Landscape in Sunglight (1953) by Elizabeth Fair #DeanStreetDecember25

💚 Landscape in Sunlight is my second read of Elizabeth Fair. The first one, A Winter Away (read last year for #DeanStreetDecember24), was not a favorite, and I'm glad I haven't bailed her out completely, because Landscape in Sunlight is much better and delightful to read! It's a slice-of-life type of novel, concerning residents in a small village of Little Mallin. Four families are at the center of the story. There are Edward Custance (the dreamy vicar); his wife Amy whose concern is for her daughter to marry well; and the daughter, Cassandra, who works as governess for the Templers'. The Templers consist of the eccentric Eustace Templer, a 'retired' artist who lives in Prospect House, and whose concern is to get rid Prospect Cottage (also belongs to him) of its current tenant, a Mrs. Midge, a recluse who dotted on her only son, and her 'delicate' artist son of Lukin. 

💚 Completing the Templers household are Mrs. Templer and the children: two orphaned nephews (one of which is Cassandra's pupil), and Lily, the adolescent girl who's starting to wear lipstick, and whose current preoccupation is to "rescue" the 'genius' Lukin from his mother's clutch. Then there's Colonel Ashford, or Uncle Henry Templer, to whose benefit Eustace wants the Prospect Cottage for. Last but not least there are Sir James Brigham and his son George, who live in the Hall, and who're having trouble to control their servants.

💚 When spring turns to summer, there are a lot of things happening. A holiday for Mr. and Mrs. Custance is arranged by Sir James (who feels responsible for his vicar's well being, and knows that they couldn't afford one), but is in reality funded by George. Then there are tennis parties which are Lily's and Cassandra's scheming to 'rescue' Lukin - the latter feels it's time to be independent, but don't know how to - and an eventful picnic. On the top of it all is the Church Fête, or the Day, as people call it, organized by Amy Custance. Along the preparations, a romance is burgeoning of two young people who had been separated over misunderstandings, and the budding young artist is looking towards his starting career.

💚 Amidst all that's happening among those four main-characters group, Fair did not forget to throw in some secondary but none the least colorful characters, like the two middle-aged spinsters Misses Fenn - nicknamed Fizz and Pop - who live near the toll bridge that connects Little Mallin with the bigger market town of Mallinford. Their 'strategic' location enables them to rush out of their house to 'talk' to whomever is pulling up at the toll (that's how they become up-to-date with every village rumours). All in all, this was a charming and delicious story of a quaint busy summer life in an English village. Just the kind to warm and cheer you up during the hustle-bustle of December.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐1/2

Read for:

Dean Street December 2025

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

The Stone of Chastity by Margery Sharp: A Review for #1940Club

💙 This was my first acquaintance with Margery Sharp, and I must say that I wasn't too impressed.

💙 Professor Pounce, an expert in folklore, came to an old village called Gillenham, after learning about an ancient legend of the stone of chastity. According to the legend, there was a stepping stone on the local stream, on which a chaste woman would cross safely, but an impure or unfaithful one would certainly slip into the water.

💙 Accompanying the Professor, were the meek Mrs. Pounce, his sister in law; the idle Nicholas, his nephew; and a voluptuous girl called Carmen, whose capacity nobody knew about. They all lived in Old Manor. The Professor's first campaign for his scientific study was distributing a questionnaire on general knowledge about the stone of chastity (have you heard about it, do you know where it's located, and so on) to all the villagers, enlisting Nicholas to assist him.

💙 This questionnaire immediately stirred the village. The vicar's wife was enraged, marked it as paganism. Nicholas tried to warn the Professor about it, but to no avail. He received only one response to the questionnaire, but it's enough, because he's finally found the stone!

💙 Next step is the experiment. Professor Pounce, regardless of the women's rejection, invited all women of Gillenham to participate in the experiment (by stepping into the stone). Pious Mrs. Pye organized the village women to confront the Professor over this outrageous plan.

💙 Now, as I have said in my 1st Impression on this book, this is a ridiculous, hilarious, but clever satire. Unfortunately, I didn't feel as connected to the story as I've expected. It is quite entertaining as a book, but lacks of charm. The only interesting and relatable main character here is probably Professor Pounce. Nicholas is flimsy with all his romantic pursues; Carmen doesn't feel alive - only a voluptuous figure without soul.

If you are looking for a light, silly, ridiculous book, this would be it!

Rating: 3 / 5

*I read and reviewed this book for:*