I agree, such a wonderful writer. I sent her a fan letter in my late teens as I so loved her work. She wrote back the most lovely response. She used to write a brilliant gardening column in the much missed Woman's Journal too.
I loved this post. As someone who has discovered EJH in the last year, you have got me very excited as I have started with The Cazalets and later novels and it sounds like I have a lot of treats to come with her earlier work! Thank you!
I adore EJH, Something in Disguise, After Julius and the Cazalets. Wonderful stuff. And I love your fury with the stupid 'Good Readers'. I often confuse her in my mind with Elizabeth David as well, in terms of their slightly rackety private lives, for the time they lived in. The heroine of Something is a private chef, isn't she, I remember how she whips up a mayonnaise and me thinking that's something she'd learnt on an expensive course!
A whole new world of writers I have yet to read opens up through your posts, Laura. The references are enticing, and promise new reading pleasures to look forward to.
In this era of opposites - obesity numbers antagonize hunger figures apparently - something about the pleasure of food has been lost. Reading about it from a gifted author reclaims the magic, I do understand that more than you can imagine. The obligatory lentils that take forever to cook properly, all the time in the past spent over the kitchen stove and sink for a moment's pleasure, all that registers. As I consider milk and toast a proper meal, I hear you,oh, do I hear you...Thank God for literature, for enriching lives.
Already on the list, reading Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont at the moment, another fascinating writer I learnt from your posts. BTW the One Day mini series, was very good. Very. Despite its poignancy, it left one with a feeling of peace and human empathy, so very rare in the case of most Netflix series. They tend to be either unsettling, or unfinished.
I agree, such a wonderful writer. I sent her a fan letter in my late teens as I so loved her work. She wrote back the most lovely response. She used to write a brilliant gardening column in the much missed Woman's Journal too.
I loved this post. As someone who has discovered EJH in the last year, you have got me very excited as I have started with The Cazalets and later novels and it sounds like I have a lot of treats to come with her earlier work! Thank you!
Thank YOU- so glad you enjoyed and yes, delights ahead!
I adore EJH, Something in Disguise, After Julius and the Cazalets. Wonderful stuff. And I love your fury with the stupid 'Good Readers'. I often confuse her in my mind with Elizabeth David as well, in terms of their slightly rackety private lives, for the time they lived in. The heroine of Something is a private chef, isn't she, I remember how she whips up a mayonnaise and me thinking that's something she'd learnt on an expensive course!
She is! I love that novel, the lobster feast she has with her brother is another moment when I feel hugely tempted by something I'd never eat...
For some reason, always remember the black cherry jam in Odd Girl Out...
I love all these EJH food memories...
I LOVE EJH, and you're so right - her food descriptions are wonderful. I particularly remember the unwrapping of the steak....
Yes. It's a brilliant scene. Her gardens also seem wonderful to me, I hope I'm right! Thanks so much for reading Jo
Yes it was … and the landscape/garden descriptions are good too. I live near the Cazalets’ Sussex house and go on little pilgrimages occasionally
A whole new world of writers I have yet to read opens up through your posts, Laura. The references are enticing, and promise new reading pleasures to look forward to.
In this era of opposites - obesity numbers antagonize hunger figures apparently - something about the pleasure of food has been lost. Reading about it from a gifted author reclaims the magic, I do understand that more than you can imagine. The obligatory lentils that take forever to cook properly, all the time in the past spent over the kitchen stove and sink for a moment's pleasure, all that registers. As I consider milk and toast a proper meal, I hear you,oh, do I hear you...Thank God for literature, for enriching lives.
Thank you Maria, for a wonderful reply!
I think you would really enjoy EJH, she is a very very interesting writer who does indeed enrich - and give pleasure.
Already on the list, reading Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont at the moment, another fascinating writer I learnt from your posts. BTW the One Day mini series, was very good. Very. Despite its poignancy, it left one with a feeling of peace and human empathy, so very rare in the case of most Netflix series. They tend to be either unsettling, or unfinished.
Brilliant novel.