I was talking to Claire from Paperback Reader about dolls houses the other day, and took this picture of mine to show her, and thought that it would be something nice to share with my readers! My Grandad built this house for me when I was quite small and it now dominates my living room; inside there is a shop, hallway, dining room and kitchen on the ground floor, upstairs sitting room, hall, bedroom and bathroom on the first floor and I have been collecting things for it for many years. I never had dolls house dolls, but my Sylvanian Family toys were the right size and preferred occupying such a glorious residence to their Sylvanian dwellings.
Following my chat with Claire, I was inspired to read Katherine Mansfield's short story - The doll's house which I know is one of her favourites. I'd not read any Mansfield before, but took down my Persephone collection - The montana stories - and greatly enjoyed it. In fact I then went on to read most of the rest of the volume which was a wonderful introduction to Mansfield's writing (why had I left it so long?!), although I found myself slightly frustrated by the number of unfinished stories included in the volume. There's a link to the story here if you want to read a charming short story with a dolls house as centre stage.
I then remembered reading another book featuring a dolls house - by Rumer Godden, entitled The dolls house. So I went and borrowed it from the library to re-read. It's a children's book, but one which would certainly also appeal to adults. (Intriguingly I found out that it had a television series made by Oliver Postgate which was a wonderful coincidence with my other reading). It's the story of Tottie Plantaganet, a dutch doll, and the rest of her family, who get to move into a beautiful antique dolls house and live happily until another selfish doll called Marchpane moves in. The dolls are wonderfully described, but they are also characters as well as cloth people.
You have no idea how much this post has cheered me; I am having a dark day but you mention two of my favourite things: dollhouses and Katherine Mansfield :)
ReplyDeleteI am relieved and happy that you enjoyed her writing. I haven't read my copy of The Montana Stories yet (nor the Journal, come to that) but the fragmented nature of it and it including mainly her later, unfinished work, will be bound to be frustrating, especially to a new reader.
Lovely to see the inside of your dollshouse this time! I love the kitchen especially and its long table. Mine is mainly Victorian but I love all minutiae.
Oh how lovely, Verity! What a beautiful treasure to keep and pass on to future generations! I had a Sylvanian Families cottage handed down from my sister and I loved it until my brother smashed it in a fit of rage! Be grateful you're an only child!
ReplyDeleteLovely dolls house, Verity. I had a pretend one as a child, a wooden stool that I turned on its side. My lovely husband made me a dolls house from a kit, several years ago now.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to read more dolls house related fiction - then there's The Houseknapper aka The Incredible Shrinking House by Jane Curry.
The Rumer Godden one you mention is a wonderful story.
Ooops, that should have been The Mysterious Shrinking House as the alternative title for The Houseknapper.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I think I have read the Rumer Godden story too; it seems familiar.
ReplyDeleteI was just passing and saw the mention of dolls houses and what a wonderful house your grandfather made for you. The detail on those doors is amazing. I love the beading round the windows and doors. The picture window is a lovely idea. Sorry, I am a bit of a dolls house nerd! Come visit some time.
ReplyDeletePan
http://smallstuff-blogspot.blogspot.com/
Beautiful - I've never actually had a doll's house!
ReplyDeleteI had to study The Doll's House at school, in a book of short stories. It was one of the better short stories in the book.
I LOVE your doll house, Verity! How sweet of your Grandad to make it for you...my favourite room is the kitchen. The toaster is so cute with its toast ready to pop down. Queen Mary's Doll House at Windsor Castle is such a treat to behold, have you ever seen it?
ReplyDeleteThe Rumer Godden Doll's House was one of my favorite books when I was a kid. I got a hardback copy of it almost completely by accident recently, and I really treasure it. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely dollhouse! And you're making me want to take down my copy of The Doll's House and reread it.
ReplyDeleteA well-loved favourite from my own childhood is another book by Rumer Godden about a dollshouse: Nona is sent back to England from India and is desperately homesick. Someone sends her two little Japanese dolls (who by inference are also homesick) and Nona creates a Japanese house (and eventually a garden) for them. This new passion helps to integrate Nona into her new life, and illustrates perfectly the idea that helping others often has many benefits for oneself. The book comes complete with the floorplans and construction instructions for a Japanese doll house.
ReplyDeleteSorry: the book about Nona is called Miss Happiness and Miss Flower!
ReplyDeleteWow - I'm overwhelmed by the response to this post! I'm glad no-one commented on my housekeeping abilities :) I should probably have mentioned the Borrowers too as they sort of fit into the world of Dolls house fiction.
ReplyDeleteClaire - I'm glad the post cheered you up. Can you remind me what Katherine Mansfield collection might have less unfinished stories in?
Rachel - how awful! I had Sylvanian houses (and windmill and houseboat!) too but they were casualties of my parents splitting up.
Geraldine - I often used to take my Sylvanians and build houses out of other bits of furniture like stools. How wonderful of your husband to build you one though. I shall have to look out for that book you mention.
Pandora - thanks for popping in. What a wonderful blog of dollshousey things you have!
Anothercookie - perhaps if you ever have children/nephews/nieces you might be able to buy them one to make up for not having one?!
Darlene - my favourite room is the kitchen too - I have so many wonderful things in there that you can't really see from the picture - dustpan and brush, 1940s hoover...
Jenny - I spotted a paperback of the book at the weekend but couldn't buy it due to Lenten book buying ban :(
Kate - it shouldn't take long to reread :)
CTussaud - thanks for popping in! I'd completely forgotten about that book! it was wonderful, especially with the inclusion of those plans
Well, the collected stories oughtta do it ;)
ReplyDeleteThere are a number of KM anthologies. Whatever collection you go for you there will be some overlap; her more popular stories are often anthologised in them all.
I have Something Childish but Very Natural in my Penguin Love boxset but didn't love it as a collection (it's also too short).
Your doll's house is gorgeous! My mum recently brought my childhood doll's house down to me because I want to play with it with my goddaughter but mine is not nearly as beautiful as yours. I have doll's house envy!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely dolls house and it is even more special as your Grandad made it for you. I loved my dolls house when I was a child, they are a great way to use your imagination.
ReplyDeleteDear Verity, as a New Zealander I am very partial to Katherine Mansfield's work. Try and find a collection that includes Miss Brill and The Daughters of the Late Colonel. They are superbly finely written and depict the deep unspoken suffering of the the ordinary person so beautifully.
ReplyDeleteYour doll house is a treasure!! Always wished I'd had a 'real' one. I read Mansfield's story, too - inspired by Claire - and loved it. Another is bookmarked.
ReplyDeleteKaren - I hope one day I'll have someone that I can play with it with!
ReplyDeleteDot - indeed - as an only child it was a great toy.
Merenia - I shall look out for those two stories; maybe the Collected Stories that Claire recommends will come up trumps.
JoAnn - thank you.
Not exactly a dolls house series of books, but a full size house occupied by a family of cloth dolls are the Mennym books by Sylvia Waugh.
ReplyDeleteTitles in order are: The Mennyms. Mennyms in the Wilderness. The Mennyms Under Siege. Mennyms Alone. Mennyms Alive.
Geraldine - oh yes, I read my way through those!
ReplyDeleteAh! the Borrowers! My favourite childhood book. Now you come to mention it, I wonder if that is where the yearning for an old dolls house first came from.
ReplyDeleteI love your blog by the way and will certainly be visiting again.
Have been busy lately so I haven't had a chance to catch up on my favourite blogs. That's a beautiful dollhouse Verity! What a lovely gift from your grandad that you can treasure forever.
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