Backwater by Dorothy Richardson
And so I reach book two of Richardson’s wonderful”Pilgrimage” series, and I was even keener to read this after enjoying Louisa Treger’s excellent book “The Lodger” earlier this month.
“Backwater” picks up Miriam’s story after her return from Germany. Against an increasingly dysfunctional family background, Miriam takes employment as a teacher at a North London school run by the Misses Perne, presumably the backwater of the title. It’s a milieu in which she feels less than comfortable, constantly comparing the ‘hardness’ of the people in that area with those from her part of the city; and indeed the book has chapters of contrast, with Miriam some of time being at the school teaching, and at other times with her family during holidays.
Change is coming to the Henderson family: sister Eve is a live-in governess; Harriett is engaged to be married; quiet Sarah is still living at home. We see the girls against the backdrop of a dance they hold, where despite Miriam’s intentions to spend the night dancing with Ted (who seems to be her current beau), she instead spends much of the evening in the company of his visiting friend Max.
Back at the school, Miriam is struggling to deal with the divide between the two kinds of life, feeling a kind of alienation as she loses touch with her family during the teaching months. She is aware of the scraping, grinding poverty in the world, as people struggle to work and keep body and soul together, and this exists in both halves of her life. Literature becomes a crutch, and a way of escape, with her discovery of a lending library and the books of Ouida being particularly pivotal.
Ouida, Ouida, she would muse with the book in her hand. I want bad things – strong bad things… It doesn’t matter, Italy, the sky, bright hot landscapes, things happening. I don’t care what people think or say. I am older than anyone here in this house. I am myself.
As the book progresses, the girls have a last holiday together in Brighton, where Miriam meets another man who is interested in her, Mr. Parrow; and there is a sense that things are ending, as their mother has had an operation and their old house is having to be sold.
We learn, almost in passing, of the fate of Max. It becomes clear that Miriam will not be able to stand teaching at the Pernes’ for very long, as the stifling atmosphere and the religious convictions of the ladies are too much in conflict with her own intransigent nature. The book ends with Miriam preparing to take another decisive step as her family fragments.
Once again, the events of the book are filtered through Miriam’s perceptions, and the reader comes to realise quite what a sheltered life she’s led; which may, in fact, account for her difficulties in relating to people. Watching her having new experiences and revelations – such as smoking her first cigarette and reading her first newspaper – are fascinating; in particular the latter, when she comes to understand how women are discouraged from reading papers and kept from a wider knowledge of how the world works.
It’s also interesting to note how Miriam has no real self-awareness, no understanding of how she appears to others or affects them – a trait that was evident in the first book. She epitomises the human condition of trying to relate to other and failing, often not picking up the signals from others accurately and not realising how her behaviour will appear.
As in “Pointed Roofs”, Dorothy Richardson’s writing is quite wonderful. The stream-of-consciousness technique takes you right inside Miriam’s head and gives a remarkable immediacy to the narrative. Reading this, you experience the events, thoughts and emotions alongside Miriam in a way that wouldn’t be possible with a straightforward third-person omniscient narrator (or even, indeed, with a ‘normal’ first person narrative). Emotions, images and sensations are filtered through her consciousness so that in many ways you become Miriam and share her life. A wonderful achievement, and I can’t wait for volume 3!
Jan 27, 2016 @ 09:49:33
I really must crack on with ‘Pilgrimages’. I bought it just after Christmas with a view to reading a book a month, but it’s stayed in the TBR pile. After reading this and your review of ‘Pointed Roofs’ it sounds like I’m in for a real treat, but as it’s not going to read itself I will dig it out this very minute! 🙂
Jan 27, 2016 @ 10:33:33
They certainly won’t, so I definitely recommend you get reading – such wonderful books! 🙂
Jan 27, 2016 @ 11:10:53
The painting looks like a Marie Laurencin
Jan 27, 2016 @ 11:12:36
It’s very beautiful, isn’t it? Wish I could find out more about it!
Feb 01, 2016 @ 04:25:03
It’s a Gwen John … a Welsh artist that I love
Feb 01, 2016 @ 07:32:09
Me too – I think her works were the ideal choice for these covers!
Feb 01, 2016 @ 04:27:23
Oops sorry … you were both referring to the lovely blue portrait of DR and not the cover of the book.
Feb 01, 2016 @ 07:31:50
Yes, it’s a bit of a mystery – I’d love to find out more!
Jan 27, 2016 @ 11:13:28
This got me staring at my Virago’s. I was sure I had this but it seems I haven’t. I have got Rosamond Lehmann, Willa Cather, Isabella Bird and … but not this one which is very thwarting because your review made me want to read it!
Jan 27, 2016 @ 11:27:46
I think these books were in the first batch of Viragos and certainly I’ve been carting my copies around for decades! 🙂 Hope you manage to track some down – Richardson is such a wonderful writer!
Jan 27, 2016 @ 18:44:08
Great review, this second book sounds fabulous. I think Pilgrimage might have to be a challenge for me another year.
Jan 27, 2016 @ 18:49:30
Definitely, Ali! She’s no harder to read and love than Woolf and I think you’d love her!
Jan 27, 2016 @ 18:50:55
This 8s one my radar been looking out for second hand copies but if I wait to long may have get some of the net
Jan 27, 2016 @ 19:04:44
Definitely worth tracking down, Stu – they’re great books!
Jan 27, 2016 @ 20:06:10
I’ve been a little distracted by life and Margery Sharp, but I’m looking forward to getting back to Dorothy Richardson. I’m appreciating the difference in tone now that Miriam is back in England and I’m very interested to find out where her story goes.
Jan 27, 2016 @ 20:13:43
I do hope you can read this soon, Jane – I’m absolutely loving it. I’m so glad you came up with the idea of the monthly read!
Jan 28, 2016 @ 17:37:00
You remind me that I had intended to scour our local charity shops for a copy of this but have completely forgotten to do so. Something else to add to the list for the weekend.
Jan 28, 2016 @ 20:48:00
Good luck! They’re apparently getting harder to track down so I hope you find them!
Feb 02, 2016 @ 11:32:33
I’m so glad you’re enjoying these as much as I am. I kind of fear for Miriam at the moment, she could go down one of two paths, assimilation or alienation!
Feb 02, 2016 @ 13:11:41
You’re right – and fortunately I can’t remember enough to know how things turn out! 🙂