A nice cosy read for a winter’s day

A story of two young poets who both live on the west coast of Scotland in Helensburgh, Larchfield by Polly Clark is a delightful interpretation of their lives.

Dora Fielding is newly married and just arrived in the town. She optimistically wishes to combine motherhood with her creative poetry in this small town of wild beauty. 

Wystan Auden,  a young published poet, struggles with his fears and sexuality also lives in Helensburgh and teaches at the local school, Larchfield. His English background sets him apart and he longs for acceptance.

They only live apart in time, W.H. Auden as he is better known, lives in 1930, Dora in the present time. Their isolation and hope for something better brings them together

Dora’s troubles begin with the neighbours upstairs and their sociopathic controlling of her every move – they wanted to buy the apartment that she now lives in and want her and her family out. These long-term residents have the sympathy of the town as they make Dora’s life hell on earth.

Dora retreats into her imagination as she finds the connection between two poetic souls. She and Wystan help each other escape their own suffering by creating their own reality. Will this connection ultimately help Dora? 

Or destroy all she loves, and who she is?

The idea of a relationship between two similar, yet ultimately, so different people transcending time is cleverly and artfully done. My only complaint is that the novel is slow and while the story is ultimately about Dora, I preferred Wystan’s story. 

Wystan seemed much more real to me… I know he is an actual historic figure and Dora is fictional, but Dora is not very likeable. I felt more irritated by her than sympathetic. I wonder how her husband put up with her and tried so hard to help her. Maybe it was this lack of emotional connection to the main character that made this just an average book for me.

Polly Clark is an accomplished poet herself and her passion shows through in this, her first novel. Ms Clark has done her research well, combining the historical elements in a lovely, gentle story. It is well-written with stylish prose and good pacing. A nice cosy read for a winter’s day.

Larchfield by Polly Clark (published by Hachette Australia) is available now from Dymocks. Click here to learn more.