Sunday, September 2, 2018

Miss Buncle's Book

Miss Buncle's Book
D.E. Stevenson
1934
4/5 stars

Barbara Buncle's income has diminished to a worrisome point, so in an attempt to earn money she writes a novel under the pen name of John Smith.  Not having a vast imagination, Barbara writes of what she knows: the people in her village.  It becomes a best seller and her neighbors are in a fury over the depictions of themselves, seeking to unmask the anonymous author.  At the same time, the book affects some villagers--even Barbara herself--in a positive way that she would never have suspected.

This charming novel is well-written, entertaining, and amusing.  The plot was believable and engrossing.  Stevenson's wit is intelligent, and sometimes sarcastic, but always genuinely funny.  While being a gentle book, it's not overly sweet.  I enjoyed it enough that I will most definitely read more of Mrs. Stevenson's novels.

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