The Village

We might like to pretend that class distinctions no longer exist, but their persist, despite the levelling action of the war, though not based as rigidly on birth and income as in our parent's days. In this shrewd and entertaining novel "The Village", Marghanita Laski has so delicately and exactly defined these distinctions that, whatever our status, we can laugh at ourselves while sympathising with the other's point of view. Weaving through the story is a romance between two very likeable young people whose only problem is that they come from homes widely different in social standing. Not only is it a problem to them, but to almost everyone else concerned. The repercussions of their engagement on the intricate social strata of the typical rural community in which they live is traced in a way that is as free from malice as it is full of wit. What makes this book so enjoyable is the brilliance with which the many characters are displayed. In these days, when the very mention of "class" is apt to provoke verbal fireworks, it is courageous to take it as the main theme, but the novel is written with such skill and understanding that it cannot fail to appeal to all who enjoy a rich, worthwhile story.