Cold comfort farm is a parody of the doomy, tragic, closetotheearth gothic novels of writers like mary webb and dh lawrence, and, earlier, thomas hardy. Set primarily in sussex, england in the 1930s, cold comfort farm is a parody of late eighteenthearly nineteenth century agricultural literature, such as novels by d. Worthwhile, if this is all you can find in an out of the way bookshop on a rainy weekend. Read cold comfort farm, by stella gibbons online on bookmate in gibbonss classic tale, a resourceful young heroine finds herself in the gloomy, overwrought world of. The main character, flora poste, goes to live with family members she.
Oct 20, 2014 cold comfort farm was first published by longmans in 1932, and was, according to the critic lynne truss, labelled middlebrow, to gibbonss disadvantage among the critics. She finds the starkadders of cold comfort farm to be hampered with ignorance, psychosis, stifled ambitions and general uncleanliness. Cold comfort farm project gutenberg selfpublishing. Publication date 1964 topics rural families, farm life.
A witty portrait of rural england in the early twentieth century, the penguin classics edition of stella gibbonss cold comfort farm is introduced by lynne truss, author of eats, shoots and leaves. Amongst her other novels are miss linsey and pa 1936, nightingale wood 1938, westwood 1946, conference at cold comfort farm 1959 and beside the pearly water 1954. But flora loves nothing better than to organize other people. Something nasty in the woodshed, but theres something wonderful in gibbons novel.
Series was designed to cover groups of books generally understood as such see wikipedia. Lawrence, with themes of pygmalion and the meddling of emma woodhouse thrown in, and jabs at eugene oneill, avant the starkadders are a mix of fire and brimstone religiosity, untrammeled sexual urges, pathological family ties, feigned mental illness, and general. The characters of gibbons novel are particular and quirky. The man of many voices brings the country folk to life in this wickedly funny novel.
Finding herself orphaned at 19, london socialite flora post considers the thought of getting a job to. Internet archive contributor internet archive language english. Microsoft word cold comfort farm discussion questions. Read cold comfort farm, by stella gibbons online on bookmate in gibbonss classic tale, a resourceful young heroine finds herself in the gloomy, overwrought world of a hardy or bronte novel and pr. Cold comfort farm was first published by longmans in 1932, and was, according to the critic lynne truss, labelled middlebrow, to gibbonss disadvantage among the. Winner of the 1933 femina vie heureuse prize, cold comfort farm is a wickedly funny portrait of british rural life in the 1930s. Patty ann and jesse, two lazy and impoverished blonde sisters, hire a good looking handyman to perform chores around their farm, never intending to pay him. Set in the 1940s, this story about a young orphaned girl who goes off to live with her distant relatives and bring. Kenneth williams read the book on the radio, and this must have been wonderful to hear. Lawrence, wherein flora poste, after the death of her parents, decides to embark on a career as a parasite, and descends on her unusual relatives, determined to sort out their lives. It parodies the romanticised, sometimes doomladen accounts of rural life popular at the time, by writers such as mary webb. Cold comfort farm by stella gibbons, first edition abebooks. Cold comfort farm january 27, 1977 edition open library. April 2003, retrieved 18 november 2012 a b c cold comfort farm, d.
One of the bbcs 100 novels that shaped the world a hay festival and the poole vote 100 books for women selection a hilarious and merciless parody of rural melodramas and one of the bestloved comic novels of all time, cold comfort farm by stella gibbons is beautifully repackaged as part of the penguin essentials range. See all of librarian nancy pearls undertheradar picks. When sensible, sophisticated flora poste is orphaned at nineteen, she decides her only choice is to descend upon relatives in deepest sussex. Wodehouse and the comic aplomb of evelyn waughs scoop. The old lady upstairs once saw something so dreadful that now she wont come out of her room. Amongst her other novels are miss linsey and pa, nightingale wood, westwood, conference at cold comfort farm, and beside the pearly water 1954.
I originally picked up cold comfort farm by stella gibbons because it is on my bbc list. Stella dorothea gibbons 19021989 was born in london. To check availability or request more information on the pet fee, weight limit, and other restrictions on pets at this property, please click visit website. Jul 29, 20 her first publication was a book of poems the mountain beast 1930 and her first novel cold comfort farm 1932 won the femina vie heuruse prize for 1933. Originally broadcast on bbc radio 4 in 1974, this adaptation provides kenneth williams a wonderful opportunity to exploit his vocal talents and acting range, away from the joys and double entrendres of the carry on films. Cold comfort farm by stella gibbons read online on bookmate. Cold comfort farm is a 1932 parody of thomas hardy, the brontes, and d.
Cold comfort farm by gibbons stella and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. A recently orphaned young woman goes to live with eccentric relatives in sussex, where she sets about improving their gloomy lives. The main character, flora poste, is reminiscent of jane austen and bronte heroines in many regards. Flora finds cold comfort farm to be a ramshackle affair populated by eccentrics including the imperious ada doom sheila burrell, her daughter judith eileen atkins, judiths rough but handsome son seth rufus sewell, and amos ian mckellen, an amateur preacher whose sermonizing seems to release some kind of demons within him. Cold comfort farm is a delightful tale based on the book of the same name. A novelist, poet and shortstory writer, her first novel, cold comfort farm, won the femina vie heuruse prize for 1933. Various people on twitter have been commenting on the brilliance of kenneth williams reading the classic novel cold comfort farm on the station. It is a prequel of sorts, set before floras arrival at the farm, and is a parody of a typical family christmas. Mar 11, 2020 when sensible, sophisticated flora poste is orphaned at nineteen, she decides her only choice is to descend upon relatives in deepest sussex. Young flora poste leaves the funeral of her parents and finds herself alone with insubstantial means barely enough to keep her in stockings and furs in mid1930s london. One by one she begins to transform them to her liking. Lawrence, and mary webb wrote in the early twentieth century.
An aspiring author whos really not very good, flora winds up staying with her good friend joanna lumley, but only for a short while. From academy award winning director john schlesinger comes a brilliantly witty film. Listen to the latest episodes of kenneth williams reads. Recently orphaned, flora ignores the sage advice of mrs. Starring kate beckinsale pearl harbor as flora poste, a london society girl, and joanna lumley absolutely fabulous as floras friend and mentor, this heartwarming comedy is full of charm and clever satire. Cold comfort farm isnt much more than a parade of such mischievous stereotypes, but its characters are conceived and played with gratifying wit. After being forced to slave under their draconian rule for a week, keith is not amused to. Cold comfort farm paperback january 1, 1944 by gibbons. A hilarious and ruthless parody of rural melodramas and purple prose, cold comfort farm is one of the bestloved comic novels of all time. Stella gibbons penned this comedic novel in the 1930s, slyly poking fun at popular themes in literature of the day.
I had a little trouble getting to know the family at first, but. She went to the north london collegiate school and studied journalism at university college, london. Cold comfort farm is a comic novel by english author stella gibbons, published in 1932. Kate beckinsale plays miss flora poste, a recent orphan who has very little to her name. Lawrence innuendoes are bursting out everywhere, and the dialect is rustic bordering on ridiculous. Jan 21, 2008 cold comfort farm by stella gibbons paperback, 256 pages list price. Flora poste, a recently orphaned socialite, moves in with her country. The movie, based on the famous comic novel by stella gibbons, is dour, eccentric and very funny, and. Ian mckellen turns up as amos starkadder, the family preacher, whose congregation quivers on cue when he delivers sermons on his favorite subject, burning. The main character, flora poste, goes to live with family members she has never met who live on cold comfort farm. At the aptly named cold comfort farm, she meets the doomed starkadders. A hilarious and merciless parody of rural melodramas, cold comfort farm 1932 is one of the bestloved comic novels of all time.
It is all very contrived and patronizing, but a few cuts come in close and i cant say gibbons was wrong. A readers guide to cold comfort farm openlearn open. Cold comfort farm is generally considered to be a parody of the type of novel that british authors such as thomas hardy, d. Cold comfort farm 23 west hill rd, stowe, vt 5672 share. This 5bedroom vacation rental is dog friendly with prior approval from the homeowner only. Set primarily in sussex, england, circa 1930s, cold comfort farm is a parody of late eighteenthearly nineteenth century agricultural literature, such as novels by d. Cold comfort farm by stella gibbons, paperback barnes. Armed with common sense and a strong will, she resolves to take each of the family in hand. Cold comfort farm by stella gibbons a great deal warmer, and much more comforting, than its title, this months reading group selection is a cheerful favourite of many. Lawrence, and english literary culture between the wars, faye hammill, modern fiction studies 47. When a welleducated young socialite in 1930s england is left orphaned and unable to support herself at age twentytwo, she moves in with her eccentric relatives on their. Naturally, it should be the duty of a relative and she decides to choose from those who write letters of condolence. Lawrence, wherein flora poste, after the death of her parents, decides to embark on a career as a parasite, and descends on her.
In 1932, stella gibbons book was acclaimed as a wickedly funny sendup of a certain kind of heavybreathing. With alastair sim, fay compton, sarah badel, rosalie crutchley. Like many concepts in the book world, series is a somewhat fluid and contested notion. Stella dorothea gibbons, novelist, poet and shortstory writer, was born in london in 1902. Starring jennifer brooks, gretta carlson and keith jones. Cold comfort farm is a 1995 british romantic comedy film directed by john schlesinger and produced by the bbc and thames television, an adaptation of stella gibbons 1932 book of the same name, the film stars kate beckinsale, joanna lumley, ian mckellen, and rufus sewell.
Cold comfort farm isbn 0140001409 bbc the big read. The young 20something has no means nor intentions of developing her own career save to follow in the footsteps of jane austen in becoming an author. Episode and series guides for kenneth williams reads. Cold comfort farm by stella gibbons paperback, 256 pages list price. Taking its name from a line in william shakespeares play king john 15961597, the farm is located. With eileen atkins, kate beckinsale, sheila burrell, stephen fry. Property details for cold comfort farm neasham darlington. This time, the dreadful relatives find their lives in an uproar. Cold comfort farm by stella gibbons and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This 5 bed freehold barn conversionfarmhouse is located at cold comfort farm, neasham, darlington dl2 1pg. C old comfort farm is a quirky english romantic comedy, set in the 1920s, about a twentyish woman kate beckinsale whose parents have both died and therefore needs to be provided for. Her first publication was a book of poems the mountain beast 1930 and her first novel cold comfort farm 1932 won the femina vie heuruse prize for 1933. Cold comfort farm kate beckinsale sheila burrell eileen atkins 1996 rural british eccentrics change their ways under the influence of a chic cousin kate beckinsale from 1930s london.