HIGH RISING

From the 1930s to the ‘50s, Angela Thirkell specialized in absurd, astute novels of manners set amongst the landed gentry and townsfolk of England. Think of Jane Austen transmuted to the twentieth century. HIGH RISING is the story of Mrs. Moreland, a novelist, and her youngest son, Tony, during their Christmas holidays in the village of High Rising. All heck breaks out when an untrustworthy secretary tries to seduce a neighboring writer, Mrs. Moreland's publisher falls in love with the neighbor’s daughter, the doctor proposes to Mrs. Moreland’s own secretary, and throughout, young Tony talks only of his expanding model train collection. It's silly and heartening and, despite the dated anti-Semitic references, enormous fun. Jilly Bond reads with enthusiasm and a clear understanding of the story’s counterpoint social observation and humor. One voice occasionally slips into another, but that doesn't matter, as the characterizations are spot-on. Even her 10-year-old Tony is perfect. A.C.S. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 04]