Published in the first year of WWII, this is a cute, superficial look at the zeitgeist of England. It's not nearly as funny as the first few Provincial Lady novels--I'd recommend fans of those to stop at [book: The Provincial Lady in America]. When war is declared, the Lady tries to get war-work--only to realize that every other person in England is trying to Do Their Part as well. After weeks of asking Ministry officials for something to do, she finally gets volunteer work at a canteen. Everyone waits around and absolutely nothing happens. If this tale was told about any other war I'd have found it rather more amusing. ( )

I thought this book was maddening. The Provincial Lady is back, wanting to be useful to the war effort. At home in Devon, her husband and her husband's aunt watch over some Irish refugees while she goes to London to try to find something to do to help out. Her volunteer job in a canteen provides information on lots of interesting people and is fun to read about. Once the situation is set up, about 4 months into the war, the whole thing ends, just when you want to know what happens to everyone. Maddening. ( )

Due to confusion regarding UK and American titles, I didn’t realize this book existed until a couple months ago. It is the fifth and final part of the Provincial Lady books and a very funny one at that. ( )

http://www.lonelymountain.net/books/dec05.html#delafieldpl ( )

War has come to Britain, so the Provincial Lady decides to do her bit, and move to London to find a job to help with the war effort. Unfortunately, everyone else has the same idea, and rather than finding her offer eagerly embraced, she is reducing to trying every contact she has to try and get a position, only to end up volunteering at a canteen. Not to worry, for as usual her diary is written with the wit and verve we have come to expect from this series, and not only are we revisited by regular characters (the awful Lady B has not changed one bit) but also new ones.
It is interesting to read an observation of life in the early years of the war written by someone obviously there, and without her impressions softened by nostalgia. We learn that for every one that pulled together in the spirit of the war, there were just as many annoying and self-serving people as ever. We commiserate, laugh, and sigh with the Provincial lady as she attempts to hold her household, and own life, together in the most testing of times. ( )