Customer Reviews

Mary Wakefield

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This was the first book I read of Mazo de la Roche's classic series of novels about the colorful Whiteoak clan of Jalna in Canada. Mary Wakefield is a misfit among the opinionated, strong willed Whiteoak clan--a sensitive, vulnerable governess whose increasing attraction to the widowed father of her students is resented by his indomitable dowager mother, Adeline Whiteoak. It's one of many memorable books in this unique series, but I thought it was one of the most touching. Mary is as much a character to remember as the formidable Adeline, with whom she ultimately locks horns in a battle for the same man. A worthwhile addition to the vivid series about this tumultuous clan.

I read this book when I was about 10 or 11. It had been mixed in with some other books deemed 'appropriate' for girls my age like 'Little Women', etc. Obviously, this was a mistake. Not that the book was anything shocking by today's standards, but it was definitely a more adult theme than I was accustomed to. The book made an impression on me, and I read it several times. The author's gift of creating and developing the characters made Mary Wakefield, and every other character in the book vividly alive and easy to visualize. The physical description of the landscape and setting in Ontario, Canada in the 1890's made me feel like I was there.

It was not until I was in high school that I discovered Mazo de la Roche had written an entire series about the Whiteoak family. I was completely hooked and at one point so immersed in the various characters that I couldn't believe they had never really existed. I think de la Roche was a genius at character development and the dynamics between the various different personalities remain consistant throughout the novels which span a full century from 1850 to 1950 or thereabouts. The development of the characters from children to adults is masterful as well. I am disappointed that the BBC has never seen fit to dramatize the series as I think they are far superior to 'The Forsyte Saga'. I know that the original book in the series was a successful play in London for many years. Odd that her work is virtually unknown today.

I've been reading the Jalna series in order of events, rather than in order written. This book takes place around the 1890's, which makes it third in the series, while it was actually written eleventh out of sixteen. We get to see a good bit of Adeline Whiteoak, the family matriarch, and get to see how her children relate to each other now that they're grown. It's a good book, although not as good as some of the others in the series. If you want the whole Jalna experience, though, you'll want to read this one.