Name: Lolly Willowes; Or, the Loving Huntsman
Rating: 3.571428571428572 (14 reviews)

Sylvia Townsend Warner

The story of a middle-aged spinster who moves to a country village to escape her controlling relatives and takes up the practice of witchcraft.

Lolly Willowes; Or, the Loving Huntsman

Sylvia Townsend Warner's first novel, published in 1926, is magical and subversive, anticipating the ficton of writers like Angela Carter and Jeanette Winterson.

Lolly Willowes, Or, The Loving Huntsman

A classic novel about a woman rejecting society’s rules and embracing her inner witchiness 

Ah yes, the classic tale of a woman running away from her family’s expectations, moving to the country, and selling her soul to the devil to become a witch. What else would a woman do if left to her own devices?

This is certainly an underappreciated classic. The fact that this feminist declaration was published back in 1926 makes it even more impressive. It certainly doesn’t pull any punches though they are delivered is a subtle, classy way.

The story is about Laura Willowes a genteel young woman who confounds her family by not fitting into their expected roll for her. When she refuses to marry and be a good little wife, they shunt her into the role of spinster aunt. Laura spends years shrinking herself into the box they want her in even subjecting herself to the awful nickname “Aunt Lolly” despite hating the moniker. But eventually, Laura reaches her breaking point and abandons her dreary London life to life in a quiet cottage in the country. But her sleepy little town is hiding supernatural secrets and she can’t help but be swept up in them.

I loved the message of this story and how bold it was for its time. There were a lot of great quotes in there. But admittedly, this is a slow story. The entire first half sets up the many years it took before she restarted her life. And it was an extremely slow start. I understand that Warner was probably making a point about how few options women had and how oppressive society was, but it was undeniably a sluggish start. Even once she goes to the country, it was a while before the supernatural elements kicked in. So if you’re expecting the level of witchiness that modern supernatural novels have, you will be disappointed. This is much more of an allegory for how women are treated.

“That’s why we become witches: to show our scorn of pretending life’s a safe business, to satisfy our passion for adventure. It’s not malice, or wickedness - well, perhaps it is wickedness, for most women love that - but certainly not malice.”

Despite the slow pace and parts that didn’t age as well, I could viscerally feel Laura’s longing for a free and happy life, and the weight of a society that suppressed women so much that they felt the only way to have freedom was to sell their souls. And nearly a century later, this book still has a relevant message. So please read this lovely hidden gem.

Characters and Character Development: 4 Stars

Colleen

A classic novel about a woman rejecting society’s rules and embracing her inner witchiness 


Ah yes, the classic tale of a woman running away from her family’s expectations, moving to the country, and selling her soul to the devil to become a witch. What else would a woman do if left to her own devices?

This is certainly an underappreciated classic. The fact that this feminist declaration was published back in 1926 makes it even more impressive. It certainly doesn’t pull any punches though they are delivered is a subtle, classy way.



“Laura also thought that the law had done a great deal to spoil Henry. It had changed his natural sturdy stupidity into a browbeating indifference to other people's point of view. He seemed to consider himself briefed by his Creator to turn into ridicule the opinions of those who disagreed with him, and to attribute dishonesty, idiocy, or a base motive to every one who supported a better case than he.”


The story is about Laura Willowes a genteel young woman who confounds her family by not fitting into their expected roll for her. When she refuses to marry and be a good little wife, they shunt her into the role of spinster aunt. Laura spends years shrinking herself into the box they want her in even subjecting herself to the awful nickname “Aunt Lolly” despite hating the moniker. But eventually, Laura reaches her breaking point and abandons her dreary London life to life in a quiet cottage in the country. But her sleepy little town is hiding supernatural secrets and she can’t help but be swept up in them.



“One doesn’t become a witch to run around being harmful, or to run around being helpful either, a district visitor on a broomstick. It’s to escape all that - to have a life of one’s own, not an existence doled out to by others, charitable refuse of their thoughts, so many ounces of stale bread of life a day.”


I loved the message of this story and how bold it was for its time. There were a lot of great quotes in there. But admittedly, this is a slow story. The entire first half sets up the many years it took before she restarted her life. And it was an extremely slow start. I understand that Warner was probably making a point about how few options women had and how oppressive society was, but it was undeniably a sluggish start. Even once she goes to the country, it was a while before the supernatural elements kicked in. So if you’re expecting the level of witchiness that modern supernatural novels have, you will be disappointed. This is much more of an allegory for how women are treated.

“That’s why we become witches: to show our scorn of pretending life’s a safe business, to satisfy our passion for adventure. It’s not malice, or wickedness - well, perhaps it is wickedness, for most women love that - but certainly not malice.”

Despite the slow pace and parts that didn’t age as well, I could viscerally feel Laura’s longing for a free and happy life, and the weight of a society that suppressed women so much that they felt the only way to have freedom was to sell their souls. And nearly a century later, this book still has a relevant message. So please read this lovely hidden gem.


RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 4 Stars
Writing Style: 3 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 4 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 3 Stars
Level of Captivation: 4 Stars
Originality: 4 Stars

Lolly Willowes is a twenty-eight-year-old spinster when her adored father dies, leaving her dependent upon her brothers and their wives. After twenty years of self-effacement as a maiden aunt, she decides to break free and moves to a small Bedfordshire village. Here, happy and unfettered, she enjoys her new existence nagged only by the sense of a secret she has yet to discover. That secret - and her vocation - is witchcraft, and with her cat and a pact with the Devil, Lolly Willowes is finally free. An instant and great success on its publication in 1926, Lolly Willowes is Sylvia Townsend Warner's most magical novel. Deliciously wry and inviting, it was her piquant plea that single women find liberty and civility.

Sarah Escorsa

One of my favourite reads ever! I really enjoyed the quiet subversiveness of the book and am really not surprise it caused quite a stir when it was first published in 1926! As John Updike wrote, this book is “witty, eerie, tender.” The book also has a very modern feel to it, as it deals with the themes of freedom, rule-breaking and creating a life for oneself without following a pattern imposed by society. The most surprising thing about this book is that it is very humorous, despite dealing with such serious themes. (view spoiler)[Although the devil is involved in the story and makes quite a few appearances towards the end of the book, don't expect a Gothic tale here. I just loved the fact that Lolly Willowes sold her soul just for a bit of peace and quiet;) (hide spoiler)] A fantastic read!

Lolly Willowes; Or, the Loving Huntsman

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