A review by ben_miller
Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford
3.0
This is a very confusing book. It's genuinely one of the funniest things I've ever read, and the writing sparkles on every page. Yet somehow, it's not a good novel. In fact, by the end I was almost raging with frustration at it, pausing every few minutes to laugh out loud.
According to the introduction by Flora Fraser, Evelyn Waugh told Mitford that the writing was wonderful, but that the book needed to be entirely revised in order to be "saved." Mitford decided against taking his advice, and Fraser argues that because the book was a commercial success, her choice was vindicated. The thing is: Waugh was right, and Mitford and Fraser were wrong.
The plot has no shape. The principle characters are empty ciphers while the supporting characters are lively and engaging. There are no dramatic arcs of any kind. What there is is chapter after chapter of wit and cleverness that froths up from nothing and returns to nothing. Seriously, the background of this novel (its supporting cast and general atmosphere) is absolutely wonderful. It's the foreground that collapses. You can see what Waugh saw - that with more application Mitford was capable of creating something truly memorable. Instead, she was satisfied with setting up her next joke. It's worth reading for that incredible wit, but could've been so much more.
According to the introduction by Flora Fraser, Evelyn Waugh told Mitford that the writing was wonderful, but that the book needed to be entirely revised in order to be "saved." Mitford decided against taking his advice, and Fraser argues that because the book was a commercial success, her choice was vindicated. The thing is: Waugh was right, and Mitford and Fraser were wrong.
The plot has no shape. The principle characters are empty ciphers while the supporting characters are lively and engaging. There are no dramatic arcs of any kind. What there is is chapter after chapter of wit and cleverness that froths up from nothing and returns to nothing. Seriously, the background of this novel (its supporting cast and general atmosphere) is absolutely wonderful. It's the foreground that collapses. You can see what Waugh saw - that with more application Mitford was capable of creating something truly memorable. Instead, she was satisfied with setting up her next joke. It's worth reading for that incredible wit, but could've been so much more.