My third Penelope Fitzgerald book in fairly quick succession is Human Voices, a work I was drawn into almost without realising my involvement in the story, so that when it ended my reaction was one of surprise. It is set in the BBC's Broadcasting House during the war, where the Department of Recorded Programmes is run by the intense and distracted Sam Brooks with a 'seraglio' of young female assistants, and 'atmospheric' recordings such as "Cheerful Voices with Chink of Teacups" abound, being broadcast in order to reflect the country's mood or to boost morale among the listeners.
There is the same appreciation of the absurd as in The Gate of Angels, though the story is perhaps less cohesive, but the view of the war as seen through the broadcasters' prism is an engaging and slightly surreal one. The Talks Producer believed that "appearances were projected through the microphone", hence the radio announcers' adoption of evening dress, and news bulletins were required to limit the use of recordings - as opposed to live transmissions - as "The direct human voice must be used whenever we can manage it - if not, ..... the programme must be announced as recorded, that is Not Quite Fresh".
This is very witty book, a touch batty, clever and economical. Dovegreyreader (who is a big fan of Penelope Fitzgerald's) said recently that not everybody 'gets' her, and I see what she means. Punning unashamedly, I'd say you'd have to be on her 'wavelength' with this book, but that is not to diminish it one bit. In sum, short, sharp and very sure-footed.
Another to add to my growing list! As I was born in 1940, I can remember my parents listening to the radio and can remember having to be very quiet during the news - especially during the War! To this day, I still love radio more than TV! I can imagine the news broadcaster being more neatly dressed in those days than I am sure are now - jeans and a well worn t-shirt now!
Posted by: Peg | 04 March 2007 at 07:20 PM