Very funny
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This is the paperback version of the Radio 4 Audio series, Ladies of Letters. I have not heard the radio programme,but got this book because I wanted something light and amusing. I started reading it last night and finished it two hours later. This book is actually the first and second volume of correspondence between the two fictitious women, Vera Small and Irene Spencer.
Their acquaintance begins at the wedding of Irene's daughter at which it turns out that Vera has gatecrashed, helping out her friend who is doing the catering. Their correspondence starts with thank you letters, but soon moves to a deeper intimacy and sporadic visits.
It's a wonderful relationship. At first you are lulled into a false sense of security by the gentle humour of their old ladylike ways and ideas. This soon becomes secondary to a hilariously vituperative and belligerent correspondence between them in which the vie over all aspects of their lives, large and small to do each other down.
It is witty and dark and funny, and I imagine, read by Prunella Scales and Patricia Routledge as on Radio 4, would be perfect in almost every way.
I thought the first volume of letters was far superior to the second, as this stretched the genre rather and got a little too far fetched. I much preferred it when their idiosyncracies were more muted, because they were so deliciously unexpected. Travels to trailer parks, drug busts and antipodean adventures in the second volume sometimes overshadow the sheer evil skill of the writing, which is a shame.
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the debut of the ladies
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The first two series of the letters of two batty old biddies played by Prunella Scales and Patricia Routledge. They love writing to each other but just can't get on when they meet. The only people I've sent it to who don't like it are ladies in their sixties which just about says it all. Their complete works are better value in the "Ladies of Letters Biscuit Tin".
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A Joy
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Patricia Routledge and Prunella Scales as well as the writers and all involved in the Ladies of Letters series should be so proud. Why? Well because you have given me so much plessure. I first heard it on "Women's Hour" and from then on was hooked. I have the whole lot and never cease to enjoy the antics of Vera, Irene, Howard, Anhony, Karen and Co. Wonderful in every way. If you have not heard any of them do so now.
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If you need a reason to smile ...
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Some while back, I was lying in bed feeling sorry for myself. My arms hurt and my eyes wouldn't focus properly. I'd been mugged by a virus. Couldn't hold a book up and couldn't see properly. A friend phoned me to sympathise because, what's the point of an illness that confines you to bed if you can't make good use of it and read all the books you couldn't find time to read when you were healthy? I said it's not as bad as all that - at least I've got the audiobook of the BBC's 'Lord of the Rings' radio play to listen to and that should last a couple of days or so. She said if I needed cheering up, the BBC's 'Ladies of Letters' would do the trick. It's a collection of correspondence written/read by Vera (Patricia Routledge) and Irene (Prunella Scales): two batty old biddies - apparently friends, but bitchy, critical and both of them ready to take offence at any harsh or ambiguous observation made by the other. I was doubtful. It didn't sound like my sort of entertainment at all. I liked Prunella Scales in 'Fawlty Towers' but I'd never been able to watch Patricia Routledge in 'Keeping up Appearances'. There are some sorts of comedy that just don't make me laugh. I can't help it.
I was mistaken though. This is very funny. I could identify these women. They're a sort of identikit of several older ladies I've met (most of them my aunties). They seem kind and caring superficially and, in fairness, that's how they want to be deep down, as well as on the surface. But their underlying jealousy, competitiveness, social-climbing instincts and occasional shocking mean-mindedness can't be prevented from showing itself from time to time. These two ladies rarely meet face to face because they're so ghastly to each other when they get together. So mostly, they keep a respectable distance between them and write kind, sympathetic, angry and threatening letters to each other. Irene and Vera are perfectly serious women. They have no idea how funny they are. I think my virus must have died laughing because, by the time I'd finished listening to the last CD (3 CDs, 3 hours and 20 minutes, by the way), I was well enough to get up and get on with it.
I recommend this to anyone who needs to find a reason to smile. You may find you have a different problem by the end: your face may ache from laughing and grinning.
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Had to stop the car I was laughing so much.
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The writing and the performance of this relationship it so beautifully done, that it is a pleasure to listen to it and I know I will be getting it out to listen to again real soon.
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