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siria's review
3.0
One for either the Wimsey completist or someone interested in a social history of England in the early states of WW2. Dorothy L. Sayers wrote a series of letters of The Spectator from November 1939-January 1940, each in the voice of a character from her Peter Wimsey novels. It is, I believe, our last complete glimpse of Peter and Harriet et al to come from DLS' pen, and it's nice to get to hear their voices again, although it's all a bit slight and does confirm me in thinking that Peter and I would have a lot to disagree about in terms of worldview.
octavietullier's review
funny
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
cleheny's review against another edition
3.0
It's pleasant to hear from the Wimsey's again, though this collection reflects Sayers' thoughts on the early days on the homefront during WWII--really, a span of months in 1939. There's a hint of what's happening with the characters we love--Peter is abroad somewhere on another clandestine mission for the Foreign Office, apparently attempting to find allies in the fight against Hitler; Harriet is with her two sons, Bredon and Paul, at Talboys, and is apparently also caring for Mary and Charles Parker's kids, while their parents remain in London; Gerald is at Duke's Denver, attempting to hold the line on tradition even as he comes to terms with the evacuated London children on his grounds; Helen, his insufferable Duchess, is doing her best to oppress the masses at the Ministry of Morale; the Dowager is still absolutely delightful, adapting to the influx of London children while balancing her stolid and somewhat stupid firstborn; Letitia Martin, Dean of Shrewsbury College, remains her cheerful self, even while contending with changes at Oxford; and Paul Delgardie appears to be where he always is and continues to extol the virtues of the French--their history, their culture, and their outlook. But these letters and papers are really Sayers' commentary on British domestic policy and international events.
What makes them so enjoyable is her ability to express those thoughts through her characters. She has such a strong understanding of them that, even as Sayers works through her own frustrations or reactions to something, the letter, diary entry, or memoranda feels as it was created by the character who signs their name. That may seem as if it should be easy, because these are Sayers' creations, but the content of The Wimsey Papers is largely ideological. To convey these thoughts through characters--most of whom are not ideological--as if they are the characters' thoughts and reactions is an impressive feat of writing.
For those readers who want to read more about Peter and Harriet and how they make their marriage and family work, or hear how the inimitable Bunter (who, sadly, does not write a letter to his mother in this collection) is faring, this collection is disappointing because that wasn't Sayers' purpose. Still, to hear something of what life in early WWII England was like, through the voices of well-loved characters, is a treat.
What makes them so enjoyable is her ability to express those thoughts through her characters. She has such a strong understanding of them that, even as Sayers works through her own frustrations or reactions to something, the letter, diary entry, or memoranda feels as it was created by the character who signs their name. That may seem as if it should be easy, because these are Sayers' creations, but the content of The Wimsey Papers is largely ideological. To convey these thoughts through characters--most of whom are not ideological--as if they are the characters' thoughts and reactions is an impressive feat of writing.
For those readers who want to read more about Peter and Harriet and how they make their marriage and family work, or hear how the inimitable Bunter (who, sadly, does not write a letter to his mother in this collection) is faring, this collection is disappointing because that wasn't Sayers' purpose. Still, to hear something of what life in early WWII England was like, through the voices of well-loved characters, is a treat.
amandagstevens's review
5.0
Piercing commentary on varying British opinions of the second World War written in the voices of characters we know from the series (including Uncle Paul's suggestions for public policy to guide pedestrians during blackouts, sent to Peter who surely has the influence to get said policies put into practice). Funny and thought-provoking and moving all by turns, and always unfailingly human. I loved it all, of course, but Peter's diary entries and his and Harriet's letters to one another are the crowning jewel of this little epistolary collection.
michelleful's review
3.0
I had not heard about the Wimsey Papers until I listened to the excellent Shedunnit podcast series on the Queens of Crime in Wartime. I have read everything else by Dorothy L. Sayers with Peter Wimsey - all the novels and short stories - so I decided to read this out of completionist tendencies. These are newspaper columns written by DLS during the early part of the war, in which she disguises her own opinions as letters written among the Wimsey family and their associates.
Her Christian and anti-Communist opinions are the most obvious; she also spends a lot of time on whether to respond to the propagandist Lord Haw-Haw. Without a firm memory of all the characters (where did Uncle Paul Delagardie come from???) I was sometimes a little lost; I think my knowledge of WWII is just up to scratch enough that I was able to understand most of the historical references. Some of it was a little tedious, but some was charming; the last three letters are probably the best (although the very last letter made me wonder if Sayers would be an anti-vaxxer today...).
Overall it was a mixed bag and I gave it 3*, and would say that unless you too have completionist tendencies then by all means read it, but it is not a necessary part of Wimsey canon, even for an ardent fan. We learn little more of the Wimsey family in wartime than we did from the novels. I think the only new thing is that Wimsey's odious sister-in-law Helen wound up in the Ministry for Information, but I could be wrong on whether that genuinely is new information or if I've just forgotten.
Her Christian and anti-Communist opinions are the most obvious; she also spends a lot of time on whether to respond to the propagandist Lord Haw-Haw. Without a firm memory of all the characters (where did Uncle Paul Delagardie come from???) I was sometimes a little lost; I think my knowledge of WWII is just up to scratch enough that I was able to understand most of the historical references. Some of it was a little tedious, but some was charming; the last three letters are probably the best (although the very last letter made me wonder if Sayers would be an anti-vaxxer today...).
Overall it was a mixed bag and I gave it 3*, and would say that unless you too have completionist tendencies then by all means read it, but it is not a necessary part of Wimsey canon, even for an ardent fan. We learn little more of the Wimsey family in wartime than we did from the novels. I think the only new thing is that Wimsey's odious sister-in-law Helen wound up in the Ministry for Information, but I could be wrong on whether that genuinely is new information or if I've just forgotten.
notthatbuffy's review against another edition
3.0
More contemplative than narrative. Required some googling to understand the allusions as it’s very much of its time about WWII.
Actually I thought there was a lot there that applies to our own time of crisis. I’m very glad to have found this, though it adds nothing to the Wimsey narrative.
Actually I thought there was a lot there that applies to our own time of crisis. I’m very glad to have found this, though it adds nothing to the Wimsey narrative.
booksuperpower's review
3.0
Again I am giving a so so rating to something that has Dorothy L Sayers name on it. This is a collection of letters written by characters in Sayers' detective novels between 1939 and 1940. This is interesting for that reason, but this is not a Peter Wimsey novel. If you know that going in, you may enjoy reading these. You will learn more about the characters in her novels. I wasn't sure what to expect here. The war is spoken of a great deal and it's easy pick up the atmosphere of that time period. I don't really know what else I can add to that. Interesting, but not what I was expecting.
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