Before Lunch is one of Thirkell’s Barsetshire Series that I have not read before. It possesses both the charm and slightly acid humor of the previous novels and a new sense of sadness.
In this novel we meet the Middletons. Jack is a trying man who often has to be soothed by his wife, Catherine. Jack’s sister Lilian Stoner, a young widow, is coming to stay in an adjacent house with her stepchildren, Denis and Daphne, who are almost as old as she is. The three have a loving relationship, all understanding that Lilian’s marriage was a difficult one.
The major focus of the plot in this novel is who will Daphne marry, for she meets two men she likes very much. Mr. Cameron is the partner of Lord Bond in their architectural firm. Although he is in his forties, Daphne thinks he’s the nicest man she knows. Cedric Bond, Lord Bond’s son and heir, also gets along with Daphne very well, but Daphne keeps hearing about another young lady named Betty in connection with him. Both men are smitten by Daphne.
Along with this plot, a lot is going on. The overbearing Lady Bond is leading a protest against the unwitting purchaser of a parcel of land called Pooker’s Piece (I love the place names in this series, particularly the oft-mentioned “Winter Overcotes”), where he plans to erect a tea shop and a garage (which rumor eventually converts to a road house). The countryside is outraged, as it is a favorite place for rambling.
The entire county is also preparing for the Agricultural Show, and Daphne talks cows with the best of them. She also takes a secretarial job with Lady Bond.
Denis takes a liking to Lord Bond, who is as kind as he is long-winded. Denis has been an invalid, but in the summer country air he begins to improve, and he is looking for backing for a ballet for which he is composing the music. He treats Lord Bond to Gilbert and Sullivan evenings when Lady Bond is away. He also has a secret of the heart.
Catherine and Lilian begin a friendship that is comforting for them both. We also briefly meet some of the characters from previous books, including Lord Pomfret, now a grieving widower, the Leslies, and Roddy Wicklow. And Thirkell does not fail to provide another irritating character (besides Lady Bond), Miss Starter, an ex-royal attendant who fusses constantly about her diet.
I think I liked this novel best so far, but I know one of my favorites, Cheerfulness Breaks In, is coming up.
whatmeread 
Yes this one was very good indeed. A slight change when a married woman gets a crush on a single maybe younger man. I couldn’t work out Denis’s age. It was very subtlety done.
A couple of times I got a bit confused about who was who as there seemed to be many more characters in this novel but I loved the writing about the Bond’s dinner party and the discussions at the Agricultural.
This is the only Thirkell as far as I can tell which is included in The Guardians 1000 novels list. And rightly so.
Yes, it’s excellent.
I really like the sound of these. I must find time to get a few.
This one was the best so far.
Did I not see in one of your other posts that you’ve hit the ten-year mark? Good on you; Congratulations!
When I read this book the first time, the satire really hit me. Jack was SO annoying, and Denis SO languishing. I truly enjoyed Daphne (another Lydia) and her very smooth handling of Lady Bond. Since the author was so cagey about Denis’s age, it might be that he and Catherine get together in a later book.
I must confess on a rereading, I found some of the conversations tiresome; Jack is SO like George in “High Rising.” and Mrs. Tebben was her usual irritating self: I thought Thirkell should have put her in a room with Miss Starter, and they could have battled for title of “Most Tiresome Character of the Story.”
My favorites of the series so far are “High Rising,” because all of Thirkell’s character types are introduced, and “Summer Half,” because Lydia is introduced. She’s in a lot of the following books; in fact, one reason I hunted down other books in the series was to follow her development.
I’m looking forward to “Cheerfulness Breaks In,” just because she’s in it.
Yes, Lydia is the highlight of Cheerfulness Breaks in, and the reason I loved it years ago.
I liked this one and seem to have done a double review including it and Northbridge Rectory so maybe people should look away for the second part of the post! https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2019/09/07/book-reviews-angela-thirkell-before-lunch-and-northbridge-rectory/
Thanks for the link!