I have a particular liking for diaries. They take us as close as can be to the way a person long dead saw the world. It is especially enjoyable when the author is local because that enables other connections to be made, since we may know a little of the individuals mentioned.
Mavis Smith’s production of the journals of Ellen Tollet (and some entries from that of her sister
But even more than that, there’s plenty to read and enjoy: it is not just one-line entries, but developed and well-written paragraphs. You may read different things into it, but these were, for me, the key areas…
First, Ellen Tollet was a member of the gentry. She had connections to many local notables like the Wedgwoods, Twemlows, Wilbrahams and so on. Descriptions and comments on them fill much of the book. This example is from 1835:
Second, those below the gentry are usually like unnamed shadows. Well, shadows is putting it a bit strongly: these people barely exist, and that, in itself, is worth reading. Ellen’s sphere of genuine interest, or so it seems, is the gentry level, and it spreads out like a big stratus cloud, covering a large area and spreading even unto London, but very flat. Above and especially below, they don’t attract her attention overmuch: ‘Went to see some poor people at Wrine Hill. Mr and Mrs R. Wedgwood called.’ (p.77, 1835). She did take a lively interest in a deaf and dumb girl, Mary Gater, though why that happened is not apparent.
Third, we learn about the daily life of a lady. It does not make one wish one was a mid-nineteenth century lady. Her life is hemmed in, with nothing to do, no useful purpose to fulfil, no outlet for her intelligence and energy: ‘I can’t think what makes it so impossible for me to write my journal. It can’t be the monotony of our days for that I have often had to struggle with.’ (p.112, 1835)
How to fill the time if you had wealth and no husband or children was a problem:
‘We have been speculating a great deal on the chance of our being old maids, and having to provide for ourselves… I think there are only two alternatives for an old maid: one is an entire seclusion and retirement… ; the other is a life of acting hourglass – surrounding oneself with the objects of interest, compassion, tending the sick, teaching the ignorant, feeding the hungry and having all sorts of young things that require care and attention…Even if one’s health were good these plans would certainly be preferable to the life of contemplation and sitting in arm-chairs, dressing gowns and slippers, which Georgy and I formerly determined upon. As to mixing with ‘the world’ properly so called, it would be misery. How desolate, how solitary would we feel, how empty how tasteless its joys, how worthless its advantages would appear! Mothers, who have to watch and steer their children through it, may endure it, but not those who stand alone.’ (p.63, 1835)
At the end of the book, following the death of her sister at Welshpool, Ellen does find some purpose and she spends a lot of time caring for Marianne’s one surviving child, Minnie.
Fourth, there is a good insight into her family relationships. It is a curious thing that her parents are hardly ever mentioned, though others are described in detail. She is as close to her siblings as circumstances such as age, marriage and distance will allow. The death of her sister Eliza is the most intense and moving part of the book – but don’t let that put you off - and the events are described by both Ellen and
The interest in her niece Minnie reveals some attitudes that do not sit well with modern tastes. Well, with mine anyroad. There is a lot of emphasis on correcting naughtiness. Take this one example: ‘Some of her faults of earlier days are already corrected, for instance she takes medicine without resistance…’ (p. 204, 1844). Resisting medicine in a young child would seem to border on the normal: I worry a bit about the amount of guilt Minnie is going to be saddled with if this is one of her faults. Perhaps I've got it all wrong as usual and she turned out to be the world's most guilt-free adult.
What we have here is an entertaining diary. I thought the way Mavis introduced the editorial comment into the text was very good, through short italicised points made at the appropriate place. I often found she voiced something I’d been thinking or clarified something I’d been wondering about. If I have a criticism of Ms Tollet it is that she did not write anywhere near enough about the neighbouring parish of Audley, which does show a serious lack of judgement on her part.