Following on from our Book Group’s choice for last month, “Brighton Rock, April’s choice was “Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont”* by Elizabeth Taylor (no, not that Elizabeth Taylor!). It was first published in 1971 and made into a film in 2005. A fairly short read by an author I’d not come across before. So, how did I get on?
Mrs Palfrey at The Claremont
The story opens in the mid 1960’s with Mrs Laura Palfrey, a retired widow, arriving to live at the Claremont, a residential hotel in London for senior citizens. While out for a walk one day, she trips and falls, and is rescued by an aspiring young author named Ludo.
From this rather unpromising first meeting, an unlikely camaraderie develops. Mrs Palfrey persuades Ludo to impersonate her grandson to alleviate the embarrassment she feels about her real relative never visiting her. Both characters derive a huge sense of fun from the charade, albeit for different reasons. Ludo is preparing a novel, “We Aren’t Allowed To Die Here“, and initially views his conversations with Mrs Palfrey as a form of research. But this soon morphs into a genuine and unexpected friendship on both sides.
Comparisons with Jane Austen
Elizabeth Taylor has written some brilliant characters which are on a par with any by Jane Austen. Lady Swayne is every bit as snobbish as Lady Catherine de Bourgh (Pride and Prejudice*) and she too is the master of the put-down, “I’m afraid I don’t smoke”, for example.
Mrs de Salis is another comic character who would be equally at home in any Jane Austen novel, as are Mrs Burton and Mr Osmond. Mr Osmond is a pompous old man who fancies himself in love with Mrs Palfrey and, to her horror, proposes marriage, which she has to decline in no uncertain terms!
Portraits of old age
A character I felt great sympathy for was Mrs Arbuthnot when she was forced to leave the Claremont for a proper retirement home. Her attempts at pretending the move was really her choice were painful, and Elizabeth Taylor skilfully depicts the perils, loneliness, and sadness of growing old. Although pride, appearances, and stiff upper lips abound among the residents, we can still feel their fear and isolation. The Claremont is certainly no Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
All the characters cherish their privacy and their pride, none more so than Mrs Palfrey at the end of the book. After suffering a heart attack and ending up in hospital, it’s left to Ludo to find her a private room as her daughter is too busy with a weekend party. It’s a damning indictment on Mrs Palfrey’s relatives that they don’t bother to post a notice of her death because they assume no-one would be interested. In fact, she had made many friends at the Claremont, as well as Ludo.
Film vs. book
Co-incidentally, this is the third Book Group choice in a row that has been made into a film. The 2005 film* stars Joan Plowright as Mrs Palfrey and Rupert Friend (pre-Homeland days) as Ludo. I haven’t seen it so can’t comment on any comparisons with the book, but both actors certainly look like how I imagined the characters to appear.
Would I recommend it Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont?
I absolutely loved“Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont”.It was an easy read, both funny and sad in equal measure, and I couldn’t wait to return to it each time I had to put it down. The writing is so sensitive and incisive and even now, a few weeks later, I keep returning to re-read snippets. I’m inspired to search out more of Elizabeth Taylor’s books and read them too.
This is one of the many reasons I love our Book Group – I’m steered towards authors and books that I would never normally choose. And this month I think I’ve been really lucky to happen across an undiscovered gem.
Have you read “Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont”? What did you think? Have you read any other Elizabeth Taylor books? If so, which ones would you recommend?
* This post features some affiliate links (please see my Disclaimer).
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