Set just after WW2: sensible, rational solicitor, Simon Brocken, is forced to move in with his "foolish" widowed sister-in-law (his house suffered bomb damage.)
But Isabel- comfortably off, seemingly silly, yet stubborn- is resolved to hand over all her money to write a wrong she committed many years ago. And when the victim is invited to stay, her unpleasing personality makes all those around the eponymous gentlewoman completely opposed to the plan..
Very much like Jane Austen for the 1940s. Quite compelling. ( )

My mother (born 1928) finds this funny. I just find it very sad, though it is a very good description of domestic and personal life just after WWII.

Jane Austen Anne Tyler =...?

I wasn't sold on this until the dominant character makes her entrance, which is after quite a long scene-setting. Suddenly the malevolent Tilly appears, whose only pleasure in life seems to be putting spokes in those of others. Even the most well-meaning and delusional of characters can see how utterly ghastly she is. But how to get rid of her? And what of the title-character's idiotic intentions to even the score?

Having read my second Sharp, it's tempting to compare her with Tyler - in the first instance because they both care about their creations and in the second because the endings are never happy.

rest here: https://alittleteaalittlechat.wordpress.com/2017/12/05/the-foolish-gentlewoman-b... ( )

Jane Austen Anne Tyler =...?

I wasn't sold on this until the dominant character makes her entrance, which is after quite a long scene-setting. Suddenly the malevolent Tilly appears, whose only pleasure in life seems to be putting spokes in those of others. Even the most well-meaning and delusional of characters can see how utterly ghastly she is. But how to get rid of her? And what of the title-character's idiotic intentions to even the score?

Having read my second Sharp, it's tempting to compare her with Tyler - in the first instance because they both care about their creations and in the second because the endings are never happy.

rest here: https://alittleteaalittlechat.wordpress.com/2017/12/05/the-foolish-gentlewoman-b... ( )

Jane Austen Anne Tyler =...?

I wasn't sold on this until the dominant character makes her entrance, which is after quite a long scene-setting. Suddenly the malevolent Tilly appears, whose only pleasure in life seems to be putting spokes in those of others. Even the most well-meaning and delusional of characters can see how utterly ghastly she is. But how to get rid of her? And what of the title-character's idiotic intentions to even the score?

Having read my second Sharp, it's tempting to compare her with Tyler - in the first instance because they both care about their creations and in the second because the endings are never happy.

rest here: https://alittleteaalittlechat.wordpress.com/2017/12/05/the-foolish-gentlewoman-b... ( )