tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post9184827900394686938..comments2024-03-28T20:46:22.875+00:00Comments on Clothes In Books: Tuesday Night Club: Jane and DagobertClothes In Bookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-7136154170849223112020-05-25T14:33:57.030+01:002020-05-25T14:33:57.030+01:00Yes it makes a kind of sense doesn't it? Socio...Yes it makes a kind of sense doesn't it? Sociological detail...Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-52626764210765523192020-05-21T16:59:05.610+01:002020-05-21T16:59:05.610+01:00Ahaaa… I didn't now that, but it makes much mo...Ahaaa… I didn't now that, but it makes much more sense than just not wanting to keep the name of a divorced husband. The young women in question might have married overseas soldiers who just returned back home after the war and married their childhood sweethearts, calmly counting on the fact that a British marriage would never show up anywhere in the U.S. records. (A kind of Madame Butterfly story.) But the women are stranded in marriages they cannot get out of since they cannot divorce an absent husband. (I assume?) It makes all the sense in the world that with the dashing De Vere gone a woman would settle for a (hopefully) dependable Muggins. And that Jane would not enlighten Mr Playfair about the fact that the woman in question is planning to live in sin with Mr Muggins. Ah, it feels so good to have this mystery solved finally. Thank you!Birgittanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-22518174502996870812020-05-21T10:28:40.876+01:002020-05-21T10:28:40.876+01:00When I was young and reading a lot of books (and n...When I was young and reading a lot of books (and not even in a foreign language) I was forever being mystified and intrigued my words and references - I SO would have loved to have had Google then, I hated that it was so hard to find things out. So I sympathize! There are lovely pics of Utility clothes at the Imperial War Museum photo collection - I often use them on the blog.<br /><br />And yes, if I read these books blind I would be convinced they were by a woman.<br /><br />I don't full understand that reference, but I would guess that it's the opposite. In the days when being married was vital for respectability, there was a way round it if you couldn't get married (say one of you was unable to get a divorce) but needed to keep in with the neighbours: the woman could change her name by Deed Poll to his, so could truthfully introduce herself by his name. Deed Poll being the legal way of doing this - you went and declared to an official that you wanted to be known as X from now on. And you would hope no-one would ever ask for your marriage certificate. This has long gone now, but was a real thing - 'were they married?' 'No just deed polled'. (It comes up in Nancy Mitford actually, you'd think the Bolter would be too unconventional to worry.) I don't know why this would happen more at the time of the book - except perhaps people had hasty wartime marriages that they couldn't easily get out of, so they had to Deed Poll to keep things respectable in a later relationship.Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-43890139161605955082020-05-14T22:21:15.498+01:002020-05-14T22:21:15.498+01:00I have always had a soft spot for this book (and I...I have always had a soft spot for this book (and I could have sworn it was written by a woman). I agree that the other ones are considerably less interesting - it's the post-war London atmosphere in this one that enchants me. When I first read it I was 15 or 16 and my English was not terribly good, so some things were a bit confusing, though. The reference to Jane's green coat being "Utility" puzzled me - I got the word as such but it was quite obvious that it meant something more specific here and I had no idea what it was. Many years later I learnt about the Utility Clothing Scheme , and oh, what a relief it was to get that sorted out finally! <br /><br />There is stilll one thing that puzzles me, though. In chapter 20 Jane says: "Ever since the war we have had about half a dozen young women a week wishing to change their nemes legally. Last month one girl whose name was De Vere changed it to Muggins. Mr Playfair couldn't understand why; I didn't enlighten him." Could somebody enlighten me, please? The only thing I could think of was that these women have made marriages that they regret, but if they have divorced the men in question, surely going back to one's maiden name would be fairly unsurprising and nothing that Mr Playfair would need to be enlightened about? Birgittanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-87747963803041550832017-02-10T10:24:26.631+00:002017-02-10T10:24:26.631+00:00This was a proper roadhouse, Chrissie, full of gla...This was a proper roadhouse, Chrissie, full of glamour and excitement! We would be a sensation there. <br />Mishap is another of mine.Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-85996027522607968792017-02-02T20:11:43.546+00:002017-02-02T20:11:43.546+00:00Does sound rather good (and if there's a road-...Does sound rather good (and if there's a road-house . . .) There were words I didn't know how how to pronounce, too, though I was familiar with them in print. Heinous was one. Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16510409974009816550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-13449106818645363492017-02-02T13:26:34.911+00:002017-02-02T13:26:34.911+00:00I know, such a shame it's lost. I love a good ...I know, such a shame it's lost. I love a good old-fashioned b/w thriller, and I think this book must have made an excellent one.Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-25707030731456006472017-02-02T13:25:20.628+00:002017-02-02T13:25:20.628+00:00They are less annoying than most couple-sleuths, t...They are less annoying than most couple-sleuths, that's for sure Prashant. Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-83121515744813719872017-02-02T13:24:59.752+00:002017-02-02T13:24:59.752+00:00Worth a look, worth it to keep tabs on the era!Worth a look, worth it to keep tabs on the era!Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-66120557887089943852017-02-02T13:24:40.559+00:002017-02-02T13:24:40.559+00:00Sorry about that! I wondered if he had a co-writer...Sorry about that! I wondered if he had a co-writer - his grasp of women's thoughts (some of the time) is very convincing. But it doesn't seem particulaly that he had a woman helper... Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-47728454341773820522017-02-02T13:23:00.419+00:002017-02-02T13:23:00.419+00:00I think it was your review that pushed me into get...I think it was your review that pushed me into getting hold of it Tracy, and I'm very glad I did - apart from fitting nicely into our 'Firsts' category. I really enjoyed it. Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-48200844294199489342017-02-02T12:39:25.511+00:002017-02-02T12:39:25.511+00:00Moira, I still haven't read Delano Ames. I qui...Moira, I still haven't read Delano Ames. I quite like the characterisation of Jane and Dagobert as well as the exotic settings for the crimes they investigate. Prashant C. Trikannadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16079354501998741758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-3621337008004628042017-02-02T08:01:10.867+00:002017-02-02T08:01:10.867+00:00I'll get one of the Ames books eventually, you...I'll get one of the Ames books eventually, you'll see :)Sergio (Tipping My Fedora)https://bloodymurder.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-72381263854358914902017-02-02T07:26:23.326+00:002017-02-02T07:26:23.326+00:00And so he wearily added another book to the 'M...And so he wearily added another book to the 'Must Find And Read List...' Really, though, this sounds fascinating. The immediately Post WWII setting is one that I find interesting, as the preferred setting of a lot of stories tends to be either the War or the 'Fifties. The Carr novels set in this time tend to accentuate both the slightly dazed, unreal feel of the era and the sweaty, grimy austerity, so this sounds like an interesting alternative. Interested to hear that Ames captures the female heroine so well. He was apparently in Intelligence during WWII, and I suppose that it required him to be able to understand other peoples viewpoint..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-79345347457981777822017-02-01T21:40:00.243+00:002017-02-01T21:40:00.243+00:00I am very glad you liked this, Moira. It was one o...I am very glad you liked this, Moira. It was one of my favorite reads last year. I remember that Kate had said there were problems finding copies of some of the books at a reasonable price. Too bad. I also wondered about the name Dagobert, good to have some information about it.TracyKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08303342674824383688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-2880066239023092592017-02-01T18:03:55.328+00:002017-02-01T18:03:55.328+00:00After reading your comment about the film I immedi...After reading your comment about the film I immediately went to imdb to check on it. There's an entry for the film with very little else but the cast listing and a few other credits (Delano Ames is credited with working on the script). There was no synopsis and only one comment --- complaining that it was impossible to find this film! The commenter was a Derrick De Marney (fan who played Dagobert).carrpshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16726596939143045758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-22773173559833008862017-02-01T10:31:17.358+00:002017-02-01T10:31:17.358+00:00Solid gold fact about the Famous 5 dog, love it. I...Solid gold fact about the Famous 5 dog, love it. In fact (because of this series) in our house we occasionally use Dagobert to mean 'whatsisface, you-know-who-I-mean', and the name has become attached to a perfectly normal young man whose name is actually Richard.<br />Yes - not just names either. I have always read so much that there are many words that I am very familiar with, but haven't ever used in conversation. Sliver and sidereal - both pronounced wronly by me... Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-19004129115729540992017-02-01T10:27:51.283+00:002017-02-01T10:27:51.283+00:00I know - such a shame the film isn't around, w...I know - such a shame the film isn't around, we could both have watched it and done a joint review! I'm surprised no-one is reprinting them - I think they'd be popular. Good luck with book 5!Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-36054325523513800002017-02-01T10:26:18.001+00:002017-02-01T10:26:18.001+00:00Yes, Margot, it really was - it had a very real fe...Yes, Margot, it really was - it had a very real feel to it, and I loved being immersed in that atmosphere. He was a good writer.Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-64721033883018804012017-02-01T10:24:37.459+00:002017-02-01T10:24:37.459+00:00This sounds like a fun read. I've never come a...This sounds like a fun read. I've never come across anyone called Dagobert so just googled it. Wikipedia tells me there were several Frankish kings called Dagobert, and it's also what Timmy the dog from the Famous Five is called in French translation. I find it a bit unsettling when I read a book and don't know how to pronounce the name of one of the characters in my head (I was all wrong on Mr Urquhart in Strong Poison on first reading but I was only ten).Susanna Taylernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-23305600031282014692017-01-31T13:09:13.362+00:002017-01-31T13:09:13.362+00:00Glad you enjoyed this. Jane and Dagobert are a fav...Glad you enjoyed this. Jane and Dagobert are a favourite sleuth couple of mine. I hadn't really cottoned on to the whole living in the same house but not married aspect. Equally hadn't realised there was a film of the book. Such a shame it isn't easy to get a hold of as like you I definitely want to watch it. It is also a shame that so many of the books are hard to track down. The first three are easy enough to find and the fourth took me a lot of effort and false starts. But after that book 5 is definitely eluding me, except for some very pricey copies indeed online. Would be great if they could reprint the Ames' work more comprehensively. Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05616800837907092489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6129427507761315524.post-58506739819655038912017-01-31T12:07:34.301+00:002017-01-31T12:07:34.301+00:00Oh, that is an interesting mystery, Moira. Perhaps...Oh, that is an interesting mystery, Moira. Perhaps it wasn't all spelled out because of the times? Hmm.... At any rate, this sounds like a really effective look at a place and a time, even if the mystery wasn't the most memorable you've ever read. I've actually really been enjoying this focus on firsts...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com