And just like that we are delving into our first review of 2025!
Hi friends,
I hope you had a safe and happy new year and festive season, if you celebrate.
I am thrilled to be heading into a new year. In fact, I did just upload my 2025 Reading Goals post, if you wanted to check it out!
As mentioned in that post, I wanted to make more of a conscious effort to read more novellas, and not necessarily spend so much time reading one book at a time – not that that happens – I am a mood reader, after all.
Don’t forget to buy the book HERE*!
About the Author
The author of this wonderful novella is Helen DeWitt – who is from Washington DC, and of course wrote the ever famous original book of “The Last Samurai”.
DeWitt grew up primarily in South America (Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador), as her parents worked in the United States diplomatic service. After a year at Northfield Mount Hermon School and two short periods at Smith College, DeWitt studied classics at the University of Oxford, first at Lady Margaret Hall, and then at Brasenose College for her Doctorate in Philosophy.
The Review
The English Understand Wool is both the first and last sentence of this novel. In this book we follow our protagonist who comes from a rather wealthy background, and is seventeen as we follow her through this story. Her name is Marguerite and it is her point of view through it all.
Ultimately, with the story only being 70 or so pages, I don’t want to give too much away here, so I’ll say that above all, she wants to avoid anything that may be “mauvais ton” (bad taste – which loses something in translation to English).
I thought that DeWitt’s approach to our protagonist was unique in giving a fantastic narrative on how the press and media will profit off of someone else’s bad situation – regardless of whether they come from wealth or not, these people profit hugely.
Raised in Marrakech by a French mother and English father – her background of wealth is fairly significant.
One should not ask servants to wait on one during Ramadan, and they must have paid leave while one spends the holy month abroad. A Clavinova piano must be played every day, and if not installed in a hotel room, one must request one is installed.
The entire narrative through this story was so unique. Our protagonist experiences some trauma, that in turn draws the media to the story of this high-profile individual.
The language that DeWitt uses through this novel is honestly exceptional, and creates characters that are ultimately wonderful.
Marguerite was surprisingly funny, and I had a good chuckle a few times! When we consider her age too, there is no way that I as a seventeen year old, would have had the brain or experience she did especially when she comes from a high profile background.
It was witty and wonderful and I loved it.
“Maman was exigeante – there is no English word – and I had the benefit of her training.”
So perhaps what if one day that Maman is no longer around, and what if, perhaps, Maman was never Marguerite’s mother at all?
Now an orphan who has a $100Million trust fund, what publisher wouldn’t want to jump in, and pay extortionately for it?
Moving on and elaborating further, I found it really interesting to have this narrative given on large publushing houses that will absolutely froth over the likes of high-profile celebrities and individuals for a good story and some rather nice dollars in their pocket.
The idea and expression behind this novel is that The English Understand Wool for a reason. A person must understand who they are dealing with, and cut their cloth accordingly.
Despite others not being cut from the same cloth as herself, she must ensure that her actions speak louder than words.
I think ultimately this short novel raises a lot of questions for the reader to go away with, and perhaps have a think.
I don’t want to say too much more in case of spoiling, but please, if you have literally a spare couple of hours, please sit and read this because I ensure you, you won’t be disappointed.
4/5 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks for swinging by! Is this something you would be interested in reading? Let me know in the comments! ⬇️
Chat soon!
~ Abi x
*This is an affiliate link, however all opinions are my own, and this is not a sponsored post.
AbiReadThat 
Leave a comment