I've at last had a go at Edmund Crispin, reading the first of his Gervase Fen books, The Case of the Gilded Fly. Although I don't share his antipathy I can see why Dark Puss took agin Fen (comments here), but while I wasn't bowled over by the novel I'd certainly give Crispin and his academic detective another outing as with this book he seemed to be writing himself in. That may explain the time Crispin took to set the scene -16 pages to introduce the major characters, a further 60-odd lead up to the murder; I doubt an editor today would be as forgiving, or a reader more used to instant impact patient enough to stay the course.
I may be the last person in the world to read The Little White Horse, in which case you will already know it is a delight. An ancient feud, a beautiful valley, faithful friends - animal as well as human, old wrongs righted, and things arranged just as they should be may be typical of an Elizabeth Goudge story's ingredients, but she combines them with such charm and good heart that every page is pure pleasure.
Not only are you not the last person in the world to read The Little White Horse but I have not even heard of it :-)
Glad you had a better experience of Gervase Fen than I did; not even your enthusiasm (muted I admit) will make me read a book containing him again. I assume the plot was less crazy and implausible than the one I described. Did you not find the character of Fen himself setting (as Erika said in her comment back on your linked post) your "teeth on edge"?
Posted by: Dark Puss | 15 August 2019 at 08:28 AM
I think The Little White Horse has reached a wider audience in recent years through JK Rowling's saying she "absolutely adored" it. We have a copy because I bought it for A. or H., but I don't recall reading it to them - they must have read it (if they actually did!) by themselves.
As to Fen, I didn't mind him; the whole thing was implausible, and the superior/arch (and slightly bored?) tone a bit grating, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and try another.
Posted by: Cornflower | 15 August 2019 at 09:35 AM
Crazy woman! There are so many better things to read :-) Thank you for the information regarding the Little White Horse, not sure it will be on my list anytime soon but sounds quite fun.
Posted by: Dark Puss | 15 August 2019 at 09:42 AM
The Little White Horse is a glorious book. I do hope you enjoy it. You are not alone in not having read it: a couple of years ago I was away with a book group and of the 18 women there (all late 50s/early 60s) not one had read it. I was staggered as it was one of my favourites. But then, most of them hadn't read Ballet Shoes either ...
Posted by: Liz Davey | 19 August 2019 at 02:42 PM
I loved it, Liz!
Posted by: Cornflower | 20 August 2019 at 03:50 PM