The Diary of a Provincial Lady

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Extraordinary and quite unheralded idea springs into my mind to the effect that it is definitely agreeable to find myself traveling anywhere, for any purpose, without dear Robert or either of the dear children. Am extremely aghast at this unnatural outbreak and try to ignore it.

The Bazalgettes (1936) - a spoof anonymous novel of 1870–6. Delafield asked to be allowed to review it for The Listener but was unable to do so. However, says Mrs. Blenkinsop with a sad smile, it is never her way to dwell upon herself and her own troubles. She just sits there, day after day, always ready to sympathise in the little joys and troubles of others, and I would hardly believe how unfailingly these are brought to her. People say, she adds deprecatingly, that just her Smile does them good. She does not know, she says, what they mean. (Neither do I.)

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The one way in which I hope real life deviated from her novel was in the state of her finances. In the book they were horrendous; she was always taking things to be pawned, or rescuing things from the pawnbrokers at the last moment. Her perilous financial situation was exacerbated by her love of new clothes and other luxuries. Another big negative in the book was her husband, who came across as grumpy and monosyllabic. She however appeared to be wholly unperturbed by his reticence. (This seemingly had more to do with the parched expectations of women at the time, and less to do with any positive attributes he may have secretly harboured.)

Write grateful letter to Rose, at the same time explaining difficulty of broadening my outlook by further time spent away from home, just at present." I don’t think The Provincial Lady’s name was mentioned in the novel, or if it was it went over my head. Query: Does motherhood lead to cynicism? This contrary to every convention of art, literature, or morality, but cannot altogether escape conviction that answer may be in the affirmative.)"

A Perfectly True Story - a short story contributed to The Girl Guides' Book. It is an account of Delafield's marriage into the circle of squires & baronets. Kirtington Park was built by Sir James Dashwood, and was the ancestral home of her husband. January 22nd.—Customary painful situation between Bank and myself necessitates expedient, also customary, of pawning great-aunt's diamond ring, which I do, under usual conditions, and am greeted as old friend by Plymouth pawnbroker, who says facetiously, And what name will it be this time?"2. The details of everyday life of the author's upper-class English country household are really minor, and few and far between (I know I only found this aspect interesting because I am currently reading a rather dry book on Women's Institutes, and she writes about these). I liked the way she presents the Cook, and the French teacher May 16th.—Interesting to note that although by this time all Cook's jellies take away at sight what appetite measles have left me, am more wholly revolted by emerald green variety than by yellow or red. Should like to work out possible Freudian significance of this, but find myself unable to concentrate. December 20th.--Rose takes me to see St. John Ervine's play, and am much amused. Overhear one lady in stalls ask another: Why don't you write a play, dear? Well, says the friend, it's so difficult what with one thing and another, to find time. Am staggered. (Query: Could I write a play myself? Could we all write plays, if only we had the time?)" The Diary of a Provincial Lady is a brilliantly observed comic novel, as funny and fresh today as when it was first written.