Monday, January 18, 2010

High Wages by Dorothy Whipple

If you are familiar with Persephone Books then you know the brilliance of Dorothy Whipple. She has worked her magic once again with High Wages, I loved this book! My heart ached for Jane Carter, still in her teens, leaving the family home after her father passes away, to strike out on her own. She left behind a stepmother and 'those children', an image of Cinderella did pass through my thoughts at one point. Being accepted for work at Chadwick's, a fabric and haberdashery shop was a dream come true for Jane. Sharing a room with another employee and being served various forms of offal for dinner by Mrs Chadwick, while she ate fine cuts with her husband upstairs, rarely brought about a complaint from Jane. She was independent and learning more every day about how to sell to customers in the shop. Jane catches on quickly and has a knack for fashion and design, quickly making herself popular with customers and indispensable to Mr Chadwick. Mrs Greenwood is one of those customers who doesn't mind utilizing Jane's way with a ribbon but won't let her forget that she's just a shop girl. No where near close enough in station to socialize with her pampered daughter, Sylvia, or the young men in her circle. At one of the social events of the year, The Hospital Ball, Jane is kindly treated to tickets by the warm and generous Mrs Briggs. Again, like Cinderella, Jane fashions an outfit she's absolutely giddy about and attracts the eye of some handsome young men. Mrs Greenwood is livid and with her booming voice and looks of disgust, she makes Jane feel horrible. But not for long, after all, what crime has she committed? When she's hauled up on the proverbial carpet by Mr Chadwick for upsetting the town know-it-all, Jane defends herself with a spirit that had me cheering her on with a smile on my face. That should give you a pretty good idea of what you're in for with this wonderful story. I despair for anyone who isn't interested in where this story leads. Dorothy Whipple has created a perfect cast of characters with this book, bringing forth feelings of loathing, sympathy, hope, dread and romance. The sign of a good book is one that has me dying to complete my list of things to do so that I can make a pot of tea and find out what's going to happen next. High Wages is definitely one of those books!

20 comments:

  1. I want to read this so badly!!!! What a brilliant review, Darlene - you have left me quite bereft that I don't have a copy to begin immediately! Love the accompanying image too - such beautiful clothes women used to wear.

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  2. I'm glad that I have read this already as otherwise I would be feeling like Rachel! I don't have my own copy yet which is a shame as I;d love to whipple (!) it out again...

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  3. You write the best reviews! You've captured the book so perfectly. K x

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  4. What a wonderful review - it has made me want to grab a copy and find out what happens next. I've not read any Dorothy Whipple books, but from the various reviews I've read I think that she is defintely an author that I would enjoy.

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  5. Rachel said it perfectly! I'm not buying books for the next several months, but you can be sure a Dorothy Whipple (or two) will be among my first purchases of the new year.

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  6. Sigh, I require an instant injection of Whipple into my life soon; I miss her.

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  7. Another Whipple added to my wishlist! So glad you enjoyed it. That is a very good sign it is a good book...perfect reward after finishing those to do lists:)

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  8. Rachel, As I was reading it, I was thinking of you and how much you would love it! Perhaps Naomi would take pity on you and lend you her copy...a sacred thing, I know.

    verity, That's funny! Here's hoping that Nicola has more Whipple to whip out too.

    Kristina, How nice of you to say! Snippets are easy with books as lovely as this one. D x

    A Bookish Space, Oh...do yourself a favour and give one of her books a try!

    JoAnn, We have to spread them out to make them last don't we. Here's hoping that Nicola Beauman has a few more to publish...at the very least!

    Paperback Reader, She's waiting! But really, we can't gobble them all up and then be left wanting can we. Anticipation can be very good at times, but don't wait too long!

    Book Psmith, You would so love this one I'm sure! Funny, since discovering book blogs, the dust bunnies don't seem quite so ghastly as they used to.

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  9. I feel like I am the only person who hasn't yet read anything by Dorothy Whipple. I will definitely rectify that soon. Which is your favorite so far? I think I have two on hand, but not this one. Maybe a Persephone order is about due....

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  10. Danielle, You have Someone at a Distance don't you...read that one, you'd really like it. Don't be left out of the Whipple loop!!

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  11. I've never read any Whipple and, until a year or two ago, I'd never even heard of her. Now, I desperately want to get my hands on all her books since everyone seems to adore her! This book sounds delightful and I can't wait to find a copy for myself.

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  12. I'm looking forward to this one, I do have a copy. And I love the picture you used today, Darlene

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  13. Like Rachel, I'm now dying to read this! Wonderful review.

    (I'm smiling at the thought of a 'reward book' - I do that, too, to get through all the boring practical things)

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  14. thecaptivereader, Once you've made your way through that stack of library books I've just seen on your blog...read a Whipple! You won't be sorry.

    StuckInaBook, Thanks Simon! I love Google Images for pics like that. This is a delightful book, you'll love it.

    makedoandread, Definitely add this one to your tbr pile! And congratulations on your win over at The B Files!

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  15. This is fast moving up my wishlist - I wanted it when I first saw it in the Persephone catalogue but now I need it! I need to buy a book directly from Persephone to still get the Persephone Biannually - pretty much all of mine have been presents or come from Blackwells in Oxford - so this may be the one!

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  16. Escaping Into A Book, I'm due to order something from Persephone as well so I'll be flipping through the pages of the catalogue soon. The trouble will be in choosing just one as I usually order the others through TBD to keep the cost down. High Wages comes highly recommended, you won't be sorry!

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  17. This is going to be my next Persephone purchase! Wonderful review.

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  18. Tara, Well my review worked then, you'll love High Wages! It grabbed me straight away and still has me thinking about the characters.

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  19. Oh, a friend just sent me this book. I love D.Whipple!

    P.S. I'm Tuppy from LT

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  20. I do, and I have The Priory, too. As soon as I finish ET's Angel I am going to pick up one of my Whipple books!

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