The Blessing

So Nancy Mitford tells us through the protagonist Grace. Grace has fallen with the great lover of women, Charles-Edouard. They marry, and while he is at war, she has the "the blessing", Sigi. Charles-Edouard returns from the war and moves them both to Paris. In this wry story of love with the French, Sigi plays an integral part in attempting to keep his parents apart. In fact it is the comedy of errors and chance that drives part of the plot. I am not a fan of this device and it costs the book one star. Otherwise, I quite enjoyed the book written in the sly humor in which Nancy Mitford quite excels.Nancy Mitford herself had left England for France in pursuit of her French lover. He too never really settled down into monogamy. Nancy nonetheless loved France and was a keen observer of the interaction of the British, the Americans, and the French. In her books, the characters are drawn in part by the understandings of their home countries and the subsequent misunderstandings do produce some delicious satire.Blessed cuts no one any real slack, and there are telling observations for all involved. There is a broad occasion of a ball given to please Sigi that required everyone to produce a child. Throughout the community, people dug up neglected children, forgotten nieces and nephews, and considered adoption. Through much of Mitford's fiction, the world is well separated between child and adult, and in fact she finds this to be a preferable landscape. In fact Sigi's status as the sought after arbiter skews his world and that of the adults. It is unlikely that the trope on Freud's name is an accident given the nature of the Oedipus Theory.For a cold winter's day, a visit to Mitford's world is highly recommended. She was visiting the world of the landed English long before America turned to Downton Abbey. I think you will be a fan.

Grace Allingham, a young and unassuming Englishwoman from an affluent background, makes the acquaintance of Charles-Edouard de Valhubert, a French Air Force officer, during the early years of the Second World War. Charming, suave, and utterly self-assured, he sweeps Grace off her feet, they quickly marry and have a short honeymoon. Then Charles-Edouard goes back to the war. Grace leaves London and settles in the countryside. She finds herself with child and later gives birth to a boy, who is named Sigismond. Better known as "Sigi", we find him as a boy of seven (upon his father's return) with an angelic face and a puckish charm that leads him to do a little mischief every now and then.A few years pass before Charles-Edouard receives his discharge and returns to Britain from the Far East. He returns to Grace and son like a force of nature, full of bonhomie. They relocate to France and what a life! Mitford gives the reader some interesting views into French culture and mores and offers some sparkling contrasts with the British mindset and contradictory/ambivalent views of the French.In turns, "The Blessing" reads like a zany comedy of errors and a tender love story. I recommend it to any reader who is keen to read an entertaining and engaging novel.

A frothy book, with a premise that few modern women would accept (Including me!). Nevertheless, the writing is pithy and adroit, and though not on a par with "Love in a Cold Climate", which is Mitford at her best, this is a thoroughly enjoyable romp of a read.

What a beautiful copy of a great book that came swiftly, wrapped well, delighting me more than I can see.Nancy Mitford, was an amazing novelist, who I'll admit, is an acquired taste, but like caviar, once you like it, there's no going back.Reading...the eternal privilege. Here's to a great seller.

Although not one of Mitford's best (the children are horribly spoiled and ill-mannered, rather than charming, which always sets me off) it is rather nice, I must admit, to see the storylines continue. What a beautiful, incredible, fragile world Mitford has created here...and I embrace it with each turn of the page.

Classic Nancy Mitford with a decidedly comedic bent. Readers of her other works will recognize many characters who function as asides to highlight the difference between the English and the French. But she loves the French, and loves Love. I enjoyed this romp through post- war France.

Fun to read and the author pokes fun at the British, the French and the Americans equally

I love Mitford. I wish my mother were still around to explain a few of the references, because I know we’re missing some very dry witticisms.

Even if it mostly depicts the period following WW2 it is very entertaining and subtle. A great read like 'love in a cold climate' or 'the pursuit of love'.

** spoiler alert ** Wow! This story had me hooked! It's a book that I read in 24hrs, and rarely put down! Mitford's writing has such a unique charm, that she pulls you into the world of these characters and then proceeds to shock and humour the reader with the character's antics.Such is the skill of Mitford, that whilst I thought that Grace and Charles-Edouard were charming together yet incompatible, I spent the second half of the book longing for their reunion. From the beginning they seemed, to me at least, mis-matched as she is rather conservative in thoughts regarding relationships and he so openly-adulterous. We are on the side of Grace for the first part of the novel, and yet in Charle-Edouard's absence, I longed for them to be back together - realizing that none of the alternative potential spouses measured up. Because of this, the second half of the novel, whilst enjoyable, was torturous for me - particularly regarding Sigi's schemes. So desperate was I to see them back together that I almost detested that child! Whilst his notions were understandable, it was still incredibly infuriating!Another aspect that I particularly enjoyed was that Mitford included references to characters in previous novels! With Pursuit of Love and Love In A Cold Climate, I expected there to be a fluent reference and connection between characters and places in both novels, but with The Blessing I was impressed that these references were still made despite the novel following a different circle of characters. Though brief, that they mentioned Fabrice when at the cemetery, meant that Mitford's Paris, indeed Mitford's world, became a more rounded Parisienne world. It was certainly something I enjoyed and appreciated.The only reason I have not awarded this novel 5 stars is because I generally reserve that for books that have a lasting impression of changing my mind or inviting me to question themes of the book.Nevertheless, this was a truly great read! Recommended! Of what I've read, my favourite of Mitford's novels so far!Edit: This is my favourite Mitford novel!

Nancy Mitford brings to life a section of society most of us will never visit never mind inhabit. But the characters engage you in all their problems. Would you react to your husband's philandering as Grace did? Have you any sympathy at all with the carryings on of the charming frenchman she married? Don't you hate the French but fall in love with all of them in the end? And Sigismond, The Blessing of the title is a wonderful creation who deserves a clout for the way he complicates the lives of everyone but aren't you cheering him on from the sidelines?. Cutting edge commentaries on behaviour of Brits, Americans & The French all delivered in elegant prose and a subtle command of our glorious english language.

This was a book club choice by one of our older members. Nancy Mitford always wrote extremely well and The Blessing is a rather good photograph in history of a period of life between the world wars. It captures Franco English relationships within the upper echelons of society rather well, though nowadays it would not be seen to be PC. Of course marriages to foreigners has always been thought to be rather outlandish as far as the British are concerned.The Blessing is a rather awful little boy who plays his parents off against each other to his own benefit...but the best character is Nanny....who rules the household.Out of date but an amusing read and an insight into another world

I heard this discussed on Radio 4 and though I had never thought to read a Nancy Mitford book before, I was encouraged to do so. I have enjoyed it. It has a lively, witty style and the main character, Grace is far more sympathetic than I would have imagined. That will teach me to keep an open mind!