βSHOPMAN: “You may have your choice β penny plain or twopence coloured.”
SOLEMN SMALL BOY: “Penny plain, please. It’s better value for the money.β
Penny Plain by O. Douglas was a cozy, charming find (thanks to Elisabethβs recommendation from last year). Itβs set in the small town of Priorsford in Scotland, in the 1920s just after WWI.
Young Jean Jardine, barely twenty four, has been taking care of her three younger brothers since a long time. The Jardines have lived on meager means since their parents passed away, but they are an optimistic, good-hearted lot. Thereβs young rascal Mhor and his dog Peter, Jock who detests sentimentality because heβs at that teenage of life, David who got a scholarship to Oxford and just wants to improve things for his sister. They make do with what they have, possessing a secret of happiness that certainly the rich donβt. Oh, and they read lot, and quote Shakespeare and Sir Walter Scott and lots of wonderful poetry.
Enter Miss Pamela Reston. Pamela’s just come down to Priorsford for some peace and quiet, trying to make sense of her empty socialite life. A lovely friendship develops between her and the Jardines, good for both sides. They spend a lot of time visiting the neighbors, talking about books and life in London, and just generally having unpretentious fun. Jean is so simple and has such few wants that sheβs nicknamed a “penny plain” β but her penny plain-ness is exactly what makes her so endearing.
Why you should read this book:
The Jardinesβ simplicity is charming. Nothing veers off into Pollyanna-ish territory, but this
the 1920s after all: a wholly different age. It seems to be less cynical, and people have more time for each other. Books are the only gateways into other worlds (no social media!) and that’s a very different way of looking at life, especially in the smaller towns. There are also references to British colonies in those days, but the author avoids anything too sensitive; mostly these were seen as fascinating venues for travel and fancy turns of phrases.In the last one-third of the book, Pamelaβs brother comes back from his mountaineering expeditions in India. He too falls head over heels for the Jardines. Of course, we know where this is going — except that Jean thinks they are too poor to be hobnobbing with bigwigs like the Restons. And then, things take another turn when someone leaves a large inheritance to Jean. Suddenly, the attitude of the town towards the Jardines changes in multiple ways, and the author depicts that well.
In fact, thatβs the strongest feature of this book β the way Douglas sketches out human characters without making them too lofty or too shabby. Nobodyβs all altruistic, and nobodyβs all wicked. No one has to be βredeemedβ, but everyone can improve just by being themselves. Thereβs very little βjudgingβ of characters in these books. Douglas gives everyone an insightful backstory that explains their way of thinking in a humorous or empathetic way and makes them look more real. And that warmed the cockles of my heart.
Rating: 8 of 10
Have you read any books by O. Douglas? Interestingly, Douglas’s brother was John Buchan, the renowned statesman who wrote the marvelous historical thriller, The Thirty Nine Steps.
16 replies on “Penny Plain by O. Douglas: Cozy Scottish Historical”
Would you class this as romance? It doesnβt really sound like it….
I went in thinking it was a romance, given the blurb on Goodreads. But it really wasn’t — it was more about historical small town life. Romance comes in only late at the end and in passing. It’s like saying Anne of Green Gables or Little Women is a romance… I think the book’s being marketed wrong!
I was only somewhat aware of O. Douglas, and certainly did not know that she was sister to John Buchan. (Not that I have read much by him either.) I like books set back when there was no internet or social media. If I get a chance, I will give this… or another of her books… a try.
TracyK at Bitter Tea and Mystery
I didn’t know O. Douglas was Buchan’s sister either, till I read this book and then went Wikipedia-ing. I think she’s an author I’ll be reading more of. I liked the cozy small town historical vibes in this one!
Thanks for stopping by. π
Thanks, I didn’t know the author. Will you be reading then the whole trilogy?
I’m definitely going to read more books by Douglas, liked her whole Anne-of-Green-Gables vibe overall
Never heard of this before and I for one won’t mind a Pollyana type of story! I love Pollyana.
Lovely review Lex. Have a good week and take care of yourself!
Elza Reads
If you liked Pollyanna, you’ll definitely like this one. It’s a different age, but sometimes it feels nice to step into that age again
This sounds like a fun historical fiction novel. I’m adding it on to my TBR!
It was so charming, it took me by surprise. I think you’ll like it π
This sounds nice. Plus Scotland. I love the part too about books being the only escape from life, in some way. Reminds me of going to my grandparents’ house as a kid and they had old books, Readers Digest Condensed and whatnot, and it seems so quaint now but also strangely comforting.
Yes, that’s exactly the feel you get with this book. Plus, Scotland — I really need to go visit Scotland.
Same!!!
I’ve never heard of this but it sounds like a sweet story. Thank you for sharing this title with us!
If you’ve liked Little Women, or Eight Cousins, or Daddy Old Legs, or Pollyanna… you’ll like this one! It has a similar feel. π
I’ve never heard of this one but I like the sound of it very much.
Lynn π