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Princes in the Land
Princes in the Land | Joanna Cannan
10 posts | 8 read | 8 to read
'Princes in the Land' is about a woman bringing up a family who is left at the end, when the children are on the verge of adulthood, asking herself not only what it was all for but what was her own life for? Yet the questions are asked subtly and readably.
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andrew61
Princes in the Land | Joanna Cannan
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Pickpick

The #PersephoneClub is introducing me to such great stories from neglected authors who capture the societal issues present at the time of writing. Like the Holtby this bk focuses on how a woman's ambitions + vivacity is subsumed to the life of her husband and family. Patricia is a girl who rides wild horses with abandon + is untamed until she meets Hugh an inverted intellectual snob. Family takes over + Patricia flounders to assert her identity.

LeahBergen Great review! I must have missed this when I was travelling last month. 2y
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rubyslippersreads
Princes in the Land | Joanna Cannan
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I loved this, even though so much of it was sad. It broke my heart when August said goodbye to Griselda and his home—Griselda was worth a thousand Gwens.

As @CarolynM said, it‘s nice to think that Patricia was finally going to recapture some of her old happiness.

I‘ve included a couple of Joanna Cannan‘s “pony books.” 🐴

#PersephoneClub

@LeahBergen @sparklemn @quietjenn @elkeoriginal @Cathythoughts @catebutler @andrew61

quietjenn Cool you have some of her horse books! I downloaded a few of her mysteries and an looking forward to trying them out 2y
CarolynM Although, of course, it was 1938, war was coming ☹️ I might have a look at some of her mysteries too @quietjenn 2y
rubyslippersreads @CarolynM The only “good” thing about impending war was that it would give August a chance to escape from Gwen. 😏 2y
Cathythoughts It was sad and so beautifully written. I might look up some mysteries too @quietjenn 2y
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quietjenn
Princes in the Land | Joanna Cannan
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A poignant, thoughtful, and moving book for #persephoneclub this month. I loved the brief glimpses that we got of Pat(ricia), as she moves from childhood to solid middle-age. Wonderful characterizations and terrific writing.

CarolynM I like to think Patricia was going to start getting some enjoyment out of life again at the end🤞 2y
Cathythoughts I agree wonderful characterisations , Patricia is such a real character. @CarolynM I think so too 👍🏻♥️ 2y
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review
CarolynM
Princes in the Land | Joanna Cannan
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I enjoyed this book so much! It‘s rather a sad story, I thought, but the writing, the wit, the vignettes (a single paragraph summation of Angela‘s season) & the throw away remarks (“‘Nobody could be more nit-witted than the hunting crowd.‘ ‘Nonsense! What about Patrick Chalmers and Siegfried Sassoon?‘”) were a total delight. Does anyone know what Hymn No 573 was? All Things Bright & Beautiful maybe? Great choice @rubyslippersreads
#PersephoneClub

TrishB Great review 👍🏻 2y
Bookwomble Assuming it was an Anglican church service pre-1980s, then it's probable they were using The English Hymnal, in which case hymn 573 is "I hear your welcome voice". https://hymnary.org/hymn/EH1906/573 2y
CarolynM @Bookwomble Thanks. I googled and git all sorts of different things coming up. That one doesn't seem to me to fit with the reference in the book, but it brings back some childhood memories of lusty singing in church😆 2y
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Bookwomble @CarolynM I'll pass my magnifying glass and meerschaum pipe back to Mr. Holmes! 😄 There are a lot of different hymnals out there! I can't hold a tune, so just lip-synched at chapel 😏 2y
batsy Nice review! Sounds like a lovely read. 2y
quietjenn I totally agree. Great review! And I think you're correct - there is a hymnal where All Things Bright and Beautiful is 573, and the publication date (1924) seems right. Good job! (https://hymnary.org/hymn/HAAM1924/573) (edited) 2y
CarolynM @quietjenn Thanks. In context ATBAB seemed the most likely, but Google only threw up one link to it while providing several links for other hymns. I was wondering if I misunderstood what was being suggested about Patricia‘s faith. 2y
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andrew61
Princes in the Land | Joanna Cannan
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#PersephoneClub
My library hold came in on my return from holiday so have launched into this one and enjoying it so far but just stopped for a mo at this point.
Poor Patricia, I thought Hugh might be a good egg but the analogy with the wild horses she used to ride being tamed is evident.

rubyslippersreads Hugh is a pill. 2y
Cathythoughts I thought Hugh would be different… disappointing! 2y
andrew61 @Cathythoughts @rubyslippersreads Yes just finished it and Hugh didn't improve although would have liked more from Nicola rather than the insufferable August and Giles. 2y
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Cathythoughts
Princes in the Land | Joanna Cannan
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I really enjoyed this one too @LeahBergen . It is , as you so beautifully put it , ‘ a moving portrait of a woman‘s life ‘ and I got caught up in the lives of Patricia and her family.

Lots of snobbery and clothes too, playing a big part in this story.
Her dress was …‘ rust trimmed with green and ever such a saucy hat ‘ … ( sounds good to me ! )

I‘ll say no more , no spoilers 👍🏻#PersephoneClub

Tamra 😆 saucy hat! 2y
Cathythoughts @Tamra I know 😂 I love the saucy hat! 2y
LeahBergen Yes! The clothing descriptions sure summed up the difference of character between Patricia and her daughter-in-law, didn‘t they? 😆😆 2y
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Cathythoughts @LeahBergen They certainly did 👍🏻😁 2y
CarolynM Glad you enjoyed. I will be starting soon. 2y
quietjenn Snobbery and clothes, including a saucy hat! 💜 I really need to get to this! 2y
Sparklemn Looking forward to this one. 2y
Cathythoughts @CarolynM Thanks, look forward to your thoughts. X 2y
Cathythoughts @quietjenn You do 😁 2y
Cathythoughts @Sparklemn Looking forward to your thoughts 👍🏻❤️ 2y
catebutler I‘m about half way through, and loving it. Her writing is superb, and so funny! 2y
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Cathythoughts
Princes in the Land | Joanna Cannan
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“You never forget those days when life blossomed. The blossom fell ; the fruit was gathered; the trees stood bare; but yew them, split them, saw them , burn them, and still about your winter rooms there‘d be the honeyed smell of that dead spring time …”

Nearly finished, really enjoying.

#PersephoneClub

LeahBergen This author was known for writing pony books for children so I was continually finding myself surprised at the loveliness of her writing. 2y
Cathythoughts @LeahBergen oh that‘s interesting.. makes sense, she loved the horses so 👍🏻 Yes some lovely writing. 2y
andrew61 Great quote Cathy, this is a book where there are constant short sections of remarkable writing. I have just however left Hugh colliding with a bus !!! @LeahBergen I did notice on searching that her books are very much based in the pony/horse world and so much of Patricia's early life is about her initial wildness and natural skill with horses being tamed into a submissive wife and mother. 2y
rubyslippersreads @LeahBergen I want to read more of her pony books, but I wish she‘d written more novels like this. (Or if she did, I wish someone would reissue them.) 2y
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LeahBergen
Princes in the Land | Joanna Cannan
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This was a moving portrait of a woman‘s life, from her Edwardian childhood to middle age. She marries for love and has three perfect children but as she ages (and her family‘s imperfections show), she wonders if it was all worth it. I won‘t say much more, as I know the rest of the #PersephoneClub is still reading, but I thoroughly enjoyed the slow unfolding of Pat‘s life and the (at times) really witty writing.

Cathythoughts Great review Leah. I still havnt started, but it sounds really good. Your review will get me motivated now to start 👍🏻♥️ 2y
Cathythoughts Lovely picture too. That‘s a lot of Persephones 😍 2y
TrishB @Cathythoughts I was just thinking that! How fab are those shelves. 2y
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BarbaraBB Those shelves… 🥰 2y
LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I‘m heading out of town on Friday for a couple of weeks so I wanted to have it done before I left! 😄 2y
LeahBergen @TrishB @BarbaraBB Thanks, you two! 😆 2y
CarolynM Great review. I got the book out yesterday, will start reading soon. Love your Persephone shelf😍 (edited) 2y
LeahBergen @CarolynM Thanks! It‘s getting a bit crowded. 😆 2y
rubyslippersreads Glad you liked it. 😊 2y
quietjenn Nice! Will try to start soon. Those shelves are something else! If you need to cull, I‘m sure we could help you out 😂 2y
Sparklemn So jealous of the shelves! I haven't started the book yet but look forward to it based on your review. 😊 2y
Ruthiella Sounds like one I‘d really enjoy! 2y
LeahBergen @rubyslippersreads I really did! Thanks again for such a lovely prezzie. 😊 2y
LeahBergen @quietjenn Haha! Right? I get rid of a lot of books but I seem to hang on to my Persephones. 2y
LeahBergen @Sparklemn I hope you like it, too! 🤞 2y
LeahBergen @Ruthiella I think it might be right up your street. 👍 2y
batsy Persephones and green Viragos! I drool 😆 2y
LeahBergen @batsy The “certified good read” colours. 😆 2y
catebutler I‘m about half way through, and truly enjoying it. I wish Persephone would publish more of her works, they seem hard to find! Great review, Leah! 2y
LeahBergen @catebutler Thanks! And I wish they would, too. 2y
rubyslippersreads @catebutler @LeahBergen Lots of her mysteries available, as well as her pony books, thanks to Jane Badger Books. 😊🐴 2y
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LeahBergen
Princes in the Land | Joanna Cannan
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It‘s now August so that means it‘s time for one of our #PersephoneClub reads!

@rubyslippersreads ‘s pick for us this month is Princes in the Land by Joanna Cannan. This is a casual buddy read; read and comment on each other‘s posts and reviews as you see them. We usually aim to finish by the middle of the month but that‘s not written in stone. 😉 And anyone is welcome to read along with us, of course!

Cathythoughts Thanks Leah ! I might make a start this week . We‘ll see 👍🏻😁 2y
rubyslippersreads I can‘t believe it‘s August already! 2y
LeahBergen @Cathythoughts I might, too. 👍 2y
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quietjenn Thanks for the reminder to pull it off of the shelf! 2y
Tamra Thank you for the invite! Sadly I‘m booked for the month. 😫 I‘d much rather be doing this reading! Please keep my in mind for the next installment. I‘ll be freeeeeeeeeeeeeee 😆 2y
Sparklemn I've been looking forward to this one. 2y
CarolynM Looking forward to it 2y
sisilia Awww what a nice club. I took note of these titles and hopefully I can join a discussion soonish. I have no time for recreational reading this year 😵‍💫 so it‘s tough! 2y
LeahBergen @sisilia So sorry for the late reply (I was travelling) but yes, please join us whenever you are available! 😘 2y
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rubyslippersreads
Princes in the Land | Joanna Cannan
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Some of my #Persephone paperbacks and the boys. 😄 #paperbackwriter #heyjune #PersephoneBooks

GypsyKat Awesome! 😂 7y
Suzze Wow, you have their instruments! I lost mine, along with John (foreboding) in the 60‘s. 7y
rubyslippersreads @Suzze I‘m lucky my mom saved them (and their instruments) in a shoebox. 😄 Now I just have to keep them safe from the cats. 😸 7y
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LeahBergen So cool! 😮 7y
Cinfhen I love this ❤️🙌🏻 and your comment @Suzze 😂😂😂😂 7y
Andrea313 Persephone paperbacks, swoon! ❤ 7y
MemoirsForMe How cool! 😍👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻I still have Paul, but not his guitar. 7y
batsy Love this! ❤️ 7y
rubyslippersreads @Cinfhen Yes, @Suzze that's definite foreshadowing. 😕 7y
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