Barbara Pym is a writer of whom I have heard but whose works I had never read. I picked up Excellent Women in a local charity shop in July last year for precisely that reason – I had seen her books mentioned as worth reading. I very much enjoyed this clever book which was first published in 1952.
Mildred is a spinster who lives in a house which has been turned into two flats, but with a shared bathroom, something which she feels describes her position in society. She works for a society which helps distressed elderly gentlewomen and she is very active in the church. The men whom she assists frequently describe her, and others like her, as excellent women. Mildred is tired of doing the same thing and being mostly invisible because of her sex and age. Her life changes, however, when a younger couple move into the flat below her. They have a tumultuous relationship and Mildred becomes drawn into their world. At the same time the local vicar decides to marry and this causes Mildred to rethink her attitude to him.
There is no great drama in this story but the author shows us how little changes can shake up a person’s world. Mildred is an engaging narrator with a wry sense of humour and sharp observation of the situation. I frequently found myself smiling at her insights and, as a person well acquainted with churches and their congregations, I recognised much of what she describes. The book is written and set just after WW2 and I enjoyed the fact that the rationing and housing shortage in London at the time were key issues in the story.
I found this book to be an absolute delight, and devoured it in one evening. I admired how the book is written so that Mildred seems to describe her position in the world accurately but to miss the fact that all the characters trust and rely on her. I loved the fact that Mildred remained undaunted despite all that was happening around her and that the author gave us a hopeful ending. I shall place this book on my shelf where I keep favourites and look out for more of this author’s books.
