'Am much annoyed with everybody.'Written in diary form, The Provincial Lady is a witty, semi-autobiographical novel packed with sharp and humorous observations about upper-middle-class society.Set in the English countryside in the 1930s, The Provincial Lady introduces us to a protagonist with a sharp eye, but even sharper wit. Through various diary entries, she records the quiet chaos of her everyday life, as well as her attempts to keep her footing...

Most of us, at Cross Loman, have begun to forget about Mrs. Harter and Captain Patch, and those of us who still remember—and after all, it was only last summer—hardly ever speak their names. I know that Mary Ambrey remembers, just as I do. Sometimes we talk about it to each other, and exchange impressions and conjectures. Conjectures more than anything, because neither of us has the inside knowledge that alone could help one to a real understanding of what happened. Mary goes by intuition ...

“AS a matter of fact—although one hates to say such a thing——” Lady Argent paused, in order to give the thing its full conversational value. “As a matter of absolute fact, those poor children are really to be congratulated.” “Because they are left orphans at five years old?” “How you exaggerate, Ludovic! Rosamund is quite fourteen, and the little one can’t be less than ten or eleven years old. And she wasn’t much of a mother to them, poor thing.” “Well, what form did her modified motherhoo...

"Consequences" tells the story of Alex Clare, a young woman from a wealthy family who rebels against the expectations placed upon her by society and her family. The novel follows Alex's struggles to find fulfillment and independence in a world that is determined to confine her to the roles of wife and mother.Delafield's writing style in "Consequences" is characterized by its sharp wit, incisive social commentary, and keen observation of human behavior. Through Alex's experiences, Delafield...

"The War-Workers" focuses on the experiences of women during World War I who volunteered for various war efforts on the home front. The novel explores themes of patriotism, sacrifice, and the changing roles of women in society as they take on new responsibilities traditionally held by men. Delafield's writing style often combines humor with social commentary, providing a nuanced portrayal of the challenges and triumphs faced by women during wartime.The novel is notable for its depiction of...

“I am an orphan,” reflected Lydia Raymond, with immense satisfaction. She was a very intelligent little girl of twelve years old, and she remembered very well that when her father had died out in China, three years ago, it was her mother who had been the centre of attention and compassion. People had spoken about her poor dead father, and had praised him and pitied him, but their real attention had all been for the widow, who was there under their eyes, pathetic and sorrow-stricken. Lydia ...

The E. M. Delafield Collection showcases a rich tapestry of early 20th-century life through the lens of social commentary and character-driven narratives. Delafield's distinctive literary style is characterized by her wit and keen observations, seamlessly blending humor with poignant reflections on the roles of women in society. This anthology encapsulates her most notable works, including 'The Diary of a Provincial Lady', which serves as a satirical yet empathetic portrayal of domestic li...

The Diary of a Provincial Lady by E. M. Delafield. Original Illustrations Included. This edition includes: The Diary of a Provincial Lady The Provincial Lady Goes Further The Provincial Lady in Russia A great classic of the national literature, Diary of a Provincial Lady first appeared in weekly instalments in Time and Tide, the feminist weekly. Some might find a contradiction that a book is both national and feminist. But this is the central mission of books and one of the reasons Diary (...

In "Late and Soon," E. M. Delafield masterfully explores the complexities of human relationships and societal expectations in post-World War I England. The narrative follows the intertwining lives of its characters through a lens of sharp social commentary, woven into a rich tapestry of humor and poignancy. Delafield's distinctive prose is marked by its meticulous attention to both the subtleties of domestic life and the breath of the larger world views at the time, as she delves into them...

E. M. Delafield Premium Collection: 6 Novels in One Volume gathers a substantial cross-section of Delafield's fiction, revealing her gift for social comedy, psychological acuity, and quietly devastating satire. Moving through domestic interiors, provincial hierarchies, romantic disappointments, and the pressures placed upon women by family and class, these novels combine crisp realism with ironic understatement. Their style belongs to the interwar tradition of English manners fiction, yet ...

Dodo Collections brings you another classic from E.M. Delafield, ‘Consequences.’This is a beautifully written account of a young girl who is unable to fit into the conventional mold demanded by her family and social class. A prickly, difficult personality with no leavening of humor to lighten her circumstances, Alex finds her only relief in the crushes she develops on friends at school and various acquaintances. Her feelings of devotion to the Superior of a local convent lead her t...

Take a step back in time to the 1930s as this semi-autobiographical series chronicles the daily life of an upper-class lady. Presented as diary entries, these delightful novels delve into English countryside life and a provincial lady’s many mishaps.In the depths of Devon, England, a disaster-prone, upper-class lady lives with her uncommunicative husband, their young children, a French nanny, the cook and a number of household servants. But this picture of perfect ...