"Loving" by Henry Green: Set against the backdrop of World War II, "Loving" examines life at an Irish castle as its mostly English inhabitants deal with class distinction, the mounting German threat, and the intrigue of personal relationships.
The house belongs to the widowed Mrs. Tennant, whose son Jack is in England fighting the war. Mrs. Tennant's daughter-in-law, Violet, and her two small children, Evelyn and Moira, also reside at the castle. However, the stars of this show are the servants. The book opens with Mr. Eldon, the family's longtime butler, on his deathbed calling out the name of a lost love. The tormented Mr. Eldon soon passes, promoting Charley Raunce to the position of butler. The death, not to mention Raunce's rise to power, seems to unbalance the delicate chemistry of the house. Mr. Eldon's presence was what kept everything in order. He did it through hard work, loyalty, and, well, blackmail. Without Mr. Eldon around to keep things in check, gossip, innuendo, and petty jealousy divide the house.
The prominent members of the serving staff include Miss Burch, the lead female servant; Edith and Kate, two young, attractive maids; Albert, Raunce's young assistant; Paddy O'Conor, the Irish lampman; Mrs. Welch, the cook; and Nanny Swift, the elderly caretaker for Evelyn and Moira. When Mrs. Welch's little nephew Albert moves in after being evacuated from a war-torn England, he proves to be a devilish imp capable of unexpected mayhem. Yet even the shenanigans of the mischievous Albert can't match the wanton destruction caused by love.
One of the secrets the late Mr. Eldon exploited was Violet's ongoing affair with an army officer. When Edith innocently stumbles upon the adulterous couple, her discovery inspires Violet to leave early for a planned trip to visit her husband. Mrs. Tennant accompanies her daughter-in- law, leaving the castle and the children in the capable hands of Raunce and the other servants, who have their own suspicions regarding their employers' early departure. Rumors are swirling that the Germans are poised to invade Ireland. The servants feel hung out to dry. There's also the matter of Mrs. Tennant's lost sapphire ring, which prompts a visit from an insurance man, further straining the loyalty of the house staff. And with complete run of the castle, love begins to bloom on several unexpected fronts.
"Loving" is a pleasant, entertaining read, but there's really nothing of enormous importance here. There's also a disturbing lack of commas present. Back where I come from, we have a little thing called "direct address." Its absence should not be underestimated. Punctuation aside, Mr. Green does a fine job handling his characters, and he certainly doesn't dumb things down when it comes to their introductions. He tells the story at his own pace, forcing the reader to adjust to the cast and its unique English vocabulary and accents. While it may make things a bit murky early on, it's a sure sign of a good writer, and it all pays off in the end. In fact, it's the ending that earns "Loving" a third shot. The last three paragraphs are remarkable.
RATING: 