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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent read, 9 Oct 2003
I could not put this book down.It is a simply fascinating glimpse into life at the beginning of the 19th century seen through the eyes of a rural parson. William Holland was probably not a nice person to know. He was very scathing about friends and acquaintances alike and often had rather cruel nicknames for them. He had no time for other religious denominations and was extremely critical of a long line of long suffering servants. A local Thatcher is described as being a Methodist a liar and a drunkard as if one explained the other. There appear to be very few deserving poor. All are drunks, scoundrels. Somerset in the early 1800s is full of fornicators, vice, incest and bestiality. It is surprising that there was any time left to bring in the crops! He has a constant battle with farmers, Catholics and Methodists who quite clearly object to having to pay him tithes and he often has to cajole and threat them into handing over his just dues. It is a society gripped with change. Old deferences are being cast aside. 50 years later the Rev Kilvert is in a different world and in his diary there is no mention of the practice. William Holland is writing in the time of Jane Austen. It is unlikely that they ever met but they moved in the same strata of society and went to the same places. They visit Bath regularly for the waters, see the same actress, Mrs. Jordan at the theatre and Mrs Holland is tended by Dr. Gibbs who a few years earlier had been called to the death bed of Jane’s father. It is in the day to day matters that William Holland excels, in the raw detail that he provides. Babies are christened. Women are churched. Death at all ages is a daily occurrence. His servants go dunging. He brews the beer. He complains about the weather (and the Methodists). He has an argument with a tradesman. It all goes in the diary. As the years go by his ailments increase and are described, in detail. He does not however appear to be overly disheartened and takes pride in his ability to carry out the Sunday services, whatever the weather or his state of health. And right to the end he complains about the Methodists!
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