Bramton Wick

This is a charming discourse on life in a small English village with all its damp, small (only four bedrooms, dear) houses and its ‘big’ houses. The author apparently had an interest in architecture and she describes the various houses with enough detail that the reader can visualise them, but not so much that it becomes boring. ‘Endbury’ is the premier house, formerly belonging to the Cole family, but now owned by Lady Masters, who lives there with her son, Toby. The other two ‘big’ houses are ‘Cleeve Manor’, recently bought by a wealthy London businessman, Thomas Greenley, who keeps to himself, and ‘Marly House’, owned for generations by the Corton family, and presently lived in by bachelor Miles Corton, a farmer who is decidedly not wealthy.We get to know the inhabitants, sometimes through the narrator and sometimes through what they think about each other, and using this technique most of them come ‘alive’ and three-dimensional. There is quite a wide range of people, although it is mainly money, or the lack thereof, rather than standards of education or social class that defines them. Of course, there is the ‘our kind of people’ attitude, but even Mrs Trimmer, the cleaner, is well-spoken, and, even more importantly, a gossip of the best kind, while Miss ‘Pussy’ Cleeve is a gossip of the worst kind.This is a sweet, gentle story about the people who live in Bramton Wick in the early 1950s, when rationing is still part of everyday life, and a time where changed circumstances are sometimes hard to accept.The story is sometimes poignant and very often humorous, and the inhabitants of Bramton are very subtly and charmingly dissected in a ruthless, perceptive manner.Two young men who, even some years after the war, can’t settle on an occupation; Mrs Cole, who is NOT a matchmaking mama; Captain and Mrs Worthy (his health, you know); the Misses Cleeve, who have fallen on hard times; Miss Selbourne and Miss Garrett, who drove ambulances in France in World War I, and still drive as if dodging bullets and speed is essential; and more who make up the inhabitants of this village.This story is a delight for those who enjoy a meandering tale with no plot, but peopled with characters who entrance, irritate, and draw you into their lives with ease. I thought it was part of a series, so when it ended rather abruptly, I thought that I will pick up the threads again in the next book. Then I found out that this book is a stand-alone and I will never know how the characters’ lives turn out, but I am glad I read it and can recommend it if this kind of story is your cup of tea, and I will buy the next book this author wrote. A solid 4-star.

There is a huge spectrum of British fiction that involves a few interacting characters in a tiny English village, and Elizabeth Fair wrote six such novels, published between 1952 and 1960, beginning with BRAMTON WICK and ending with THE MINGHAM AIR. There are a lot of characters in BRAMTON WICK, but the main ones are Laura and Gillian Cole. They are young and beautiful and need husbands, but the only available males are three callow youths who will probably never settle down to a job, and a handsome but impoverished farmer. Then there shows up a very wealthy businessman who makes a home in Bramton Wick only on weekends, and is fairly uncouth. Is there any hope for the girls?The author has a sharp but never cruel wit, and all the characters, major and minor, get thoroughly dissected. Fair also shows a strong fascination with architecture, and various houses are described in such detail, exterior and interior, that the reader would be able to sketch them. Many of the characters also have a fascination, amounting almost to obsession, with gardens.It isn't known why Fair suddenly began to write, or why she equally abruptly stopped. But it's a good thing that all six of her novels are now readily available in paperback.

This is a real comfort read for me, the depiction of a slice of life in an English village with quirky characters, lots of laugh-out-loud humor, and a touch of romance.Recommended

This novel follows the inhabitants of Bramton Wick over the course of a few months, as they go about daily business interacting with each other in various ways. It is witty and snarky, yet gentle at the same time. Fair is able to make most of her characters three-dimensional, despite the number. The vignettes tie together and give an interesting and amusing picture of village life in post-war England.I would especially recommend Fair to fans of Angela Thirkell.

A delightful and humorous read for one who is interested in earlier English village living. The characters are very real and the story very light. This is a perfect intimate read for a quiet evening. I will be reading all of this authors books!

"Bramton Wick" is the story of life in a country village in post-war England.There are two daughters to be married off, but their mother is not a matchmaker. Or is she?There are young men who need occupation.And there are the social structure niceties to be observed.The characters are well-written, and they are often quirky.I enjoyed reading this book, and I recommend it to anyone who likes stories about English country life.

This book is very entertaining, particularly if you like books about old fashioned, genteel country life in England. People are very proper and not a lot happens except people fall very easily in love with the right sort of people. Life is simple and conflicts are not complex. Two old ladies like dogs, and two young ladies need to be married to eligible suitors. Three gentlemen are in the running. This book has subtle humor and charm.

This book was my introduction to Elizabeth Fair and I enjoyed it so much I have read the next two. This is a fun read for anyone who likes character driven light English fiction .

This is an account of the author, Frances Faviell's time in Berlin, in the immediate aftermath of WW2. She befriends Frau Altmann after seeing her struggling up the street with an overloaded cart of furnishings, stopping to help her when she faints and taking her back to her house. Through this relationship, we get to see both sides of the story, although, mostly from the perspective of the German family.I found it interesting, not having read much from this time, but the writer skims over a lot of the major events, and little is explained. As the book was written in 1954, she would probably have assumed her readers knew more about what was happening at the time, so no need to go into detail. (less)

I can see why Jane Austen is brought to mind in descriptions of this book, it’s the events of a small world brought to light in an affectionate but rather dry manner.Am so pleased the author is back in print.

Lovely gentle read, of it's time. Nothing dramatic happens, but if you like stories written in this era, a pleasant book

I’ll begin by confessing I love Anthony Trollope and Angela Thirkell and Barbara Pym. They are all droll observers of English country life. I accidentally found these new editions of Elizabeth Fair‘s novels and I am so happy. Brampton Wick is charming but with an edge. Yes there are stereotypes but they become real people. The two sisters, with their practical outlook on life, are fun and believable. I can’t wait to read the other five novels.

A wonderful story for those who love a village tale. Full of great individual personalities