As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning

In this sequel to Cider With Rosie by Laurie Lee, he leaves the security of his home, Slad, in Gloucestershire to start a new life, at the same time embarking on an epic journey on foot.  He lives by playing the violin, and having picked up the Spanish for "Will you please give me a glass of water?" he decides, in 1934 to go to Spain.  He scrapes together a living by playing his violin, sleeping rough and relying on the kindness of strangers.  In July 1936 war breaks out and Laurie, together with other British subjects marooned on the coast are rescued by a British destroyer sent from Gibraltar.

Most of the group enjoyed the book, mainly for the poetical and lyrical way it which it was written.  The descriptive passages in the book were remarkable, enjoyed at their best by slowly reading the book.  Reading the book was quite nostalgic.  His attitude to women, though prevalent in the day, came across as quite misogynistic in today's climate.

Some found the book frustrating at times as the 22-year old 'Laurie' was idealistic, ill-prepared for the journey through Spain and totally dependent on people's benevolence.  He also had a lot of lucky escapes.  It was obvious from the well-constructed way it was written that Laurie wrote the book as  a much older adult.

Some quotes from the book, giving a sense of the author's imaginative, poetic, sophisticated language:

"Autumnal landscapes, which seemed to be mostly, wrapped in fruit skins."

"There were purple evenings, juicy as grapes, the thin moon cutting a cloud like a knife."

"He knew everyone in Castillo and everyone liked him.  He could communicate in several languages.  He had a kind of liquorice charm, both yielding and elastic."

"The men gathered round in silence, while the few kilos of sardines, a heap of dirty silence, died flickering in the sand."

"Gutters splashed and gurgled, people crept about in sacking, and the rain fell solidly, like cold wet lead."

"The girl self-possessed sat plumly in the chairs, sweetly scented, and tied with ribbons."

 

Review by Beryl Lishman