Young Mrs Savage

Having read about D E Stevenson, of whom I had not previously heard, in Elaine's blog, Random Jottings of a Book and Opera Lover, I've been reading those of her novels that the Spokane Library still has on their shelves. Quite a few, surprisingly, as many of her novels were reprinted in the 1970s in the US.

My favorite so far is Young Mrs Savage, published in 1948, and dealing with the adjustment to life after the war in England and Scotland. Dinah Savage married young and after the war found herself with a small income, no servants, and four small children. Her husband was not killed in the war; he died in an accident immediately afterward.

Her brother, back after many years at sea and working in London in a boring job (but a job nonetheless - not every returning veteran found one), suggests she take the children to stay in the house they grew up in, on the seaside, near Edinburgh. She and the children meet lots of new people and she becomes better acquainted with many people she knew as a child.

A lovely book, slow moving, including stories Mrs Savage tells her children, little adventures for the children, and some mysterious new friends. Just the sort of book women must have longed to read right after the war - a book in which the struggles are over and the good are rewarded and - as it takes place mostly in Scotland - there are lots of scones, much whipped cream and strawberry jam, and no problem finding chops for dinner or candy for the children.

Comments

[Elaine Simpson-Long]

Mary - have noted your comment overon Random re visit to Hay and seeing the Magna Carta at Hereford Cathedral. Difficult to look at and take it in but it was quite a moment.
I returned with a whole pile of DE Stevenson and am enjoying them very much though I find it is best if they are rationed out over a period of reading time as they can become a little 'samey'. There is something about them that I love, some of them remind me of my childhood and the kind of simple life we had then, no complications. Well, none that I could see. I am sure my mother would say otherwise!