The Camomile Lawn

The Camomile Lawn
Author(s)	Mary Wesley
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Genre(s)	Novel
Publisher	Macmillan
Publication date	29 March 1984
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	304 pp (first edition, hardback)
ISBN	ISBN 0-333-36892-4 (first edition, hardback)
OCLC Number	59093668

The Camomile Lawn is a 1984 novel by Mary Wesley about the lives of Richard and Helena Cuthbertson and their five nieces and nephews; Calypso, Walter, Polly, Oliver and Sophy. The title refers to a fragrant camomile lawn stretching down to the Cornish cliffs in the garden of the main characters' aunt's house. Here, in August 1939, they have gathered for their annual holiday. For most of them it is the last summer of their youth before World War II breaks out. The war acts as a catalyst for their sexual and emotional liberation. Their uninhibited behaviour is recalled when the family are reunited for a funeral in the 1980s.

Background

Mary Wesley first began writing The Camomile Lawn after the death of her second husband left her destitute. She finished writing it in 1983, and was convinced to publish it by her editor James Hale. Parts of the book were based on Mary Wesley's early life. The house in Cornwall was based on Boskenna, the seat of the Paynter family, where Wesley stayed as a child. After a coast guard fell to his death near Boskenna, Wesley suspected foul play and created a fictionalised version for her novel. Like Polly, Wesley worked for military intelligence during World War II. The character of Oliver was based on her former boyfriend Lewis Clive while Max was based on Paul Ziegler (brother of Heinz Otto Ziegler), one of her friends whose parents died in The Holocaust. Additionally, Mary Wesley's sister quarreled with her over the depiction of Helena and Richard Cuthbertson in the book, as she believed that they were based on their parents.

Story plot

In August 1939, Oliver, Calypso, Polly and Walter are visiting their Aunt Helena and Uncle Richard Cuthbertson, and their 10-year-old cousin Sophy who has been taken in by Helena and Uncle Richard. They are often visited by the twin sons of the local rector, as well as by Max and Monika, a Jewish refugee couple from Austria, whose only son, Pauli, is in a concentration camp, and who have been taken in by the rector. Young Sophy is delighted with the arrival of her cousins, especially Oliver. She is determined to run 'The Terror Run', a cliff path that the cousins race along at full moon, along with the grown ups. However, during a daylight practice run, the local coastguard exposes himself to her.

Returning from fighting in the Spanish Civil War, a depressed and disenchanted Oliver has a changed outlook on life although he still retains his crush on Calypso. Calypso, knowing that she isn't what Oliver is truly seeking, is determined to make the most of her beauty and marry a rich man.

Sensible, intelligent, practical Polly is observant and eventually joins the War Office. It is implied that she is working on War Intelligence. Her brother Walter joins the Navy.

TV adaptation

The Camomile Lawn
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of episodes	originally aired as 4 episodes, but 5 on US DVD release
Broadcast
Original channel	Channel 4 ABC
Original run	5 March 1992 (1992-03-05) – 2 April 1992 (1992-04-02)

The 1992 adaptation was independently produced by Glenn Wilhide and Sophie Belhetchet at ZED Ltd for Channel 4, and directed by Peter Hall. It was adapted from the novel by Ken Taylor and had a notable cast of actors.

Felicity Kendal played the scatty, snobbish Aunt Helena Cuthbertson, with Paul Eddington as her husband Richard. Jennifer Ehle played the "mercenary" young Calypso, with her real-life mother, actress Rosemary Harris, playing Calypso in old age. Tara FitzGerald played the part of young Polly and Virginia McKenna appeared as the older Polly. Rebecca Hall, the eight year old daughter of director Peter Hall, was cast as young Sophy; older Sophy is played by Claire Bloom. Toby Stephens plays young, serious Oliver and Richard Johnson is the older Oliver. Film locations were at Broom Parc House, Veryan, Cornwall, and Portloe, Cornwall. The theme tune for the TV adaptation, by Stephen Edwards, is based on Ravel's String Quartet in F major, which is also rehearsed, by Max (Oliver Cotton) and his colleagues, in the final episode.

Episode list (DVD release)

#	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
1	"Episode One"	Peter Hall	Ken Taylor	March 5, 1992 (1992-03-05)
The family gathers at the camomile lawn in summer 1939. Oliver returns from the Spanish Civil War and woos Calypso who rejects him, saying she is looking for a rich man. Sophy has a traumatic experience and the family meets classical musician Max and his wife Monika.
2	"Episode Two"	Peter Hall	Ken Taylor	March 12, 1992 (1992-03-12)
As the war begins, Calypso finds a rich husband much to Oliver's dismay. Sophy is sent away to boarding school and Helena begins an affair. Polly obtains a position in the War Office. She and Calypso take advantage of their new-found freedom to embark on a series of sexual liaisons.
3	"Episode Three"	Peter Hall	Ken Taylor	March 19, 1992 (1992-03-19)
Oliver is disappointed when reality does not live up to his fantasies. Calypso receives a surprise and Helena continues her affair. Sophy tells Walter her terrible secret.
4	"Episode Four"	Peter Hall	Ken Taylor	March 26, 1992 (1992-03-26)
Tragedy strikes when a family member is killed in action. Hector is reported missing and Richard comes to London, disturbing Helena's daily life. Meanwhile, Polly is unable to choose between two men and Sophy witnesses the barbarities of war first hand.
5	"Episode Five"	Peter Hall	Ken Taylor	April 2, 1992 (1992-04-02)
40 years later the family gathers at the Camomile Lawn for a funeral, finally resolving Oliver's complicated love life, and Polly and Calypso's relationships with their children.

See also

• List of topics related to Cornwall

External links

• The Camomile Lawn at IMDb