Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

EM Delafield - The Diary of a Provincial Lady

4 Extra Debut. A visit from Lady Boxe and a battle with bulbs. Journal of an upper-middle class woman in 1930s Devon. From December 2014.

E M Delafield was great friends with Margaret Mackworth, 2nd Viscountess Rhondda, and became a director of Time and Tide magazine. When the editor "wanted some light 'middles', preferably in serial form, she promised to think of something". And so it was, in 1930, that her most popular and enduring work The Diary of a Provincial Lady was written. It has never been out of print.

The Diary of a Provincial Lady charts the day-to-day life of a Devonshire-dwelling lady and her attempts to keep her somewhat ramshackle household from falling into chaos.

Husband Robert, when he's not snoozing behind The Times, does everything with grumbling reluctance. Her children are gleefully troublesome. A succession of tricky servants invariably seem to gain the upper hand. And if her domestic trials are not enough, she must keep up appearances - particularly with the maddeningly patronising Lady Boxe, with whom our Provincial Lady eternally (and unsuccessfully) endeavours to compete.

This largely autobiographical novel substituted the names of "Robin" and "Vicky" for her own children, Lionel and Rosamund.

Abridged by Libby Spurrier
Read by Claire Skinner

Produced by Joanna Green
A Pier production for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4.

15 minutes

Last on

Boxing Day 2017 02:00

Credits

Role Contributor
Reader Claire Skinner
Author EM Delafield
Abridger Libby Spurrier
Producer Joanna Green

Broadcasts

  • Mon 22 Dec 2014 22:45
  • Christmas Day 2017 14:00
  • Boxing Day 2017 02:00

Books

Celebrating reading and the 100 novels that have shaped our world.

How many of these 100 Novels have you read?

How many of these 100 Novels have you read?

After a passionate debate, our panel has come up with this surprising literary selection.

Finding Your Story

Finding Your Story

Ten remarkable novels about identity: Which one will help you discover yourself?

Short stories to keep

The fiction podcast featuring the best stories from the UK's finest writers