The focus at the moment seems to be children’s literature which isn’t of great interest for me but I’ll watch with interest what theme they come up with next. Heart failure,” they said sagaciously, though they were actually quoting from the papers; and then added with a sigh, “Well, another old landmark gone.

I too enjoyed this depiction of a spirited older woman – though it’s sad that she spends much of her life (the period before the narrative opens) playing second fiddle to an often inattentive husband and family. Lady Slane distributes her jewelry, her only private asset, with little regard as to fairness; rather she seems faintly amused at the egotistical frailties this gesture reveals among her offspring and their spouses.This is a book that looks at the position of Victorian and Edwardian women and foresees the changes in status to come.

At times satirical and at times amusing, All Passion Spent is insightful about the delights of living according to one’s own desires. Thank you for pushing me to read All Passion Spent, it was a very enjoyable experience – which you will see in a few days has spread into a third post. She was the one who caved in to pressure to bring them up in a way the world would approve, but then decides she doesn't gel with the hoop-jumping people they grew into. Much of the story concerns itself in establishing Lady Slane in her home, peculiarly fitted for the retirement she so desired. Lady Deborah Slane only discovers the independence VSW maintained after the death of her husband, Henry Holland, as she casts back upon her life in Part Two, the beautiful and thoughtful heart of the novel.

Maybe sticking to our decisions to live the gentle, quiet lives we dream of, instead of jumping through hoops, is really a bold leap out of the comfort zone of public approval. It is a lovely book [and so is the DVD], sensitive, moving and amusing -- amazingly written by Vita Sackville-West when she was only 38. And I am a bit conflicted about the death of the author thing – I love Knole and Sissinghurst and her writing tower etc but I like to read books as I read them rather than as reflecting on the author, and love the idea that the reader co-creates the book, if you see what I mean. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice. These three men, along with Genoux and an unexpectedly appearing great-granddaughter, Lady Slane’s namesake Deborah, bring both confusion and reconciliation to Lady Slane’s mind and soul as she strives to put the meaning of her long life into a final context.

Right at the end, and it’s a bit neat, her great grand-daughter Deborah, engaged to a Duke, bursts in, lays her head on Lady Slane’s knee and sobs that she has broken the engagement and is going to be a pianist.She had forgotten him, simply another of the many faces that passed before her during her years with Henry. I definitely need to find a Vita Sackville West book, I think I am interested in Vita over Virginia Woolf because I love the story surrounding Sissinghurst, such an interesting place and woman! Part 1 concludes with Lady Slane's developing friendships with her aged landlord Mr Bucktrout and his equally aged handyman Mr Gosheron. Part Two is where VSW displays her strongly feminist (though she would vigorously object to the word, preferring human rights) viewpoint, particularly in Lady Slane's recollection of her internal struggle over the meaning of her impending marriage to Henry. It’s true that as the story is being told, Lady Slane enjoys a brief interlude of contentment, free from intruders and family disturbance.