How thoroughly refreshing to encounter a bold female character who doesn’t feel the need to take on male characteristics in order to dominate those around her. In a style that is at once understated yet fierce Flora provides an unusual female icon in the way she manages to retain the values of her delicate femininity without sacrificing her dominance of all those around her. I found myself checking the date it was published (1932) to try to justify why she seemed to be so weak and inconsequential.

The irrepressible Flora pained me at the start of the book with her flouncy ways and obsession with all things superficial. We follow Flora through her painful journey to ‘make good’ these various misfits through giving them a thoroughly good dose of common sense. The story positively delights in stereotypical characterisation and is openly tongue in cheek when we meet a variety of oddball, inbred and downright vile characters. The main thrust of the story concerns the delightful juxtaposition between the poised and elegant Flora and the animalistic country life and inhabitants that she finds on Cold Comfort Farm. After much consideration, she chooses the unlikely and elusive Sussex farmhouse that has become the home of her aunt. Turning away from her other possible options of finding a suitable man on which to rely, or (god forbid) training herself up for some sort of job, she decides the best way to spend her future is meddling in the affairs of her relations. Through a raft of characters and a snappy narrative, Stella Gibbons explores the gulf between classes with a light and teasing touch.įlora finds herself suddenly bereft of both parents (although doesn’t waste too much time fussing too much over this) and sets about finding suitable family members to go and burden herself upon. Several passages almost slunk past me when I almost missed the inherent sarcasm and wit, and I wager that a second read would unearth far more witty gems. Not only is it one of the funniest books I’ve ever read it’s also probably some of the most subtle and nuanced humour I’ve encountered. It has been some time since I have enjoyed the inane pleasure of drawing bemused glances on the morning commute from sniggering behind the covers of a book.

My only regret upon finishing this book is that it’s taken me this long to get around to reading it.

Novel cold comfort farm