Much more than just a 'Women's Novel' (I Capture the Castle - Dodie Smith)

Member Name: Cosmokat

Product:	I Capture the Castle - Dodie Smith
Date:	14/09/09 (59 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Beautiful description, very funny and inspired

Disadvantages: A bit over-romanticised for some

Dodie Smith's first novel tells the coming-of-age story of a teenage girl, in the form of her personal diary. She wrote it in 1948 after authoring a number of plays.

The diary of Cassandra Mortmain tracks the musings of a young woman and her family's impoverished life in a crumbling castle, leased by her father who has lost creative inspiration after his initial literary success some years earlier. They live with her other-worldly step-mother Topaz and her beautiful and frustrated sister, Rose. The plot involves some ups and downs revolving around the rich new American family who inherit the estate and become the objects of interest to the socially isolated sisters.

The characters are vividly drawn. Cassandra's narration is naive and youthful but insightfully and subtly profound at times and it is a credit to the writer that her words feel authentic, rather than manipulated. This is a believable young person, despite the time that has passed since it's publication.

Maybe the most skilful aspect of Smith's writing is in the description of the English countryside, and of the Castle itself. After reading this I discovered she wrote it while living in the United States and couldn't believe it - I thought she surely must have been wandering around the very place she describes so well, but it seems her homesickness assisted her in this respect. 'Captured', indeed. As well as being almost able to smell, taste and touch the surroundings, Dodie Smith's ability with visual description, combined with Cassandra's adolescent wit, makes for some hilarious mental imagery that has me giggling even now, in the same way that funny, real events from my own memories can do. I can't think of a single other book that has done that. Ok, maybe Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

The events in the book are pretty small-scale, personal to the individual, and revolve around the navigation of romantic relationships and unrequited love. The weightier subject of poverty is a central theme; the family are barely surviving. Creative inspiration and the role of women are also up for discussion.

My sister bought this book for me, and she said she had heard it recommended on a 'Women's Literature' type radio programme, but I reckon that's not doing it credit to assume men wouldn't appreciate it, even if it might not appeal at first glance. A wide range of ages should also be able to enjoy 'I Capture the Castle' too, thanks to the quality of the writing.

Summary: A really memorable novel.