Notwithstanding

Notwithstanding is a collection of 20 short stories set in an English village during the 1960s and 1970s, based on Louis de Bernières' childhood experiences in Surrey. The stories capture the essence of rural English life during a time when villages maintained their traditional character and social structures. Each tale focuses on different residents of the village, from eccentric locals and determined spinsters to amateur naturalists and village workers. The collection includes previously published works from various British periodicals, including Punch, Country Life, and The Independent. The stories are connected by their shared setting and recurring characters, creating a panoramic view of village life through individual moments and experiences. The narrative style combines straightforward storytelling with elements of British humor and social observation. The collection serves as a record of a vanishing way of life in rural England, exploring themes of community, tradition, and the subtle interactions between people in a close-knit society. Through these stories, de Bernières examines how place shapes identity and how communities preserve their character through shared experiences.

Readers describe this collection of village tales as nostalgic and charming accounts of English rural life. Many note the similarities to their own experiences growing up in small villages. Readers appreciate: - The interconnected stories that build a complete picture of village life - The mix of humor and poignancy - The detailed portrayal of eccentric local characters - The capturing of a vanishing way of life Common criticisms: - Stories can feel disjointed and uneven - Some characters appear underdeveloped - The nostalgic tone strikes some as overly sentimental Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (1,800+ ratings) Amazon UK: 4.3/5 (280+ ratings) Amazon US: 4.2/5 (90+ ratings) Representative review: "Like sitting in a village pub listening to locals tell tales about their neighbors - some amusing, some sad, all authentic." - Goodreads reviewer Several readers compare the style to James Herriot's stories, though note these focus more on human characters than animals.

Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons This novel depicts the eccentric inhabitants of a rural Sussex farm through the eyes of a city-dwelling protagonist who encounters the peculiar customs and characters of English country life.

Under the Greenwood Tree by Thomas Hardy The novel presents life in a rural English village through the interactions of its inhabitants, focusing on the local church choir and the social fabric of the community.

The Village News by Tom Fort This non-fiction work chronicles the history and evolution of English village life through detailed observations of various communities across the country.

Lark Rise to Candleford by Flora Thompson Set in the Oxfordshire hamlet of Juniper Hill, this semi-autobiographical trilogy captures the rhythms and traditions of late Victorian rural England through connected stories about villagers.

The Provincial Lady by E.M. Delafield Written as a diary, this book chronicles the observations and experiences of a woman living in a Devon village between the wars, recording the minutiae of rural social life.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 The village depicted in "Notwithstanding" is based on Wormley, Surrey, where Louis de Bernières lived as a child, though he renamed it in the book to protect residents' privacy. 📚 Before becoming a novelist, de Bernières worked as a mechanic, motorcyclist, and English teacher in Colombia, experiences that influenced his most famous work, "Captain Corelli's Mandolin." 🌟 The book was originally published as individual stories in various newspapers and magazines before being collected into a single volume in 2009. 🎬 Unlike his bestseller "Captain Corelli's Mandolin," which was adapted into a major film starring Nicolas Cage and Penélope Cruz, "Notwithstanding" maintains a deliberately intimate, local focus. 🗺️ The collection captures a pivotal moment in English rural history, as the 1960s-70s saw the rapid decline of traditional village life due to urbanization, with over 900 villages disappearing from the map between 1945 and 1975.