The Tortoise and the Hare

I think Elizabeth Jenkins's The Tortoise and the Hare will easily make my top ten list of favorite reads this year.  I had not heard of this book or author before it was chosen as one of Cornflower's book group selections.  When I knew I wouldn't be able to finish it for the discussion it was set aside temporarily, but that did nothing to detract from the impact of the book when I finally got back to it and finished the last half.  I'm going to borrow Hilary Mantel's very apt description of the story and also call it "exquisite".  When I first began reading I knew it was a book deserving to be read slowly.  As a matter of fact I found myself wanting to stop and reread passages along the way.  I've already decided that a second read is in order, and it must be read slowly and without other distractions.  Perhaps over the holidays when I have more free time.

The subject matter is not particularly happy.  It's a novel about marriage and infidelity.  But Jenkins twists things around a bit and breathes new life into what might seem like a clichéd topic.  It's often a case of a middle aged husband leaving a marriage for a younger, more attractive woman.  That's not always how it works now, but this story is set firmly in the 1950s when social roles were more rigidly defined.  Instead, imagine what would happen if the man left his beautiful younger wife for a portly, staid middle aged neighbor.

Evelyn Gresham is a successful barrister.  He's often critical of his wife and is very particular about how his home is run and their son is raised.  While he works in London, Evelyn and Imogen make their home in the country where he finds respite from the stresses of his profession.  About fifteen years separate Evelyn from Imogen.  She's got a lovely face and slender form, and is as docile as they come.  And she tries hard to please him.  But for all his genteel manners I found Evelyn a bit of a brute.  As he moves into middle age he finds the pleasures of an ornamental wife waning.  At every turn Imogen feels thwarted and unappreciated, not only from Evelyn but their son, Gavin, who's a real pill.  The acorn didn't fall far from the tree and he's rather too like Evelyn in all the wrong ways.

Enter Blanche Silcox.  She is the Gresham's nearest neighbor and a force to be reckoned with in the countryside.  Blanche is the epitome of dowdiness, however.  Short and fumpy with poor taste in clothing especially in hats, she seems to be the polar opposite of Imogen.  What she lacks in physical attributes she makes up in her ability to organize and run things.  She's eminently capable.  She's also wealthy and well able to manage her affairs on her own.  And for this Evelyn's head is turned.

At first it's simply a matter of similar interests.  In all areas Blanche is very much a country woman, enjoying fishing and riding and serving on endless committees.  Evelyn and Blanche become friends through their shared interests and even Gavin doesn't mind her so much.  Blanche takes matters in hand and offers riding lessons for Gavin and afternoons filled with fishing.  Things go so far that Evelyn's fortnight walking holiday (without Imogen) happens to be near where Blanche herself will be vacationing.  Daily walks over the Blanche's home and frequent phone calls, it doesn't take long for Imogen to suspect there's more to their relationship than simple friendship.  

What was previously Imogen's key to Evelyn's heart has become her curse.  She's too ornamental.  She doesn't drive, doesn't ride, doesn't enjoy many of the same things that Evelyn does. Hilary Mantel writes:

"Imogen's soft girlish qualities, which originally attracted him, have melted into an ineffectuality that could be cloying.  He receives deference from his courtroom juniors, and he expects it from his wife--his expectations may not be reasonable, but we see why he has them."

He wants his home life to be cushy and comforting and he wants his wife to manage these things, and it's probably not too hard to see who can manage these things better--Imogen or Blanche.

By today's standards Imogen is too passive.  Unable or unwilling to fight for what's really hers, she sees clearly what's coming.  For all her shortcomings I couldn't help but like Imogen and felt in the end she made the only practical choice that would ensure happiness in the long run.  I feel I should have more sympathy for Blanche, but I can't.  Why shouldn't a dowdy, middle aged spinster try and find happiness?  But she was brutal in her actions, insidious really.  She knew full well what she was doing and for that I can't like her.  So the question Elizabeth Jenkins puts to the reader--who is the tortoise and who is the hare?  I'll leave it up to you to decide--this is a novel I highly recommend.  I have my own answer to that question!

It seems appropriate that I write this post this weekend as Elizabeth Jenkins has just celebrated her 104th Birthday!  Along with many biographies, she's also written twelve novels and a memoir (The View from Downshire Hill), which I will be on the lookout for.  She was educated at Cambridge, "condescended to by Virginia Woolf and befriended by Elizabeth Bowen."  She was one of the founders of the Jane Austen Society (and wrote a biography of her as well).  It seems fitting that she took an interest in Austen as her own writing is so eloquent and psychologically intuitive.  Even lesser characters in the novel play an important role and are sharply defined.  Just as Mollie Panter-Downes was one of my great finds in previous years, Elizabeth Jenkins is my great find this year.

Comments

[Cornflower]

It was a real find for me, too, Danielle, and you're right about it deserving a slow re-read.

[Danielle]

Cornflower--Sorry I didn't finish in time for the discussion, but I'll still go and read what everyone had to say about the book. I wanted to write my post first. Thanks for selecting such a great book, I really enjoyed it. And I really liked Imogen despite her passive character--I think in the end she was a courageous woman and made the right choice!

[Catherine]

I'm really looking forward to picking this up- or anything by Elizabeth Jenkins. "Eloquence and psychologically intuitive" reads get me every time. No matter how unhappy the subject matter, good writing and psychological insight make it seem like eating cake! or cookies!

[A Bookshelf Monstrosity]

This is indeed an excellent find. Thanks for this review; she's going on my reading list.

[litlove]

I love this book. I read it first when I was expecting my son, and then I read it again a year or so ago (and I hardly ever reread). It is so beautifully written and so well-paced.

[Cath]

I just checked and there are several copies of this in Devon libraries so I've put it my list of books to reserve at some stage. Excellent review.

[Nadia]

Wow! What a great sounding book! I cannot wait to find a copy of this one and get to reading. Great review and so glad to learn about this interesting novel. Cheers!

[Simon T]

This is a book which I enjoy more in retrospect than I did whilst I was actually reading it - it was very subtle, very well written, but I did find it rather slow at times.

[Stefanie]

This book sounds great! Thanks for writing such a great post about it. And I hope I see my own 104th birthday and look as good as Jenkins does!

[Mad Housewife]

I loved this book and am thrilled that it has been reissued. I'd love to read something else by her.

[Danielle]

Catherine--The topic really is sort of dismal, but she's such a good writer it doesn't matter. I've found another of her books at the library where I work, so I'll be checking it out soon.
A Bookshelf Monstrosity--This one is definitely worth looking out for!
Litlove--I wish I had read it straight through, but it was still marvelous even with the little gap. I have a feeling it's even better the second time around. I must find your post on it now! This is exactly the sort of writing that I love--she even makes a subject so depressing quite palatable.
Cath--Glad you added it to your list. I'd read it when you know you'll have some time to dedicate to it--though I think I am especially bad at setting books aside temporarily and I wish I hadn't done so with this book.
Nadia--Hi. I was happy to find this as well, so I do hope to pass it one to a few new readers as well.
Simon--I have books like that. The first part was a little slow going for me--and I had started it late and then discovered it wasn't a book that I could just fly through. But once I got going on the second half I found it very compelling and couldn't stop reading. It does get better with some thought after the fact and things were helped along by the excellent intro and afterword as well.
Stefanie--Isn't it amazing she is still alive? I think that's so cool and she does look quite nice for 104! I wonder what her secret is?!
Mad Housewife--You read the best books--I seem to come across them much later. You need to write your favorite 50 books down I think. It is nice that Virago has reissued it. I wonder if they will print any more? I'll be looking for other books for sure.

[iliana]

This sounds really good and I like that twist of the man tiring of the ornamental wife. Interesting. I hadn't heard of this author before but I'm definitely adding this one to my radar. Thanks for the great review, Danielle!

[Danielle]

Iliana--Definitely look out for this one! It did have an unusual twist, and it was written so well. I've got another of her books out now from the library, too!

[Dorothy W.]

This sounds really good! I'd never heard of Jenkins before (there are so many good writers I've never heard of!), and I'm curious now. The story sounds interesting, and like one I would enjoy. I think I'd like the exploration of relationships and psychology. I'll have to keep an eye out for this one.

[Danielle]

Dorothy--I think you would like this one a lot. It's very much about characters and their relationships with each other. The plot is important but very much secondary. I'm so glad I was introduced to her as well and plan on looking for more of her novels, though I've heard this is her best.