Hikikomori, condition in which a person is socially avoidant to the point of staying isolated at home for at least six months … Book 5, In Russia, where she is sent to gather information. An interesting look at the country and its inhabitants at that time. Russians believed they were living the only way possible as a socialist country, but no one seemed happy. Hardcover. Condition: Good. Quirky edition of Delafield's autobiographical novel. Pictoral covers and an introduction by Jilly Cooper. Some slight sunning to spine but otherwise clean and tight. Complete with slip-case. Toning to spine. Light bumping to edges. Slipcase is toned. Clean and sound within. Good. It's not easy being a Provincial Lady in Devonshire in the 1920s, juggling a grumpy husband, mischievous children and a host of domestic dilemmas - from rice mould to a petulant cook. But this Provincial Lady will not be defeated; not by wayward flower bulbs, not by unexpected houseguests, not even by the Blitz. She will continue to preside over the W.I., endure rain-drenched family picnics and succeed as a published author, all the while tending to her strawberries.

I read a Goodreads friend’s review of this book, and it sounded quite good, and so I put it on my TBR list and I read it today and I liked it quite a bit. 😊 And gradually one realises that, despite the short sentences and the simplicity and unpretentiousness of the prose and subject matter, here is a very subtle and deliberate talent at work, naturally satirical, with a marvellous ear for dialogue and an unerringly accurate social sense. The novel inspired several sequels which chronicled later portions of her life: The Provincial Lady Goes Further, The Provincial Lady in America, and The Provincial Lady in War-Time. She later worked for the Ministry of Information. The Dictionary of National Biography says "On the outbreak of the Second World War, she lectured for the Ministry of Information and spent some weeks in France." - however we can surmise from The Provincial Lady in War-Time that in fact she spent quite a bit of time vainly looking for 'proper' war work and working in an ARP canteen.As you may well know by now, Simon and Karen are running another of their ‘Clubs’ this week, this one focusing on literature first published in 1930. (You can find out more about it here.) For my contribution to the event, I’ve decided to write about E. M. Delafield’s The Diary of a Provincial Lady, the first of four books included in the Penguin collected edition of the series. (The first book appeared in 1930, with further instalments following in 1932, 1934 and 1940.) I have meant to read E.M. Delafield’s The Diary of a Provincial Lady for years, although I really didn’t know what it was. An Edwardian gardener’s observations (lots of flowers on some editions)? A turn-of-the-century suffragist speaking on the Question of the Day? Delafield was born Edmée Elizabeth Monica de la Pasture in 1890. Her parents were a French count, whose family escaped to England during the revolution, and a successful novelist, Mrs Henry de la Pasture, who had a considerable influence on Ivy Compton-Burnett and was much admired by Evelyn Waugh. For what it’s worth, I see Vile Bodies on the list–I am not a fan, though I enjoy Waugh. I don’t think it stood the test of time as well as many people feel it does.

Criteria - is it interesting? Yes; is it well written? Yes; is the language and grammar good? Very; Did I enjoy it? Oh, yes; did I have difficulty putting it down? Yes; would I like to read more by this author? Yes, definitely. Film script with Vera Allinson: Crime on the Hill (1933), which starred Sally Blane, Anthony Bushell, Lewis Casson and Nigel Playfair. January 22nd.—Customary painful situation between Bank and myself necessitates expedient, also customary, of pawning great-aunt's diamond ring, which I do, under usual conditions, and am greeted as old friend by Plymouth pawnbroker, who says facetiously, And what name will it be this time?"2. The details of everyday life of the author's upper-class English country household are really minor, and few and far between (I know I only found this aspect interesting because I am currently reading a rather dry book on Women's Institutes, and she writes about these). I liked the way she presents the Cook, and the French teacher May 16th.—Interesting to note that although by this time all Cook's jellies take away at sight what appetite measles have left me, am more wholly revolted by emerald green variety than by yellow or red. Should like to work out possible Freudian significance of this, but find myself unable to concentrate. Otherwise dear Rose entirely unchanged and offers to put me up in her West-End flat as often as I like to come to London. Accept gratefully. (N.B. How very different to old school-friend Cissie Crabbe, with bed-sitting-room and gas-ring in Norwich! But should not like to think myself in any way a snob.)I feel sure that all women who read this book in America will often pause as I did with a nod and smile, perhaps a rueful smile, of agreement.”

The Diary of a Provincial Lady inspired several sequels: The Provincial Lady Goes Further, The Provincial Lady in America and The Provincial Lady in Wartime which were similarly autobiographical. I read the Penguin Modern Classics edition of The Diary of a Provincial Lady which contains these three sequels. I have not read them yet, although I am now inspired to read them. This review is just about The Diary of a Provincial Lady. Cannot many of our moral lapses from Truth be frequently charged upon the tactless persistence of others? Move about after dinner, and meet acquaintance whose name I have forgotten, but connect with literature. I ask if he has published anything lately. He says that his work is not, and never can be, for publication. Thought passes through my mind to the effect that this attitude might with advantage be adopted by many others. Do not say so, however, and we talk instead about Rebecca West, the progress of aviation, and the case for and against stag-hunting." Visit four linen-drapers and try on several dozen hats. Look worse and worse in each one, as hair gets wilder and wilder, and expression paler and more harassed. Decide to get myself shampooed and waved before doing any more, in hopes of improving the position.Delafield was born in Steyning, Sussex. She was the elder daughter of Count Henry Philip Ducarel de la Pasture, of Llandogo Priory, Monmouthshire, and Elizabeth Lydia Rosabelle, daughter of Edward William Bonham, who as Mrs Henry de la Pasture was also a well-known novelist. The pen name Delafield was a thin disguise suggested by her sister Yoe. After Count Henry died, her mother married Sir Hugh Clifford GCMG, who governed the colonies of the Gold Coast (1912–19), Nigeria (1919–25), Ceylon (1925–27) and the Malay States. The latter Delafield is the one guyed in Provincial Lady, but it needed the satirical eye of her other self to do the guying and to chronicle so exactly the follies and idiosyncrasies of an entire neighbourhood. The success of the books lies in the fact that both sides of her character were stretched to the full. January 22nd - Robert startles me at breakfast by asking if my cold - which he has hitherto ignored - is better. I reply that it has gone. Then why, he asks, do I look like that? Feel that life is wholly unendurable, and decide madly to get a new hat'