The Camomile

By Catherine Carswell

Book Overview

'The chamomile, the more it is trodden on, the faster is grows.' Shakespeare, Henry IV part 1 The opening quote of The Camomile provides an insight into the book's title. The narrative highlights the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140161805
• ISBN13: 9780140161809
• Release Date: December 1987
• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Length: 305 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 5.0" x 1.0" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

A rare gem

Although The Camomile is not a very well known novel, and one of only two novels written by Carswell, it reflects the tradition of Jane Austen with a bit of Kate Chopin's The Awakening thrown in.Semi-autobiographical, the Camomile journals a young woman's battle against convention without the pomp and circumstance of other "feminist" authors. The protagonist, Ellen Carstairs, is well-balanced and through her journal entries to her friend Ruby, we see Ellen contend with ideas of matrimony, career and what it is to be a woman in the early part of this century.Carswell's language is witty and Ellen is rather winsome and sympathetic as a protagonist. Highly recommended for lovers of Austen. Musicians, professional and amateur alike, will also empathize with Ellen.