China Court: The Hours of a Country House

It’s been decades since I read a (new to me) Rumer Godden book but from the first page of China Court, her singular writing voice rang clear. I loved the descriptions in this book— the visuals painted with the simplest language, and the unique foods, colors, scenery that drops you into a different time and place.
The checkerboard of characters in different generations was a bit difficult to follow, as well as the unusual use of present tense for the past, but the author promised one can grasp the story if not prone to skimming (she knows me well) so I read carefully and enjoyed it immensely.
Until the last chapter. The use of violence was so unexpected and out of character that it ruined the beauty of the ending. I hated it and can’t believe the editors let it pass, even for those times.

This book tells the story of the days immediately before and after the death of a Cornish matriarch, who knows that, given the chance, her children would sell her beloved home.

That alone would have made me pick up the book, because I love the author, and because I love that this story is set in china clay country; a part of Cornwall that I have rarely read about in fiction, though it is an important part of the county’s history and heritage.

The narrative moves back in time to tell stories of previous generations who lived there, not in the way of most novels that have stories set in different points in time, but in a way that feels completely natural and right. Sometimes a thought, a sound, a sight can spark a memory can stir a memory; sometimes of just a moment of time and sometimes of a whole story of people, places and incidents long past.

That is exactly the way this book works. Rumer Godden did this same thing in an earlier work, A Fugue in Time, and in this book she works with more characters, more history, and – I think – rather more refinement.

I was captivated with the story of the elderly matriarch, who was cared for by a lady not a great deal younger who had been her companion; by the story of a granddaughter she called to her side, who had loved the house as a child but had not been there for many years, as when her mother was widowed she had decided to return to her native America, and pick up the threads of her career as an actress; and by the story that played out when daughters returned, with husbands in tow, to look over what they thought was their rightful inheritance.

That story became so real to me, and so did many stories from the past. I’m thinking of Eustace and Adza, who bought the house and established the dynasty. I’m thinking of Lady Patrick, the daughter of a wealthy and aristocratic family who eloped with the son of the house and struggled with her changed circumstances, her faithless husband and two young sons. At first I couldn’t warm to her, but as I learned more of her story I came to empathise with her. And I am thinking of the wonderful Eliza, who seemed to be cast as the spinster daughter, and who overcame her anger about her situation to set the course of her own life, by insisting that her brother formalised her position as housekeeper and by pursuing her own interests – especially the books that she loved dearly – when her time was her own.

It felt quite natural to move between all of those different stories. When I bought my book I had made sure that I had a family tree to refer to, but I didn’t need it for very long at all’ such was the skill of the author at bringing the house and its occupants to life.

She wrote so beautifully, she picked up exactly the right details, and it really did seem that she had walked through that house, unseen, among all of those different generations; understanding the pull of – the importance of – China Court, as a home and for its own sake.

There was such skill in construction of the story and in the telling of the tale. The present was written in the past tense and the past was written in the present tense, which might sound odd but it was wonderfully effective; and I loved the way the two could switch, sometimes even in the same sentence, feeling completely natural and right.

One character had a story in the present and the past. Ripsie was a child from the village and she became the constant companion of Lady Patrick’s two sons, Borowis and John Henry, while they played outside but as they grew up she found that she was often excluded from their world. Because she had fallen in loved with Borowis, who was brave and spirited, she clung on. When she finally realised that he didn’t love her and that he didn’t even see her as someone who had a place in his world, the steady and sensible John Henry was there to catch her before she fell. They married, and when Ripsie became the lady of the manor she slipped into the role so easily that she could have been born to it.

I’m reluctant to pick a favourite from so many wonderful characters and stories, but I think I have to say that I loved Ripsie and her story the best of all; both for her own sake and for what it said about the best and worst of society and of human nature.

The antique Book of Hours that she treasured and kept with her always provided headings for each chapter; a lovely reminder of the spirituality that is threaded through so many of Rumer Godden’s books, a lovely thing in its own right, and as I came to the end of the book I realised that it was also an integral part of the story.

I also realised that the author had chosen the pieces of the history of the family and the history of the house that she would share carefully and cleverly; to illuminate the past, and to show how the past can shape the present and the future.

I did miss the other pieces of history that weren’t shared; and though I understand that not everything could be told, the characters I met and the stories that I learned are so alive in my mind that want to know and understand more.

My only other disappointment was the ending. The reading of the will, the fallout from that, the discoveries that were made, were all wonderful; but there was just one thing that I couldn’t quite believe, the resolution of that was rushed, and the very final scene was unsettling and has not dated well.

There were so many more things that I loved, and those are the things that have stayed with me since I put the book down.

I’ve read four of Godden’s books so far, and she has hooked me. She is a great storyteller- not always a great writer. This book is story telling book, but if you love that aspect of Godden-you’ll enjoy this book. Her more popular books have wonderful pacing and tight prose. All may be placid now, but underneath there is a cauldron ready to boil over. This book has a little drama, but most of the impact had to do with emotional reveals of the main characters: What events in the house shaped them

I think this book was meant to tell the story of the occupants of a house through the eyes of the house. The history moves forward, backwards even sideways. Dates are given arbitrarily- sometimes I think, only to date the items of the house. I love the use of the Book of Days at the start of each chapter. Meaning of each of the character’s lives is through the hours of the days lived in the house. Once a character leaves the house- they truly cease to exist. There is a character that sickens if she moves from the house. I recommend the book if you are a Godden fan-she can transport you to another time and place- She knows how to make a reader involved in the lives of her characters. This is also a book better read in paper. It is hard to move back and forth with an ereader and this book is meant to be read that way

I enjoyed this book so much so that I am looking forward to reading her children's books such as  The Dolls' House and  Miss Happiness and Miss Flower.

I absolutely loved this book. Some books are wonderful, not for their enduring, classic value, but because they just fit into the nooks and crannies of your self. House, home, books. Tight, sharp writing. This was a book for me. The stay-up-until-2am kind of book. And a wish-it-hadn't-ended-so-quickly book.

This will be the summer of discovering Rumer Godden and I'm loving it.

I had a tough time sticking to this novel in the beginning. I almost gave up on it, but then it completely grabbed me and I ended up really enjoying it. It is a bit tough at first because, being a multi-generational novel, it switches back and forth among the generations, but, not in the usual way. The changes come from paragraph to paragraph and I found that a bit disconcerting in the beginning. The storyline is very good and I ended up really liking this book.

I will forever be thankful that on a dreary December day at the end of 2022, I randomly picking up a copy of ‘The Greengage Summer’ (chiefly because of a nice sounding title ☺️) as it is introduced me to the wonderful versatility and writing skill of its author - Rumer Godden . After finishing China Court, I know I can now call her one of my ‘go to’ authors who will always deliver an absorbing and fulfilling reading experience.

Like ‘A Fugue In Time’ there were multiple time lines involving five generations of the ‘Quinn’ family and it’s numerous staff living in China Court in Cornwall, from the mid 1840s to the present, which was early 1960s. It was a little more linear in its story telling than ‘AFIT’ but I personally preferred this slightly more direct approach. Each character is so expertly portrayed and although I had my favourites, particularly Old Mrs Quinn, (who is known as Ripsie in her youth) I grew to empathise with them all - we learn that each had strengths as well as their weaknesses and the story unfolds in such a way that you can sympathise and understand the complexity of different relationships throughout the various generations.

There are plenty of twists and turns, dual storylines and reoccurring themes, especially of the female characters wanting to change the circumstances of their lives- (special mention of dear Eliza here who finds her solace in books, an intriguing sideline plot indeed!)The format of storytelling keeps you guessing which makes it all the more enjoyable and a fulfilling read.

The prose is stunning, so vivid and will appeal to any reader who loves the rugged landscape and beauty of Cornwall. I had the pleasure of this being me first buddy read with Sara, whose book choice this was. It made the read an even more enjoyable event and reminds me of literature’s wonderful way of bringing readers together to share an experience of a different time and place. I have no hesitation in recommending China Court and feel delighted that I still have so many of Godden’s books to explore - 5 well deserved⭐️

Wow, those last couple pages. I dropped a star just for that. Otherwise, an excellent book of garden descriptions and generational drama and lots of books.
I'm pretty big on a book ending better than it began; this one does not, just because of the last 2 pages. But all the other pages were so exquisite.
Did Rumer Godden get annoyed with somebody IRL while she was wrapping up her book? Sure feels like it.