Not At Home

Not At Home / Doris Langley Moore
London: Dean Street Press, 2020, c1948.
300 p.

It's Dean Street December, and I'm pleased to be sharing another read from the Furrowed Middlebrow imprint. I love these books and have found many enjoyable ones over the past few years. I first read Moore's All Done By Kindness last year, and found it a fun read. This one has similarities but it's a bit more focused on one woman and one house. 

Elinor MacFarren is a middle-aged spinster, botanical writer, and collector of prints and objets d’art, but she is finding that post WWII she is finding it hard to afford her home and her collections. After some thought, she decides that she will rent part of her home out, to a congenial person. She will move her bedroom to her study, and give up her parlour to the use of a renter. The spare room will be shared by either's guests. She's planning to be very careful about it, and gets a recommendation from a friend who runs an antique shop. Mrs. Antonia Bankes, an American, wants a home since her husband will be coming back from his war duties and she doesn't want them to live in a hotel. After gushing, sincere promises about what a good, quiet and reliable tenant she will be, Elinor accepts. And that's the beginning of her trials. 

Antonia Bankes is a horror. She says whatever she needs to in the moment to avoid conflict or accountability, but never means a word of it. Elinor begins to learn to her chagrin, that her beautiful objets are being misused, damaged and lost, while Antonia encroaches further and further into her home. There are always giddy friends staying with her, using the spare room, and making a mess for the one servant to deal with, until she finally has enough and leaves. 

When Antonia's husband shows up, he's a decent fellow and Elinor warms to him. And when he's there, Antonia seems to settle down a little. But then they drop the bombshell - they have two children they want to bring over from America and establish in the spare room. This leads Elinor to lengths of subterfuge and trickery she never thought she'd be capable of, as she angles to get rid of the Bankes. With her rival in botanical collecting as an unexpected ally, and her flamboyant nephew who is involved in the movies to help out (along with his amusing lady friend, who's all in) she finagles a few things into going her way. And despite the long war on her own turf, she eventually triumphs. 

This was entertaining, in a way, but also a stressful read, as Elinor is invaded in her own home, essentially. Antonia is immensely selfish and self-absorbed and poor Elinor's manners and ideas of social norms restrict her from fighting back until far too much time has passed. It was an interesting range of characters, all who shed light on the post-war realities of London from different angles. From older Brits like Elinor, to Americans, to young things like her nephew's lady friend, there are many perspectives and portrayals. I found that part satisfying. But I certainly would have liked to see Antonia tossed out on her ear much earlier! 

The joy of reading Moore's books lies in her observations of characters and their interactions. She understands people very well and creates some fascinating studies. All while developing a good story. There are some parts in the book which are very much of their time, like casual references to "red Indians" and some animal cruelty, which are slight asides but do colour it. Still, a pretty good read, although I think I liked All Done By Kindness just a little more.