Looking for good descriptive novels set in 1920-1922 England/France

JeremyR · 08-27-2011, 01:50 AM

I'm writing (for fun, mostly) a novel set in 1921 and so I've been doing research by reading as many novels written during that period as possible. Which thankfully are in the public domain.

Some are really terrible, some are pretty good. I'd like to stop reading the terrible ones.

Good ones I've read: The Moon Rock by Harold MacGrath, From Out the Vasty Deep by Marie Bellow Lowndes, Mademoiselle of Monte Carlo by William le Queux, the Austin Freeman novels/stories up to 1923, some of the Sax Rohmer stuff.

Bad: Well, I've deleted most of them, so I don't remember, but most of the Best British Short Stories of 1922. Only one was good, Seaton's Aunt by Walter de la Mare. F. Scott Fitzgerald's Tales of the Jazz Age was surprisingly tedious.

rkomar · 08-27-2011, 02:34 AM

Some of "The Forsyte Saga" novels by John Galsworthy must span that time. I remember liking "The Good Soldier" by Ford Madox Ford; maybe some of his novels published around 1920 are also good.

BenG · 08-27-2011, 08:23 AM

Try Hemingway's memoir of 1920s Paris, A Moveable Feast and some of Evelyn Waugh's books might be worth a look.

amward · 08-27-2011, 10:02 PM

Try the Miss Mapp series by EF Benson (you can get them from the Mobile Read library) Absolutely hysterical comedy of manners set in an English village. Also the books of Angela Thirkell might be what you are after.

poohbear_nc · 08-28-2011, 09:52 AM

C.P. Snow - Strangers and Brothers series.

JeremyR · 08-28-2011, 09:25 PM

Thanks for the recommendations everyone.

The Galsworthy is definitely what I was looking for, but a bit of a tough read. The Miss Mapp books seem more my cup of Tea

bfisher · 09-18-2011, 12:02 AM

You might want to try some of R.F.Delderfield's novels like "To Serve Them All My Days" or the "A Horseman Riding By" series,which overlaps the 1920's

amward · 09-18-2011, 02:10 AM

OOh yes, I love them too.

bfisher · 09-18-2011, 07:24 PM

There's "Cold Comfort Farm" by Stella Gibbons; although possibly too much of a satire to qualify.

Shayne Parkinson · 09-27-2011, 04:55 AM

Perhaps some P.G. Wodehouse? Jolly good fun, and his work does include that period.

Harriet Smart · 09-27-2011, 12:56 PM

Dorothy Whipple is very good on that period (republished by Persephone Books).

08-27-2011, 01:50 AM	#1
JeremyR Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 2458402 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Louis Device: Kindle Keyboard, Nook HD+	Looking for good descriptive novels set in 1920-1922 England/France I'm writing (for fun, mostly) a novel set in 1921 and so I've been doing research by reading as many novels written during that period as possible. Which thankfully are in the public domain. Some are really terrible, some are pretty good. I'd like to stop reading the terrible ones. Good ones I've read: The Moon Rock by Harold MacGrath, From Out the Vasty Deep by Marie Bellow Lowndes, Mademoiselle of Monte Carlo by William le Queux, the Austin Freeman novels/stories up to 1923, some of the Sax Rohmer stuff. Bad: Well, I've deleted most of them, so I don't remember, but most of the Best British Short Stories of 1922. Only one was good, Seaton's Aunt by Walter de la Mare. F. Scott Fitzgerald's Tales of the Jazz Age was surprisingly tedious. Last edited by JeremyR; 08-27-2011 at 02:53 AM.

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08-27-2011, 02:34 AM	#2
rkomar Wizard Posts: 2,986 Karma: 18343081 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Sudbury, ON, Canada Device: PRS-505, PB 902, PRS-T1, PB 623, PB 840, PB 633	Some of "The Forsyte Saga" novels by John Galsworthy must span that time. I remember liking "The Good Soldier" by Ford Madox Ford; maybe some of his novels published around 1920 are also good.

08-27-2011, 08:23 AM	#3
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,729 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	Try Hemingway's memoir of 1920s Paris, A Moveable Feast and some of Evelyn Waugh's books might be worth a look.

08-27-2011, 10:02 PM	#4
amward Wizard Posts: 1,299 Karma: 2081110 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: SW Australia Device: Eco Eclipse, Sony PRS 350 (pink), Ipod Touch, Kindle Touch	Try the Miss Mapp series by EF Benson (you can get them from the Mobile Read library) Absolutely hysterical comedy of manners set in an English village. Also the books of Angela Thirkell might be what you are after.

08-28-2011, 09:52 AM	#5
poohbear_nc Now what? Posts: 58,885 Karma: 135181808 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	C.P. Snow - Strangers and Brothers series.

08-28-2011, 09:25 PM	#6
JeremyR Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 2458402 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Louis Device: Kindle Keyboard, Nook HD+	Thanks for the recommendations everyone. The Galsworthy is definitely what I was looking for, but a bit of a tough read. The Miss Mapp books seem more my cup of Tea

09-18-2011, 12:02 AM	#7
bfisher Wizard Posts: 1,638 Karma: 28483498 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Ottawa Canada Device: Sony PRS-T3, Galaxy (Aldiko, Kobo app)	You might want to try some of R.F.Delderfield's novels like "To Serve Them All My Days" or the "A Horseman Riding By" series,which overlaps the 1920's

09-18-2011, 02:10 AM	#8
amward Wizard Posts: 1,299 Karma: 2081110 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: SW Australia Device: Eco Eclipse, Sony PRS 350 (pink), Ipod Touch, Kindle Touch	OOh yes, I love them too.

09-18-2011, 07:24 PM	#9
bfisher Wizard Posts: 1,638 Karma: 28483498 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Ottawa Canada Device: Sony PRS-T3, Galaxy (Aldiko, Kobo app)	There's "Cold Comfort Farm" by Stella Gibbons; although possibly too much of a satire to qualify.

09-27-2011, 04:55 AM	#10
Shayne Parkinson Author Posts: 1,532 Karma: 5447804 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: New Zealand Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab	Perhaps some P.G. Wodehouse? Jolly good fun, and his work does include that period.

09-27-2011, 12:56 PM	#11
Harriet Smart Historical novelist Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: none	Dorothy Whipple is very good on that period (republished by Persephone Books).

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