Henrietta’s House was written in 1942. I’m always amazed that there were so many women writing ‘domestic fiction’ during the war years. I read that the stubborn heroism of the civilian population was a necessary “military weapon” to stand against the demoralisation and capitulation of the British people, especially during the Blitz.
Henrietta’s House is a children’s novel and wouldn’t be classed as domestic fiction, but it was written in desperate times and so could be thought of as a stand against hopelessness and despair. Why write a children’s novel if you succumbed to the idea that the world as you knew it wouldn’t be around much longer? It feels like a fairy tale to a certain extent but in Goudge’s hands it becomes a decidedly moral tale – in the best sense. ❤️
Henrietta, with her brother, Hugh Anthony, aunt & uncle, grandparents & their elderly friends, as well as a couple of dogs, head off in horse-drawn vehicles and a new car for a picnic to celebrate Hugh’s birthday. Along the way the car breaks down & gets abandoned, and the whole company is swept into strange adventures in which some refining of character occurs. ❤️
There’s also humour throughout Henrietta’s House. One of the guests on the picnic was Mrs Jameson. She was a neighbour & the rich widow of a missionary ‘who had had the misfortune to be eaten by cannibals, had become a little peculiar in her ways after her sorrow and was rather an anxiety to take out.’ Grandfather had told Henrietta that ‘one must be very kind to people in this unfortunate condition.’
Kindness, respect for old age & deliverance from pride are themes throughout the story.
‘Canon and Mrs Roderick in spite of having had many children of their own still adored the species.’
‘They hardly spoke, they were so busy absorbing the beauty into their very souls.’
‘When a man loses his pride he often finds his heart.’
A lovely story for the young and anyone else who appreciates good children’s literature.
journey & destination 
Canon and Mrs Roderick are simply beautiful old souls. I was glad to discover this novel of Goudge’s through Girls Gone By Publishing who are re publishing a lot of her works, especially the lesser known ones. It was a joy to follow on with the adventures of this family and their neighbours. Is Mrs Jameson the one who wears liturgical colours year round? I think she is the Aunt or relative of Felicity in The City of Bells, who comes to live there and then marries the young man Jocelyn? She was a gloriously quirky woman! I am glad you reviewed this as more people should read it. The house she finds and the journey they have on that picnic is epic and transformative.
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My copy is a bit tatty. I usually get new books from Blackwell’s Books in the UK but I haven’t seen any books by that publisher there. Mrs Jameson is the one who dresses according to the Church seasons. 😊 I don’t know if she’s Felicity’s aunt. It’s not mentioned when Felicity & Jocelyn are introduced.
I haven’t read The Little White Horse yet so must get on to it. What have you been reading lately? I have a home ed mum’s bookclub tomorrow night & we’re discussing Oliver Twist – most of us have graduated all our kids but we still get together. 📚❤️
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Girls Gone By Publishing has its own website so you may not have seen them anywhere else. I am listening to “A Tale of Two Cities” on Bolinda audiobook, read magnificently and enthusiastically by Simon Callow. I am really enjoying this, even more so than “Great Expectations” which I read last month. I am also doing an online short course on Jane Austen with Oxford Uni online so I am fully immersed in her novels. Oh, I also just completed The Rosemary Tree and The Scent of Water so I am on a Goudge reading road as well. I hope the evening is fun.
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