A Month in the Country – JL Carr (1980) 85 pages
A Month in the Country is why I read novellas: beautifully written, acutely observed, exploring huge themes in a tightly constructed story that is an absolute gem.
Set just after World War I, shell-shocked soldier Tom Birkin arrives in the Yorkshire town of Oxgodby to uncover a medieval mural in the local church, much to the consternation of Reverend Keach:
“ ‘It wasn’t in the contract,’ he hedged, somehow managing to imply that neither were my stammer and face-twitch.”
[…]
“I looked like an Unsuitable Person likely to indulge in Unnatural Activities who, against his advice, had been unnecessarily hired to uncover a wall-painting he didn’t want to see, and the sooner I got it done and buzzed off to sin-stricken London the better.”
Tom hopes that a quiet summer of regular work, quiet and solitude will help him heal:
“The marvellous thing was coming into this haven of calm water and, for a season, not having to worry my head with anything but uncovering their wall-painting for them. And, afterwards, perhaps I could make a new start, forget what the War and the rows with Vinny had done to me and begin where I’d left off. This is what I need, I thought – a new start and, afterwards, maybe I won’t be a casualty anymore.
Well, we live by hope.”
He is employed due to a legacy, which has also employed another soldier, Moon, to find a grave just outside the church walls. Moon works out pretty quickly where the grave is so spins out his task to enable him to excavate remains he has identified at the site. The two recognise one another as kin due to their war experiences, without discussing what happened to either of them.
“This was a fairly typical beginning to most days – a mug of tea in Moon’s dug-out, usually not saying much, while he had a pipe… he would look speculatively at me. Now who are you? Who have you left behind in the kitchen? What befell you Over There to give you that God-awful twitch? Are you here to try to crawl back into the skin you had before they pushed you through the mincer?”
Carr writes about the technicalities of restoration so cleverly. Details are included to make Birkin’s voice authentic, but without it being overwhelming or seeming clunky. What he also captures is Birkin’s love of his work:
“But for me, the exciting thing was more than this. Here I was, face to face with a nameless painter reaching from the dark to show me what he could do, saying to me as clear as any words ‘If any part of me survives from time’s corruption, let it be this. For this is the sort of man I was.’”
Birkin makes friends with residents in Oxgodby: Mr Ellerbeck the station master, his young daughter Kathy, and Anne Keach, the reverend’s wife, who seems as lost as Tom. Written from the point of view of Birkin looking back, there is an elegiac quality to the story, particularly evoked through the descriptions of nature:
“For me that will always be the summer day of summers days – a cloudless sky, ditches and roadside deep in grass, poppies, cuckoo spit, trees heavy with leaf, orchards bulging over hedge briars. And we nimbled along through it”
Restoration, healing, judgement, the transitory nature of experience, time, life’s fragility… all these themes are explored in just 85 pages. And yet A Month in Country never seems limited or superficial. Absolutely deserving of its classic status.
A Month in the Country was adapted into a film in 1987. I watched it after reading this and it is a broadly faithful adaptation but not entirely successful in capturing the sense of the summer, or the relationships between the characters. Definitely worth a watch though, with an excellent cast (especially Patrick Malahide as Reverend Keach):
madame bibi lophile recommends 
I’d love to read this but it’s not available in French and the English is too complicated for me. *sigh*
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What a pain! I also get frustrated at the lack of English translations of things I want to read. Fingers crossed a wonderful French translator gets to it soon.
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I couldn’t agree more with everything you say here. It has to be one of the most accomplished novellas ever written. A masterpiece in miniature. Thank you for a lovely reminder!
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Masterpiece in miniature is exactly right Jacqui!
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You’re right – it is a gem and the perfect argument in favour of novellas. Such an evocative piece of writing!
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It’s so evocative isn’t it? So much is captured in such a small space.
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Another one sitting on my shleves you’ve prompted me to reread.
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I think it will reward re-reading Susan, it’s so beautifully written and complex.
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Ooh you’ve reminded me that I have this tbr, somewhere.
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I think you’d really like it Ali!
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This is one I’ve been meaning to read for years – thanks for the reminder!
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It’s so good Jane, I hope you enjoy it!
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just bought my copy!
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Fantastic! I can’t wait to hear your thoughts 🙂
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I introduced this to the members of the Summer School I run each year perhaps five years ago now and they are still talking about it.
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I can totally believe it! It’s a stunning work.
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This is on my shelf looking all smug in light of your great review!
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Deservedly smug! I hope you enjoy it when you get to it Liz 🙂
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I read this one many years ago and I agree the film doesn’t quite capture the magic of it.
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There’s a lot to commend the film but it doesn’t quite manage the subtlety or depth of the book, does it? Definitely an instance of the book being better than the film (of which there are many…)
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Yes, I think it’s very rare for a film to be better than the book.
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Aha! Now this one is already on my TBR – you’d think I’d have managed to find time to fit in 85 pages sometime in the last couple of years, wouldn’t you? I’m glad it gets your whole-hearted endorsement – it does sound wonderful…
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It’s so good FF, I think you’ll really like it 🙂
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I was convinced on this one from your first sentence!
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It’s so good Naomi, I hope you get the chance to read it!
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Love this novella! I often think of that vicarage in the shadows… I’ve read a couple others by him, and have several more waiting, and he’s certainly versatile.
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I’d really like to read more by him, I thought this was just so impressive. It’s early days but I think its a strong contender for my novella of the month…
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