Well on a lighter note I watched the three episodes of 'Pursuit of Love' written by Nancy Mitford, featuring Lily James as Linda and Emily Beecham as Fanny. Beautifully and subtly produced against a background of a large house and grounds. Pretty dresses of course, would it not be lovely to swan round in that era. But we can't - housework calls.
I visualise the time as a cup of black coffee with a whirl of whipped cream on top, my favourite as a child - but now coffee has grown up into an adult of many ways and taste!
The darkness is there of course, women's lives pinned to a rigid discipline of being feminine, rich and middle class women were still to arrive in the jobs category though this was beginning to happen through the second world war. The communist bit was almost like a shock of water thrown in not quite as realistic as expected.
Well acted, good set of actors, though I found Linda a little overplayed, but basically it was a story of Linda going from one man to another and me bleating in the background - where did all the f****** money come from!
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/may/09/the-pursuit-of-love-review-absolutely-glorious
https://www.newstatesman.com/2021/05/the-pursuit-of-love-nancy-mitford-literary-legacy
I wouldn't call it a comedy. I felt all the chaaracters were a little larger than life, but I haven't read the book and don't know how faithful this is to it (not very I suspect). Give me P G Wodehouse every time for upper class daftness. I read a biography about the Bolter (Idina Sackville) a few years back. So many tainted characters from that era.
ReplyDeleteYes it was frivolous and yet hard to get going. More about Linda's three males and female servitude. Never read anything from the Mitfords, and 'the bolter' would have a different name now. But lightweight and enjoyable as a story Jennie.
DeleteI found it a bit hard to get into - hard to get going so to speak. But once it got going I thought it conveyed that era as far as the Upper Classes were concerned perfectly. I have resisted the temptation to watch the rest on i player because it is good viewing for Sunday nights. Where did the money come from indeed
ReplyDeleteWell I thought the father was a bit over the top Pat even for the Upper Classes as you call them but it was a life of Riley for all of them. Servants to do the dirty work and the rich to lead idle lives, even her communist husband looked ridiculous.
DeleteIncidentally thank you for writing a post on a lighter note - it is such doom and gloom everywhere isn't it
ReplyDeleteThe news is terrible, things flare up, then go away and we can do nothing about it except feel useless.
DeleteYou know I totally missed that - I shall tell Jane and she'll be sooo... impressed. The write ups make it sound excellent. I shall definitely watch it.
ReplyDeleteHope you both enjoy it.
Delete