![]() ![]() Titford was full of Botts, and every one of them a credit to it.”Īs the novel opens Milly Bott is surrounded by her sorrowing in-laws – her husband died in a road accident a few days earlier, they have buried him and the solicitor is about to read the will. They subscribed, presided, spoke, ordered. “That important south London suburb appreciated the Botts, so financially sound, so continually increasing in prosperity. ![]() Even the name chosen for our heroine’s in-laws is perfect – Bott – a word that can be spat out in exasperation and disgust as poor Milly might long to do. Everything about this novel is perfect – each scene, each piece of dialogue is simply superb. This is a novel full to the brim of Elizabeth von Arnim’s delicious wit, a satirically humorous novel about middle class prudery and close-minded cruelty. For me, Expiation felt like classic von Arnim. I can’t understand why it was out of print so long, perhaps the rather unexciting title is partly responsible. This wonderful Elizabeth von Arnim novel was out of print for decades before Persephone brought it back. I am as you are all probably aware a big fan of Elizabeth von Arnin and of course a big Persephone fan so a book combining the two felt like a real treat. ![]()
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