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CAMOMILE LAWN, THE (VIN SUMMER) Mass Market Paperback – International Edition, January 1, 2035

by Mary Wesley (Author)

4.0 2,274 ratings

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About the Author

MARY WESLEY was born near Windsor in 1912. Her education took her to the London School of Economics and during the War she worked in the War Office. Although she initially fulfilled her parent's expectations in marrying an aristocrat she then scandalised them when she divorced him in 1945 and moved in with the great love of her life, Eric Siepmann. The couple married in 1952, once his wife had finally been persuaded to divorce him. She used to comment that her 'chief claim to fame is arrested development, getting my first novel [Jumping the Queue] published at the age of seventy'. She went on to write a further nine novels, three of which were adapted for television, including the best-selling The Camomile Lawn. Mary Wesley was awarded the CBE in the 1995 New Year's honour list and died in 2002.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage Books (January 1, 2035)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1784700525
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1784700522
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.33 x 0.79 x 7.09 inches

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4.0 2,274 ratings

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Mary Wesley

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Mary Wesley (1912–2002) was an English novelist. After she published her first novel at age seventy, her books sold more than three million copies, many of them becoming bestsellers. Her beloved books include Jumping the Queue, The Camomile Lawn, Harnessing Peacocks, The Vacillations of Poppy Carew, Not That Sort of Girl, Second Fiddle, A Sensible Life, A Dubious Legacy, An Imaginative Experience, and Part of the Furniture, as well as a memoir, Part of the Scenery.

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4 out of 5

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Anne Mills

Lovely Novel, Memorable Characters, Atmospheric -- A Great Read

Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2021

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Ar first I thought this was a light period piece, a novel of manners set in that ever-enticing milieu -- the British upper class. But as it progresses it turns into something deeper, darker, and certainly sexier. Most of the book is set in England during WWII, though the main narrative is interspersed with scenes around a funeral in the mid-1980's. It follows a dozen people; five young cousins, three men with whom they are involved, their aunt and uncle, and a pair of Jewish refugees. The permutations and combinations within this group are many, various, and sometimes startling. And so are the ways they confront the desperate perils of the war, and the more gradual pains of growing older. A terrific read: makes me want to read more by the same author.

7 people found this helpful

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prisrob

The Summer of '39

Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2013

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The summer before the Great War, the family, nieces, nephews and assorted others arrive at the grand house of Helena and Richard. Helena of the money and Richard of the one leg, lost in the war. This is a glorious book you want to consume at one sitting, but wait it out and read it at leisure.

The family Calypso, Walter, Polly, Oliver, Sophy, and the twins who lived in the rectory, were on the train from London to Penzance, a town in Cornwall, UK. This beautiful coastal town was where this family spent their summers. All nieces and nephews of Richard. Helena was the money bag, but she seemed to welcome them. This was to be their last summer together, the big war,which Richard said was not to occur, was to begin later. This is a wonderful family full of the sort of people I would like to meet. Later we get to meet Max and Monika, Jewish refugees who had been placed in a settlement. Richard at the urging of Sophy was able to obtain their release.

We follow this family through the years, their stories told by Each family member, but mainly by Helena,mas she and Hamish travel to a funeral in Penzance. The loves of Calypso who married for money and found true love. Walter off to the war. Polly who loved both twins and couldn't decide in either, Oliver so in love with Calypso but not to be, and Sophy, the young beautiful girl, not loved by Richard or Helena , but the rest of the family loved her. Richard, Helena, Monika and Max, now here was a real story.

The scented camomile lawn at the house by the sea was, for the cousins, the essence of summer. Here was the home they could all come to for peace and quiet and contemplation. Mary Wesley reminds me of my favorite Britsh author , Muriel Spark. The characters really come alive, truly alive. You can see them in your mind's eye. I could vision Calypso's beauty and Sophy's beauty to come. Such wonderful writing, I must read all of Wesley's novels.

Recommended. prisrob 05-23-13

7 people found this helpful

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Lynn

Enjoyable read. Lovely nostalgic moments well captured. Found ...

Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2017

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Enjoyable read. Lovely nostalgic moments well captured. Found the narration jumped back and forth in time with no obvious transition so found I was confused until it became evident at times. Unlikely coupling in relationships but amusing and interesting as a result.

Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2020

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Ideal lockdown reading, interesting characters and fascinating Cornish background during World War II. Romance and historical background make it an excellent choice.
Barbara Pym readers will enjoy this.

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Jana L.Perskie

"War makes people fearfully randy!"

Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2006

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Five cousins gather at their Aunt Helena's and Uncle Richard's home on the Cornish coast as they have almost every summer in their relatively short, innocent lives. It is August, 1939, and while war looms, they are very much aware they may never meet again like this, all together, on their aunt's sweet-smelling camomile lawn.

Author Mary Wesley uses the device of two intertwining narratives to tell her tale. The last summer days before WWII merge into life in war torn London and Cornwall, and the plot reflects the changes that take place in all the characters as the conflict and violence impact their lives. This storyline is intertwined with another, set in the mid-1980's, over a period of two days as the surviving members of the group gather for a funeral. The reminiscences of those gathered fill in the interval between the beginning of the war and the present.

"The Camomile Lawn" is a well written, intricate soap opera, of sorts, which illustrates how the uncertainty of war and the heightened sense of one's mortality allow for unconventional behavior and impact the social mores of the times...sort of a "live each day as if it were the last" philosophy. I enjoyed the novel, especially the well drawn characters and highly recommend it.
JANA

11 people found this helpful

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Andrea B. Host

excellent and intriguing

Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2014

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the writing in this novel is wonderful; the storyline gives insight into a side of war that we haven't really seen much - how people of that generation dealt with many issues. I particularly enjoyed how many different viewpoints were shown - no one was just one-sided; each person's personality ( good and bad elements alike) was explored. Writing was wonderful.

3 people found this helpful

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ReadtoLiveLivetoRead

Been Here Done This plus distasteful attitudes that haven’t worn well over time

Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2021

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Wesley holds my attention, so this was the third of her novels I’ve tried. But I was also holding my nose some of the time while reading. The extreme focus on relationships/love/sex, some of it too
absurd for me to suspend disbelief (really, everyone, including parents born in the 19th century, simply accepts a pair of twins sharing their mate, without concern or comment?). The way everything had to revolve around men and having men and counting how many men you’ve had. Get a life, girl. The casual anti semitism also turned my stomach. Was it really necessary to wish soap or lampshade-hood on the Austrian Jewish refugee who challenges the the main character for the affection of their mutual beloved? I don’t think I would have liked Mary Wesley much, and I agree with her that she behaved very badly as a young woman. It was unpleasant to read about and I won’t be reading any more of her novels.

10 people found this helpful

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Sharon C

Disliked the characters

Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2018

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It's been a long time since I read a story where I found almost nothing to like or admire about any of the characters. But that was the case with this book. I suppose that's an achievement in a way, if that's what the author was going for, but I won't be looking for any more of her books.

One person found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Lovely Book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 2, 2024

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Bought as a gift as highly recommended. Was much appreciated.

David Young

Brilliant

Reviewed in Canada on April 10, 2021

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A great novel written when the author was over 70. She uses some of her own life in it and creates an indelible cast of characters. I have read all her books and love them all.

Cliente Amazon

Fácil lectura

Reviewed in Spain on August 8, 2022

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Fácil lectura de verano, buena descripción de personajes, sobre todo la parte final del entierro resulta como si estuvieras allí.

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