Back in the very early days of the Ramblings, I wrote about a wonderful Virago Modern Classic – “The Love Child” by Edith Oliver. I was on a bit of a voyage of rediscovery with VMCs at the time, and this one had been highly recommended by Simon at Stuck in a Book. It’s been out of print for many years, but I’m very happy to see that Simon has managed to help it back into print via the British Library Women Writers series for which he’s series consultant- which is marvellous news!
As I wrote at the time, “The story concerns Agatha Bodenham, whose mother dies leaving her on her own, with no resources to fall back on as she has led a dull, lonely, reclusive life and has no close friends or nearby family. We see her unable to relate to her aunt at the beginning of the book and it is obvious she is unable to deal with people at all – we would probably described her as “emotionally damaged” nowadays. Agatha, in her loneliness, conjures back into life her make-believe childhood friend, Clarissa, who is everything that Agatha is not – spontaneous, lively, curious and mercurial. Initially, only Agatha can see Clarissa but gradually, as Agatha’s love suffuses her, Clarissa becomes real to everyone.
Without wanting to give too much of the plot away, the rest of the book revolves around Agatha and Clarissa’s intense love for each other, the destructive effect of the incursion of outsiders, and a very poignant but not unexpected ending. The book is beautifully written, very readable and surprisingly complex. Clarissa represents in some ways Agatha’s repressed maternal love, an outlet for the emotion that she has never been able to express. She also in some ways is the person Agatha might have been, had she been brought up in a different environment and allowed to blossom instead of having her growth stunted.
This is a remarkably good book and Olivier’s handling of the various emotions between the two main characters and those who circulate around them is masterly. She’s very good at conveying the intense feelings they have and the differences (and also similarities) between Clarissa and Agatha. In different ways, each only exists because of the other and so any exterior influence is bound to destroy the bond between them with catastrophic effect.”
My view of the book hasn’t changed over the years – it’s a beautifully written and evocative work, and I was happy to have the chance to revisit it. I commented in my original post that it was such a shame the book was out of print, so it’s wonderful to see it available again in a stunning BLWW edition.
The new release comes with the usual excellent supporting material of preface, 1920s facts and a mini biog of Olivier. And as well as an intriguing afterword by Simon, the book also includes some wonderful extracts from Olivier’s autobiography which add an extra level of interest to what is a marvellous book. “The Love Child” was Olivier’s first novel, and I suspect is still her best known, probably because Virago chose to focus on it. Like all of the BLWW books, as well as telling a compelling and moving story, “The Love Child” shines a light on women’s lives in the past, the choices available to them, society’s expectations and the emotional effect of these elements. This is a superb addition to the range and highly recommended from here! 😀
Oct 09, 2021 @ 11:46:13
I’ve been telling myself not to buy books I read about on blogs unless I am immediately somehow involved but you have made this one very interesting to me. I wonder if nowadays people might think Agatha autistic.
Oct 09, 2021 @ 11:47:41
It’s certainly an intriguing and moving read.
Oct 09, 2021 @ 12:27:55
It’s so nice when publishers take a chance on books like that and bring them back, isn’t it? I’ve noticed that happening with some previously forgotten Golden Age and classic crime fiction, too, and it’s a welcome development, as I see it.
Oct 09, 2021 @ 12:45:57
It is – there are so many good works which have inexplicably become unavailable (although I suppose not every book in the world could or should be in print). But with crime fiction and women’s writing particularly it’s wonderful to see them available again! 😀
Oct 09, 2021 @ 17:18:41
I like your idea of Clarissa being the person Agatha might have been, we all have those! But it’s interesting how she imagines Clarissa. BL certainly has another winner with this series!
Oct 09, 2021 @ 20:19:32
It’s a lovely book, and I’m so glad it’s back in print – it so deserves to be read more widely! 😀
Oct 09, 2021 @ 21:33:24
I loved this book, I luckily got sent a new copy too, even though I had read it before. It’s such a moving story,that does have something to say about women’s lives. It’s wonderful to see it back in print.
Oct 10, 2021 @ 13:11:49
It *is* moving, isn’t it? And such an interesting look at how women’s lives were. Like you, I’m so glad it’s available again.
Oct 10, 2021 @ 00:21:08
I was lucky enough to be sent a copy of it too so I will be reading it soon.
Oct 10, 2021 @ 13:10:51
Excellent! Do hope you like it! 😀
Oct 10, 2021 @ 08:56:59
I’ve skimmed this review and will return to it when I’ve read the book and written my review – I’m on the blog tour so need it done by 5 November!
Oct 10, 2021 @ 13:09:36
Look forward to your review, Liz – I think it’s such a good book, hope you like it!
Oct 10, 2021 @ 10:21:05
Just skimming your post for now, Karen, as it’s one of the BLWW books I’ve yet to read. It does sound very good though. I’m very interested in the theme of society’s perceptions of women and the restrictions that were placed on them over the years.
Oct 10, 2021 @ 13:09:16
It’s certainly a good read, I feel, and quite open to multiple interpretations. i’ll look forward to your thoughts!
Oct 10, 2021 @ 16:44:07
Surprisingly, was able to get this from the library! Looking forward to it,
Oct 10, 2021 @ 16:44:32
Excellent – good news! 😀
Oct 11, 2021 @ 18:47:42
Hurrah, thanks Karen! I was worried that we wouldn’t be able to do the book initially, because apparently there’s a minimum page count – but that led to the joyful chance to include excerpts from the autobiography 😀
Oct 11, 2021 @ 19:01:32
I’m *so* glad this one got a reprint, Simon, and what a lovely idea to use the excerpts which were really fascinating. Such a welcome re-release!
Oct 11, 2021 @ 22:01:18
This sounds such an unusual story and absolutely fascinating. The BLWW series are gorgeous!
Oct 12, 2021 @ 10:07:25
It’s a wonderful read, and quite moving too. This is a great series – and pretty to look at, too!
Oct 12, 2021 @ 16:55:56
How lucky you are to have two such beautiful copies!
Oct 12, 2021 @ 18:39:16
I am, and they’re both lovely in their own way!
Oct 12, 2021 @ 17:24:14
What an amazing plot! And I am off to try and get it on Amazon ! Sigh!
Oct 12, 2021 @ 18:38:06
It’s fascinating – hope you can track it down!
Oct 13, 2021 @ 19:42:48
The two covers complement each other nicely, I’d say!
Oct 13, 2021 @ 19:45:32
They do! 😀
Dec 31, 2021 @ 07:01:44