I confess a perchance for British authors. Raised on a strong diet of Enid Blyton, I reveled in the adventures of the Famous Five. Princesses, Secret Gardens and Lands of the Spare 'Om and Ward Robe filled my life with wonder and delight. I grew up fond of mysteries and the gait of English syntax, lore, conventionalities, like tea in the afternoon, and deep rooted common sense combined with a child like belief in fairy tales.
Really any group of people still governed, in part, by a Queen must have a mindset so differing from our own American unorthodox individuality that believing in a fairy adventure, or speaking mammal at the bottom of the "garden" does not immediately repel their sensibilities. Honestly reading any fictional work with an British accent (no matter how faulty) makes it tower above others in gloriousness.
This leads me to one of my favorite authors. Do you ever enter into a friendship with someone with whom you know the high sensibilities and judgement lie? I had the great honor of teaching with one such woman years ago. Her skills, tastes, and ideals set a precedence of greatness. To win her favor I introduced her to not one but two of my favorite authors and earned her respect. I assure you this was of no excellence of my own just the reality of old British Raj libraries at ancient guest houses in a land no longer colonial. The English books in the Pakistani setting were kept and treasured by all who could read and they opened worlds for me. Rich gardens full of mystery read about in the sweltering heat of a desert.
This leads us to Mary Stewart. She married into this rather historical name and started life with the last name Rainbow. Can this be possible I wonder? Perhaps it explains her name choices in her books. She even has a female protagonist with the name Charity. She writes mysteries cushioned in old fashioned romance with a hint of travel books as she elucidates localities in places like Damascus, Greece, and Europe. (notice here, city, country continent and question not my intelligence that somehow I am singing a song with country names and suddenly threw in a continent~ that is ever so inconsiderate I feel of songs to gloss over whole continents while giving little countries there own shout out. Here I feel that Damascus and Greece (arguably part of Europe) are colorful enough to hold their own against an entire continent. Of course I say this in jest.)
"You couldn't help it. One can't help who one falls in love with." Julie was offering this shabby cliche as if it were the panacea still sealed all glittering in its virgin polythene. ....... It seemed that, to Julie, falling in love was an act as definable and as little controlled by the will, as catching a disease in an epidemic." ~ The Ivy Tree (a side character's mutterings held with humor at the "knowledge of youth)
I would not start here but rather something like Madam, Will You Talk or Moonspiners. One of my favorites is Nine Coaches Waiting. I confess I have read them all in the last few weeks without exception. Her mysteries weave impossible tales of gore, glory and grit with a backdrop of true English wit that pulses with the unexpected beat of understated greatness.
If I haven't sold you on this fabulous author let me say each chapter begins with a deft, gentle use of a plethora of poets and kings' quotes. She is a master weaver this simple storyteller. Stewart is a perfect mix of Georgette Heyer's (her mysteries) devastating dry humor and M.M. Kaye's exotic, careful use of place as a backdrop for death.
So here it is people. An author worth reading.... Mary Stewart. The options are limited as she is now dead (not like the historical Mary Stewart thankfully) her books remain in a baker's dozen or so. Enjoy.
Really any group of people still governed, in part, by a Queen must have a mindset so differing from our own American unorthodox individuality that believing in a fairy adventure, or speaking mammal at the bottom of the "garden" does not immediately repel their sensibilities. Honestly reading any fictional work with an British accent (no matter how faulty) makes it tower above others in gloriousness.
This leads me to one of my favorite authors. Do you ever enter into a friendship with someone with whom you know the high sensibilities and judgement lie? I had the great honor of teaching with one such woman years ago. Her skills, tastes, and ideals set a precedence of greatness. To win her favor I introduced her to not one but two of my favorite authors and earned her respect. I assure you this was of no excellence of my own just the reality of old British Raj libraries at ancient guest houses in a land no longer colonial. The English books in the Pakistani setting were kept and treasured by all who could read and they opened worlds for me. Rich gardens full of mystery read about in the sweltering heat of a desert.
This leads us to Mary Stewart. She married into this rather historical name and started life with the last name Rainbow. Can this be possible I wonder? Perhaps it explains her name choices in her books. She even has a female protagonist with the name Charity. She writes mysteries cushioned in old fashioned romance with a hint of travel books as she elucidates localities in places like Damascus, Greece, and Europe. (notice here, city, country continent and question not my intelligence that somehow I am singing a song with country names and suddenly threw in a continent~ that is ever so inconsiderate I feel of songs to gloss over whole continents while giving little countries there own shout out. Here I feel that Damascus and Greece (arguably part of Europe) are colorful enough to hold their own against an entire continent. Of course I say this in jest.)
"You couldn't help it. One can't help who one falls in love with." Julie was offering this shabby cliche as if it were the panacea still sealed all glittering in its virgin polythene. ....... It seemed that, to Julie, falling in love was an act as definable and as little controlled by the will, as catching a disease in an epidemic." ~ The Ivy Tree (a side character's mutterings held with humor at the "knowledge of youth)
I would not start here but rather something like Madam, Will You Talk or Moonspiners. One of my favorites is Nine Coaches Waiting. I confess I have read them all in the last few weeks without exception. Her mysteries weave impossible tales of gore, glory and grit with a backdrop of true English wit that pulses with the unexpected beat of understated greatness.
If I haven't sold you on this fabulous author let me say each chapter begins with a deft, gentle use of a plethora of poets and kings' quotes. She is a master weaver this simple storyteller. Stewart is a perfect mix of Georgette Heyer's (her mysteries) devastating dry humor and M.M. Kaye's exotic, careful use of place as a backdrop for death.
So here it is people. An author worth reading.... Mary Stewart. The options are limited as she is now dead (not like the historical Mary Stewart thankfully) her books remain in a baker's dozen or so. Enjoy.
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