The House that is Our Own

    O. Douglas (Anna Buchan) dedicated her 1940 novel The House that is Our Own to her late brother John Buchan who had died earlier that year. 'To you, J.B.,' she wrote, 'who, with little liking for mild domestic fiction, read patiently my works, blue-pencilling when you had to, praising when you could, encouraging always [...]'.

    That book is indeed an example of 'mild domestic fiction', but that is in no way to dismiss it for as the writer can be relied upon to make all good in the end, and to do so in fine style, it is a refreshingly relaxing and pleasant read. It centres on Isobel Logan who on a whim returns to her native Scotland and is captivated by the beautiful Border country and its couthie people. She falls under the spell of an empty old house with a story to tell to those who'll listen, and when she accepts the opportunities unexpectedly offered her, her life becomes complete.

    I'll leave you to discover the details yourselves, should you manage to get hold of a copy, but suffice to say that it is full of period charm and good heart, and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

    Issue No. 62 (Summer 2019) of Slightly Foxed contains an article by Ursula Buchan on her great-aunt's books; entitled 'Extremely Likeable People', she sums up her work as "well-told if old fashioned stories where only rarely does anything very startling happen". She goes on: "The female characters are usually principled, often well-meaning, sometimes dowdy, always class-conscious, Scottish provincial women, who delight in a luncheon party in a neighbour's house, are addicted to performing small acts of kindness [...] The heroines, rather fewer in number, are comfortably off but never patronizing or snobbish and they employ sharp-tongued but kindly servants, who pronounce over small happenings like a Lallans-speaking Greek chorus. [...]

    For O. Douglas, the best kind of house is old, with white-painted panelled walls, highly polished old furniture, vases of garden flowers, bright fires and masses of books. Here modest, self-denying, charitable, hard-working people quote poetry and the Bible, sing Border ballads and enjoy afternoon tea more than any other meal."

    There you have it, so if you're in the mood for a quietly wise and gentle book, look no further.

Comments

[Mystica]

I do hope I get a copy eventually. Sounds delightful reading.

[Mystica]

Got this on Amazon at an amazing Price!

[Teresa]

I am enjoying reading the novels of O. Douglas. Jane's Parlour is the next one on my list. Now I shall certainly look forward to tracking down and adding to that list a copy of The House That is Our Own. I came to O. Douglas after finding a copy of Penny Plain on my late Mother's book shelves and it is good to read your thoughts, Karen, on this gentle, domestic writer.

[Cornflower]

I have Jane’s Parlour and am yet to read it, but I’ll look forward to hearing how you find it, Teresa. D.E. Stevenson, Molly Clavering, O. Douglas … just the thing when you want a 'nice’ book!

[Anne]

I am reading Penny Plain at the moment which I am enjoying very much. I had been talking to a very active bright friend of over ninety. She was telling me how she was reading a book of her mothers. When she told me the author was O Douglas , I asked if I could borrow it. Horrors she said she had put it out for recycling in the bin.
She managed to retrieve it and gave it to me.
I wonder how many of these books are hiding away.
Best wishes for the New Year

[Curzon Tussaud]

I know that it seems rather contraindicative, but it is available on Kindle!

[Cornflower]

I’m so glad the book was saved, Anne! Thank you for your good wishes - mine to you in return.

[Cornflower]

Yes, indeed, and easier than a hunt around the secondhand shops!

[Cornflower]

Excellent!