Wigs on the Green by Nancy Mitford

I started Wigs on the Green (1935) at the end of September and have finally got round to finishing it – it was quite a pleasant read. One thing I have to say is this novel reminded me of Wilde’s ‘The Importance of being Earnest’ (which I love). I have to admit, reading the Introduction and the blurb I did feel a little twinge of ‘do I want to read this’, written before the outbreak of WW2, two of Nancy’s sisters, Diana and Unity were quite besotted with Hitler and his views. Mitford, quite obviously used this all as a backdrop to Wigs, and upon its publication it upset the two sisters. Nancy wanted Wigs to cease being published as the atrocities as the outbreak of war occurred and after 75 years, the novel was published again by Penguin as a part of a collection of five of Mitford’s novels.

 So as I have said the novel was incredibly reminiscent of Earnest, through its setting and the two characters I loved the most – charming Jasper although a womaniser and dear old poor Noel.

The novel commences with Noel inheriting a sum of money after his Aunts death – he doesn’t want to work anymore and wants to find himself a wife to settle down with and live a relatively easy life. The only glitch with the ‘wife figure’ is that she has to be rich or an heiress! Pretty shallow..you think that until Jasper comes along on the journey to find a lady to marry...

The only way to describe the characters are they are all hopeless romantics, either looking for love or falling ‘madly’ in love with people they’re not supposed to (because they are married – oh the sacrilege) or as in the case of Eugine Malmais passionate about political values and the future of your country! She really was the eccentric and deluded by the values of the Union Jackshirts, I didn’t like her for the extreme – but the passion doesn’t falter anywhere in the novel, I suppose that’s what can happen when a charismatic ‘leader’ has the chance to indoctrinate you.

On the whole it was a nice read, the village setting made me chuckle – and it’s funny to think that these small community antics are still thriving today, I think it’s quite possible to suggest that this the a version of ‘Made in Chelsea’ from the 1930’s..

I cannot wait for the next read ‘The Pursuit of Love’ I’m thinking it’s going to have pretty much the same themes running through... but I think I read the first chapter when I brought it and it was good.

Until next time – happy reading...