Two Little Women on a Holiday
Carolyn Wells
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| Not my picture, but it suits my impression. |
It took a bit of getting used to, and to the modern reader a lot of it would seem quite outdated and predictable, but it’s not a total waste of time.
The “two little women” here are two girls, neighbours and best friends, practically inseparable.
They live in a small country town with their families; not rich, but not poor either - both families have a telephone, which certainly was not something a poor household would have had in 1917, when the book was published.
Dotty and Dolly spend nearly all their time together, and when one day they receive an invitation to spend a week in New York, they are over the moon.
A wealthy friend of theirs has a rich uncle in the big city, and since the uncle has explicitly asked his niece to bring along friends and talked to the girls’ parents, it is settled that they may accept the invitation.
From the way the girls talked and behaved, at first I thought they were maybe around 8 to 10 years old – but to my surprise, their age is then given as 15!
Their slightly older friend whose uncle is to be their host is about 16, and her cousin, another girl of almost 17, joins them.
The four have a great time in the rich uncle’s house, with a maid, a housekeeper and a driver at their disposition.
They are allowed to do largely as they please, and their days are filled with sightseeing, shopping and rides in the uncle’s car.
After they meet other young people of their age, invitations to parties and outings to cafés and to go skating follow.
It’s all completely innocent and wholesome, but then a shadow falls upon the small group when a valuable piece of antique jewellery disappears from the uncle’s collection.
Nobody but the girls, the uncle himself and his trusted secretary had access to the earring.
Has any of the four taken it?
I don’t think any of you can’t wait to read the book for yourselves, which is why I can reveal that – unsurprisingly – all ends well, and at the end of their stay, the four girls part as friends for life with a promise to visit again.
A relatively quick and totally unexciting read, the book made for relaxing company over several train trips to work and back.
Wikipedia says about the author that she wrote more than 170 books; her detective mysteries (for adults) were very popular in her day, as were her children’s books. She also wrote poetry and non-fiction.
Unusual for a woman of her time, she was already 55 when she married, and her husband died only a year into the marriage, followed two weeks later by her mother. One can only imagine how hard it must have been to deal with the death of two loved ones in such a short space of time.
She herself lived to the age of 79.
A story written in simpler times. Did you reach the end with a satisfied sigh?
ReplyDeleteHmm... I was more shrugging than relieved or satisfied; none of the characters or the story itself really captured my mind in a way that I cared about them enough.
DeleteShe certainly was a busy writer! Recently, when I was sick with the flu and couldn't get to the library, I re-read Charlotte's Web by E. B. White - a favorite from my younger days. It was the perfect sweet story for my time of recovery.
ReplyDeleteI have heard the title of this book before, but never read it myself.
DeleteIn my book case, I too have some old time favourites to return to when I feel particularly low (which is very rare) or just want to indulge in a bit of nostalgia.
You have reminded me of a memory. We moved to St Mary's, Georgia when I was 15. It was a small town and the teenagers had known one another all their lives. The girls would walk down the hallways, arm in arm! This surprised me, it might be something done in kindergarten but not after that! Still, even strange Kay was accepted in those tight circles. You know I could make them laugh! Oh, just read comment above, you must read "Charlotte's Web"! E. B. White was excellent author.
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