The Willows

Elizabeth Von Arnim's novel Vera (1921), allegedly based on her disastrous marriage to Frank Russell, is the story of a naive young woman and a narcissistic, demanding man. 

While on holiday in Cornwall, Lucy Entwistle's beloved father dies suddenly leaving the twenty-two year old in a state of shock and grief. Shortly after his passing, Lucy goes out for some fresh air and, while leaning on the front gate at the edge of her garden, Everard Wemyss, a 45 year old widower, is passing by. He strikes up a conversation with the sorrowful girl. Wemyss' wife Vera died a week prior and, upon discovering Lucy's heartache, he uses their shared grief as a foundation for companionship. Wemyss sweeps in, assisting with funeral arrangements and providing support to Lucy and her Aunt Dot, who is under the impression he is a friend of her late brother. 

When Lucy and Dot return to London, Wemyss wheedles himself into Lucy's life despite the concerns raised by her Aunt Dot and friends of Lucy's father. They are concerned about his attentions to a young woman half his age, and more so because Vera died in suspicious circumstances. Vera fell from an upper floor window in the Wemyss' home The Willows to the flagstones below, but rumours abound about whether she jumped, was pushed or accidentally fell. Regardless, most view it as unseemly that Wemyss should be courting a young woman without observing a respectable period of mourning. 

Lucy is smitten, and proceeds to marry Wemyss and be whisked off to his country property The Willows. Here Wemyss' true self is revealed and Lucy becomes obsessed with Vera. 

While not a phrase used at the time of writing, this is a case study of a man bent on coercive control. Wemyss is a bully, making dreadful demands of his staff who only put up with him because he pays well and is away on weekdays in London. Lucy is infantilised as Wemyss' 'baby' or 'good girl', and scolded when she asks questions or tries to do anything in her own home. As an example, the house has an extensive library and Lucy is a voracious reader. But Wemyss has the library locked tight, refusing to allow anyone to touch his books. His piano must remained covered at all times, his meals must be served at exact times and so on causing his staff and Lucy to walk on eggshells.

Von Armin's novel starts slowly but gradually gains momentum creating a thriller-like page-turner. But the story was let down terribly by the ending. While the character of Wemyss was well crafted, Lucy did not experience much growth even as the truth about her husband's true nature was revealed. Aunt Dot is my favourite character - the spinsterly aunt who genuinely wants the best for her niece and attempts to befriend Wemyss. Von Armin has a sly wit and in many respects has written a darkly comic and stinging character assassination, portraying Wemyss as sulky, demanding and brutally cruel. No wonder her husband was angered by its publication. 

Reading Vera, I could not help but think of Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca. In both novels young women are wooed by older men, intrigued by the spectre of a previous wife, and set in stately country homes. While I much preferred Rebecca, I am pleased to have read Vera and look forward to reading more by Elizabeth Von Arnim.