How wonderful that they do still remember her in such a simple but meaningful way. Elizabeth Bowen is certainly among my favourite women writers…they have a corner and each a shelf of their own in my ‘book room’, and I have this book but it’s one I haven’t read so thank you for the prompt.
I rediscovered her work when I lived in Folkestone. She spent a couple of periods living in Hythe - just down the coast. One of the houses has a plaque. The area became the setting - either implicitly or explicitly - for several stories. Folkestone becomes 'Southstone' and Hythe becomes 'Seale'. Various places and buildings are readily identifiable from her descriptions.
Sorry for the late reply - Substack didn’t actually notify me of it. Hythe recognisably crops up in ‘The House in Paris’ and ‘Map of the Heart’. The short story ‘The Dancing Mistress’ starts in the Metropole Hotel in Folkestone and that’s also the setting for ‘Ivy Gripped the Steps’ and ‘The Little Girls’. I’m sure there must be others, and she ranged over the Kent coast in her settings. The model for the house Waikiki is on Marine Parade, Hythe and was immediately spotted as such by fellow Hythe writer Jocelyn Brooke.
I should add that, despite all its many literary connections, there’s no real evidence that Agatha Christie wrote ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ at the Metropole - as much as they may claim so!
Thanks so much for this suggestion. I have very limited experience with Elizabeth Bowen’s work, and you have captured my attention in discussing her role as a bridge figure. Her view of female empowerment is of great interest to me, and I will definitely place this novel on my reading list. Thanks again!
Just ordered a copy!I I loved The House in Paris.
I love Elizabeth Bowen and haven't read nearly enough of her work, including this one. Thanks for writing about it!
How wonderful that they do still remember her in such a simple but meaningful way. Elizabeth Bowen is certainly among my favourite women writers…they have a corner and each a shelf of their own in my ‘book room’, and I have this book but it’s one I haven’t read so thank you for the prompt.
I love that picture of Elizabeth Bowen. Thank you for sharing:)
I rediscovered her work when I lived in Folkestone. She spent a couple of periods living in Hythe - just down the coast. One of the houses has a plaque. The area became the setting - either implicitly or explicitly - for several stories. Folkestone becomes 'Southstone' and Hythe becomes 'Seale'. Various places and buildings are readily identifiable from her descriptions.
Fascinating! Thank you so much for sharing. Are there specific stories you would recommend with Southstone and Seale settings?
Sorry for the late reply - Substack didn’t actually notify me of it. Hythe recognisably crops up in ‘The House in Paris’ and ‘Map of the Heart’. The short story ‘The Dancing Mistress’ starts in the Metropole Hotel in Folkestone and that’s also the setting for ‘Ivy Gripped the Steps’ and ‘The Little Girls’. I’m sure there must be others, and she ranged over the Kent coast in her settings. The model for the house Waikiki is on Marine Parade, Hythe and was immediately spotted as such by fellow Hythe writer Jocelyn Brooke.
Wonderful - thanks so much John!
I should add that, despite all its many literary connections, there’s no real evidence that Agatha Christie wrote ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ at the Metropole - as much as they may claim so!
Thanks so much for this suggestion. I have very limited experience with Elizabeth Bowen’s work, and you have captured my attention in discussing her role as a bridge figure. Her view of female empowerment is of great interest to me, and I will definitely place this novel on my reading list. Thanks again!
I'm so pleased!