Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.It's the spring of 1912 and Emerald Torrington is preparing to celebrate her 20th birthday. Florence the housekeeper is decorating a cake, the scullery maids are polishing the silver, and younger siblings Clovis and Smudge are off to the stable block. So far, so Downton. But as the day unfolds it becomes apparent that this peculiar tale owes more to Saki and JB Priestley than Julian Fellowes.
Sadie Jones set her first two novels, The Outcast and Small Wars, in the drab 1950s. Here she takes relish in recreating a familiar Edwardian landscape, peopled by eligible cads and imperious dowagers. The family seat, Sterne, might be an imposing edifice surrounded by black yews and creamy magnolias, but the money has long been spent. Indeed, Emerald's stepfather, Edward, is off to Manchester to try and secure a loan from "an industrialist of low morals".
What starts off as a pastiche of a country-house melodrama turns into something much more macabre. Just as the ladies have finished pouring themselves into evening gowns there comes news of a dreadful accident. A train has come off the tracks, and Sterne must accommodate the survivors. As the first party guests arrive, a group of whey-faced "third -class" passengers can be spotted picking their way across the fields.
Bringing up the rear is Charlie Traversham-Beechers, a charming and well-spoken stranger. Invited to join the birthday dinner, he initiates a savage parlour game called "Hinds and Hounds". It's a stunt that soon has the Torringtons yapping like dogs. Meanwhile, nine-year old Smudge has taken advantage of the adults' inattention to smuggle her beloved pony, Lady, into the house and up to her bedroom.
But for the fact that Jones can't write a bad sentence, the novel's outlandish denouement might have fallen flat. Instead it's hard to forget the anarchic mayhem created by the febrile travellers. Smudge gets Traversham-Beecher's ticket from the start. But she has more immediate concerns when Lady turns skittish at the head of the stairs.
It would spoil the ending to reveal how the Torringtons come to end the night. Suffice to say that Jones's highly combustible period piece makes the dramas at Downton look like a stroll in the park.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments