Miss Buncle's Book by D.E. Stevenson

When our fellow humans annoy us with their squabbles and predictability, don’t we all fantasize about memorializing them in fiction – to their detriment?* 

Quiet Barbara Buncle has written a novel about her neighbors in Silverstream, a placid English village, but she did it primarily to make some money (it seemed easier than raising chickens), not to expose their quirks. She is delighted when her manuscript is accepted for publication. She tells publisher Abbott & Spicer:

“My book’s not exciting is it? At least the first part isn’t. But life in Silverstream is rather dull and I can only write about what I know. At least –“ she added, twisting her hands in her effort to explain her limitations as an author and be perfectly truthful about it all – “At least I can only write about people that I know. I can make them do things, of course.”

The excitement begins when the book is published and Silverstream residents start reading, then are horrified to recognize themselves. They rant and rave! They suspect the pseudonymous author John Smith must be a neighbor! They accuse each other. Barbara watches in guilty horror but her publisher, Mr. Abbott, tells her not to worry; he promises no one will bring a libel suit as it would simply make them look silly. The book is a bestseller and he gives Barbara an advance on her royalties.

She is able to cover her overdraft at the bank, get a new hairstyle, and buy some much needed new clothes. Once she doesn’t have to worry about money and can splurge a little, faded Barbara Buncle becomes a new person, startling Mr. Abbott:

He stopped suddenly and gazed at his hostess in surprise. He was a mere man, of course, and he had not the remotest idea what had caused the amazing difference in Miss Buncle’s appearance. He only knew she was much more attractive than he had thought, much prettier too, and years younger –

“I must have been blind,” he said aloud.

However, while Barbara and Mr. Abbott are improving their acquaintance and planning her next book, her neighbors are still looking for someone to blame. They decide the only person not caricatured in the book must be the author and plot to expose her. Should Barbara confess to save her innocent friend or will that force her to leave Silverstream forever?

It is great that Sourcebooks and Dean Street Press have reprinted many of Stevenson’s books.  Your local bookseller can special order them for you. My other reviews of her books are available here.  Have you read any?

Title: Miss Buncle’s Book
Author: D.E. Stevenson
Publication: Sourcebooks, trade paperback, originally published in 1936
Genre: Fiction
Source: Personal copy

* Of course, when these people really annoy us, we imagine their demise – but that would result in a very different genre of book!