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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
This was one of my mother's favorite books and I can see why, even though I didn't find it as satisfying as she did. But it was lovely to read something and think of her reading and enjoying it.
Towards the end of World War I, David Powlett-Jones is discharged after being in the hospital, injured and shell-shocked, for months. He is sent to Bamfylde, a private school in Devon, to teach history to boys who are less than ten years his junior. He has no experience as a teacher, and does not even have a degree, but the doctor felt that this would be the best remedy for the soul-sickness that David suffers from after spending three years in the trenches. And soon David comes to realize that Bamfylde was just what he needed.
The story of David Powlett-Jones and Bamfylde covers the time between the two World Wars, and follows David through the ups and downs of his life, as well as the ups and downs of Bamfylde, and England as a whole. Delderfield is a wonderful storyteller, and I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed God is an Englishman. The only difficulty I had with reading this book was that I am not British. So much of the politics of that time period that Delderfield includes, but chooses not to explain, went over my head. Obviously he is writing this for a British audience who would know that names he is speaking of. There are a few other things that come up like this, that as an American I had to work harder to understand. But that does not lessen the book's interest for me. It is just a comment on one of the difficulties of reading it. Apparently there is a BBC miniseries based on the book, which now I'll have to check out. Delderfield's stories, although they seem to be about simple subjects, are definitely engrossing, and a wonderful experience to read.
The story of David Powlett-Jones and Bamfylde covers the time between the two World Wars, and follows David through the ups and downs of his life, as well as the ups and downs of Bamfylde, and England as a whole. Delderfield is a wonderful storyteller, and I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed God is an Englishman. The only difficulty I had with reading this book was that I am not British. So much of the politics of that time period that Delderfield includes, but chooses not to explain, went over my head. Obviously he is writing this for a British audience who would know that names he is speaking of. There are a few other things that come up like this, that as an American I had to work harder to understand. But that does not lessen the book's interest for me. It is just a comment on one of the difficulties of reading it. Apparently there is a BBC miniseries based on the book, which now I'll have to check out. Delderfield's stories, although they seem to be about simple subjects, are definitely engrossing, and a wonderful experience to read.
Well, it took me 2 months, but worth it! (Told you I was a slow reader - most would not take that long to get through its 678 pages). I have actually read this before and also have loved the BBC’s Masterpiece Theatre presentation of it, which we own - so now I know what I will be bingeing next...
Set in Britain on the moors of Devon, this is the story of David Powlett-Jones, a Welshman devastated by the trauma of WWI trench warfare in France, sent to Bamfylde School to become a teacher as a means of regaining himself and healing the internal scars, restored by the wilds of an isolated part of England, the beautiful girl he meets by chance and the comradeship of his headmaster, colleagues and students. But tested again by the course of love, life and calling. Yes, it is a saga, of sorts, but of a different kind. It doesn’t follow generations of family. It bridges the time between Ypres and Dunkirk, between lost and found, grief and love, idealism and purpose. In the quintessential boy’s school atmosphere, David is able to reconcile the hardest parts of life with the sweetest. And to confirm his headmaster’s assertion that the most important parts of an education are not found in the classroom.
One of my favorite aspects of the book is the way it brings the story full circle. Early on, the harsh reality of the losses the school has suffered to the long, difficult war - beloved boys - is echoed at the other end as war returns and David must face the reality of losing his own students in the defense of Britain and all that is right. Undergirding the entirety of the story is the heart of English culture - history, loyalty, passion, identity. How this gradual progression from disenchantment to mature self-understanding unfolds over twenty-plus years is the real story. Everything else wraps it up in scenic beauty and heartfelt emotion.
The story has its weaknesses. Written in 1972, set in the 1920’s-1930’s predominantly, it has some out-of-date attitudes and language, but in keeping, to some degree, with the time period. The story deals far more with David’s relationships with his colleagues and students than with his own children to a degree that they seem almost overlooked at times. But, as a whole, it is far more than the sum of its faults. I read this again for two reasons: 1) that Masterpiece Theatre thing: had to read it again so I can watch it again
Set in Britain on the moors of Devon, this is the story of David Powlett-Jones, a Welshman devastated by the trauma of WWI trench warfare in France, sent to Bamfylde School to become a teacher as a means of regaining himself and healing the internal scars, restored by the wilds of an isolated part of England, the beautiful girl he meets by chance and the comradeship of his headmaster, colleagues and students. But tested again by the course of love, life and calling. Yes, it is a saga, of sorts, but of a different kind. It doesn’t follow generations of family. It bridges the time between Ypres and Dunkirk, between lost and found, grief and love, idealism and purpose. In the quintessential boy’s school atmosphere, David is able to reconcile the hardest parts of life with the sweetest. And to confirm his headmaster’s assertion that the most important parts of an education are not found in the classroom.
One of my favorite aspects of the book is the way it brings the story full circle. Early on, the harsh reality of the losses the school has suffered to the long, difficult war - beloved boys - is echoed at the other end as war returns and David must face the reality of losing his own students in the defense of Britain and all that is right. Undergirding the entirety of the story is the heart of English culture - history, loyalty, passion, identity. How this gradual progression from disenchantment to mature self-understanding unfolds over twenty-plus years is the real story. Everything else wraps it up in scenic beauty and heartfelt emotion.
The story has its weaknesses. Written in 1972, set in the 1920’s-1930’s predominantly, it has some out-of-date attitudes and language, but in keeping, to some degree, with the time period. The story deals far more with David’s relationships with his colleagues and students than with his own children to a degree that they seem almost overlooked at times. But, as a whole, it is far more than the sum of its faults. I read this again for two reasons: 1) that Masterpiece Theatre thing: had to read it again so I can watch it again
A COVID re-read. Still enjoyable, but does feel pretty dated.
Although it petered out somewhat in the final third, I did enjoy this one. A great story arc, and well-enough put together to keep the reader interested right way through.
A contender for my favorite book. It's a beautiful story, simply and elegantly told.
The saying goes that you can get lost in a good book, and this is a book you can get lost in, and enjoy being lost. This is a reread for me, at least the second, possibly third, but not read for at least 25 years. So I was familiar with the story if not the detail, but being reacquainted with PJ, Chad Boyer, et al, was comforting and peaceful.
I love Delderfield books, and I don’t think there are many authors like him in modern times, but he writes well, and I would like to think his principles shine through in his characters and the situations. I for one would love to read a biography of him, and just check if I’m right in this assertion. Seemingly left wing in his thinking and female characters that break away from the usual at his time of writing the books, they are very forward thinking. He easily invokes both happiness and tragedy, while keeping the narrative moving.
I would certainly recommend reading any of his works, particularly this one.
I love Delderfield books, and I don’t think there are many authors like him in modern times, but he writes well, and I would like to think his principles shine through in his characters and the situations. I for one would love to read a biography of him, and just check if I’m right in this assertion. Seemingly left wing in his thinking and female characters that break away from the usual at his time of writing the books, they are very forward thinking. He easily invokes both happiness and tragedy, while keeping the narrative moving.
I would certainly recommend reading any of his works, particularly this one.
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It is so well written, it transcends most of my usual preferences in regards genre and setting and POV and makes them sing.
I read this quasi-simultaneously with watching the circa-1980 Masterpiece series on Netflix and loved both. Such wonderful, memorable, identifiable characters. Although the narrative flows almost effortlessly the developmental process the reader undergoes along with Powlett-Jones is emphatically not. The book has a hard-fought, draining, rewarding feel to it. And if P-J retains his innate idealism about education and democracy through two wars and a depression who am I to be so cynical in 2011?
Man, what a wonderful book. You know exactly what it's doing the whole time, and it still gets you - especially at the end.