Welcome to today’s stop on the blog tour for Love and Miss Harris by Peter Maughan, the first in his new ‘Company of Fools’ series. My thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part in the tour and to Farrago Books for my digital review copy.
About the Book
Titus Llewellyn-Gwynne, actor/manager of the Red Lion Theatre, has lost a backer who was going to fund a theatrical tour – when unexpected salvation appears.
Their home theatre in the East End of London having been bombed during the war, The Red Lion Touring Company embarks on a tour of Britain to take a play written by their new benefactress into the provinces.
As they make their vagabond, singing way, they remain unaware that they leave behind in London a man consumed with thoughts of revenge. Revenge which follows them obsessively from town to town, ending in its final act before the last curtain.
Format: Paperback (320 pages) Publisher: Farrago Books
Publication date: 6th May 2021 Genre: Historical Fiction, Humour
Find Love and Miss Harris on Goodreads
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My Review
The blurb describes the Red Lion Touring Company as ‘a collection of theatrical misfits’ and it’s certainly the case that the members of the company come from a range of backgrounds. Although the reader doesn’t learn as much about some characters (Simon, Hugo or Lizzie, for instance) as others, their back stories all share a common theme. Namely, the ebb and flow of fortune. At one point, the company’s leading actor Jack Savage, even quotes Brutus’ line from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar ‘There is a tide in the affairs of men. Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life, Is bound in shallows and in miseries.’ From time to time, the reader gets a glimpse of the sadness that lies behind the clown’s mask as it were, such as Jack’s memories of traumatic wartime experiences.
The book conjures up the atmosphere of post-WW2 Britain from the bomb-damaged streets of London and the frequent ‘pea soupers’ to the Lyons Corner House cafes and the continuation of rationing. I also liked how the author peppered the story with theatrical terms, such as references to a ‘dark house’ to describe a theatre closed to the public between productions, ‘flats’ (pieces of painted theatrical scenery positioned on stage to give the appearance of a building or other background) and ‘blocking rehearsals’ (working out where actors should move on the stage for dramatic effect or to ensure clear sight lines for the audience). And, of course, the uttering of the phrase ‘Break a leg’ to an actor about to go on stage.
A secondary plot introduces moments of melodrama although I was slightly disappointed by the author’s choice of a Jewish character to be the villain of the piece, even if the anti-semitism rife at the time is made clear. By the end of the book, some of the characters find a way to leave their former lives – and mistakes – behind and find happiness. For the others… well, you’ll have to read the book to find out and/or wait for the second book in the series, Miss Harris in the New World, due to be published later this year.
I enjoyed my time spent with The Red Lion Touring Company as they travel the country bringing Love and Miss Harris to audiences keen to experience the joys of live theatre. And isn’t that something we can all identify with?
In three words: Humorous, amiable, lively
Try something similar: Miss Treadway and The Field of Stars by Miranda Emmerson
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About the Author
Peter Maughan’s early career covered many trades, working on building sites, in wholesale markets, on fairground rides and in a circus. He studied at the Actor’s Workshop in London, and worked as an actor in the UK and Ireland, subsequently founding a fringe theatre in Barnes, London.
He is married and lives currently in Wales.
Connect with Peter
Website | Twitter
What Cathy Read Next... 
Thank you for your review. Although I must point out that I did not chose a Jewish name for the villain. If the name has Jewish origins then it was accidental. I borrowed the name after reading an article about a 1960s pop star, Billy J Kramer..
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It was the fact his first name is Reuben, a name of Hebrew origin, that made me think he was Jewish. However, I’ve removed that part of my review when copying it to Goodreads and Amazon.
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thanks for review. I recently finished ‘the batch magna caper.’ 🙂
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Thanks so much for the blog tour support Cathy x
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