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The Town in Bloom
This is the 1965 Atlantic Monthly Press edition.
271 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1965
31 people are currently reading
1425 people want to read
About the author
Dodie Smith
110 books1,270 followersBorn Dorothy Gladys Smith in Lancashire, England, Dodie Smith was raised in Manchester (her memoir is titled A Childhood in Manchester). She was just an infant when her father died, and she grew up fatherless until age 14, when her mother remarried and the family moved to London. There she studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and tried for a career as an actress, but with little success. She finally wound up taking a job as a toy buyer for a furniture store to make ends meet. Giving up dreams of an acting career, she turned to writing plays, and in 1931 her first play, Autumn Crocus, was published (under the pseudonym “C.L. Anthony”). It was a success, and her story — from failed actress to furniture store employee to successful writer — captured the imagination of the public and she was featured in papers all over the country. Although she could now afford to move to a London townhouse, she didn't get caught up in the “literary” scene — she married a man who was a fellow employee at the furniture store.
During World War II she and her husband moved to the United States, mostly because of his stand as a conscientious objector and the social and legal difficulties that entailed. She was still homesick for England, though, as reflected in her first novel, I Capture the Castle (1948). During her stay she formed close friendships with such authors as Christopher Isherwood and John Van Druten, and was aided in her literary endeavors by writer A.J. Cronin.
She is perhaps best known for her novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians, a hugely popular childrens book that has been made into a string of very successful animated films by Walt Disney. She died in 1990.
During World War II she and her husband moved to the United States, mostly because of his stand as a conscientious objector and the social and legal difficulties that entailed. She was still homesick for England, though, as reflected in her first novel, I Capture the Castle (1948). During her stay she formed close friendships with such authors as Christopher Isherwood and John Van Druten, and was aided in her literary endeavors by writer A.J. Cronin.
She is perhaps best known for her novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians, a hugely popular childrens book that has been made into a string of very successful animated films by Walt Disney. She died in 1990.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
May 25, 2024
It's pretty easy to assume Dodie Smith's The Town in Bloom is autobiographical. It's not; Smith pored through her exhaustive diaries to produce four volumes of autobiography about her literary pursuits, her life in the theater, and her brief stint in Hollywood. But somehow everything in this novel about the maturation of a teen girl among the fast theatrical set of London in the nineteen-twenties feels autobiographical. Every richly-detailed chapter evokes a lost era of glamorous chorines and a thrilling post-war independence of spirit. The mists of nostalgia here are so thick that they feel almost narcotic.
It's because of the loving attention to detail that The Town in Bloom is second only to Smith's I Capture the Castle in charm among her handful of novels. Yes, I'm using the C-word in connection with Dodie Smith again—but has any author other than she truly cornered the market on that particular quality? Even her screenplay for the haunted-house thriller, The Uninvited, oozes a Dodie Smith-brand charm from every cinematic pore.
Though The Town in Bloom has a certain young-adult appeal, and although her heroine, Mouse, is still in her late teens when the bulk of the novel takes place, the novel's themes are decidedly adult in nature; there are multiple love affairs, frank discussions and consummations of premarital sex, and quite a lot of extramarital sex. It's all handled with Smith's trademark delicacy. I have a difficult time imagining that even (or especially) in the nineteen-sixties when the novel was written, that its themes could be considered anything but quaint.
Moreover, the novel's ending is adult not in sexual content, but in its melancholy. When I first read the novel in my late teens, I thought the conclusion abrupt and strange. The older I become, and the more I re-read this, one of my favorite comfort reads, the more graceful and true to life I find it—like one last sweet scent of summer on a bitterly cold autumn breeze.
It's because of the loving attention to detail that The Town in Bloom is second only to Smith's I Capture the Castle in charm among her handful of novels. Yes, I'm using the C-word in connection with Dodie Smith again—but has any author other than she truly cornered the market on that particular quality? Even her screenplay for the haunted-house thriller, The Uninvited, oozes a Dodie Smith-brand charm from every cinematic pore.
Though The Town in Bloom has a certain young-adult appeal, and although her heroine, Mouse, is still in her late teens when the bulk of the novel takes place, the novel's themes are decidedly adult in nature; there are multiple love affairs, frank discussions and consummations of premarital sex, and quite a lot of extramarital sex. It's all handled with Smith's trademark delicacy. I have a difficult time imagining that even (or especially) in the nineteen-sixties when the novel was written, that its themes could be considered anything but quaint.
Moreover, the novel's ending is adult not in sexual content, but in its melancholy. When I first read the novel in my late teens, I thought the conclusion abrupt and strange. The older I become, and the more I re-read this, one of my favorite comfort reads, the more graceful and true to life I find it—like one last sweet scent of summer on a bitterly cold autumn breeze.
April 12, 2011
After completing the trinity of Dodie Smith's novels for adults, I've remembered why I appreciate her so much.
Similar to I Capture the Castle, The Town in Bloom offers readers a presentation of unapologetic feminism and liberation that so many of Smith's counterparts lacked. Dodie Smith was, in fact, a rather brazen writer for her time and while I do not know what British culture was like in the first half of the 20th century, I do know that in the states, we were just beginning to push the boundaries of prescriptive sexual and gendered roles in 1965 (when this book was published). Smith's honest and blunt approach to writing about women is refreshing:
"My aunt's broadmindedness had extended to women who lived with men who couldn't marry them ('George Eliot did'), to emancipated women who refused to marry the men they lived with ('One doesn't necessarily agree with them but they are making a stand about something'), even to prostitutes ('They are often driven to it')."
I especially appreciate this story about four young friends caught up in the drama of theater life in 1920s London. Unlike The New Moon with the Old, which was relatively boring and knotty (too many story lines), Smith's other two novels are candid and confident and endearing, due much in part to the narrators.
As I said, after reading this novel I remembered why I love Dodie Smith so much. In addition to being rather female-positive, her characters manage to contemplate their contexts in a way that resonates with me, because it is so genuine. "Youth was now conscious of the deplorable state of the world. In the twenties, only our private worlds had existed for us."
Overall, I am delighted to have read these works by Dodie Smith, and still recommend her to as many people as possible.
Similar to I Capture the Castle, The Town in Bloom offers readers a presentation of unapologetic feminism and liberation that so many of Smith's counterparts lacked. Dodie Smith was, in fact, a rather brazen writer for her time and while I do not know what British culture was like in the first half of the 20th century, I do know that in the states, we were just beginning to push the boundaries of prescriptive sexual and gendered roles in 1965 (when this book was published). Smith's honest and blunt approach to writing about women is refreshing:
"My aunt's broadmindedness had extended to women who lived with men who couldn't marry them ('George Eliot did'), to emancipated women who refused to marry the men they lived with ('One doesn't necessarily agree with them but they are making a stand about something'), even to prostitutes ('They are often driven to it')."
I especially appreciate this story about four young friends caught up in the drama of theater life in 1920s London. Unlike The New Moon with the Old, which was relatively boring and knotty (too many story lines), Smith's other two novels are candid and confident and endearing, due much in part to the narrators.
As I said, after reading this novel I remembered why I love Dodie Smith so much. In addition to being rather female-positive, her characters manage to contemplate their contexts in a way that resonates with me, because it is so genuine. "Youth was now conscious of the deplorable state of the world. In the twenties, only our private worlds had existed for us."
Overall, I am delighted to have read these works by Dodie Smith, and still recommend her to as many people as possible.
June 19, 2013
This book... I don't know exactly what I think. It marks the fourth and last of the easily-accessible Dodie Smiths that I've read; if I want to read another one, I'll have to fork out ridiculous amounts of money for the discontinued "A Tale of Two Families" or "Girl in the Candlelit Bath", which I probably won't do, so this probably puts an end to my recent obsessive Dodie Smith reading. Was it a good end? I think so. Definitely entertaining; I couldn't put it down until somewhere around 2AM last night. Did I LIKE it? I'm just not sure.
It's about Mouse (we never learn her real name, which annoyed me a little bit), who goes off to a boarding house all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and excited for the theatrical career that she believes awaits her in London. Things quickly get complicated, especially when she embarks on an affair with her theater's manager. Her friends, Lilian, Molly, and Zelle, all have their own drama and difficulties, too. There's also a subplot in which Mouse and said friends have lunch together, forty years later.
There was a lot to enjoy, which probably accounted for my not being able to put it down last night. Mouse is probably THE most brazen character I have ever read about, and I kept gaping at the things that she did. She was such an interesting person -- she almost always put herself and her own interests first, but she wasn't exactly SELFISH, either. Just headstrong in such a way that she really never looked back. Dodie Smith's characters and their (usually unexpectedly forceful) personalities are my favorite thing about her books, and Mouse definitely didn't disappoint in this aspect.
So I guess my issue was... the plot. I was SO intrigued and excited by the first couple chapters; they promised adventure and mystery and lots of young people in one place getting up to crazy things, which is always fun to read about. But once Mouse started her affair with Rex Crossway, the book did this little shift, and suddenly it was ALL about that... which was okay, and I began to get into it, except then it suddenly shifted again, when the affair stopped, and refocused on Mouse's friends, before bouncing back to Mouse and leading her towards a new adventure that never got discussed very much.
So my brain was going "okay, fun London adventure story! Well, no, actually -- this is about Mouse being brazen and gutsy and kind of a coming-of-age thing. Wait, erm, no, actually... this is about unconventional sex lives? Okay, I'll run with that... but wait, it just shifted again! WHAT IS THIS BOOK DOING?"
And then, to top it all off, suddenly they're sixty and having coffee and their lives still pretty much revolve around the decisions they made at twenty, which I thought was both strange and depressing.
To praise Dodie Smith, though -- her books make me remember that authors don't always have to write the same kind of stuff, which is something that I always manage to forget. All four of her books that I've read have been SO different. "I Capture the Castle" has this kind of solemn beauty that none of the others can touch, and the most deliberately-drawn story arc. "The New Moon with the Old" is a slightly silly modern fairy tale that manages to contain a lot of wisdom at the same time. "It Ends with Revelations" is about older characters and is also kind of politically progressive. And then there's this one.
Definitely not my favorite, but fun nonetheless.
It's about Mouse (we never learn her real name, which annoyed me a little bit), who goes off to a boarding house all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and excited for the theatrical career that she believes awaits her in London. Things quickly get complicated, especially when she embarks on an affair with her theater's manager. Her friends, Lilian, Molly, and Zelle, all have their own drama and difficulties, too. There's also a subplot in which Mouse and said friends have lunch together, forty years later.
There was a lot to enjoy, which probably accounted for my not being able to put it down last night. Mouse is probably THE most brazen character I have ever read about, and I kept gaping at the things that she did. She was such an interesting person -- she almost always put herself and her own interests first, but she wasn't exactly SELFISH, either. Just headstrong in such a way that she really never looked back. Dodie Smith's characters and their (usually unexpectedly forceful) personalities are my favorite thing about her books, and Mouse definitely didn't disappoint in this aspect.
So I guess my issue was... the plot. I was SO intrigued and excited by the first couple chapters; they promised adventure and mystery and lots of young people in one place getting up to crazy things, which is always fun to read about. But once Mouse started her affair with Rex Crossway, the book did this little shift, and suddenly it was ALL about that... which was okay, and I began to get into it, except then it suddenly shifted again, when the affair stopped, and refocused on Mouse's friends, before bouncing back to Mouse and leading her towards a new adventure that never got discussed very much.
So my brain was going "okay, fun London adventure story! Well, no, actually -- this is about Mouse being brazen and gutsy and kind of a coming-of-age thing. Wait, erm, no, actually... this is about unconventional sex lives? Okay, I'll run with that... but wait, it just shifted again! WHAT IS THIS BOOK DOING?"
And then, to top it all off, suddenly they're sixty and having coffee and their lives still pretty much revolve around the decisions they made at twenty, which I thought was both strange and depressing.
To praise Dodie Smith, though -- her books make me remember that authors don't always have to write the same kind of stuff, which is something that I always manage to forget. All four of her books that I've read have been SO different. "I Capture the Castle" has this kind of solemn beauty that none of the others can touch, and the most deliberately-drawn story arc. "The New Moon with the Old" is a slightly silly modern fairy tale that manages to contain a lot of wisdom at the same time. "It Ends with Revelations" is about older characters and is also kind of politically progressive. And then there's this one.
Definitely not my favorite, but fun nonetheless.
September 4, 2018
I simply adored it The Town in Bloom! I am beginning to think that maybe I can't react to a book by Dodie Smith in any other way. It's both light and whimsical, but also profound and serious. When Dodie Smith tells you a story, she somehow manages to show you that you can be lighthearted in even the darkest situations, and that perhaps life is more playful than we're used to seeing it. I've even dug through other people's reviews to actually see if this book wasn't autobiographical – it isn't. But it sure feels like it is, and even if it's not, I feel like the author did have experience in certain of the things she writes about because how else could she have made it all so real? Nobody knows the theatre inside and out unless one has been a part of it, however briefly. The setting is rich and colorful, full of detail you'd never learn any other way, and it kindles your imagination, as well as bringing the 1920-30's back to life in front of your eyes. Dodie Smith just writes everything with so much vigor that you can't help but gobble the book up.
The Positivity In Smith’s Style
I don’t know how Dodie Smith manages it, but it’s like even when she’s talking about problems, she’s doing it in an upbeat way, or even if something bad happens in her stories, the main vibe is that it’s not the ending and nothing bad really lingers in life. Reading her books is basically like an anti-anxiety pill for me. If I can’t sleep? I can read something of Dodie Smith’s and go to sleep smiling and have the best sleep ever. She’s just got this incredibly peaceful and calming style. Have you noticed?
Some people might say that it's 'not serious enough' to read books like that, or perhaps it's naive and whatnot. But it's precisely that kind of attitude, I believe, that has half the world in a depressive state. If we think we can only talk about serious things with a frown, then how are we ever going to feel good about life at all? This must be one of the main reasons why I love Dodie Smith's books so much – she illuminates characters that are so opposite to who I am, and they teach me what I lack to be a happier person – in my views, my choices and my reflections. This is why Dodie Smith is definitely reread material.
And Then There’s The Humor
Despite being so laid back and calm in her style, Dodie Smith also has the biting wit you will enjoy. It’s not outright laugh kind of funny – it’s more like Jane Austen’s writing – you appreciate it for the wit, smile and nod your head at it, feel amused by how smart that was. Dodie Smith also has the bitey tone, but it’s so subtle, you sometimes have to look for it. She subtly pokes fun at the main character, and in this book it’s the first person, so the narrator always slightly laughs at themselves, which is a pleasant tone to read. It’s a distinctly British kind of humor too – but not the dark kind. Oh, it’s so hard to pinpoint exactly what I mean, but if you’ve been around British people at all, you’ll know it. It’s very enjoyable and cheering.
The Characters Are Delightful Oddballs
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That seems to be another trademark of Dodie Smith's, and it's one I truly enjoy. The main character is a girl raised by an aunt, rather sheltered in her previous life, but as a result, she is someone who's developed an independent attitude to life and sees things slightly differently than anyone else. Of course, that makes her a really unreliable narrator – which makes it all the more fun. Mouse's wardrobe is at least 20 years out of date, she looks at least 5 years younger than she is, and she projects herself unwillingly as quite a comical character, despite being completely honest and serious. She is infantile and charming, and she's a delight to read. But she's not the only one – the secondary characters are wonderful too. Mouse's friends, although not talked about in great detail, all have something different about them, and they all have a problem to solve. And under the unusual facade, they do harbor deeper problems and histories which are delved into in the second part of the book.
But Of Course, It's Not All Fun And Games
The book woos you with the bright tone, the leisurely pace and lack of apparent problems in life. But then it all descends. The main character will have more on her plate than some of you might have ever had. She has to make tough decisions, and ones based on her scanty experience in this odd world. And the ones she makes can be quite surprising. Dodie Smith also talks about things that must have been taboo back in the day – women's sexual freedom is quite openly discussed, although not in detail, but certainly like it's a given. I was surprised, considering how much we talk about sex in this day and age – some of the things seemed brave to me, especially because Mouse is so young. And I don't want to give things away, but there's something that definitely merits good discussion in the plot of this book. It's big, it's serious and it's even life-changing. I liked how it was treated in the book. I will not even hint at it, because it's a surefire spoiler. So just read it for yourselves! I believe it's still relevant in the theatre circles – just one of those things that never changes.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book and it was one of the best parts of my vacation, to be honest. I don't think I will ever swear off my undying love for Dodie Smith and how much her books give me – so I can only recommend you to read more, more, more of them! Admittedly, they might be too sentimental or sweet for some, but if you need more positivity and a lighter look at tough things, or if you're tired of reading books that are stressing you out, The Town in Bloom is the right choice for you.
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October 6, 2024
I absolutely loved “I Capture the Castle” by Dodie Smith, but I wasn’t sure whether I liked her as a writer or just that story. I’m glad to say that I’m now definitely a fan of Dodie Smith as a writer. This book is set in London’s theater district in the 1920s and it’s just so warmly lit in my mind’s eye because of Smith’s writing. It’s a fairly lighthearted sort of coming-of-age novel with another very charming, likable first-person narrator. I enjoyed the plot but maybe even more so just the writing style and the kind of hazy nostalgic feeling it gave me. I’m happy now to know that I can look forward to reading more by her.
March 29, 2017
I have now read I Capture the Castle, The New Moon in with the Old, It Ends With Revelations, A Tale of Two Families, and this book ... I read them in that order, and that also happens to be the order of how I liked them. Despite being my least favorite of Dodie Smith's novels, this book stuck with me and I found myself stealing away to read it whenever I had a chance throughout the day. I feel like I'm getting pickier and pickier about books as I get older, so that's still saying something! I've had to force myself to sit down and read most of the books I've read recently. Dodie Smith is my favorite writer, and this book did not disappoint. I highly recommend each of her books! I have only one more left to read (The Girl from the Candlelit Bath), and then I'll have read all of them! So sad!! Luckily most of them are now available on Kindle, so please do give this greatly underrated novelist a try!! Start with I Capture the Castle :)
August 27, 2016
While I Capture the Castle is undeniably Dodie Smith's best work (and also, to my surprise, her first novel), I always find her works delightful. Dodie Smith writes the way my mind works. That's not to say that our writing style is the same - I'm not sure I'd be able to match her characters' signature wry humor and hearty skepticism - but there's something particularly compelling about the way she puts words together. It feels like she's reaching into my head, tugging out my thought processes, and unwinding them on the page. It's a terribly selfish reason to enjoy an author's works, I know, but I think it's one most of her characters would understand.
The Town in Bloom covers a rather limited section of its main character's life, who is never actually named beyond her adopted (and misleading) nickname, "Mouse." The story centers around a pivotal year in her life, when she moved to London as a stubbornly independent 18 year old, determined to succeed at a life on the stage. While her dreams of being an actress were swept out from under her early on, she quickly forged her longest-lasting relationships, including friendship, her first love, and a 20 year romance. Two glimpses of her life 40 years into the future frame this central narrative, introducing the main cast and showing the culmination of that summer's events.
One of my favorite elements of a Dodie Smith novel is that while romance may drive much of the plot, sometimes consuming the characters' attention and motivations, it's rarely the culmination of the story. The Last Act, as Mouse terms it, usually turns out to be less about that all-consuming passion and more focused on the pursuit of self-actualization. The characters may not have it all together. In fact, they rarely do. They're often selfish, entirely absorbed in their own needs and blind to those around them. They're usually convinced they're destined for far greater success than life will actually toss their way - but they're also determined to fling aside lofty ambition and fight for what they want. It's a surprisingly practical way of viewing the world, yet it's shot through with the most beautiful, vivid dreams.
This particular novel is hovering at around 3.5 stars for me - while it's a thoroughly enjoyable read, and I'll gladly add it to my growing collection of this author's books (how pleased I will be if I can gather a full matching set), it feels rather short. Its first person narration limits the point of view rather severely. It's clearly intended to only provide a portrait of the main character's thoughts, but that results in much of the cast feeling flat in comparison and leaves some of their actions in question. Then there's the amount of time covered in the course of the novel. I would have liked to learn more about Mouse's life after she left London, but it's really only hinted at in places.
The Town in Bloom is a quick, fun read with plenty of interesting thoughts to chew on, and I'd certainly recommend it to any fan of the author. It may not be her most sophisticated effort, but it's still a lovely window into another time.
The Town in Bloom covers a rather limited section of its main character's life, who is never actually named beyond her adopted (and misleading) nickname, "Mouse." The story centers around a pivotal year in her life, when she moved to London as a stubbornly independent 18 year old, determined to succeed at a life on the stage. While her dreams of being an actress were swept out from under her early on, she quickly forged her longest-lasting relationships, including friendship, her first love, and a 20 year romance. Two glimpses of her life 40 years into the future frame this central narrative, introducing the main cast and showing the culmination of that summer's events.
One of my favorite elements of a Dodie Smith novel is that while romance may drive much of the plot, sometimes consuming the characters' attention and motivations, it's rarely the culmination of the story. The Last Act, as Mouse terms it, usually turns out to be less about that all-consuming passion and more focused on the pursuit of self-actualization. The characters may not have it all together. In fact, they rarely do. They're often selfish, entirely absorbed in their own needs and blind to those around them. They're usually convinced they're destined for far greater success than life will actually toss their way - but they're also determined to fling aside lofty ambition and fight for what they want. It's a surprisingly practical way of viewing the world, yet it's shot through with the most beautiful, vivid dreams.
This particular novel is hovering at around 3.5 stars for me - while it's a thoroughly enjoyable read, and I'll gladly add it to my growing collection of this author's books (how pleased I will be if I can gather a full matching set), it feels rather short. Its first person narration limits the point of view rather severely. It's clearly intended to only provide a portrait of the main character's thoughts, but that results in much of the cast feeling flat in comparison and leaves some of their actions in question. Then there's the amount of time covered in the course of the novel. I would have liked to learn more about Mouse's life after she left London, but it's really only hinted at in places.
The Town in Bloom is a quick, fun read with plenty of interesting thoughts to chew on, and I'd certainly recommend it to any fan of the author. It may not be her most sophisticated effort, but it's still a lovely window into another time.
March 25, 2020
Review written in 2o12.
The Town in Bloom is another of Corsair’s reprints of three Dodie Smith novels. It was first published in 1965.
The novel has been split into three separate sections. The first section opens with a lunch reunion, held in London every five years without fail. Aside from Mouse, three ‘friends one has known from [her] youth’ have been invited – Molly, Lilian and Zelle. The luncheon is a slip back into the pasts of the characters. They always visit the same restaurant, their meal is identical to that which they ordered during their first momentous meal together, and they are made, almost forced, to absorb themselves back into the past. Lilian insists that her friends are ‘not to talk about the present. You’re to think yourselves into the past – so that the past becomes the present.’
Zelle is always invited to these reunions, but fails to show up. The group haven’t seen her for many years – they knew her ‘very well, but not for long, and… a long time ago’ - but never really give up hope that she will show up. There is a foreshadowing that their relationship with Zelle ended in an incredibly unhappy manner. Smith alludes to ‘the way things ended’, a rather ominous statement which becomes clear as the novel progresses. Mouse spots her quite by chance in a park outside the restaurant and, intent on speaking to her, follows her to a tenement flat block which has a ‘grim, grubby respectability’.
In the present day narration, Mouse is a character who is incredibly interested in art and is also writing a book, a task which is proving more difficult than she believed it would be. We never find out her Christian name which she describes as being too long, and the affectionate ‘comic nickname’ bestowed on her by her friends sticks in consequence.
The second section of the novel then goes back in time to Mouse’s first night at ‘the Club’ during the 1920s. She is an orphan who has left her home in Lancashire after the death of her beloved Aunt Marion to start a new life in London, feeling ‘wonderfully free’. Her Aunt inspired Mouse’s love of the theatre and her niece wants to become a success on the stage in order to honour her. On her first night at the Club which is referred to as the other girls as ‘the village’, Mouse meets Molly Lorimer and Lilian Denison, who are both involved in musical comedy. The girls are all orphans and this gives them a certain solidarity with one another. They consequently become firm friends, united by their experiences. Mouse is mothered by them immediately, and even in the present-day narration they call her ‘child’.
Whilst in London, Mouse subsequently visits the Crossway Theatre in the hope of finding an acting job. She meets the actor-manager, the revered and kindly Rex Crossway. She soon finds herself part of an audition. Her sheer will and determination allow her to prevail in some of the situations she meets with. A good example of this is that despite being the wrong candidate for the acting job, she is offered a position as Rex’s secretary’s assistant. Secretary Eve Lester is ‘elegant, rather than smart or fashionable… what she really had was a faded beauty’. The ‘charm and personality’ of the protagonist serve to carry her career forwards.
There are many touches throughout which are incredibly and unmistakeably British. Smith’s distinctive writing style really shines through in The Town in Bloom. Her descriptions of the countryside, the restaurant in which the friends have lunch, and even her observations of everyday life, are so vivid that they set the scene immediately. The way in which Smith portrays many varied elements of life is wonderful. She does not used clichéd descriptions, but those which are fresh and interesting – for example, Lilian is described as having ‘gardenia-like sophistication’ and Molly has a ‘milkmaid freshness’ about her. Mouse explains that ‘when I studied my face in a dressing-table glass I knew I could play Lady Macbeth’.
The characters who feature in the novel have a wonderful array of unusual names – Zelle, Mouse and Madam Lily de Luxe among them. The character building throughout is executed well. We learn so much about Mouse and her friends from the moment they are introduced. Molly particularly is bossy and determined to be in charge. If she was portrayed by an author other than Smith, she may well be an unlikeable character, but the reader warms to her immediately.
The Town in Bloom is told from the first person perspective of Mouse. A journal entry is used on one occasion which helps to set the scene, but unfortunately this mixed narrative technique is not continued as the book progresses. Her narrative voice is distinctive, however, and flows relatively well throughout.
Smith’s novels seem to run on a theme, as a love interest for the main protagonist is included without fail at some point during their story. In this case, Mouse suddenly realises that she is in love with Rex Crossway and tells him so in rather an unlikely fashion. His only actions are to accept this announcement which comes out of nowhere, and to confess that he is simultaneously in love with her. This seems an incredibly unlikely course of events, particularly as Smith has not given even a shadow of the possible love between them beforehand. Various problems for the couple ensue as a consequence. The first half of The Town in Bloom was very promising, but it did wane a little and the storyline seemed rather unlikely in places.
The Town in Bloom is a coming of age story, essentially about growing up and moving forward. It is certainly an interesting novel, but it is not as engrossing as It Ends With Revelations, and certainly not as fine as I Capture the Castle.
The Town in Bloom is another of Corsair’s reprints of three Dodie Smith novels. It was first published in 1965.
The novel has been split into three separate sections. The first section opens with a lunch reunion, held in London every five years without fail. Aside from Mouse, three ‘friends one has known from [her] youth’ have been invited – Molly, Lilian and Zelle. The luncheon is a slip back into the pasts of the characters. They always visit the same restaurant, their meal is identical to that which they ordered during their first momentous meal together, and they are made, almost forced, to absorb themselves back into the past. Lilian insists that her friends are ‘not to talk about the present. You’re to think yourselves into the past – so that the past becomes the present.’
Zelle is always invited to these reunions, but fails to show up. The group haven’t seen her for many years – they knew her ‘very well, but not for long, and… a long time ago’ - but never really give up hope that she will show up. There is a foreshadowing that their relationship with Zelle ended in an incredibly unhappy manner. Smith alludes to ‘the way things ended’, a rather ominous statement which becomes clear as the novel progresses. Mouse spots her quite by chance in a park outside the restaurant and, intent on speaking to her, follows her to a tenement flat block which has a ‘grim, grubby respectability’.
In the present day narration, Mouse is a character who is incredibly interested in art and is also writing a book, a task which is proving more difficult than she believed it would be. We never find out her Christian name which she describes as being too long, and the affectionate ‘comic nickname’ bestowed on her by her friends sticks in consequence.
The second section of the novel then goes back in time to Mouse’s first night at ‘the Club’ during the 1920s. She is an orphan who has left her home in Lancashire after the death of her beloved Aunt Marion to start a new life in London, feeling ‘wonderfully free’. Her Aunt inspired Mouse’s love of the theatre and her niece wants to become a success on the stage in order to honour her. On her first night at the Club which is referred to as the other girls as ‘the village’, Mouse meets Molly Lorimer and Lilian Denison, who are both involved in musical comedy. The girls are all orphans and this gives them a certain solidarity with one another. They consequently become firm friends, united by their experiences. Mouse is mothered by them immediately, and even in the present-day narration they call her ‘child’.
Whilst in London, Mouse subsequently visits the Crossway Theatre in the hope of finding an acting job. She meets the actor-manager, the revered and kindly Rex Crossway. She soon finds herself part of an audition. Her sheer will and determination allow her to prevail in some of the situations she meets with. A good example of this is that despite being the wrong candidate for the acting job, she is offered a position as Rex’s secretary’s assistant. Secretary Eve Lester is ‘elegant, rather than smart or fashionable… what she really had was a faded beauty’. The ‘charm and personality’ of the protagonist serve to carry her career forwards.
There are many touches throughout which are incredibly and unmistakeably British. Smith’s distinctive writing style really shines through in The Town in Bloom. Her descriptions of the countryside, the restaurant in which the friends have lunch, and even her observations of everyday life, are so vivid that they set the scene immediately. The way in which Smith portrays many varied elements of life is wonderful. She does not used clichéd descriptions, but those which are fresh and interesting – for example, Lilian is described as having ‘gardenia-like sophistication’ and Molly has a ‘milkmaid freshness’ about her. Mouse explains that ‘when I studied my face in a dressing-table glass I knew I could play Lady Macbeth’.
The characters who feature in the novel have a wonderful array of unusual names – Zelle, Mouse and Madam Lily de Luxe among them. The character building throughout is executed well. We learn so much about Mouse and her friends from the moment they are introduced. Molly particularly is bossy and determined to be in charge. If she was portrayed by an author other than Smith, she may well be an unlikeable character, but the reader warms to her immediately.
The Town in Bloom is told from the first person perspective of Mouse. A journal entry is used on one occasion which helps to set the scene, but unfortunately this mixed narrative technique is not continued as the book progresses. Her narrative voice is distinctive, however, and flows relatively well throughout.
Smith’s novels seem to run on a theme, as a love interest for the main protagonist is included without fail at some point during their story. In this case, Mouse suddenly realises that she is in love with Rex Crossway and tells him so in rather an unlikely fashion. His only actions are to accept this announcement which comes out of nowhere, and to confess that he is simultaneously in love with her. This seems an incredibly unlikely course of events, particularly as Smith has not given even a shadow of the possible love between them beforehand. Various problems for the couple ensue as a consequence. The first half of The Town in Bloom was very promising, but it did wane a little and the storyline seemed rather unlikely in places.
The Town in Bloom is a coming of age story, essentially about growing up and moving forward. It is certainly an interesting novel, but it is not as engrossing as It Ends With Revelations, and certainly not as fine as I Capture the Castle.
May 21, 2021
8 hrs, 200 w/m
June 27, 2013
I read this a decade ago, and didn't really grasp it and thus barely remembered it, so I thought I would try it again. This time around I see what the book is doing.
Other reviews do an excellent job summarising the structure (a day in the 1960s, with the bulk of the book a flashback to the 1920s) and the plot. What interested me about the book is the thematic concerns, the meditation upon chastity as a cultural value, especially for women. Each of the characters casts light from a different angle.
And interestingly, I find it difficult to write about because the very language is so charged. Words like 'innocent' or 'philanderer' carry a moral weight that is the very thing I think this book is trying to interrogate, although I do not think Smith really challenges anything; meditation, yes, but not a challenge. Still, there is something to pulling the cloth off the table and looking at what is underneath, and I think Smith had a sense of the nuances, or else she could not have looked at the thing from so many angles.
Other reviews do an excellent job summarising the structure (a day in the 1960s, with the bulk of the book a flashback to the 1920s) and the plot. What interested me about the book is the thematic concerns, the meditation upon chastity as a cultural value, especially for women. Each of the characters casts light from a different angle.
And interestingly, I find it difficult to write about because the very language is so charged. Words like 'innocent' or 'philanderer' carry a moral weight that is the very thing I think this book is trying to interrogate, although I do not think Smith really challenges anything; meditation, yes, but not a challenge. Still, there is something to pulling the cloth off the table and looking at what is underneath, and I think Smith had a sense of the nuances, or else she could not have looked at the thing from so many angles.
August 26, 2014
Dodie Smith fornisce sempre letture soddisfacenti, anche se questa volta devo ammettere che non mi sono proprio innamorata. Ho trovato l'inizio del romanzo un po' caotico: tre amiche si riuniscono al solito tavolo, cosa che fanno ormai da quarantanni ogni cinque anni. E come in tutte le precedenti occasioni, sperano di essere raggiunte anche da Zelle, che un giorno ha svuotato la sua camera al Club e si è dispersa nel mondo (e ne aveva ben donde, a dire il vero!). Poi Mouse,la voce narrante del romanzo, avvista su una panchina una barbona con le gambe da pony (a quanto pare caratteristica fisica peculiare di Zelle) e nonostante i cinquant'anni suonati esce dal ristorante e la rincorre come se non ci fosse un domani, addirittura inseguendola in taxi quando si lancia in un bus.
Di qui un flashback lungo quanto il libro (epilogo a parte) dove capiamo come si sono conosciute le quattro amiche e quali sono stati i grandi dilemmi della protagonista, aspirante attrice (di teatro, ça va sans dire) nella Londra degli anni Venti, e delle compagne di avventure Lilian, Molly e Zelle. Mouse ha avuto il vantaggio di essere cresciuta in modo non convenzionale dalla saggissima zia, e di possedere un'autostima incrollabile. Caratteristiche che rendono la narrazione brillante e divertente, per lo meno finché anche lei non cade vittima di un grande ammore.
Il finale mi ha lasciato un po' perplessa, a parte gli ultimissimi paragrafi in cui Mouse riflette di non aver mai sofferto la solitudine e di non essere mai spaventata, ma soprattutto:
But I often felt astonished - astonished that I should be allowed to live here alone, to drive my own car, and sit up all night if I wanted to. Was I the only woman in the world who, at my age - and after a lifetime of quite rampant independence - still did not quite feel grown up?
Di qui un flashback lungo quanto il libro (epilogo a parte) dove capiamo come si sono conosciute le quattro amiche e quali sono stati i grandi dilemmi della protagonista, aspirante attrice (di teatro, ça va sans dire) nella Londra degli anni Venti, e delle compagne di avventure Lilian, Molly e Zelle. Mouse ha avuto il vantaggio di essere cresciuta in modo non convenzionale dalla saggissima zia, e di possedere un'autostima incrollabile. Caratteristiche che rendono la narrazione brillante e divertente, per lo meno finché anche lei non cade vittima di un grande ammore.
Il finale mi ha lasciato un po' perplessa, a parte gli ultimissimi paragrafi in cui Mouse riflette di non aver mai sofferto la solitudine e di non essere mai spaventata, ma soprattutto:
But I often felt astonished - astonished that I should be allowed to live here alone, to drive my own car, and sit up all night if I wanted to. Was I the only woman in the world who, at my age - and after a lifetime of quite rampant independence - still did not quite feel grown up?
March 20, 2014
"The Town in Bloom" is one of those books, that one should read for the sake of the characters and not the plot itself. Smith's youthful trio consisting of the extremely stubborn, fun and clumsy Mouse, the beautiful and elegant Lily and the practical and naive Molly, fills the book with charm. Especially the main character Mouse is an adorable creature, and her many failed (yet determined) attempts at acting are beyond amusing.
The plot itself is fairly predictable. Young and love-lusting girls get involved in secret affairs caused by their lack of judgement, their extreme idolization and naivety. Some dreams come true - and some dreams get crushed by the ruthless reality. During the course of the novel Mouse has to realize that she'll never be the actor she once thought she was, and therefore she has to learn her real strengths. While Smith's writing always is witty, this realization is a bit melancholic as well.
In fact, Dodie Smith once wanted to be an actress herself, but had to learn she was a better playwright and author than she was an actress. There's no doubt in my mind that this novel is a bit tinted by Smith's own experiences.
My main problem with this novel involves quite a few spoilers. There's something in the love affair that simply doesn't ring true to me. I do not understand the sudden shift in the novel, when Mouse falls in love, and I do not understand Lily's motivation for the life she leads.
The ending is beautiful and bittersweet - it all ends up rather melancholic, with three older women looking back at a summer that changed their life forever.
The plot itself is fairly predictable. Young and love-lusting girls get involved in secret affairs caused by their lack of judgement, their extreme idolization and naivety. Some dreams come true - and some dreams get crushed by the ruthless reality. During the course of the novel Mouse has to realize that she'll never be the actor she once thought she was, and therefore she has to learn her real strengths. While Smith's writing always is witty, this realization is a bit melancholic as well.
In fact, Dodie Smith once wanted to be an actress herself, but had to learn she was a better playwright and author than she was an actress. There's no doubt in my mind that this novel is a bit tinted by Smith's own experiences.
My main problem with this novel involves quite a few spoilers. There's something in the love affair that simply doesn't ring true to me. I do not understand the sudden shift in the novel, when Mouse falls in love, and I do not understand Lily's motivation for the life she leads.
The ending is beautiful and bittersweet - it all ends up rather melancholic, with three older women looking back at a summer that changed their life forever.
July 28, 2015
I adore Dodie Smith, but besides her I Capture the Castle and 101 Dalmations, I would never dare recommend her to another soul. She is (as one of my dear fictional friends Ann-with-an-e would say) a bosom friend or a kindred spirit. Reading Dodie is like coming home.
As I started this one, I thought to myself, if I were a fictional character, I would be in a Dodie Smith novel. Her characters are perfectly ordinary but so full of life. They're real in ways that Donna Tartt (even with her hundreds of pages of character development) could never make real. Perhaps it is truly the ordinary that makes them (and Dodie) shine to me.
This is an interesting novel, especially for Dodie, because it feels extremely autobiographical. Mouse is a failed actress, who has tried her hand at many things, but eventually writes plays and discusses her plans for novel-writing. Dodie is all of these things. Of course, one can't be sure, but I am rather interested to read a biography on my TBR shelf and see how many affairs and adventures my Dodie got herself into.
At the end of this novel, she beseeches the reader:
"But I often felt astonished - astonished that I should be allowed to live here alone, to drive my own car, and sit up all night if I wanted to. Was I the only woman in the world who, at my age - and after a lifetime of quite rampant independence - still did not quite feel grown up?"
I think I shall read Dodie at 70 and feel the same way I do at (almost) 30. She is timeless to me, and always relatable.
As I started this one, I thought to myself, if I were a fictional character, I would be in a Dodie Smith novel. Her characters are perfectly ordinary but so full of life. They're real in ways that Donna Tartt (even with her hundreds of pages of character development) could never make real. Perhaps it is truly the ordinary that makes them (and Dodie) shine to me.
This is an interesting novel, especially for Dodie, because it feels extremely autobiographical. Mouse is a failed actress, who has tried her hand at many things, but eventually writes plays and discusses her plans for novel-writing. Dodie is all of these things. Of course, one can't be sure, but I am rather interested to read a biography on my TBR shelf and see how many affairs and adventures my Dodie got herself into.
At the end of this novel, she beseeches the reader:
"But I often felt astonished - astonished that I should be allowed to live here alone, to drive my own car, and sit up all night if I wanted to. Was I the only woman in the world who, at my age - and after a lifetime of quite rampant independence - still did not quite feel grown up?"
I think I shall read Dodie at 70 and feel the same way I do at (almost) 30. She is timeless to me, and always relatable.
April 10, 2015
This book is a very distant spiritual relation to I Capture the Castle. The central story is sweet, in its own way; a young girl who leaves home and finds work in a theater, finds her first great love, her lifelong best friends, and basically builds the pattern for her life to come.
It's bookended a luncheon, thirty years on, at which she meets up with these great friends every five years.
It's the bookend that bothers me. The central story is a lot of fun, if slight - no one is quite real. No one is very good or very bad or very hurt or very angry or very - anything, really. But it's easy to read, the people she meets are well drawn, and the details about her life in the theater and in the little apartment she finds are great fun.
But the older Mouse - she's 50 or so in the first and last parts of the book - distresses me just slightly. She hasn't changed or grown. And when she realizes that, and makes a motion toward possibly maturing a bit and actually trying to find a direction rather than circling endlessly, in mere moments she sinks back into the set pattern of her life.
I suppose it bothered me because her attitude in that last sentence or so is, what fun, to never grow up! And of course it is. But it gave me a feeling of futility.
I like Dodie Smith's stuff; I think Mouse fits her typical run of charming, amoral young girls. Perhaps Smith took a lesson from Castle and kept Mouse young because her mature women are nothing like as likable.
In any case, I enjoyed the story, I was just a little put-off by the conclusion.
It's bookended a luncheon, thirty years on, at which she meets up with these great friends every five years.
It's the bookend that bothers me. The central story is a lot of fun, if slight - no one is quite real. No one is very good or very bad or very hurt or very angry or very - anything, really. But it's easy to read, the people she meets are well drawn, and the details about her life in the theater and in the little apartment she finds are great fun.
But the older Mouse - she's 50 or so in the first and last parts of the book - distresses me just slightly. She hasn't changed or grown. And when she realizes that, and makes a motion toward possibly maturing a bit and actually trying to find a direction rather than circling endlessly, in mere moments she sinks back into the set pattern of her life.
I suppose it bothered me because her attitude in that last sentence or so is, what fun, to never grow up! And of course it is. But it gave me a feeling of futility.
I like Dodie Smith's stuff; I think Mouse fits her typical run of charming, amoral young girls. Perhaps Smith took a lesson from Castle and kept Mouse young because her mature women are nothing like as likable.
In any case, I enjoyed the story, I was just a little put-off by the conclusion.
November 1, 2020
I love this author!
May 7, 2018
I knew Dodie Smith's poem, "Not waving but drowning" and the Dalmatians' story before I began reading "The Town in Bloom". I thought it was going to be an interesting book and I certainly enjoyed Dodie Smith's racy style of writing for quite a large part of the book. I liked her young characters and their association with the theatre, not to mention the middle-aged roue and "matinee idol", Rex Crossway, who had such a strong influence over the young narrator. Unfortunately, the story did not come to the happy ever after conclusion I had hoped for. In fact, the story fizzled out as nobody found lasting happiness and fulfillment - even the one who inveigled herself into a so-called fairytale marriage with Rex Crossway was not destined to remain happy for long.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2021
Maybe 4.5
This was a delight to read. Smith writes wonderfully witty characters, in such a humorous way. I loved this story until Lillian betrays Mouse, and then I’m furious. How could years later Mouse still consider her a friend? But then again, this isn’t your typical fallen-in-love-so-therefore-happy-ending story. Rather, Mouse does things for herself and that is her happy ending. It doesn’t end with a man. I kind of love that!
This was a delight to read. Smith writes wonderfully witty characters, in such a humorous way. I loved this story until Lillian betrays Mouse, and then I’m furious. How could years later Mouse still consider her a friend? But then again, this isn’t your typical fallen-in-love-so-therefore-happy-ending story. Rather, Mouse does things for herself and that is her happy ending. It doesn’t end with a man. I kind of love that!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book’s central story, but though I was intrigued by the short first section, the ending section just spoiled the story for me.
September 19, 2023
Such a sweet coming of age story that is so perfectly Dodie Smith.
February 18, 2024
The main events of this book are set in 1920s London and its theatre scene and I appreciated getting the sense of that time and place so vividly. The story is mostly one of coming of age, and it's charming and whimsical on one level and retrospective and thoughtful on another.
February 18, 2020
I enjoyed Dodie Smith’s “I Capture the Castle” for its zest for life, and this book is just as lively and engaging.
March 15, 2012
The main reason why I loved Mary McCarthy’s The Group was the fact that it was so true to life. In some ways, Dodie Smith’s story is just like it. Smith does not describe a flowery tale of London theatre life...everything all buttons and bows. She is really honest and at times her honesty is quite brutal. Her story is not just about theatre life, but life in general...young girls exposed to life’s realities. What I really found interesting was that some of the things Smith is describing are still relevant today. When Mouse describes her life at the girls Club and her relationships with Lillian, Zelle and Molly, I felt as if I was reliving my experiences at the girls’ high school I attended: those so-called “best friends” always backstabbing each other...making up stories and inflating the truth...doing so because of a need to fulfill a certain “moral” duty. I remember thinking it was so stupid. Yet I always loved witnessing those reconciliation moments...all of the arguing and crying that always ended with a hug. Dodie Smith does the same here, yet minus all of the melodrama. Here, the reconciliation moments are more sober—yet they ring true.
I really liked how this story is told. It has that Great Expectations feel. Like Pip, our main character, Mouse is recollecting her past...reflecting, trying to understand and make sense of how the events of the past have affected her in the present day. How much has she changed, is she still the same. Her conclusions are interesting, but I don’t know if I entirely agree with them. On the surface, Mouse is portrayed as one of those young innocents, but I couldn’t help but get the feeling that she has one of those dark streaks as well.
All said, Smith wrote an intriguing take on one of those developmental novels. I can’t wait to read more stories by Smith.
I really liked how this story is told. It has that Great Expectations feel. Like Pip, our main character, Mouse is recollecting her past...reflecting, trying to understand and make sense of how the events of the past have affected her in the present day. How much has she changed, is she still the same. Her conclusions are interesting, but I don’t know if I entirely agree with them. On the surface, Mouse is portrayed as one of those young innocents, but I couldn’t help but get the feeling that she has one of those dark streaks as well.
All said, Smith wrote an intriguing take on one of those developmental novels. I can’t wait to read more stories by Smith.
January 5, 2013
This book was good but, it made me sad. It reminded me a little bit of I Capture The Castle, but for an older audience. Both books don't have happy endings, and Smith leaves some strings untied. Although I did like this book, the characters frustrated me. The main character is the narrator and her nickname is Mouse, her real name is never given. The story covers the summer she spent working as a secretary for a theater as she was an aspiring actress. The other main characters are her three friends: Molly, Zelle and Lillian. Mouse falls in love with an older married man, which creates consequences for many in the book. The other three characters deal with unexpected changes in their lives, but I don't want to give too much away. The book is a series of flashbacks, told by Mouse when she is 58 years old as she looks back at her life and the summer she met her three friends. This story is a quick read, but like Smith's other novels you will end up frustrated with the characters. But, her stories are always true to life. If you are looking for a sweet book to read this is not the one.
October 12, 2007
The Town in Bloom offers a fascinating glimpse into lives of three young women who decide to pursue the London stage in the 1920s. They live in a boarding house and go on continual audiitions. When they're not working, they're busy gossiping, having fun, and falling in love.
This book wonderfully captures the blissful feeling of being young and free. I'm sure a great deal of this story draws upon the author's own experiences as a young actress. One thing that I find so refreshing about her characters is that they never agonize over fitting into mainstream society or leading a respectable life. They're all smart enough to realize that it's much better to pursue an adventurous path than lead a conventional life.
This book wonderfully captures the blissful feeling of being young and free. I'm sure a great deal of this story draws upon the author's own experiences as a young actress. One thing that I find so refreshing about her characters is that they never agonize over fitting into mainstream society or leading a respectable life. They're all smart enough to realize that it's much better to pursue an adventurous path than lead a conventional life.
March 18, 2018
This had a promising start, but petered out about halfway though. The characters are interesting and reflect ideas of what women should be doing - and what they're allowed to do. They're sometimes a bit hard to like and you want to give them a shake for the decisions they're making. But by the end, for me it still hadn't quite worked out what it wanted to do - teach a lesson, prove a point etc - nothing was quite resolved enough - or ambigious enough.
Strange.
Strange.
March 25, 2013
Another incredible offering from Dodie Smith. You can watch my full review here - http://youtu.be/baCrpAQRBYg
did-not-finish
January 3, 2017Included this in a speed-dating project and decided to pass it along elsewhere.
July 7, 2019
I always loved Dodie Smith's adult fiction, with this one being one of my favorites. I tracked down 4 if them in newer editions and had a great time rereading them.
July 5, 2022
Sort of a grown-up Noel Streatfield with an unsatisfying ending.
April 28, 2019
As the cover of my 2012 copy of ‘The Town in Bloom’ notes, Dodie Smith is also the author of ‘I Capture the Castle’, her wonderful coming of age novel about Cassandra, who famously writes ‘with my feet in the kitchen sink.’
‘The Town in Bloom’ is nowhere near as good as ‘I Capture the Castle’, but it has its own charms, and gives an insight into the lives of a certain group of single women in London in the 1920s.
The story opens in the present day (ie 1965). Lilian, Molly and the writer, Mouse, are meeting for lunch in a London hotel, Lilian having summoned the other two by means of an advertisement in The Times. We learn that all three women once shared a ‘village’ or group of cubicles in a ladies’ residential club. Lilian is hoping that her advert will summon the fourth member of the group, Zelle – for although similar lunches have happened over the years, the enigmatic Zelle has so far never turned up, and Lilian, for her own reasons, is particularly desperate to see her.
The action then moves back to Mouse’s first day at the club, her introduction to its facilities, its routines and its various eccentric residents. Mouse is fresh from the country and her comfortable home with Aunt Marion, who has recently died. Although none of the girls has much money, they enjoy the services of an elderly maid who brings them breakfast in bed, a lounge where tea is served by waitresses, and – in central London – a ‘quite large’ club garden. This is still inter-war Britain though - hot water is in short supply and the bathroom shared by many.
Molly (who, at the age of 21, uses a lorgnette!) and Lilian are actresses in musical comedy; Mouse is an aspiring actress who brings with her an introduction from her aunt to glamorous actor-manager Rex Crossway of the Crossway Theatre. The scenes in the club are some of the best parts of this book, describing as they do a way of life now long vanished. Today’s aspiring actresses probably can’t live in central London at all unless they have trust funds or lots of savings, and clubs for respectable young ladies of limited means disappeared many years ago.
To Mouse’s initial surprise, most of the women living at the club have numerous beaux and many have active sex lives. She decides to have nothing to do with that, and is set on making her way on the stage – she doesn’t even take Molly and Lilian seriously at first, as what they do is ‘not proper acting.’
The character of Mouse is one that I struggled with. She seems immensely self-confident (often with no good reason to be), and as result gets herself into plenty of trouble. If this is supposed to be funny, it isn’t, but when she finally ends up working in the theatre office, becoming the vehicle through which we see the details of 1920s backstage theatrical life, things become much more interesting.
Through Molly, whom I found far more likable than Mouse, Dodie Smith also looks at the reality of life at the time for ‘illegitimate’ children; Molly is devastated when she learns that her soldier father was never married to her mother, and later terrified that it will drive away the good (and rich) man she wants to marry.
The second half of the book revolves around Mouse’s own fraught and futureless love affair, and this I found less satisfactory. Despite her lack of previous experience, it was hard to be persuaded by her obsession with such an unsuitable man, but perhaps I am just too far away from my 18 year old self to engage with this aspect of the story. The mystery surrounding Zelle is more absorbing, and through her Smith is again able to examine the way in which women’s lives could be (and of course still can be) ruined by the things they were (are) often forced to do to make ends meet.
Smith does tie up all the loose ends in the final chapters, and again there is some very good observation of how miserably marriage can turn out even for women who appear to have made good matches. Ironically, the woman who looked to face the worst future ends up the happiest. (Dodie Smith herself came from quite humble roots but ended up very happily married and very well off – Valerie Grove’s excellent biography of her is well worth reading.)
An interesting, easy to read novel, in some ways very much of its time but in others still very much relevant to women’s lives today.
‘The Town in Bloom’ is nowhere near as good as ‘I Capture the Castle’, but it has its own charms, and gives an insight into the lives of a certain group of single women in London in the 1920s.
The story opens in the present day (ie 1965). Lilian, Molly and the writer, Mouse, are meeting for lunch in a London hotel, Lilian having summoned the other two by means of an advertisement in The Times. We learn that all three women once shared a ‘village’ or group of cubicles in a ladies’ residential club. Lilian is hoping that her advert will summon the fourth member of the group, Zelle – for although similar lunches have happened over the years, the enigmatic Zelle has so far never turned up, and Lilian, for her own reasons, is particularly desperate to see her.
The action then moves back to Mouse’s first day at the club, her introduction to its facilities, its routines and its various eccentric residents. Mouse is fresh from the country and her comfortable home with Aunt Marion, who has recently died. Although none of the girls has much money, they enjoy the services of an elderly maid who brings them breakfast in bed, a lounge where tea is served by waitresses, and – in central London – a ‘quite large’ club garden. This is still inter-war Britain though - hot water is in short supply and the bathroom shared by many.
Molly (who, at the age of 21, uses a lorgnette!) and Lilian are actresses in musical comedy; Mouse is an aspiring actress who brings with her an introduction from her aunt to glamorous actor-manager Rex Crossway of the Crossway Theatre. The scenes in the club are some of the best parts of this book, describing as they do a way of life now long vanished. Today’s aspiring actresses probably can’t live in central London at all unless they have trust funds or lots of savings, and clubs for respectable young ladies of limited means disappeared many years ago.
To Mouse’s initial surprise, most of the women living at the club have numerous beaux and many have active sex lives. She decides to have nothing to do with that, and is set on making her way on the stage – she doesn’t even take Molly and Lilian seriously at first, as what they do is ‘not proper acting.’
The character of Mouse is one that I struggled with. She seems immensely self-confident (often with no good reason to be), and as result gets herself into plenty of trouble. If this is supposed to be funny, it isn’t, but when she finally ends up working in the theatre office, becoming the vehicle through which we see the details of 1920s backstage theatrical life, things become much more interesting.
Through Molly, whom I found far more likable than Mouse, Dodie Smith also looks at the reality of life at the time for ‘illegitimate’ children; Molly is devastated when she learns that her soldier father was never married to her mother, and later terrified that it will drive away the good (and rich) man she wants to marry.
The second half of the book revolves around Mouse’s own fraught and futureless love affair, and this I found less satisfactory. Despite her lack of previous experience, it was hard to be persuaded by her obsession with such an unsuitable man, but perhaps I am just too far away from my 18 year old self to engage with this aspect of the story. The mystery surrounding Zelle is more absorbing, and through her Smith is again able to examine the way in which women’s lives could be (and of course still can be) ruined by the things they were (are) often forced to do to make ends meet.
Smith does tie up all the loose ends in the final chapters, and again there is some very good observation of how miserably marriage can turn out even for women who appear to have made good matches. Ironically, the woman who looked to face the worst future ends up the happiest. (Dodie Smith herself came from quite humble roots but ended up very happily married and very well off – Valerie Grove’s excellent biography of her is well worth reading.)
An interesting, easy to read novel, in some ways very much of its time but in others still very much relevant to women’s lives today.
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