There’s a formula to
Dorothy Whipple books and it’s a winning formula – that’s why back in the 1940s
and 1950s she was such a bestselling author, and that’s why the Persephone Books reprints of those novels continue to remain among the publishers’
bestselling novels today.
The latest, and
penultimate, Persephone reprint of a Whipple is Because Of The Lockwoods, which
follows Dorothy’s formula to the letter and with glorious success.
Our heroine Thea is
the youngest daughter of the Hunter family, who sadly lost their father far too
young and his death plunged them into relative poverty. They were patronised
and pitied by the loathsome Lockwood family, who indulged the Hunters with
contemptuous charity… thereby fostering growing hatred towards them by the
Hunters, especially Thea.
In the classic Dorothy
Whipple style, our heroine is served a great injustice by the hands of a
seemingly powerful man, Mr Lockwood… and the book is spent with her resolving
to wreak her revenge, see justice done and ultimately emerge the victor. It’s
giving nothing away to say that Thea does just this… and in delicious fashion.
Because Of The
Lockwoods takes us on a lengthy, but thoroughly enjoyable, journey from outer
Manchester to rural France and back again. As with most Dorothy Whipple books,
this is a real doorstopper of a book; chunky and weighty. But as with all
Dorothy Whipple books, this is also a deeply enjoyable, page-turner of a
hotwater bottle book.
I first read this book
several years ago during a summer heatwave in a Somerset garden, and although I
generally try not to read a book twice (if you’ve got time to read one book
twice, you’ve got time to read two books – is my rule of thumb), Because Of The
Lockwoods was equally, if not more so, delicious the second time.
Revenge, as Thea
finds, is a dish best served cold (with a wintry reading).
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