A Month in the Country

A truly wonderful book I'd never heard of. Book 95 on James Mustich's list for me, trying to get over 100 before the end of the year.

This is a short novel but by no means a quick read about WW1 vet who is hired on to rehabilitate a frescoed wall in a medieval Yorkshire chapel.

This passage stopped me in my tracks:

“As far as I'm concerned me might have gone round the corner and died. But that goes for most of us, doesn't it? We look blankly at each other. Here I am, here you are. What are we doing here? What do you suppose it's all about? Let's dream on. Yes, that's my Dad and Mum over there on the piano top. My eldest boy is on the mantelpiece. That cushion cover was embroidered by my cousin Sarah only a month before she passed on. I go to work at eight and come home at five-thirty. When I retire they'll give me a clock - with my name engraved on the back. Now you know all about me. Go away: I've forgotten you already.”

This was really charming and simple. Not much happens but it doesn't matter. It's more about place and time and people. There is the slight excitement at the end with the grave site, but that's about it. Really beautiful.

Up in the belfry
quite the romantic figure
an artist, of sorts.