A bittersweet look at how life in the English country villages changed between the 1880s and the 1950s. ( )

Miss Clare Remembers by Miss Read is a lovely read featuring the thoughts and remembrances of eighty year old Miss Dolly Clare. While Dolly spends a quiet day at her cottage waiting for the arrival of her good friend, Emily, she looks back over her life, and the reader gets to know her very well indeed as we are given glimpses of both her childhood as well as events from her adult years as a teacher at the Fairacre School.

To an outsider, Dolly Clare would look like she lived a very insulated life. Born in the market town of Caxley, she never moved farther than 20 miles from her birthplace. She remained single, lived with her parents until their death, and only ever travelled to London, 70 miles away, once in her life. But Dolly actually lived a rich, full life in the small thatched cottage that she grew up in. As a teacher she guided many generations of schoolchildren, she did fall in love and was planning on a different life, but her young man died in World War I. As her thoughts go back, we learn of her first meeting with her friend Emily as young children, and how that friendship grew and sustained both women through many of life’s difficulties.

Miss Read writes of life in small British villages in a warm and engaging way, the passing of the seasons are observed with many descriptions of the flora and fauna of the area. I listened to an audio version as read by Gwen Watford whose warm, steady voice was perfect for this material. Miss Clare Remembers is a comforting read that was full of the joys and sorrows of life. ( )

An unalloyed delight, this is Miss Clare's life story. It also touches on the Industrial Revolution, both world wars and not a little about love and loss. The first Fairacre book which made me weep. ( )

I have only read half a dozen or so Miss Read books but this one may prove to be her Magnum Opus, and is definitely great background for all the other novels. Her peering into and summing up the sweep of a single quiet life and the times the protagonist lived through is beautifully done. Thank you, Miss Read! ( )

Love anything by Miss Read, but this just may be my favorite (after The White Robin) ( )