The Camomile Lawn
Encyclopedia
The Camomile Lawn is a novel by Mary Wesley
about the lives of Richard and Helena Cuthbertson and their five nieces and nephews; Calypso, Walter, Polly, Oliver and Sophy. The title refers to a fragrant camomile lawn
stretching down to the Cornish
cliffs in the garden of the main characters' aunt's house. Here, in August 1939, they have gathered for their annual holiday. For most of them it is the last summer of their youth before World War II
breaks out. The war acts as a catalyst for their sexual and emotional liberation. Their uninhibited behaviour is recalled when the family are reunited for a funeral in the 1980s.
exposes himself
to her.
Returning from fighting in the Spanish Civil War
, a depressed and disenchanted Oliver has a changed outlook on life although he still retains his crush on Calypso. Calypso, knowing that she isn't what Oliver is truly seeking, is determined to make the most of her beauty and marry a rich man.
Sensible, intelligent, practical Polly is observant and eventually joins the War Office
. It is implied that she is working on War Intelligence
. Her brother Walter joins the Navy.
and Sophie Belhetchet at ZED Ltd for Channel 4
, and directed by Peter Hall. It was adapted from the novel by Ken Taylor
and had a notable cast of actors.
Felicity Kendal
played the scatty, snobbish Aunt Helena Cuthbertson, with Paul Eddington
as her husband Richard. Jennifer Ehle
played the 'mercenary' young Calypso, with her real-life mother, actress Rosemary Harris
, playing Calypso in old age. Tara FitzGerald
played the part of young Polly and Rebecca Hall
was cast as young Sophy; older Sophy is played by a taciturn Claire Bloom
and Toby Stephens
plays young, serious Oliver. Film locations were at Broom Parc House, Veryan
, Cornwall, and Portloe
, Cornwall. The theme tune for the TV adaptation by Stephen Edwards, is based on Ravel's String Quartet in F major, which is also rehearsed, by Max (Oliver Cotton
) and his colleagues, in the final episode.
Mary Wesley
Mary Wesley, CBE was an English novelist. During her career, she was one of Britain's most successful novelists, selling three million copies of her books, including 10 best-sellers in the last 20 years of her life.-Background:...
about the lives of Richard and Helena Cuthbertson and their five nieces and nephews; Calypso, Walter, Polly, Oliver and Sophy. The title refers to a fragrant camomile lawn
Lawn
A lawn is an area of aesthetic and recreational land planted with grasses or other durable plants, which usually are maintained at a low and consistent height. Low ornamental meadows in natural landscaping styles are a contemporary option of a lawn...
stretching down to the Cornish
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
cliffs in the garden of the main characters' aunt's house. Here, in August 1939, they have gathered for their annual holiday. For most of them it is the last summer of their youth before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
breaks out. The war acts as a catalyst for their sexual and emotional liberation. Their uninhibited behaviour is recalled when the family are reunited for a funeral in the 1980s.
Story plot
In August 1939, Oliver, Calypso, Polly and Walter are visiting their Aunt Helena and Uncle Richard Cuthbertson, and their 10-year-old cousin Sophy who has been taken in by Helena and Uncle Richard. They are often visited by the twin sons of the local rector, as well as by Max and Monika, a Jewish refugee couple from Austria, whose only son, Pauli, is in a concentration camp, and who have been taken in by the rector. Young Sophy is delighted with the arrival of her cousins, especially Oliver. She is determined to run 'The Terror Run', a cliff path that the cousins race along at full moon, along with the grown ups. However, during a daylight practice run, the local coastguardHer Majesty's Coastguard
Her Majesty's Coastguard is the service of the government of the United Kingdom concerned with co-ordinating air-sea rescue.HM Coastguard is a section of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency responsible for the initiation and co-ordination of all civilian maritime Search and Rescue within the UK...
exposes himself
Indecent exposure
Indecent exposure is the deliberate exposure in public or in view of the general public by a person of a portion or portions of his or her body, in circumstances where the exposure is contrary to local moral or other standards of appropriate behavior. Indecent exposure laws vary in different...
to her.
Returning from fighting in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, a depressed and disenchanted Oliver has a changed outlook on life although he still retains his crush on Calypso. Calypso, knowing that she isn't what Oliver is truly seeking, is determined to make the most of her beauty and marry a rich man.
Sensible, intelligent, practical Polly is observant and eventually joins the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
. It is implied that she is working on War Intelligence
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
. Her brother Walter joins the Navy.
TV adaptation
The 1992 adaptation was independently produced by Glenn WilhideGlenn Wilhide
Glenn Wilhide is a British television screenwriter and producer.Wilhide was born in Maryland USA to American parents. His first production was The Road Home, a feature film which he produced in Poland for Channel 4 as a young man in his early twenties...
and Sophie Belhetchet at ZED Ltd for Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, and directed by Peter Hall. It was adapted from the novel by Ken Taylor
Kenneth Taylor (scriptwriter)
Kenneth Heywood Taylor FRSA was an Award-winning English screenwriter, credited as Ken Taylor.-Life:...
and had a notable cast of actors.
Felicity Kendal
Felicity Kendal
Felicity Ann Kendal, CBE is an English actor known for her television and stage work.Born in 1946, Kendal spent much of her childhood in India, where her father managed a touring repertory company. First appearing on stage at the age of nine months, Kendal appeared in her first film, Shakespeare...
played the scatty, snobbish Aunt Helena Cuthbertson, with Paul Eddington
Paul Eddington
Paul Eddington CBE was an English actor best known for his appearances in popular television sitcoms of the 1970s and 80s: The Good Life, Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister.-Early life:...
as her husband Richard. Jennifer Ehle
Jennifer Ehle
Jennifer Ehle is an American actress of stage and screen. She is known for her BAFTA winning role as Elizabeth Bennet in the 1995 mini-series Pride and Prejudice.-Early life:...
played the 'mercenary' young Calypso, with her real-life mother, actress Rosemary Harris
Rosemary Harris
Rosemary Ann Harris is an English actress and a member of the American Theatre Hall of Fame. Throughout her career she has been nominated for an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award and has won a Golden Globe, an Emmy, a Tony Award, an Obie, and five Drama Desk Awards.-Early life:Harris was born in...
, playing Calypso in old age. Tara FitzGerald
Tara Fitzgerald
Tara Anne Cassandra Fitzgerald is an English actress who has appeared in feature films, television, radio and the stage....
played the part of young Polly and Rebecca Hall
Rebecca Hall
Rebecca Maria Hall is an English actress.In 2003, Hall won the Ian Charleson Award for her debut stage performance in a production of Mrs. Warren's Profession...
was cast as young Sophy; older Sophy is played by a taciturn Claire Bloom
Claire Bloom
Claire Bloom is an English film and stage actress.-Early life:Bloom was born in the North London suburb of Finchley, the daughter of Elizabeth and Edward Max Blume, who worked in sales...
and Toby Stephens
Toby Stephens
Toby Stephens is an English stage, television and film actor who has appeared in films in both Hollywood and Bollywood. He is best known for playing megavillain Gustav Graves in the James Bond film Die Another Day , Edward Fairfax Rochester in the BBC television adaptation of Jane Eyre and Philip...
plays young, serious Oliver. Film locations were at Broom Parc House, Veryan
Veryan
Veryan is a coastal civil parish and a village on the Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The main settlements are at Veryan Churchtown, Veryan Green, Portloe and the smaller hamlets of Trewartha, Treviskey, Carne and Camels...
, Cornwall, and Portloe
Portloe
Portloe is a small village in Cornwall, United Kingdom situated on the Roseland Peninsula east of Veryan. Portloe currently harbours two full time working fishing vessels, the Jasmine and Katy Lil, both of which fish for crab and lobster in Veryan and Gerrans Bay, along with a fleet of smaller...
, Cornwall. The theme tune for the TV adaptation by Stephen Edwards, is based on Ravel's String Quartet in F major, which is also rehearsed, by Max (Oliver Cotton
Oliver Cotton
Oliver Cotton is an English actor, known for his work on stage, TV and film.After training at the Drama Centre London, he has worked extensively at the Royal National Theatre playing in many productions including The Royal Hunt of the Sun, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Much Ado About...
) and his colleagues, in the final episode.