Linnets and Valerians by Elizabeth Goudge

Improbably, she does find it, and drags her unwilling parents and fiance with her to spend the summer there. It’s the story of a young socialite, Judy Cameron, who has an emotional epiphany when she sees a painting of a Scottish glen: that is her place, and she must find it. It was the second novel she wrote, published in 1934. To participate in this week’s post, I read a novel that is new to me, The Middle Window. Her novels interweave legend and myth and reflect her spirituality and her deep love of family and England. But don’t let me make them sound like downers! She is often, also, quietly amusing, quick-witted, and very knowing about the way real people operate. She writes about such themes as discipline, healing, and growth through suffering. Her books have a freshness to them, because they are serious and yet loving: yes, the world can wear you down, but there are springs of joy to refresh you even in deep pain.

Goudge is a Christian, which comes out in most of her stories, but there are strong pagan overtones in many of her books - The White Witch, for instance - and she has an appreciation for other religions. This is, of course, really the way it is in our lives, but tell me the last book you read that was like it.

She doesn’t leave out the beloved animals of families, either: dogs (usually dogs) and cats and donkeys and birds all have parts to play. She knows how families really work - the way you can love someone deeply and also not be able to stand them another minute - and she is one of the best authors I know about for including every generation, the very old as well as the very young, as real living participants in her stories. She is a lover of nature, both domestic (her gardens are some of the loveliest things about her books) and wild (oceans, mountains, and fens are some of the untamed things you’ll find when you read.) Her descriptions are fresh and real. I value so many things about Goudge’s writing. I’ve given her books to more friends than I can count, and defended her against accusations of writing purple prose or against writing unearned happy endings.

She is one of my most beloved authors, someone I turn to when I want comfort, or inspiration, or refreshment someone I turn to when I’m tired, or sick, or happy.

I have written reviews of eleven of her novels on my blog, most of them works I’ve read again and again: Linnets and Valerians, the Damerosehay trilogy, Green Dolphin Street, The White Witch, and more. I have been a lover of Elizabeth Goudge’s novels since I encountered them in England at about the age of twelve.

Linnets and Valerians by Elizabeth Goudge