The Rector's Daughter (Virago Modern Classics)

Product Information

This is one of my favourite books. When living in Angus the librarian offered this book to me. He considered I would enjoy it. It is most beautifully written with only a few passages frustrating. The pain I felt for Mary was piercing . She was the gentlest of creatures. I am very defensive of this book though found that The Squire’s Daughter frustrated me and could hardly believe it was written by the same hand. Of the declaration of love made by Herbert it is among the lanes during a March day has me in tears every time.

The Rector’s Daughter by FM Mayor review — a novel to rival

She died on 28 January 1932 in Hampstead, London. Her correspondence and some literary papers are held at Trinity College, Cambridge.

I agree, and believe that The Rector’s Daughter is nothing short of a masterpiece. My essay on it will be published in the Spring 2023 issue of Slightly Foxed. Thank you so much for your comment. It is indeed a book that has the power to greatly move and change you. The sorrow I felt for Mary seemed to me very real – as if I was mourning the loss of a friend I knew well. It is usually easy to give reasons why a book didn’t work for me. Indeed, they are few more satisfying activities than laying into a poorly written novel… but The Rector’s Daughter isn’t poorly written. Dora is also a spinster, but less angsty. I think I would have rather enjoyed a novel from Dora’s perspective… The Rector’s Daughter belongs to the finest English tradition of novel writing. It is like a bitter Cranford… Mary Jocelyn’s ‘nothing’ is a full and rich state of being.’ Sylvia Lund, Time and Tide, 18 July 1924

F. M. Mayor - Wikipedia

Afterwards she became an actress. She later turned to writing. Her first book was a collection of short stories, Mrs Hammond's Children, published in 1901 under the pseudonym Mary Strafford. This has been on my Wish List for ages – it's another of the books which Staffordshire's library service does not seem to have, which is a shame, because I am intrigued by the very different responses. ReplyWho can thatbe coming down the road? Why, it’s the pretty little girl with the dark curls we saw yesterday when the Canon took me out a little walk – your dear father. Oh no, it’s not; now she comes nearer I see it’s notthe little girl with the dark curls. My sight isn’t quite as good as it was. No, she has red hair and spectacles. Dear me, whata plain little thing. Did you say she would be calling for the milk, dear? Or is this the little one you say helps Cook? Oh no, not that one, only ten; no, she would be rather young. Yes, whatthe girls are coming to. You say you don’t find a difficulty. Mrs. Barkham – my new lodgings; I told you about her, poor thing, she suffers so from neuralgia – she says the girls now – fancy her last girl wearing a pendant when she was waiting. Just a very plain brooch, no one would say a word against, costing half-a-crown or two shillings. I’ve given one myself to a servant many a time. Oh, that dear little robin – Mary, you mustlook – or is it a thrush? There, it’s gone. You’ve missed it. Perhaps we could see it out of the other window. Thank you, dear; if I could have your arm. Oh, I didn’t see the footstool. No, thank you, I didn’t hurt myself in the least; only that was my rheumatic elbow.” It seems as though your reaction is similar to mine when I read The Days of Abandonment last year. It sounded great, but it was not just earnest–and it had some humorous moments–but actually depressing. I felt miserable myself after reading it. That being said, it was interesting enough. (Hmm. Maybe our experiences weren't quite so similar as I'd imagined. TDoA is what immediately leapt to mind, though.) Reply But, Dora, don’t you think there is a Love ‘Which alters not with Time’s brief hours and days, / But bears it out even to the edge of Doom’?”