{"title":"Books by E. M. Delafield","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9780712353939","title":"Tension","description":"\u003cp\u003e“I know that things of that kind always are known, and the people I’ve been thrown with, sooner or later, always turned out to have heard the story. Or if they hadn’t,” said Miss Marchrose in a voice of calm despair, “someone took the trouble to tell them.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMiss Marchrose is about to discover that she cannot escape her past when she takes up a new position at a secretarial college in the south west of England. Following insinuations dropped by the director’s wife, she becomes the subject of a whispering campaign which threatens her professional career and personal happiness.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eTension \u003c\/i\u003eexamines reputation and the persistence of gossip in relation to a woman’s choice of work and domestic arrangements with a light touch of humour. The two main female characters represent the different roles of women in public life: Lady Rossiter uses her social position to influence college matters, while Miss Marchrose is a professional woman who brings qualifications and experience to her role.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43204081287346,"sku":"9780712353939","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780712353939_9886472f-28b5-4444-add2-580b3332bc9d.jpg?v=1786014792"},{"product_id":"9780860685227","title":"The Diary Of A Provincial Lady","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eINTRODUCED BY JILLY COOPER AND WITH A COVER DESIGN BY CATH KIDSTON\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'She converts the small and familiar dullness of life into laughter' \u003ci\u003eTHE TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'And so begins one of the funniest, smartest and most lovable books I have ever read' KATHRYN HUGHES, \u003ci\u003eGUARDIAN\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'I finished the book in one sitting, leaving the children unbathed, dogs unwalked, a husband unfed' JILLY COOPER\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Glorious, simply glorious'  \u003ci\u003eDAILY TELEGRAPH\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBehind this rather prim title lies the hilarious fictional diary of a disaster-prone lady of the 1930s and her attempts to keep her somewhat ramshackle household from falling into chaos. There's her husband Robert, who, when he's not snoozing behind \u003ci\u003eThe Times\u003c\/i\u003e does everything with grumbling reluctance; her gleefully troublesome children and a succession of tricky servants who invariably seem to gain the upper hand. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnd if her domestic trials are not enough, she must keep up appearances. Particularly with the maddeningly patronising Lady Boxe, whom our Provincial Lady eternally (and unsuccessfully) tries to compete with.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56295287554421,"sku":"9780860685227","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780860685227_75240ecc-326f-4328-aae6-01280a0359e7.jpg?v=1786016040"},{"product_id":"9781903155950","title":"Diary of a Provincial Lady","description":"\u003cbr\u003eBinding: Paperback \/ softback","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56308260077941,"sku":"9781903155950","price":17.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781903155950_b7bc5673-0024-424b-8195-569717d84429.jpg?v=1786029193"},{"product_id":"9781909621381","title":"Diary of a Provincial Lady","description":"\u003cp\u003eE. M. Delafield's largely autobiographical novel takes the form of a journal written by an upper-middle-class lady living in a Devonshire village. Written with humour, this charming novel is full of the peculiarities of daily life. The Provincial Lady of the title attempts to avoid disaster and prevent chaos from descending upon her household. But with a husband reluctant to do anything but doze behind \u003ci\u003eThe Times\u003c\/i\u003e, mischievous children and trying servants, it's a challenge keeping up appearances on an inadequate income, particularly in front of the infuriating and haughty Lady Boxe. As witty and delightful today as when it was first published in 1930, \u003ci\u003eDiary of a Provincial Lady\u003c\/i\u003e is a brilliantly observed comic novel and an acknowledged classic. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis beautiful Macmillan Collector's Library edition features an introduction by author and journalist Christina Hardyment.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDesigned to appeal to the book lover, the Macmillan Collector's Library is a series of beautiful gift-editions of much loved classic titles. Macmillan Collector's Library are books to love and treasure.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56309100937589,"sku":"9781909621381","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781909621381_885c6957-deb7-4e60-b10e-5d8b04f66af9.jpg?v=1786029719"},{"product_id":"9780141191812","title":"The Modern Classics Diary of a Provincial Lady","description":"'January 22nd - Robert startles me at breakfast by asking if my cold - which he has hitherto ignored - is better. I reply that it has gone. Then why, he asks, do I look like that? Feel that life is wholly unendurable, and decide madly to get a new hat'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt's not easy being a Provincial Lady in Devonshire in the 1920s, juggling a grumpy husband, mischievous children and a host of domestic dilemmas - from rice mould to a petulant cook. But this Provincial Lady will not be defeated; not by wayward flower bulbs, not by unexpected houseguests, not even by the Blitz. She will continue to preside over the W.I., endure rain-drenched family picnics and succeed as a published author, all the while tending to her strawberries. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Diary of a Provincial Lady\u003c\/i\u003e is a brilliantly observed comic novel, as funny and fresh today as when it was first written.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWidely regarded as one of the funniest English authors and an heir to Jane Austen, E.M. Delafield was born in Sussex in 1890. She took the name Delafield to distinguish herself from her mother (De la Pasture), also a novelist, and wrote over 30 books which could be 'as laugh-out-loud funny as PG Wodehouse' before her death in 1943.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56311570432373,"sku":"9780141191812","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780141191812_09b8ed47-28c0-4bbf-84ca-a75da9a08741.jpg?v=1786011702"},{"product_id":"9780712355537","title":"Stories for Lovers","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn older couple remove all the mirrors from their lake house to lose sense of time; two girls are cast as Romeo and Juliet in their college play; a woman bargains with God to let the man she loves telephone her.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWomen writers of the twentieth century had a complex relationship with romantic fiction, at once a denigrated genre yet also often considered their only legitimate domain by the male literary establishment. The women in this collection complicate our over-simplified understanding of the ‘love story,’ crafting multifaceted, touching and vividly real stories of romantic love and loss.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom chance meetings on trains to honeymoon bliss, tentative young love, doomed love, and settled love, this collection brings together some of the best short stories on romantic connection by women writers of the twentieth century.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis new anthology brings together the creative minds of:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eMargaret Atwood\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eVirginia Woolf\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eElizabeth Taylor\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eE. M. Delafield\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eLing Shuhua\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eDorothy Parker\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eMalachi Whitaker\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eRichmal Crompton\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eEthel Florence Lindesay Richardson…\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56368139272565,"sku":"9780712355537","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9780712355537_092046b7-ae35-404b-b279-3378020395a0.jpg?v=1786014929"},{"product_id":"consequences","title":"Consequences","description":null,"brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57490331500917,"sku":"9781903155028","price":17.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781903155028.jpg?v=1786442219"},{"product_id":"consequences-book-ii-edition2024","title":"Consequences Book II","description":"Consequences Book II by E. M. Delafield continues the exploration of a young woman's life under the stringent social constraints of Edwardian society. This installment delves deeper into the protagonist's emotional turmoil and psychological insight as she navigates the complexities of social expectations and family pressures. Delafield portrays the character's ongoing struggle with the clash between her personal desires and the rigid Victorian values imposed upon her. As the narrative unfolds, themes of rebellion and conformity become increasingly prominent, illustrating the tragic consequences of defying societal norms. The book offers a poignant critique of class and gender roles, highlighting the protagonist's isolation and inner conflict. Through her detailed portrayal of emotional and psychological challenges, Delafield provides a nuanced examination of personal identity and growth amidst adversity. Consequences Book II builds on the themes established in the first volume, further exploring the impact of societal expectations on individual destinies.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57495410377077,"sku":"9789367146446","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9789367146446.jpg?v=1786618085"},{"product_id":"the-diary-of-a-provincial-lady","title":"The Diary of a Provincial Lady","description":"'Financial situation very low indeed, and must positively take steps to send assortment of old clothes to second-hand dealer for disposal. Am struck by false air of opulence with which I don fur coat, white gloves, and new shoes-one very painful-and get into the car. Irony of life thus exemplified'E. M. Delafield's beloved narrator delights readers with her accounts of domestic mishaps, neighbourhood gossip, and attempts to balance family life in a Devon village with mental stimulation in London. Diary of a Provincial Lady is written in diary form and chronicles the struggles of its middle-class narrator to manage the education of her two children, keeping servants, a condescending local aristocracy, commitments to local charity drives and Women's Institutes, and an almost nonverbal country husband. This edition puts the work in context for readers and includes an introduction situating Delafield within women's history, notes to identify historical and literary references, a chronology of Delafield's life, and other material sure to help readers enjoy the novel whether it's their first reading or a return to this beloved work. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57680066576757,"sku":"9780198880660","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}]}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-e-m-delafield.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}