Comments | rushthatspeaks: The Correct Elizabeth Goudge Novel

rushthatspeaks

The Correct Elizabeth Goudge Novel

Jan 11, 2013 02:10

Right, I have like seventeen things I am wanting to write and fifty-three things I really ought to do, but I am also sick and exhausted, and as a result it has started actively bothering me again that one of the best books in the world is not in print, so I thought I would rant about it ( Read more... )

Comments 34

nineweaving January 11 2013, 09:37:26 UTC

Lovely. Hearing you and sovay speak of this, I feel such a Sehnsucht, as for a lost country. I still haven't found it. Could we petition NYRB?

Nine

rushthatspeaks January 12 2013, 21:56:19 UTC

Please do petition! NYRB are basically my best hope on this one, I think.

nineweaving January 11 2013, 10:13:56 UTC

The Goudge I've reread most recently is The Dean's Watch' which has glorious things in it--a celestial clock--but is blighted by twee in spots and blotched with an Embittered Spinster who resents Young Love. Gyah.

(How did Moonrise Kingdom get round the twee?)

Before that, it was Pilgrim's Inn, which has wonderful house-in-its landscape magic, but appalling triangular romances, and a monstrous saintly grandmother. But oh! that house.

And before that, it was The Little White Horse. That I read a child. It was never the unicorn for me--always the house in the landscape: the tiny kingdom of Moonacre, like a snowglobe of Englishness. And Maria's tower room, her kingodm within a kingdom.

Nine

rushthatspeaks January 12 2013, 21:59:13 UTC

Moonrise Kingdom gets round the twee by having the extremely adorable romance be between two kids who have actual genuine problems and also by having all the adults have serious actual problems which are genuinely melancholy. And by having a soundtrack composed entirely of Benjamin Britten and Hank Williams, Sr. Awesome fricking movie. I need to get the DVD.

I have not read The Dean's Watch or Pilgrim's Inn but those sound like Goudge's usual strengths and usual issues.

Maria's room is so perfect! And all of Moonacre.

nineweaving January 13 2013, 00:34:50 UTC

If you get the DVD, I would love to see it with you.

Nine

asakiyume January 11 2013, 12:22:04 UTC

I think, the precise blend which makes the trick work: the Valley of Song is theologically located on the outskirts of Heaven, but is metaphysically in the land of Faerie. Each person who goes into it sees it differently, but each sees it in terms of the mythologies which a) mean the most to them and b) influence them the most, which two are not always the same thing. And the book's plot does not center around retelling any of the Christian stories. Okay. Now it is my mission to find and read this book ( ... )

ckd January 11 2013, 14:31:22 UTC

I think NOBLE is North Of Boston Library Exchange.

sovay January 11 2013, 16:35:19 UTC

Apparently I can't reserve things directly from the virtual catalogue, but I can ask my library if they can get me a copy.

You should; it is a book you particularly would like.

rushthatspeaks January 12 2013, 22:00:10 UTC

Yes. Withdrawn. Grrrr-aargh.

Best of luck, as you personally would I think love this book a very great deal.

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rushthatspeaks January 12 2013, 22:13:44 UTC

I may have to read the French translation if only because I can't quite imagine how it turned out. And I agree with the shelving-- it's one of those books where it's a children's book because the protagonist is a child, and for no other reason.

I have been trying to think the best of the book-stealer, because I do know what you mean. It's hard in this instance because I don't usually steal books, but I was very tempted about this one myself, and held off because I knew that the author and the basic morality of the book would disapprove incredibly and I do not want to disappoint them. I only hope that whoever took it did actually honestly need the book greatly.

chomiji January 11 2013, 13:02:48 UTC

I deeply love Linnets and Valerians. I often forget about Nan when I list the favorite female characters of my childhood (the others are Goth of Karres, Dido Twite, Petrova Fossil, and Marian the Girl with the Dogs), but she is very dear, and I identify with her a lot. The description of the little parlor that her uncle tells her is now hers, and her reactions to that, are instantly comforting.

From your description it sounds like I need to get this other book, Valley of Song. But it's going to take some gamesmanship and haunting of the secondhand book sites to get one for a price I can stomach. The one I just saw on Amazon has illustrations by Richard Floethe, who illustrated the edition I have of Streatfield's Dancing Shoes (a/k/a Wintle's Wonders). Is that the one you liked?

rushthatspeaks January 12 2013, 22:14:41 UTC

Yes, Richard Floethe sounds like the correct illustrator.

nineweaving January 13 2013, 00:39:20 UTC

The original British edition has illustrations by Steven Spurrier. I can only find the jacket, but his other work is very fine indeed.

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=3050985588&searchurl=an%3Delizabeth%2Bgoudge%26bsi%3D0%26ds%3D30%26tn%3Dvalley%2Bof%2Bsong

http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/steven-spurrier-1981

http://www.makers.org.uk/illustration/CowanArtists

Nine

ethelmay February 11 2013, 03:56:21 UTC

I just got the US edition on interlibrary loan. The Floethe illustrations are not his best work and I can't think they could be the ones you mean. They are better than they might be because he does not attempt too much, but they are no more than slight decorations. Silkin in particular is a failure (though what a difficult subject).

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