Kilvert’s Diary 1870-1879 [Hardcover, 1986]

Description

“Life in the English countryside in mid-Victorian times”

This is a first edition, hardcover, copy. There’s a lovely picture on the front, with a textured painting.

• Author: Francis Kilvert
• Editor: William Plomer
• Introduction: William Plomer
• ISBN: 0-7126-9397-8
• Publisher: Century Hutchinson Ltd, London
• Date: 1986

Kilvert’s Diary 1870-1879, first published in 1938 and later reissued in a hardcover edition in 1986, is a fascinating and intimate glimpse into the everyday life of a rural vicar in Victorian England. The diary is a collection of daily entries written by Francis Kilvert, an Anglican clergyman who lived in the small village of Clyro in Wales, and it covers the period from January 1, 1870, to January 13, 1879.

The diary is remarkable for its vivid and detailed descriptions of life in rural Victorian England. Kilvert was an observant and sensitive writer, and he captures the beauty and charm of the landscape around Clyro with great skill. He describes the changing seasons in exquisite detail, from the arrival of the swallows in the spring to the first snows of winter. He also writes about the local people he encounters in his work as a vicar, and his affectionate and sympathetic portraits of his parishioners provide a fascinating glimpse into the social and cultural life of the time.

One of the most striking features of Kilvert’s Diary is its sense of intimacy. Kilvert writes in a very personal and confessional style, and he is unafraid to reveal his deepest thoughts and feelings. He writes candidly about his struggles with his faith, his doubts and fears, and his moments of spiritual enlightenment. He is also refreshingly honest about his own failings and weaknesses, and his humility and self-awareness make him a compelling and sympathetic narrator.

The diary is also notable for its literary qualities. Kilvert was an accomplished writer and a keen observer of the natural world, and his prose is full of lyrical descriptions and vivid imagery. He is a master of the descriptive passage, and his accounts of the Welsh countryside are among the most evocative and beautiful in English literature. His style is reminiscent of the Romantic poets of the early 19th century, and his love of nature and his reverence for the beauty of the natural world make him a worthy successor to the likes of Wordsworth and Keats.

Despite its many virtues, Kilvert’s Diary is not without its flaws. Some readers may find its focus on rural life and local customs to be too narrow, and its sometimes sentimental tone may strike some as old-fashioned. However, these are minor quibbles, and they do not detract from the overall power and beauty of Kilvert’s writing.

In conclusion, Kilvert’s Diary 1870-1879 is a remarkable and unique work of literature that deserves to be better known. It offers a rare glimpse into the daily life and thoughts of a Victorian clergyman, and it is a valuable historical and cultural document that sheds light on a fascinating period in English history. It is also a work of great literary merit, full of beautiful and evocative writing that will captivate readers with its timeless charm and grace.