Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Penguin Books (1988), Paperback, 302 pages
Description
Moving from 1933 to 1949, this is a stirring account of Ellen (Fenny) Fenwick's development and of the experiences which shape the resilient woman she becomes after leaving her Yorkshire home for the Tuscan Hills, to become governess to the granddaughter of a famous actress.
User reviews
LibraryThing member otterley
I enjoyed this very much. There's nothing startling about it - it's written in a very clear, transparent prose and deals mostly with private life albeit in an environment (Italy before, during and after the war) where the public world occasionally comes crashing in. This is a novel about a woman
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growing up, making emotional mistakes, and ultimately leading a life that is as good as she can make it within the confines of what is possible for a single woman of limited means in the mid 20th century. It's realism is, in many ways, quietly devastating. I finished it wanting to read more! Show Less
LibraryThing member lauralkeet
Ellen Fenwick, aka “Fenny,” accepts a summer position as a governess working in Italy for an English family. The setting is magical, and having become quite fond of the child in her care, she accepts a permanent position with the family. The novel opens in 1933 when fascism is just beginning to
Then the book shifts abruptly to 1945 and beyond. Lettice Cooper provides minimal detail on how Fenny spent the war years; I can only guess she wanted to focus on the life of an independent woman before and after the war. Unfortunately, I found it difficult to buy into the post-war section (roughly the last third of the novel). New characters were insufficiently developed and the plot felt rushed. Some aspects were predictable and others seemed preposterous. This book got off to a good start, but ultimately fell short of my expectations.
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take hold, but the expatriate community is in a state of both ignorance and denial. The first part of this book takes us up to 1939, and Fenny’s life is filled with new experiences, personal growth, and heartbreak. Then the book shifts abruptly to 1945 and beyond. Lettice Cooper provides minimal detail on how Fenny spent the war years; I can only guess she wanted to focus on the life of an independent woman before and after the war. Unfortunately, I found it difficult to buy into the post-war section (roughly the last third of the novel). New characters were insufficiently developed and the plot felt rushed. Some aspects were predictable and others seemed preposterous. This book got off to a good start, but ultimately fell short of my expectations.
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Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1953
Physical description
302 p.; 7.7 inches
ISBN
0140161821 / 9780140161823