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Review 176:
July 2021

 On Chapel Sands by Laura Cumming.

First Published: 2019

 The Author.

The author



On Chapel Sands

My mother and other missing persons

by Laura Cumming

Sub-titled: “My mother and other missing persons”; this is a mixture of family history, Lincolnshire village culture, and detective stories, all based on true events in the family of the author, Laura Cumming (Wikipedia page) a respected art critic and art historian.

The story relates to the author’s mother, Betty, who was abducted as a child and how that abduction was covered up by the local people.

The book thoroughly explores the setting, the characters, and the chronology of the event; and looks at the main characters involved. Much revolves around George Maybrook Elston, Betty’s father.

The story works well as an intricate detective story, gives a thumb nail sketch of Lincolnshire village life in the years of the great depression. Elaine chose this as a book for the club having thoroughly enjoyed the descriptive aspect of the writing on a first read. The lost lilo cameo caused much laughter.

Book club discussion revolved around the secrecy issue, but it was generally felt that this was a normal reaction designed to keep ones own “skeletons” firmly locked away. The events were not untypical of the era of the great depression.

The reproduction quality of the images detracts from the book, especially given Cummings’ expertise as an art critic and how she brings art into the story; many of the photographs were by George. (nb. The guardian article has much better quality images). The analysis of the photographs using her art critic's skills formed an important part of the author's approach to the enigma.

Overall the book seemed to over-analyse the events and characters, and became something of an academic treatise rather than a story book. The club split roughly into those that enjoyed the book and those that appreciated the content but found the style irritating.

Well written, but the content was more intriguing than entertaining, and the question of whether or not George was a tyrant remains unresolved.

AABC: 4.1 stars
PC. 10th July 2021


 Appetite.

Our first face to face meeting since March 2020 was much enjoyed by those who could be there.


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