#IlGiardinierediWimbledon in Jane Crilly
(published on 2 July 2024 from Feltrinelli, pages 224. Price 16,15 euro)
Synopsis: For fifty years, Henry Evans was the world's most famous lawn gardener, national heritage of Great Britain: Wimbledon. For fifty years, he personally took care of the camp day and night, in every season, wetting it and cutting it to perfection. When he decides to retire, the young journalist Cara Gibson is sent to interview him. They meet in Henry's red brick house, not far from the legendary All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, over tea and many framed photographs. Why did he stay at Wimbledon for so long?? For the passion for tennis, meetings with the queen, the jet set or there is something else? And so Cara slowly discovers her story. Henry's story, the son of the gardener of a large estate. And Rose's story, the daughter of the wealthy owners of Blake Hall who - contrary to the conventions of the time - dreams of becoming a professional tennis player. While in London Churchill speaks to the English under the bombing, at Blake Hall the two kids make friends and fall in love. He becomes her ball boy and accompanies her everywhere on his bicycle, she teaches him to play tennis and dance. Until the war painfully separates them. So Henry takes the only path he can think of: he goes to the place that is dearest to Rose and waits there. Hoping that one day she will come back too. A novel in which the love that blossoms between two teenagers mixes with the years of the Second World War, to the denunciation of social rules, to the charm of English gardens and tennis to give life to a touching story about innocence and hope.
Review: All love stories deserve to be lived, without having to suffer any social impediment/prejudice.
Love should conquer all.
Yes, it's nice to write, light, affirm, but we all know, that the reality is very different.
Prejudice and different social classes have represented the foundations of a racist and closed society for centuries.
Wars like plagues cause millions of deaths, destruction and pain, but at the same time they have radically changed the world, almost always positively.
Impossible love and social classism have inspired writers to write romantic comedies and small, big revenges in the name of love.
“The Gardener of Wimbledon” by newcomer Jane Crilly , which accidentally fell into my hands during a visit to the bookshop, wanting to buy something to read and have a little’ a break from the scorching heat of this autumn.
Jane Crilly turned out to be an interesting author, gifted with talent and above all in possession of what is necessary to tell a love story without ever falling into melody and genre banality.
“The Gardener of Wimbledon” is an enjoyable read, light, sliding, but still having a constant level of pathos and capacity for involvement throughout the entire narrative development, “forcing” the reader to read until the last page.
“The Gardener of Wimbledon” is the story of “love at first sight”, of an encounter that will change Henry's life forever, young protagonist of our story, leading him to become the patient guardian of a love against time and convention.
The reader will find out, will appreciate it, will reevaluate the value, meaning of "keeping a promise of love", reading Henry's love resilience that lasted fifty years.
“The Gardener of Wimbledon” tells us that it is possible to meet your soul mate, that in love there are no social classes, but how fate can tragically mock even this noble and unique sentiment.
In conclusion “The Gardener of Wimbledon” by Jane Crilly
it is a recommended read for those who believe in the power and strength of love and for those seeking beautiful and new emotions, stories little known to the general public.
Vittorio De Agrò (RS)