James Mortmain wrote a famous and iconic book many years ago which made his name, but he has written nothing since. It’s the women who feature most in the book, as seen through Cassandra’s eyes – and the driving plot is how they are going to survive with no income and all valuable possessions already sold. There are five members of the family: Cassandra her younger brother, Thomas elder sister, Rose stepmother, Topaz and father, James – always referred to as Mortmain by his adoring, bohemian second wife. It describes her eccentric and chaotic family who have fallen on stricken times and are practically destitute. The novel is written as the journal of seventeen-year-old Cassandra Mortmain. Does this make it a classic? The Big Read is where I first came across it: my interest piqued because I so loved Dodie Smith’s children’s books (which came later). In 2003 it featured at number 82 in the BBC’s survey: “The Big Read”, which listed the top 100 best-loved novels as voted for by the British public. Since its publication in 1949, I Capture the Castle has never been out of print. (Reviewed as part of the Classics Club Challenge)
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