Friday, December 3, 2010

Wait for Me! by Deborah Devonshire

'Blank.  There is no entry in my mother's engagement book for 31 March 1920, the day I was born.  The next few days are also blank.  The first entry in April, in large letters, is 'KITCHEN CHIMNEY SWEPT'.

The opening lines of Deborah Devonshire's enchanting memoir had me sinking deeper into the sofa, cup of tea in hand, with a smile curling on my face. 

A more perfect blend of childhood antics, aristocratic couplings, door-slamming rants, tragedy, hilarity and celebrity name dropping would be hard to find.  The writing flows from one event to the next as seamlessly as a conversation with a favourite Aunt or Grandmother over tea and cake.  And just enough juicy bits to be revealing without being salacious.

Of a particular governess...'Miss Dell, encouraged us in the difficult art of shoplifting - stealing really.  My mother found out (the shopkeepers did not, thank goodness) and Miss Dell disappeared.'  And when the Dowager Duchess wrote about the wonder of the former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher's hair...'What made her visit unforgettable was the Force 9 gale that was blowing.  I soon looked like the Wild Woman of the West, hair all over the place, as did the other women in the party.  But not a hair on the PM's head moved.  I was so interested in this phenomenon I could not pay attention to anything else.'  You can just picture the look on her face and the image had me in stitches.

I was fascinated by the way this family of six girls and one boy wove their relationships together through youth, marriages, divorce, political affiliations, successes and loss.  It seems to me that despite very strong words of caution or other protestations, this was a family whose members followed their hearts from quite a young age.  Unity's idolizing of Hitler, Diana's divorce from Bryan Guinness to take up with Oswald Mosley, leader of the British Union of Fascists, would have provided many a heated discussion.  At nineteen, Jessica put her family through despair with her disappearance leading to an elopement with Esmond Romilly, both were adherents of Communism.  Her brother, Tom, a fascist, refused to fight against Germany but volunteered to fight Imperial Japan and was killed in Burma.

The chapter on childbirth and deaths is incredibly moving.  There are three healthy children but in between was a miscarriage and the deaths of three babies shortly after birth which must have caused immense heartbreak.  Despite her grief Deborah unselfishly writes that her loss was nothing in comparison to the sufferings caused by the war and daily deaths of young servicemen.

Hilarity rises yet again when Debo visits Lady Bird Johnson in Texas and is excited by an invitation to join cowboys on a cattle round-up.  Thrilled to see men dressed just like in the Westerns on film with their leather chaps, Stetson hats and cowboy boots she is ready for adventure.  To her amazement these cowboys escort her out to a waiting helicopter.  Such is modern farming...'I enjoyed this new experience, but wondered why the cowboy pilot had bothered to put on his spurs.'

Elegant banquets, Chatsworth, her love of animals and the countryside provide wonderful stories full of breathtaking images.  A snippet or two about her rambunctious Border Collie simply named, Collie, had me laughing in acknowledgement as I too own one.  Despite loving this breed, Deborah admits it simply wouldn't do to have dogs nipping at the heels of paying customers strolling the grounds of their ancestral home.  Indeed.

Nearing the end of the book and knowing that the Duke's death was imminent, tears were sliding down my cheeks.  Again with unselfishness the Dowager Duchess writes...'Seeing him so deeply depressed and unhappy about the various indignities of his physical condition, no one could have wished him to go on living.'  He died on May 3, 2004.

Moving into the Old Vicarage in Edensor where she had lived with Andrew sixty years earlier, this remarkable woman continues to lead a productive life at the age of ninety.  And long may she do so.  On my last trip to London in May 2009, I missed Deborah Devonshire at Hatchard's on Piccadilly by one hour.  The young sales girl there said to try again on my next trip as she pops in several times a year.  The thrill would be all mine and a dream I hold on to.

Wait for Me! is both a touching memoir and a riveting page-turner if you enjoy glimpses into English aristocracy or social history.  Don't hesitate to add it to your Christmas wish list!

20 comments:

  1. Debo and I share a birthday!

    *bumps it up the TBR*

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  2. The Duchess of Devonshire is a nice lady and has done a lot of good for the Chatsworth Estate. This is where I went to work as a garden boy on leaving school at 15 years old. I met the Duchess several times while at work in the gardens and it was never beyond her to stop and speak to you.

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  3. Thanks to your assistance, there's now a copy of this on its way to me. I can't wait! Sounds like it's going to be the perfect holiday read - Christmas cookies and tea close at hand, of course.

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  4. Aren't they the most fascinating family ever?? I had read most of Nancy's books but didn't really know anything about the family until I read Mary S Lovell's book. I was hooked. I can't even begin to think how many times I just had to stop and read passages aloud to whoever was around! I pretty much have everything written on/by them now. I contacted Heywood Hill when the book came out as I couldn't get up to London as my Darling Dad had just died - Debo inscribed and signed my book and also signed the new box set of Nancy's books. :-)

    Like you .. I would adore to meet her.

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  5. Oh, you have now tempted me beyond reason to read this. I wonder if I were wish really hard if it might show up as a Christmas gift. . .

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  6. Ok I am convinced...I am getting my hands on this book...thank you for the review.

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  7. Oh my goodness! This is moving right to the top of the to-read list! K x

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  8. Paperback Reader, Oh isn't that lovely!

    Rob, Thank you so much for sharing that, it made my day. Such an incredible location to call your place of work, lucky you!

    thecaptivereader, I told my husband that this would have been the perfect Christmas book...you're going to adore it!

    Quirky Celt, Sorry to hear about your Dad.

    The Mitford family is fascinating indeed, I'm so thankful we've been allowed such a candid look into their private lives. And I must stop at Heywood Hill on my next trip!

    lifeonthecutoff, You MUST have this book for Christmas! I'll speak to an elf for you if you like!

    hostess of the humble bungalow, I promise that you will be completely swept away! And you're welcome.

    Kristina, If you adore this book even half as much as I did, you're in for a treat. To be tempted to turn right back to the first page and start again with a non-fiction book...well, that's a rare thing.

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  9. The more I read, the more I want it! Am smiling at the idea of Debo here in Texas, visiting Lady Bird. Definitely on my list!

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  10. This woman is absolutely fascinating and based on my reading of Counting My Chickens (thank to your review) and now this review, I am sure I will be keeping an eye out for this one.

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  11. makedoandread, I wonder just how close she made it to your hometown, Kate, perhaps a photo or two could be found on the internet.

    Stacy, Debo is the bees knees! Let's hope she has more stories to share.

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  12. I loved reading this, a wonderful review.... and I watched a video clip of the Duchess telling her story. i want to read this now.

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  13. Oh Darlene! This sounds inexpressibly wonderful. I am so upset because tonight Jessica Mitford's daughter is speaking in New York and I can't go because I have to see a friend off to the airport. :( I am desperate to read these memoirs. I emailed the publisher because I am cheap but no joy, so I may splurge on this after Christmas, especially as the US cover is far nicer than the UK one.

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  14. Rest assured - its on my list! Thank you Darlene for this wonderful review.

    Jeanne

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  15. Marilyn, Thanks for stopping by! I'm so glad that you enjoyed my review and the video clip!

    bookssnob, Such disappointing news on all counts! And doesn't the publisher know you write the best reviews?

    Not sure if you're flying home for Christmas but this book would be a lovely way to bring England to you if you're not!

    Cottage Garden, Result! And you're welcome.

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  16. Darlene, on a visit to Waterstone's this morning I see that Wait for me! has a different cover here in the UK .... its lovely, but I much prefer your elegant version.

    Jeanne
    x

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  17. Cottage Garden, AND our version has the author listed as Deborah Mitford, not Devonshire!

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  18. I've just ordered this from Amazon as the library queue was soooooooooooooo long

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  19. I have this checked out from the library, but I decided to start with Mary Lovell's bio of the family first. I am really enjoying it--what a remarkable family. I hope to get through it and then read this over my holiday break--it sounds wonderful. A nice companion book would be a shiny, picture filled coffee table book of Chatsworth, don't you think?!

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  20. I finished this a day or two ago, Darlene, after reading it steadily for months - I couldn't bear for it to end! Absolutely wonderful - I thought I'd only be interested in her childhood, but I was interested in very nearly all of it (skimmed the section on horses) - will write up soon!
    Simon

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