Chronicle, and later assumed its editorship from his father. His brother, Eric, was also a successful author, with many publications on West Country themes to his name. Ronald's first play, Spark in Judea, was produced in London in 1936 and this marked the beginning of a prolific and successful writing career. Following service in the RAF during World War II, he resumed his literary career, while also running an antiques business near Budleigh Salterton. The latter business was, he said: "so that I keep in touch with ordinary types of people - my public."

Ronald continued writing plays until 1956, when he decided to disengage from the theatre and pursue a career as a novelist. His first novel, Seven Men of Gascony, was published in 1949. The first novel of his new career, The Adventures of Ben Gunn (1956), was a prequel to Treasure Island, and this was followed by popular historical sagas, largely on Napoleonic themes, and family sagas, mainly set in the war and inter-war years in his native South London and his adopted Devon. These include God Is an Englishman (1970), Theirs Was the Kingdom (1971), and Give Us This Day (1973), a trilogy. The novels are concerned with the portrayal 'ordinary, decent folk', striving to 'get on' and become a success, whilst remaining true to themselves and their values. These values include patriotism, decency, integrity, thrift, industriousness, success gained through service and hard work. The novels, now described as 'old fashioned', celebrate English history, humanity, and liberalism while demonstrating little patience with entrenched class differences and snobbery. Delderfield has been criticised for his conventional views of women's social roles, as he himself pointed out in his 1972 autobiography, For My Own Amusement.

His national reputation was secured after his death by the televisation of two of his best known novels, A Horseman Riding By (published in 1966 and televised in 1978) and To Serve Them All My Days (published in 1972 and televised in 1980). These were set on the edge of Exmoor and the latter was based on Delderfield's schooldays at West Buckland, which became the 'Bamfylde School' of the novel. That novel examines the changes in private education and the development of the Labour political movement between the world wars. The school emerges as a symbol of many things: continuity, tradition, Englishness, etc. It was established as a school for farmer's boys, and tries to retain a tradition of liberal education and character building. Delderfield later became a governor of West Buckland School and compiled a book entitled Tales out of School: An Anthology of West Buckland Reminiscences 1895-1963. In his autobiography Bird's Eye View (1954), he described looking back on the school with 'genuine pleasure'. His own journey as a school boy to West Buckland, by train from Exeter via Dulverton, is undertaken on the opening pages by the shell-shocked school master, David Powlett-Jones. Delderfield has Powlett-Jones take his degree through the University College of the South West, which later became the University of Exeter. Several of his novels involve young men like Powlett-Jones, who return from war. In the A Horseman Riding By trilogy, Paul Craddock, also an ex-soldier, becomes a rural landlord in the early 20th century. The books delve deeply into social history of North Devon from the Edwardian era through to the early 1960's.

Fifteen of Delderfield's plays and novels have become films or TV series. His novel The Bull Boys was inspiration behind the first Carry On film, Carry On Sergeant. He died of cancer at his home in Sidmouth in 1972, aged 60.

https://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.u...

On Goodreads, A Horseman Riding By is a series of 3 books. I picked up the first two as Kindle deals. All installments appear to have been originally published in 1966, and the omnibus is over 1100 pages. Maybe someone broke it down into its parts to sell separately.

According to Wikipedia.....


1966: A Horseman Riding By (published in the United States as two novels, Long Summer Day and Post of Honor)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._F._D...

It's now sold in the UK as three separate books....


Long Summer Day
Post of Honour
The Green Gauntlet

Nigeyb wrote: "According to Wikipedia.....


1966: A Horseman Riding By (published in the United States as two novels, Long Summer Day and Post of Honor)"

I hope to read them one day as I already have them. Good to know that The Green Gauntlet is probably already in the other two. I note that my library has the "trilogy" on digital, so I could always check to see after I've read those two.

I just bought a copy of.....



Napoleon in Love by R.F. Delderfield

...as I love the cover and I love Pan paperbacks

It's a mere £1.89 including postage

This review also sells it to me...
https://aquestionofscale.blogspot.com...

This New York Times obituary from June 27, 1972 suggests R.F. Delderfield was more popular in America than in Britain...


SIDMOUTH, England, June 26—R. F. Delderfield, who wrote leisurely panoramic novels of English life that were more popular in the United States than in his native Britain, died at his home here Saturday.

Mr. Delderfield, who was 60 years old, is survived by his widow, the former May Evans, whom he married in 1936. They had a son and a daughter.

Wrote Series of Sagas

“I was always fascinated by odysseys,” wrote Ronald Frederick Delderfield when the second of the projected five‐volume family saga that began with “God Is an Englishman” was published in 1971.

And, at the age of 44, after careers as a newspaperman and a successful playwright, he embarked on what he considered his own odyssey—the writing of family sagas that coated solid research in social history with gentle characterizations and plots whose movement pa ralleled and demonstrated the changing times.

The third of the five‐volume epic—his fourth “saga” by his own count — was completed about two weeks ago, according to Claire Smith of Harold Ober Associates, his literary agent here. “In theory,” she said yesterday, the work is “on a boat on its way over here.”

Since the book was the third in the series that was to take an English family, the Swanns, from 1957 to 1969, Miss Smith said she referred to the manuscript as “Swann 3.” Mr. Delderfield's working title, however, was “Give Us This Day”

No publication date for this book has been set, but another Delderfield novel—unrelated to the tribulations and triumphs of the Swanns—entitled, “To Serve Them All My Days,” will be published in September by Simon & Schuster, his present American publisher.

Sales of 65,000 Reported

Mr. Delderfield's books sold “certainly in the millions” in the United States, according to Miss Smith, both in hardcover and in paperback. “God Is an Englishman” and its sequel, “Theirs Was the Kingdom,” both sold more than 65,000 volumes apiece in hard covers, according to Simon & Schuster.

The writer's first American success was “A Horseman Riding By” published in 1967; it was the first of two volumes concerned with the fortunes of a Devon family, of which the second was, “The Green Gauntlet.”

Others published in the United States after his initial success—and, often, some years after their initial publication in England—included “Diana,” the story of a boy's, and then a man's, compelling infatuation for the daughter of a local squire; “The Avenue,” which roamed a suburban English street before World War II, and “Mr. Sermon,” the tale of a schoolmaster who runs away from his tedious life and wife.

Far less well‐known, at least to the general public, were his books about Napoleon and the Napoleonic wars, which included one about Napoleon's siblings entitled, “The Golden Millstones” and “Napoleon in Love.”

Mr. Delderfield first became well‐known in England as the author of comedies; one of them, the 1945 “A Worm's Eye View,” ran in the West End for more than five years.

However, he said at the time, “what I really wanted to do was to project the English way of life in the tradition of Hardy and Galsworthy.”

Critical reaction was mixed. Christopher Lehmann ‐ Haupt, reviewing “God Is an English man” in The New York Times, wrote: “It is built out of clichés as huge and familiar as the blocks of Stonehenge... Mr. Delderfield takes these clichés and strings them together as artfully as [a]... ruby necklace is strung, and we settle back half knowing what will happen, but wanting to hear every detail just the same.”

Some critics were extravagant in their praise calling his work “wonderful storytelling.” Others noted that plots some times slowed to a soporific pace.

Favored the West Country

Mr. Delderfield was born in London. When he was 11 his family moved to the West, Country of England that be came his chosen place, to live and to write about, although his speech never lost its Cockney tinge.

At 17, he became editor of the country paper his father owned, and remained its editor —and reporter and columnist —until World War II, during which he served on the Air Ministry Staff.

He began his career as a writer after the war, and wrote, he said, an average of 4,000 words a day, 365 days a year.


https://www.nytimes.com/1972/06/27/ar...

Ah, now you're talking, Nigeyb. I hadn't realised this was a book by R.F. Delderfield, but I vividly remember being gripped by Napoleon in Love in that very same Pan edition as a teenager in the 70s, probably a year or two after it was published!

The fact that he wrote popular history books also means there's an autobiographical element to his descriptions of David Powlett-Jones's history writing. I wonder if Delderfield ever really considered writing about the "Royal Tigress", Margaret of Anjou?

How wonderful you know that book already Judy.


Yes, I'm guessing he did indeed incorporate an autobiographical element to his descriptions of David Powlett-Jones's history writing. It would be lovely to think he considered writing about the "Royal Tigress", Margaret of Anjou.

I wonder if the favourable reviews David Powlett-Jones received were just wishful thinking, or based on his own experience?

Let's hope he got some good reviews for his history books. After you mentioned the Napoleon book, Nigeyb, I noticed that David quotes Napoleon to Christine at one point.

Have finished Part II. I like the parts where David is with the boys or other teachers, rather than the married/family bits. David is more a real person, whereas I don't feel Elizabeth is.

Judy wrote: "LAfter you mentioned the Napoleon book, Nigeyb, I noticed that David quotes Napoleon to Christine at one point. "

It all links together

:-)

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "David is more a real person, whereas I don't feel Elizabeth is"

A lot of the supporting cast are somewhat insubstantial, this also applies to many of the teaching staff and recurring boys too. Given there are so many of them I am willing to cut RFD a bit of slack on this one. It's really all about the plot, and how this relates to some of the broader historical events during the interwar years.

I am more than willing to overlook whatever weaknesses the book may have, as I am being swept along by the story, or stories.

Overall it's a wonderful reading experience.

I would agree that many of the characters are rather insubstantial and in some cases a bit stereotyped (the harrumphing governor who is David's supporter comes to mind - Briggs, I think?) but on the whole it doesn't worry me too much, as I'm enjoying the story and wondering what will happen next.

Judy wrote: "...the harrumphing governor who is David's supporter comes to mind - Briggs, I think?"

That's Brigadier Cooper - or Briggy as PJ sometimes calls him. Damn fine fellow!

Judy wrote: "I would agree that many of the characters are.....in some cases a bit stereotyped"

Just a bit - very broad strokes!

Nigeyb wrote: "Judy wrote: "...the harrumphing governor who is David's supporter comes to mind - Briggs, I think?"

That's Brigadier Cooper - or Briggy as PJ sometimes calls him. Damn fine fellow!...

Ah yes, that's where I got the idea of Briggs from! I'm into Book 7 now - originally the start of the second volume, since I see it was published in two volumes originally.

You've overtaken me. I should have an opportunity to read a bit more at some point later today

Judy wrote: "I'm into Book 7 now - originally the start of the second volume, since I see it was published in two volumes originally"

I'm confused. My edition is split into Parts - and I am on Chapter 4 of Part Six - or to be more precise page 393 of a total of 572, so into the final third.

If your Book 7 is the equivalent of my Part Seven - Island in a Torrent (page 400) then I'm amazed the second book was only about 170 pages, but perhaps that's right?

The start of part seven, with PJ's first proper term in his new role is real tear-in-the-eye stuff, so much heartwarming content that it's catnip to an old sentimentalist like me. I love this book - and PJ's attempts to raise funds to renovate the old school, make amends, and generally do what he can to make Bamflyde a better place.

Glorious

Nigeyb wrote: "Judy wrote: "I'm into Book 7 now - originally the start of the second volume, since I see it was published in two volumes originally"

I'm confused. My edition is split into Parts - and I am on Cha..."

Mine is split into parts too, sorry. I took it that the start of part 7 is where the break between volumes comes, because of the titles of the two volumes (I didn't mention them to avoid spoilers!) but I did mean to check I was right before posting. I may be wrong - possibly the split came earlier in the story. I did try to check but couldn't find any information on this.

I was thinking the relationships are real. But you all are way past where I am and now this thread is becoming spoilerish. See you when I finish.

Judy wrote: "Mine is split into parts too, sorry. I took it that the start of part 7 is where the break between volumes comes, because of the titles of the two volumes (I didn't mention them to avoid spoilers!) but I did mean to check I was right before posting. I may be wrong - possibly the split came earlier in the story. I did try to check but couldn't find any information on this."

Actually I think you could be right. The ending of Part Six could work as a book ending, and there is a sense of a new beginning in Part Seven.

Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "...this thread is becoming spoilerish. See you when I finish"

Okay Elizabeth. I'm trying hard to stay spoiler free and I am confident that we've not touched on any major plot developments but, fair enough, it's probably safest to stay away if you don't want any idea about anything.

I often find just reading the back of the book gives away a surprising amount, but I still always do it. I have learned to avoid "Introductions" though, until finishing a book.

I knew I couldn't finish by the 15th of September, so I said I'd try it your way. But it just doesn't work for me to discuss as we go along.

Fair enough - at least you gave it a try

I've got about 100 pages to go now - still enjoying it a lot. It's struck me that Delderfield was great at thinking of titles - I wondered if "To serve them all my days" was a quote from somewhere, but if so I can't find it. His other titles, such as God is an Englishman and Come Home, Charlie and Face Them have a definite ring to them too.