Reviews

I think that it was the obituary for Elizabeth Jenkins in The Guardian that led me to this book. Ms Jenkins lived to be 104 - she died in September 2010 - and The Guardian made her sound fascinating. Not only that, but the obit included enough about her novel, The Tortoise and the Hare, that I decided I had to read it.

I was not disappointed by the book. Jenkins tells a story that I would normally find irritating and she tells it well. Imogen and Evelyn have been married long enough to have a son, Gavin, who will soon go off to boarding school. Their relationship has been changing, but not necessarily for the worse, just different. Until Evelyn gets to know their neighbor, Blanche Silcox. I don't want to give away the story, but let's just say if this was a contemporary novel, I would expect Imogen to be doing something, anything on her own behalf. However, Jenkins helps me understand that that is not possible in this setting Imogen is not that kind of woman. For Jenkins to overcome my usual reactions is proof (to me) that she is a skilled writer.

I don't think this book could be written now. Readers would just not stand for it. However, I was glad to read such a well written period piece. I managed to relate to all the characters and get a real feel for their feelings.

I do recommend that you save the introduction until after the book. Hillary Mantel told me more about the plot than I wanted. It did not ruin the book, but I would have liked to know less. Both the introduction and afterword are worth reading for their insights into the book, but after you have read the novel.

sloatsj's review against another edition

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5.0

The story of the disintegrating marriage of Imogen, our protagonist, and Evelyn, an accomplished lawyer 15 years her senior. Imogen embodies the passive, lovely, subservient wife with few interests of her own. She treats their son, Gavin, with kid gloves, as he appears to have little use for her. Gradually Evelyn falls in love with their neighbor, the practical and extroverted Blanche, who is 50.
The book of course takes its title from the fable of the tortoise and the hare, where the slow, plodding and one-minded contestant wins against the quick, distracted runner who thought she had everything. An afterward by the publisher, however, makes it clear that we can read it the other way. Imogen may lose her husband but she has something to gain in insight and possibly a better life. To be honest, as Evelyn was slipping away from Imogen it was hard to wish he wouldn't, though he isn't really outright bad.
I loved this story. The characters are great, from the ghastly and seemingly upstanding Evelyn, to the cold Gavin, the tragic Paul, the annoying and beautiful poet Zenobia, and her wonderful nephew Tim.