More Lifeline treasures!
THE NUTMEG TREE, written with the light touch and bubbling humour that are characteristic of is author, is a joy to read. Ex-chorus-girl Julia Packett, windowed in World War I after her brief marriage into a County family, wisely allowed her 'in-laws' to take full responsibility for her daughter Susan's upbringing, while she herself, improvident and indiscreet, returned to the stage-life she adored. Now, verging on middle age, she is almost penniless when Susan writes begging her to join the family in France, for, says the letter, "I want to get married and Grandmother objects." So Julia, prepared to behave as a lady should, yet ready to pounce on any crumbs of advantage that may fall in her path, sets out for the mountains of the Haute Savoie. On the Channel boat she involves herself, rather indecorously, with a troupe of trapeze artists, and actually stays in Paris to take part in one of their performances. Installed in the French villa she finds that Susan's young man is clearly unsuitable for Susan, but is a kindred spirit to herself and is unscrupulously ready to exploit her delicate position if she opposes him. Complications follow the arrival of Susan's guardian, the handsome Sir William Waring. Julia flutters away--but of course not too far away!
I've mentioned before how much I love vintage Pan paperbacks, and how the bi-annual Lifeline Bookfair lets me buy 'em by the bagful without worrying whether I'd actually enjoy reading them or not. And sometimes I get lucky--very, very lucky. This is one of my lucky finds. It's a romantic comedy, with an unconventional heroine, by an author I've only vaguely heard of. It's not at all deep and meaningful (there's no way I'm going to say It Changed My Life) but it's fun. Just the sort of book to while away a Summer's afternoon--or to curl up with by the fire on a cold Winter's night.
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