Tuesday, 13 March 2012

MRS MINIVER

Greer Garson as the eponymous Mrs Miniver
There are a great many reasons to love Mrs Miniver - the film is wonderful, and the book, based on Jan Struther's newspaper columns for The Times, is even better. The film is, of course, a wonderfully uplifting piece of wartime propoganda - Churchill apparently said it did more for the allied cause than a flotilla of battleships -  but it's the character of Mrs Miniver herself which is the most interesting, at once subtle, wise and thoughtful. I'm particularly fond of this quotation;

“Mrs. Miniver suddenly understood why she was enjoying the forties so much better than she had enjoyed the thirties: it was the difference between August and October, between the heaviness of late summer and the sparkle of early autumn, between the ending of an old phase and the beginning of a fresh one.”


Jan Struther's book is still in print and has lost nothing of its charm. For a very entertaining, fictional account of wartime film making, do read Lissa Evans' marvellous book 'Their Finest Hour and a Half', long-listed for the 2009 Orange Prize.
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11 comments:

  1. nancyblackett13 March 2012 at 12:22

    plus she has superior hair

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  2. Patience_Crabstick13 March 2012 at 12:41

    I've seen the movie, but I had no idea there was a book. I will definitely add it to my reading list.

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  3. Pamela Terry and Edward13 March 2012 at 13:25

    There was a book?!
    I must seek that out.
    Thank you!

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  4. Mrs Jones13 March 2012 at 15:39

    Did you know she won the Oscar for that and gave the longest acceptance speech in history? About 7 minutes long. She also married the actor who played her son in the film.

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  5. Sue13 March 2012 at 17:19

    This is a thrilling post; one of my favourite books ever.I read a bit when I'm feeling miserable and am immediately cheered up.She just wrote so well.Have you read Ysenda Maxtone Graham's book? That's v good too.Sue

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  6. Anonymous14 March 2012 at 18:38

    Hello from the Oregon (USA) coast!!! MM is one of my favorite all time movies--so comforting! And Greer Garson truly exemplefies mature beauty. I didn't know about the book but will definitely order it for my Kindle. Thanks! Allegra

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  7. La Petite Gallery23 March 2012 at 12:10

    Of all the women in the world, I have always loved Mrs. Miniver and that gorgeous Greer Garson.
    That is a favorite of mine and Goodbye Mr. Chips
    yvonne

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  8. Rose24 March 2012 at 13:32

    Ashamed to say I've never read or seen this- now added to wish lists of the book and love film variety

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  9. Claire Toplis9 May 2012 at 11:03

    I've seen the film . never the book . I must read it

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  10. Jumpo London14 May 2012 at 08:02

    Nice video thanks for such nice & wonderful post.
    Going Out Dresses

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  11. Vintage Jewellery UK25 September 2012 at 07:54

    Nice blog. thanks

    ReplyDelete