The Herb of Grace

[callmemadam]

I have an on-off relationship with Elizabeth Goudge. Some of her books, like Henrietta's House I can read anytime; others, like Valley of Song, I can't read at all. I was looking for an escapist, happy read and I picked The Herb of Grace (1948), the second of three books about the Eliot family. It's just as wonderful as I remembered it; I don't think anyone did slightly magical comfort better. It's set in Hampshire, near Buckler’s Hard and is about two houses: Damerosehay, presided over by Lucilla, and The Herb of Grace, an old pilgrim inn or Maison Dieu. (I think this was published in the US as Pilgrim Inn?) The house is a character in itself, a place of healing for members of the large Eliot family and for those who visit it. The beautiful old inn and the lovely countryside nearby are lyrically described; this must have been just what people wanted after the war. It's still utterly delightful today for those in the right mood for it, as I was.

Comments

[cornflowerbooks.livejournal.com]

This does sound delightful!

[scarletts-web.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed The Little White Horse as a child, and I'm sure I read Valley of Song - is it about shipbuilding and a magical land? It must be 25 years since I last read it and I can't find any reviews on the internets.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

The Little White Horse is lovely; I wonder what the film will be like? The Torminster books are nice, based on Wells, where EG grew up.

Yes, Valley of Song is about shipbuilding (the Hard again) and a way through into a magical land. I find it too much for me although I accept the magic in other stories. It's quite a scarce title now.

[coughingbear]

Herb of Grace is one of my favourite Goudges. I love the descriptions of the building and the rooms and the countryside and how they bring it back to life. Much my favourite of the three Eliot books, possibly because it was the first one I read (then went back and found Bird in the Tree).

I think Valley of Song is pretty terrible - the children are all fairly unmemorable, the 'plot' is clumsy, the horoscope stuff is stupidly overdone and there is far too much magic. Compare it to Smoky-House, where the magic is far more subtle and the children have to have faith that they really saw the Pharisees.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

It's the house descriptions I like best, too. I think EG wrote in her autobiography that 'people seemed to like it the best' of her books. I don't find the other two books as good.

Relieved to find I'm not the only one who can't read Valley of Song. Have you read the time-slip book The Middle Window? Awful! And yet I love some of her books so much.

[coughingbear]

I have read Middle Window - once, many years ago. Never felt any urge to revisit! I have also read her life of Christ, though I've forgotten what it's called now, and don't much recommend that either. I think I was being a bit of an obsessive completist when I sought that out.

The house descriptions are wonderful, especially when they first visit and start imagining what it might look like. I have wanted to live in a Pilgrim Inn ever since.

Hmm, now started thinking about which of her books are favourites - The Dean's Watch is definitely one, along with Towers in the Mist and City of Bells, and of course Henrietta's House. Gentian Hill I liked as a child, I think partly because I had a nice old hardback of it, and loved the descriptions of the places and the farm and the animals and things like Stella's sewing basket. I haven't re-read it for years though.

[dozydormouse.livejournal.com]

I love teh Damerosehay boks but have never yet managed to finish Green Dolphin Country even though it is set in Guernsey which I love.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Strange, isn't it? I had a really beautiful first edition of Green Dolphin Country but I got rid of it in the end because, like you, I can't get through it. I did read it in my teens, I think; I was tougher then.

[(Anonymous)]

Sounds delightful. I keep meaning to read Green Dolphin Country but it's such a long book. Never finished The Little White Horse, I must try again, I believe it inspired JK Rowling. Nicola

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

If you like reading about houses and furniture and what people wear and if you can tolerate a little magic in the woods, then it's delightful.

See comments above: Green Dolphin Country is not only long but hard to get through. The Little White Horse is a pretty universal favourite so I'm surprised you didn't finish that. It's also very pretty, with the C Walter Hodges illustrations.

[geraniumcat.livejournal.com]

I loved Green Dolphin Country when I was young - a book to get lost in! The Herb of Grace is probably my favourite of the Eliot books, but I love Towers in the Mist, too, and the Wells books. Actually I like most of her writing, but I haven't read The Valley of Song, and I did think The Middle Window was a bit grim.

[(Anonymous)]

I read A City of Bells (gosh ten years ago now!) and I have a lot of quotes I jotted down from it, but I don't think I've read anything else. My library has quite a few, and perhaps next year I'll embark on a EG journey.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

I like A City of Bells. I doubt if our library has a single book by Elizabeth Goudge. They just don't keep old books!

[randomjottings.typepad.com (from livejournal.com)]

I love Elizabeth Goudge and have all her books on my shelves. The Eliots of Damerosehay are not my favourites of hers -I feel about it much as you do about Valley of Song, it is all a bit much. I recently re-read Green Dolphin Country,reissued by Capuchin Press and loved it as much as I did when I first read it at 15; Linnets and Valerians is excellent; Little White Horse I adore; City of Bells and the Deans Watch...oh I love nearly all of them.

I have a first edition of the Valley of Song which I picked up many moons ago for a few pence, quite valuable now I gather, not that I will ever part with it. Elaine

Pity she is not being reprinted, I think she would sell very well all over again.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

When I moved and downsized I got rid of an awful lot of books and some of Elizabeth Goudge's books were victims, so I don't have as many as I did. Like you, I love Linnnets and Valerians.

I agree about the reprinting; they seem good books for a recession.

[gghost.livejournal.com]

I'm in the mood for something like this, too, so I just ordered a copy of the omnibus that I found online. Looking forward to it very much.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

Hope you enjoy it! I like The Herb of Grace best of the three books.