Four New Novels: (Review) … A very old story is “Jenny’s Case,” by Ellen Pinsent (Two Vols. Swan Sonnenschein and Co.), and the setting is almost as venerable. Yet it is impossible not to read it with eager interest. Miss Pinsent’s heroine is not precisely a Hetty Sorrel, though her surroundings are every bit as rustic. She has neither Hetty’s charm nor innocence, but rather the simple sophistication of the country maid who cannot help her own environment, or struggle against the traditions of her class, even though they lead her to ruin. She has been a workhouse child and is friendless. When we first meet her, she is servant at a farm, and a milkmaid like Mr. Hardy’s Tess, but a far simpler character than that extraordinary damsel. She has two lovers, a farm labourer and a policeman: one is true, and the other false; one loves her, and the other she loves; one betrays her and the other is her avenger. This is the story, but its great merit lies in the drawing of the Lincolnshire peasants — the clear-cut pictures of their homes and ways. And the talk is admirable. Nothing could be better than Sam Frith and his wife, the parents of one of Jenny’s lovers. Sam is sexton and gravedigger, and the manner in which he treats the parson is one of the most amusing things in the book. Sam had no sympathy with new-fangled ways in church; he did not approve of flowers and decoration, or the fine cover for the Communion table — which, rather to his indignation, was called an ” altar cloth,” and had to be doubled up every week and put away, instead of remaining in its place ready for use, as the old red velvet one had done. He was also an excellent critic and spoke his mind out – thus, when the parson wound up his sermon with allusions to the end of the world, he expressed his approval heartily: “Good; that theer piese was fine, almost like the ode parson. The Judgment Day, that’s Gospel; but the fore end o’ the sarmon was nobbut a-twitterin’ and a-twitterin’ just like a sparrer on the house-top.” Sam’s wife is also excellent, with her tender heart, and keen tongue. Bad times come on the worthy couple, and Sam is afraid that they will have to go to the poor- house, but his wife rebukes him. “I reckon as a man of jour years oughter have mower faith,” said Mrs. Frith severely. ”The Lord’s alwaays kep’ you and your faam’ly and me and mine out o’ the Union; and I doan’t see no reason to expect Him to do no different nowadays. Yer doan’t knaw but what yer may be took sudden any time, an’ then theer ‘ll be no botherin’ about the Union, or owt o’ that.” Farmer Donner and Mrs. Bagster are both well done, and poor Martin Frith is a good type of the faithful and unfortunate rustic lover.
[Glasgow Herald: Thursday 15th September 1892: Similar long and detailed review]
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive
Referenced
GRO0245 Devonport: Ellen Frances Parker: 1866 – 1949