The Greengage Summer

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To say any more would be to spoil the story (which we see through 13 year old Cecil's eyes) For me the only good thing that happens is the feasting on greengages. I have now found out that they are a type of very sweet green plum. I wondered what it was like to be buried and not to be sitting in this pretty satin-papered dining room, eating the things the visitors ate, hors d’oeuvres and pâté, poulet a l’estragon, veal and steaks, salads and greengages, and I hoped I need never be dead.”

Scheuer, Philip K. (3 November 1958). "Saville to Resume Producing Career: Godden Novel First of Three; Harold Kennedy Plans Comedy". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. p.C13. The cold hearted Eliot, 'when on job' has no time for anyone, uses and discards women, Zizi is his cover on this job, much like the criminal Wolf from the 'Eye of the Needle'. A mysterious man named Eliot becomes the unofficial guardian - and sometimes friend and ally - to the children. He claims to be English, but also speaks perfect French and is involved with a Madame Zizi, the owner of the hotel. Eliot’s origins are ambiguous and exotic: his high cheekbones are attributed to a Chinese grandmother, and at another point he claims Genghis Khan as an ancestor. He doesn’t appear to work, but he claims to have done nearly every sort of job at one point or another. He disappears, often, to Paris; and early on, Cecil hears him tell Madame Zizi that the children will be useful “camouflage” for him. The Greengage Summer (called Loss of Innocence in the U.S.) is a 1961 British drama film directed by Lewis Gilbert and starring Kenneth More and Susannah York (in her first leading role). It was based on the novel The Greengage Summer (1958) by Rumer Godden. Set in Épernay, in the Champagne region of France, it is the story of the transition of a teenage girl into womanhood.Meanwhile, hotel employee Paul (David Saire) becomes suspicious of Eliot, snoops in his room, and finds a pistol. Eliot catches Paul and gets Zisi to fire him, but Joss's 13-year-old sister Hester ( Jane Asher) has taken a liking to Paul and begs Joss to get Eliot to reconsider, which he does. But later he becomes angry when shutterbug Hester takes his picture. Then he rushes out of a tour of caves where champagne is stored to avoid famous guest Monsieur Renard ( Raymond Gérôme), the best policeman in France. He also insists on turning away potential guests. Ha….not to fear —(maybe though) — the kids meet a handsome confident Englishman name Elliot who (sorta) becomes the temporary guardian. Mother asked Eliot to look after them…. Godden has a lyrical, whimsical style. Her narratives zigzag from present to future to past, as she inserts dialogue from a different times to highlight an event in the vivid present. (Less of that here than in some of her books, though.)

Their mother is bitten on the leg by a horsefly just before the trip and winds up in the hospital; the children end up living largely unsupervised at their hotel for a few weeks. A gentleman who’s sleeping with one of the proprietors of the hotel takes them under his wing, at least to some extent, but it’s clear from the start that he has his own reasons for keeping them around. It is like serving yourself a bowl of muesli, expecting a healthy breakfast & finding it has been heavily sweetened.To keep them from underfoot, the manager banishes the children into the garden by day. Sometimes they go to the river, but mostly they lounge in the grass and watch the adult goings-on from afar. Madame Zizi, the owner, is obsessed with her handsome, well-dressed English lover, Eliot, who, when he is the mood, takes the Grey children under his wing. After 16-year-old Joss recovers from her illness, Eliot, wants to be with them all the time, because she is beautiful. Joss knows that he is flirting, but remains innocent of the implications until Madame Zizi makes a unforgivable scene. Then Joss plays the person she is not–with calamitous results. Eliot can be charming, taking them to visit their mother at the hospital, treating them to lunch in the village, but then turning cold and distant—or disappearing to Paris for long stretches of time. “Eliot est un vrai mystère,” says Paul, and the children can only agree. With agreeable mysteries, the pleasure of the French table and adventures in an ancient town in the Champagne region—all described in loving detail—life is a complete delight and it seems that time itself is suspended. the vivid visuals…. > reflections of trees, houses, fishermen, children, kitchens, cats, colors and shadows along the river bank etc. The Grey children’s innocent world and the world of crime are merged in the evil that hovered about the hotel. it was their keen observations that offered clues, hidden in the adult world. What they really learned that summer was that good and even can reside in the same person. in remembering this, they always thought of the good side of Eliot.

The most popular way to eat the ripe fruit is simply whole and unadorned - they are so sweet and delicious it seems like a waste to do anything else. But, if you want to preserve the flavour for longer, greengages also make excellent jam and liqueurs. They can also be substituted for other plums in crumble or tart recipes. You might need a little less sugar than the recipe calls for, since they are so naturally sweet.

I have yet to read anything by Rumer Godden which is less than 4 stars. Her writing is consistently first rate. The Greengage Summer is no exception. Charming. Bittersweet. Unforgettable. And best of all, it is based on an actual experience. In the intro to the Folio edition of the book, the actress, Jane Asher, who played Cecil/Hester in the movie, describes her adventures on set—an added bonus. More later named it as his favourite film, stating, "[Susannah York] was just twenty-one and an adorable creature... it was one of the happiest films on which I have ever worked." [1] Plot [ edit ] The young ones find a willing guide, companion, and protector in charming Englishman Eliot, a longtime resident at Les Oeillets and Mlle. Zizi’s apparent paramour. But as these warm days of freedom, discovery, and adolescent adventure unfold, Eliot’s interest becomes more and more focused on the eldest of the Grey children, sixteen-year-old daughter Joss. The older man’s obsession with the innocent, alluring, heartbreakingly beautiful woman-child soon threatens to overstep all bounds of propriety. And as Eliot’s fascination increases, so does the jealousy of his disrespected lover, adding fuel to a dangerously smoldering fire that could erupt into unexpected violence at any moment. The faded elegance of Les Oeillets, with its bullet-scarred staircase and serene garden bounded by high walls; Elliot, the charming Englishman who became the children’s guardian while their mother lay ill in hospital; sophisticated Mademoiselle Zizi, hotel patronne, and Eliot’s devoted lover; 16 year old Joss, the oldest Grey girl, suddenly, achingly beautiful.

is an ambiguous age, halfway between childhood and adulthood and really neither one or the other. Godden also establishes that the “Grey” family, for that is their surname, don’t particularly belong anywhere. The performances in the film are strong, particularly from Susannah York, who imbues her character with a vulnerability and intelligence that makes her relatable even to modern audiences. Kenneth More delivers a strong turn as the charismatic Eliot, imbuing him with an enigmatic quality that keeps the audience guessing about his true motives. Danielle Darrieux is also excellent as the glamorous Madame Zizi, providing both comic relief and a sense of wisdom and experience to the story. Gages are usually either green or yellow – both are deliciously sweet and juicy, but the latter are highly ornamental too. There are many varieties to choose from, most providing excellent levels of sweetness and juiciness, and bountiful harvests, ripening either early, mid- or late season. In colder or northern locations, consider a late-flowering variety such as ‘Guthrie’s Late Green’ or ‘Oullins Gage’, to avoid damage to the blossom, which can reduce the crop. Varieties with an RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM) are recommended by our RHS fruit experts, as they performed well in trials – see our list of AGM fruit and veg . They spent much time in the kitchen with Monsieur Armand, reading his crime-filled newspapers, or watching Paul, the sullen helper who had developed a passion for the eldest Grey girl. Pyramid trees are similar to bush trees, but retain their central shoot (leader), so they don’t have the open centre of bush trees. The branches start lower down, only 40–50cm (15–20in) from the ground, and get gradually shorter further up the tree, to create a pyramid shapeIf you enjoyed Rumer Godden’s An Episode of Sparrows, you will find The Greengage Summer a sheer delight. It is witty and profound at the same time. Related RHS Guides Soil types Soil: understanding pH and testing soil All plums are best planted during the dormant season, before growth starts in late winter or early spring. Bare-root trees are only available while dormant, but containerised trees are available all year round – they can potentially be planted at any time, but will settle in best from late autumn to spring. Eliot was the only one who had given them 'respect', something they had never had before. Something so intangible yet so very important for every person. Running a fever and given nothing more than a sugar pill from an Indian doctor in a filthy village…. I needed help so I flew to England, where I spent the first night in the hospital in London with beginning stages of blood poisoning…. The Greengage Summer’ contains a credible cops-and-robbers plot involving bank robbery, but the book derives its real tension most effectively from a growing realization by the two older daughters (Cecil and Joss) of the power of Joss’s newfound sexual attraction — she becomes the centre of attention for most of the men in the book from a lowly kitchen boy to an elderly painter. Joss’s recent maturity is made obvious by the attentions of a louche and seemingly selfish Englishman, Eliot, who is one of the aforementioned lovers. His partner is the temperamental and jealous Mademoiselle Gigi, part owner of the hotel. Eliot cannot disguise his infatuation with Joss, with resulting disastrous histrionics from Mlle. Gigi.