Henrietta's Own Castle - 1975 Discussion Thread

Henrietta's Own Castle falls somewhere in the middle for me. Neither favorite nor loathed (Grasp a Nettle, I'm looking at you), I like how full of details it is. Here's a gem. Henrietta has just surrendered her post and is telling her fellow Ward Sisters about the interview with the Senior Nursing Officer, Miss Brice. They all paused and thought "how awful it must be to be as old as Miss Brice, fifty if she is a day". Just to throw the hard-working Miss Brice a bone, I thought of her as something like Demi Moore and Bo Derek for the remainder of the novel. In an unwritten sequel, I'm sure The Great Betty will let the lonely Miss Brice go cougar hunting for her very own Ashton Kutcher. [Betty Debbie] Speaking as someone who is "50 if she is a day", that particular sentence really struck me. I could have been insulted, but really, considering that The Betty was at least 64 at the time, I just giggled a bit.

As far as age goes...old is always forty years from wherever I happen to be that year (which is a practice I'll still be continuing into my sweet 80s). But I admit that there is some truth to those awful "Thirty is the new twenty" sayings. Back in the day, sixty was practically put out to pasture after which you had to shuffle around in curlers and a housecoat for the few tortured years left to you.

Spinsters. I am not one. No sooner was I old enough to marry than I did. (Not everyone's route, I know, but it worked out swimmingly for me.) Anyway, not even being a spinster, I take exception to Betty's characterization that being one requires a cat...and a cottage (so they can potter absentmindedly, I suppose) and burying yourself in the countryside (even if you're dishy!). I may start a movement: Free the spinsters!

Marnix delivered a foal in his evening clothes and is described as looking "exactly the same as usual". Nu-uh. I've watched Dirty Jobs a few too many times to believe that even Mike Rowe (you're quite welcome) could ever emerge unscathed from that encounter. For one thing, Marnix was kneeling on the ground (squishy Holland ground)--and, secondly, though I've never seen a horse give birth, I have done it myself four times (Tut-Tut. We're all mammals here). 'Tidy' was not one of the words you might apply to the process. As far as I can tell, having spent many hours in front of the telly watching such shows as Dirty Jobs, Animal Planet and All Creatures Great and Small, anytime someone gets a rope to help a horse in labor...you've got to stick your arm way the heck up inside said horse. There is no way Marnix would come out of this looking fresh as a daisy.

I love that she was supposed to bake bread in a tin oven over two hot plates. And when she's eating it (with margarine!--all that effort and margarine!) with our hero he says, "you are a woman of parts, Miss Brodie". I'll say. I don't think he's exactly damning with faint praise but it would be interesting to make a list of what comprises 'a woman of parts'. It reminds me of Darcy's 'accomplished woman'. To begin: Extreme cooking, dishy-ness, turning a hand in the burn unit...etc. Emergency surgery, computer skills, dog walker, cat fancier....

Oh Noes Loes! Nothing to add. I just wanted to say it. Oh. She's the dominee's daughter which might lead some to think that she was an aberration of moral instruction but I know better. As any church lady will tell you, if mischief is being managed, it's always the bishop's kid.

At one point, Henrietta saucily describes Marnix as having "ears like errant wings". That's a G.K. Chesterton quote from a poem which is rather nice (and since we all seem to like the poetry I'll include the whole):

When fishes flew and forests walked
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
Then surely I was born;

With monstrous head and sickening cry
And ears like errant wings,
The devil's walking parody
On all four-footed things.

The tattered outlaw of the earth,
Of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,
I keep my secret still.

Fools! For I also had my hour;
One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout about my ears,
And palms before my feet.


That's right. She's comparing Marnix to a donkey. Oh Betty, you sly thing.