Molly Clavering

One of the side benefits of being on the D.E. Stevenson list is that when someone offers a book that she or he no longer needs -- not, mind you, that she no longer wants, because most of the books that go up-for-grabs are duplicates in someone's collection -- you can come across something that you might never have known about otherwise.

Someone found a copy of this at a book sale and bought it for 25 cents, and offered it up on the list because she not only had enjoyed reading it herself but because the author, Molly Clavering, was a contemporary of D.E. Stevenson's as well as a fellow resident of Moffat and a novelist.  This particular novel, Mrs. Lorimer's Family (1953), is rumored to have been based on Stevenson herself.  Well, all of this was intriguing enough for me to put my name in, and as I happened to be the only one on the list who did so, I received it in the mail less than a week later.

This is of course the only one of Clavering's novels that I have read, but I can certainly see the similarities to Stevenson's, from the very first pages.  It is character-centered, a blend of humor and seriousness, quiet and gentle, and with comfortable predictability all comes right in the end.  I could find only a very few bits of information about Clavering on the internet, one being this summary of Mrs. Lorimer's Family, almost certainly the publisher's blurb: "With the straightforward warmth of a friendly handclasp, this appealing novel draws you into the very heart of a delight­ful family circle. Here you will share with a wise, gentle mother the conflicts and dis­coveries, the decisions and triumphs of her engaging but constantly surprising brood. For this is a novel, as perceptive as it is tender, of the parental concerns, the young-married difficulties, the romantic entanglements that are so fundamental a part of day-to-day living everywhere. With all but one of the children married and living away from home, Mrs. Lorimer and the Colonel look forward to gathering them together for a summer reunion at their comfortable country place. But as the children arrive, Mrs. Lorimer begins to see beneath the gaiety of homecoming the urgent personal problems each has been un­able to leave behind. Phillis's marriage is being threatened by a critical misunderstanding; Tom and his gifted wife Mary are anxiously trying to work out a tricky compromise; quiet Alice, who appears to be the most content and safe, brings about an unexpected crisis. And Guy, the unmarried one, whose laughter bravely conceals a broken heart, seems bent on risking the perils of falling in love again -- and with, of all people, a spirited newcomer who has some curious ideas of her own about romance!"

I can see why Stevenson's children were apparently somewhat dismayed by the novel -- the children don't come off especially well at times, especially Phillis -- who often acts like a spoiled little girl -- and Colonel Lorimer walks a fine line between being endearingly eccentric and exasperating.  Still, I found the wit quietly witty, the wisdom gentle enough not to be sententious, and the characters deftly drawn -- certainly worth picking up for pennies if you happen to come across a copy at a book sale.

Most of the things I did manage to find about Clavering were bibliographic -- she looks from the dates of other works to have been a fairly close contemporary of Stevenson's (who was 1892-1973), but I could not even find dates for Clavering online.  Here is a list of some at least of her works, culled from the ever-useful WorldCat:

Georgina and the stairs, 1927
The leech of life, 1928
Wantonwalls, 1929
Mrs Lorimer’s quiet summer, 1953
Mrs Lorimer’s family, 1953 [possibly a retitle of Mrs Lorimer’s quiet summer?]
From the Border hills, 1953
Because of Sam, 1954
Dear Hugo, 1955
Near neighbours, 1956
Result of the finals, 1957
Dr Glasgow’s family, 1960
Spring adventure, 1962

(The dust-jacket is, I think, yet another example of how different one's own mental picture of a person in a book can be from someone else's.  The lady here is I'm sure a very nice person, but she does not look at all like I picture Mrs. Lorimer -- far too jolly.  Too American, in fact.  Too brisk and efficient, perhaps.  This lady does not write "quiet workmanlike novels, redeemed from any suggestion of the commonplace by their agreeably astringent humor and lack of sentimentality," and she certainly does not go off on flights of fancy which she frequently finds herself continuing out loud!)

I made some origami bookmarks to send to the lady who gave me the book, as a thank-you.  Here's how you do it:

Lay a piece of origami paper colored-side down, with the points making a diamond.

Fold the south point up to the north, and crease firmly.

Fold the east point up to the north and crease firmly, then unfold.  Repeat with the west point.

Fold one of the two north points down to the middle of the long crease at the bottom edge.

Fold the east point over to meet the folded-down point along the bottom edge; crease lightly and unfold.  Repeat with the west point.  (This is only to help with the next step, which you will crease more firmly when it is in position.)

Tuck the east point into the "pocket".  Repeat with the west point.

Crease all folds very firmly to make the bookmark as thin as possible.  (You can fold the remaining north  point into the pocket as well, but this will make the bookmark thicker.)

Comments

[Mary Lou]

Interesting, both the review and the bookmark directions. I just finished The Semi Attached Couple, by Emily Eden. It was printed on wartime paper and kept tearing as I turned the pages. I returned it to the library and showed them the tears, I hope they don't toss it.

[Jill Thompson]

In searching for books by Molly Clavering, I came across this site. I purchased a copy at an estate sale. I was attracted by the title, the modestly neat binding and the colorful picture on the end papers. This author was not known to me. I found it a pleasant read. Perhaps it is my age(63), my love of the Brits, or my remembrances of simpler times. I hope I can find some of her other titles. Also, thank you for the origami bookmark pattern.

[Michael Stewart]

Molly Clavering (1900-25) was my 2nd cousin x 2 removed. I know a fair bit about her and the c25 short stories she wrote for The People's Friend magazine. Contact me if you want any more information. I'm still looking for some the novels she wrote under the name of 'B Mollett' and 'Narion Moffatt'

Michael Stewart, Canterbury

[Andrew Martin]

I grew up in Moffat and knew Miss Clavering. She was a well-known local personality, with a very fine standard poodle called Bramble.

I have not read the novels, but very much enjoy her non-fiction book about the valleys near Moffat, "From the Border Hills" and return to it often.

I know she wrote pieces in "The Countryman" too - non-fiction I presume.

[Scott]

Thank you for this post. I am a fellow blogger and am very interested in Molly Clavering, and your post was about the only informative result to a Google search for her. If you discovered any additional information about her, or if you were in contact with her cousin who also commented, I'd love to know more. I plan to post about her work, but am hoping to find more biographical information first. Thanks!

Scott

[Caroline Walker]

Near Neighbours published by Greyladies who alos publish DE Stevenson (some previously unpublished) and are also in the Scottish Borders is an excellent read. For novels of this type and era have a look at Greyladies website http://www.greyladiesbooks.co.uk/index.html and if you don't know it Persephone Books too. http://www.persephonebooks.co.uk/authors/
Both wonderful lists of the most delightful books.

[Jo]

I remember meeting Mrs Clavering when I had to tell her about my favourite books for a Brownie badge! She was very kind to me, and I seem to remember what felt like a very grown up conversation. I had no idea she was a novelist and hope to be able to track down some of her books.

[Laurie Gagne]

I see no comments past August of 2020 but Molly Clavering's books are available in Kindle through Amazon. I've purchased all of them and they're delightful! I'm a D.E. Stevenson fan and I came across Clavering's name in an article about Stevenson. This article also led me to the works of O. Douglas (pen name of Anna Buchan, John Buchan's sister) because apparently Stevenson liked her books. Douglas's influence on Stevenson is very clear; she even re-uses some of the same proper names.