[Away from the Vicarage, the continuation of Noel Streatfeild's autobiography,] describes her attempt to break away from the restriction of her vicarage home and her saintly father's attempt to preserve there, if not in the parish, a vanished way of life. She is good at describing that disproportionate indignation which provides the rebellious child's necessary motive power, and good at the nostalgic recalling of details of daily life and relationships in 1918. We could have done with more such detail. The blurb claims "startling candour" for her treatment of her wild days as a R.A.D.A. student and actress. This is not apparent; it would have been better if she had either hinted more or revealed more. As it is she treats her young self with a rather grating grandmotherly tolerance and indulgence and the "frank" note is a little embarrassing.

"Books Received: 'Away from the Vicarage'...