FEATURED JOBS
Comments (0)Set initially in World War II Vienna, then in Dorset, England, “The House of Tyneford,” by Natasha Soloman is an engaging story of 19-year-old Elise Landau, sent by her parents, Anna, a renowned opera singer, and Julian, a celebrated novelist, to England to escape the Nazi’s invasion of Austria. Elise goes to Tyneford, a small seaside village where she is hired as a servant at the country home of wealthy, aristocratic Christopher Rivers. Elise’s sister Margot and her husband emigrate to the United States, and her parents await visas so that they, too, can escape to the U.S. They promise Elise that they will send for her as soon as they arrive there.
Elise’s adjustment to life at Tyneford is difficult. As a child of the bourgeoisie, she is not accustomed to being treated like a servant; she lacks the skills to perform household duties. Her difficulty with the English language and the rigidity of Tyneford’s other servants, combined with her worries about her family, make adjustment even harder. The arrival of Kit, Mr. Rivers’ handsome, charismatic son, soon alters Elise’s feelings about Tyneford. She begins to form strong attachments to Kit and his father, to the quietly beautiful village and many of the people there. Still, Elise hopes that her parents will obtain visas and her family will soon reunite.
The descriptions of the Dorset landscape are vivid and romantic. The characters are well drawn and the story is compelling. The surprise ending speaks to the complicated nature of relationships, and the unexpected detours that people make, especially in tumultuous times.