Kate Hardy (1947) by D.E. Stevenson #DeanStreetDecember

💚 When a lady bought the Dower House which Mr. Richard Morven from the Manor House had put for sale, it piqued the curiosity of the whole village of Old Quinings. The lady is Kate Hardy, a best seller novelist who impulsively bought the house to escape from her self-centered sister Milly and her spoiled niece Minta, whom she had brought to live with her at her London flat after the war.

💚 Kate, who had expected to be able to write peacefully in the countryside, was quite surprised by the variety of characters she encountered daily. Not mentioning the village life drama in the postwar; from the possible romance for herself between the estate owner (whom everyone believes is a suitable candidate for her) and the village war-hero, the son of her cleaning woman; to a poison pen campaign, and childish games.

💚 Like any D.E. Stevenson's, this one is a charming story of an independent woman, a city girl who lives and tries to mingle with the villagers. As a single woman with self income and self confidence, Kate faces what women like her at that era faces - bloodsucker relatives and gossips. I could well relate with Kate in how she hates, and tends to avoid, drama. Like her, I also find relatives are quite annoying sometimes. And like her, too, it is rather difficult to find friend who really understands me, and with whom I can find an equal. 

💚 On the whole, Kate Hardy is a comforting, witty, and funny story, sprinkled with a bit of mystery, superstition, and romance. Oh, and a glimpse of daily life of an author. It might not be my favorite from Stevenson (I found it less neatly ended), but I still enjoyed it very much.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Read this for:

Dean Street December #DeanStreetDecember

hosted by Liz @ Adventures in reading, running and working from home