First published in 1939

Summary

The book opens in Dortmouth Bay, where we find Arthur Alfred Partridge employed in a small library where people can lease books for twopence a week. His job comes with a small kitchen behind the shop and a bedroom above and, for the most part, the work seems to suit him well enough. Then he meets Lisbeth and his world is turned upside down.

Lisbeth, an orphan without financial means, is a lovely young woman. She is the type of woman with whom men seem constantly to fall in love. However, she is engaged to an upright military man from a good family. Hugh, her fiancé, believes Lisbeth is absolute perfection, an angel incapable of wrong-doing. 

Her brother, Ronny, is a different story entirely. Ronny has recently been released from prison and her family and fiancé are determined to keep Ronny and Lisbeth apart so that he does not sully her reputation. Lisbeth, however, does not find those arrangements suitable, and she sets about with a quiet determination to redeem her brother’s image –  a fairly daunting task given Ronny lacks brains, skills, common sense or any real desire to change.

Through a comedy of errors, Mr. Partridge finds himself sharing a shabby apartment in London with Ronny and Lisbeth. He appoints himself unofficial guardian of Lisbeth, but without ever really understanding who she is. Like all others in her life, he is pretty sure he knows what is best for her. In his mind, his purpose is to protect and assist Lisbeth, keep Ronny out of trouble, and insure that when her fiancé returns to the country she is able to marry him and live the life she deserves.

My Thoughts

Literature written in the interwar periods of the 1920s and 30s in the UK is something I normally enjoy. I’m especially fond of the writing of the women of that era, so this one by Margery Sharp, who is known for her wit, seemed like it would be a hit! Unfortunately, I didn’t really like it.

It simply couldn’t hold my attention. The pacing was quite slow and I often found the reading rather tedious. There was some humor, but only sprinkled about in a rather stingy fashion. The only thing that kept me reading was my desire to learn what happened to the characters.

Everyone in Lisbeth’s life appreciated her in a rather superficial way. They didn’t seem to note her intelligence or her work ethic. They didn’t appreciate her loyalty to her brother. She took her responsibilities seriously, even when doing so risked her own well-being. It’s crystal clear to the reader, if to none of her acquaintances,  that she doesn’t really want to marry Hugh, but having agreed to it she wouldn’t dream of hurting him or disappointing her family. 

Mr. Partridge is a sad figure because he is aware that he doesn’t really know what his own place is in the world. He sees himself as an old man without purpose or prospects, and, as a result, he dedicates himself wholeheartedly to the cause of Lisbeth. He is bumbling and often judgmental. In many ways, he’s the most naive of the characters.

Aunt Mildred Pickering is another interesting character. Others see her as an old woman who is stifled by her Victorian attitudes. Yet in many ways, she views the world around her as if it is exactly like one of the romance novels she loves. Ultimately, it may be Aunt Mildred’s belief in the purity and importance of true love that saves the day. 

I found the ending satisfactory and I’m glad I stuck with it, but it isn’t something I would read again.

Rating 2/5

Subscribe to be kept up to date with my reviews

About the Author

Margery Sharp (1905-1991) was a British author known for her wit and her ability to capture the personality of her characters. She is best known for her children’s books about a little white mouse. Two of her books were turned into Disney movies.