Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor is a lovely, heartbreakingly sad story. I've read that this is her masterpiece (it even has a place on the Observer's 100 Greatest Novels of All Time list), but then I've heard others say the same about several of her other novels. It says something that her work has garnered such high praise by readers. It's a shame, however, that she is not as widely read or known as her work deserves.
The very dignified and genteel Laura Palfrey comes to the Claremont Hotel in London after she is widowed. A handsome woman, she was once a colonial wife--"she had always known how to behave". And she behaves with great aplomb in every situation. The Claremont, a residential hotel, is home to a variety of other 'inmates'--society's elderly cast offs. Mrs Palfrey takes her place amongst them--Mr Osmond, forever writing letters to the editor, Mrs Post who spends her time knitting, Mrs Burton who loses herself in her whiskey, and Mrs Arbuthnot pained by her arthritis. Although they all look forward to contact with the outside world it seems that only Mrs Burton's brother-in-law remembers to come and visit. The rest are all but forgotten.
Mrs Palfrey talks about her grandson, Desmond, to save face--expecting him to visit any day. Of course he doesn't. When a chance accident causes her to cross paths with the young, and attractive Ludo, she talks him into impersonating her grandson. Ludo is an aspiring writer who spends his days in Harrods banking hall working. He actually works there in the comfort and warmth writing his novel, as his flat is too cold and he is too poor to afford heat. One of the lovely things about this novel is the growing relationship between Laura and Ludo, both alone in different ways, and their relationship becomes one of mutual need. Sadly, Laura, even with a daughter and grandson comes to think of Ludo as the only one left she actually loves.
Elizabeth Taylor's writing is quietly thoughtful. Not a lot happens in her novels (I've also read The Sleeping Beauty), but you get a true sense of her character's lives and inner turmoils. She writes with such precision and grace. I've been slowly collecting all her novels that I can get my hands on and it will be a pleasure to read them all.
The next short story at A Curious Singularity to be discussed is Elizabeth Taylor's "Miss A. and Miss M.", which is from her collection The Devastating Boys. My public library happened to have a copy, but when I went to the shelves looking for it, it was not there. I thought I would check with the librarian as I had hoped to read it in book format (though if you can't get your hands on a copy, Kate S. has kindly linked to the story online). When I asked for Elizabeth Taylor's book of short stories, I was not surprised by her reply--"Elizabeth Taylor wrote short stories?". No, the author Elizabeth Taylor. Oh well. We managed to find it shelved in the mystery section. I wonder how many years it has been sitting there? In any case, I'll be reading it next weekend. Please consider joining in the discussion--a good way to get a taste of Taylor's wonderful prose!