Customer Reviews

Priory

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The Priory is the story of the Marwood family: the Major, willing to spend profligately on his cricket fortnights, but reluctant to spend money on electric lighting; Christine and Penelope, his two grown daughters, thrust from the nursery once their father marries a much younger woman; and Anthea, the Major's second wife, who immerses herself in her own world once her children are born.

The other part of the novel's story concerns the servants: the indomitable Nurse Pye; Thompson, cricketer and womanizer; Betty; and Bertha. All live in Saunby Priory, a former priory turned country mansion.

Not a lot "happens" in this novel; most of the action centers around emotion. It's all about subtlety here. The novel's description on Amazon compares Whipple with Jane Austen; but really, I think she's more like Barbara Pym in the way that she treats her characters, exposing people's strength and weaknesses unashamedly. According to the note at the back of the book, The Priory was based on real people; so much so that the models for the Marwoods and others were not amused at the characterization.

There's a sort of Upstairs Downstairs feel to the novel (it was written thirty years before the BBC show), but ultimately the story belongs to the Marwoods, from tragedies to triumphs. And despite the fact that the book was written, and takes place, on the eve of a major catastrophe, Whipple infuses her novel with a sense of hope.

Dorothy Whipple sees the drama and interest in the ordinary. Her stories are about families, the home, marriage, infidelity, relationships. She illustrates the fragility of human relationships and of love. She has the ability to make her characters absolutely real and her stories engaging and unforgettable. Her stories reveal her to be a keen observer of people, their flaws as well as their good qualities. Someone at a Distance (Persephone Classics) and 'The Priory' share a common theme: how inevitably and uncontrollably minor indiscretions can have the capacity to ruin marriages, childhood innocence, families, lives. And how through pride we often choose suffering over happiness. Both also illustrate how human suffering can be meaningful, and how often it is only through enduring unbearable suffering that happiness can be achieved. I cannot recommend Dorothy Whipple highly enough!

I found this book compelling enough to read to the end, however I would describe it as a strange combination. It is partly a lighthearted, enjoyable pre-war english country house novel, where there is no real hardship. It is partly a very real and enlightening take on the situation for women pre-feminism and includes a few characters who are very stoic in the face of hardship (generally caused by unfaithful men or men who like cricket too much).

A good book for a rainy weekend with lots of cups of tea.

This novel is about the Marwood family who live on the crumbling estate, Saunby Priory somewhere in the countryside of England. The Major has two young neglected daughters Christine and Penelope, and an elder son Guy who lives in London and is hardly ever seen. The Major himself can't be bothered too much with his daughters and he allows them to roam the countryside, enjoying life and doing what they want. He spends most of his time trying to save as much money as possible for his annual cricket fortnight, something he loves most dearly in life and can do little else to save the estate or provide for his family. When he decides he needs to marry again he picks a much younger woman, Anthea who brings with her many sudden changes to the Priory and the family finds themselves thrust into different directions.

This book has a lot of strong points. It reads very well and the story keeps moving but the pace is never rushed. This is a story about family and about how times are changing for women, servants and the world. Even though the novel takes place on the brink of WWII, the author manages to leave readers feeling hopeful for the future of the family. The author creates the perfect blend of tragedy and triumph throughout the book. Also, Dorothy Whipple does such an excellent job with her characters because they are so well developed and all grow throughout the story that makes for very interesting reading. All of her characters are susceptible to human emotions such as jealousy, love, anger, lust, stubbornness and pride that create a bond between readers and the characters. The only plot line that I felt could have been better developed through the second half of the book was between Thompson, Betty and Bertha, which left me with little closure, even though it was realistic.

Many people have compared her writing with that of Jane Austen and while I think Austen writing has more wit and sarcasm, Whipple is also a keen observer of human behavior and both writers are capable of taking simple domestic situations and infusing them with tragedy, sadness and hope.

I really enjoyed this book, I thought it was fantastic. This is the first novel that I have read by Dorothy Whipple and I will be looking to read more of her books in the future. I am so glad that Persephone Books decided to reprint this forgotten classic it is wonderful!

I just love reading Dorothy Whipple! Her beautiful writing, witty and touching stories, unbeatable talent in displaying emotion..and her stories are always so satisfying. THis is the story, a saga of sorts, of the Marwood family. The patriarch, the major, lives with his eccentric sister and his two daughters, decides he needs some one to keep his home in order so he marries much to the surprise and distress of the other members of the family. Nothing major happens, it's really a chronicle of the family and their lives, but you won't find a better page turner.
Much has been made of comparisons between Whipple and Jane Austen, but I have always found her to be more like Elizabeth Gaskell or even Barbara Pym, a more modern author. She has an incredible talent for creating characters, but also for building the character through their emotions and thoughts. There is nothing hurried in her style, and no matter how long, her books are an absolute delight, completely rewarding.