Miss Buncle’s Book
No, I do not have a friend named Barbara Buncle.
However, the book belonging to this title is an old friend of mine. If you’ve ever read D. E. Stevenson, then you know what a light, relaxing, thoroughly British read she provides. Although she wrote in the thirties and forties, her characters are fully as real as Jane Austen’s, and a good deal funnier!
Imagine a thirty-ish British lady living quietly in the country who (due to pecuniary difficulties) suddenly decides to write a book. Since she has no imagination, she turns to her neighbors for material. Happily for her pocketbook, she is uncannily good at capturing personalities, and her book is a bestseller. Unfortunately for her peace, her neighbors cannot fail to recognize themselves in its pages, and all bedlam breaks loose.
Miss Buncle is a real innocent, who happily renames her characters with very recognizable pseudonyms. For instance, their town of Silverstream becomes Copperfield. Dr. Walker becomes Dr. Rider, Colonel Weatherhead equals Major Waterfoot and, in a sequel, her publishers (Abbot and Spicer) are transmogrified into Nunn and Nutmeg. Good thing Miss Buncle is savvy enough to call herself “John Smith,” or she’d be toast!
I have very belatedly discovered this book (thanks to Paperback Swap for bringing it my way!), and am enjoying it superbly. An absolute must-read, especially for writers.
An interesting fact about Dorothy Emily Stevenson: R.L. Stevenson was her father’s first cousin.
Her books are most certainly well worth reading (I’ve spent countless happy hours curled up with one of her books).
I’ve found it in more than one library, however, so it would be worth checking there.
This is one of my all-time favorite books! Recently re-read it for the 3rd time (at least).
And hey, all of you out there, Elisabeth just flew to Israel again, so keep her in your prayers as she recovers from jetlag and settles in for another 3 or more months of serving Jesus in his home country.
(this is her little sister)