The Irish and British Wars Book

Very charming. I had no idea the late Victorians played such wild games of croquet (up to six games taking place on one lawn at once), and also I am a bit aggrieved that archery is never offered to me as a standard party activity. Kilvert is a keen observer of place (in this case, mostly the Hay valley area of Wales) and a great describer, and often quite amusing. Here is part of the first diary entry, about a woman who had a wood owl. "She wanted to call the owl "Eve" but Mrs. Bridge [her sister] said it should be called "Ruth." She and her sister stranded in London at night went to London Bridge hotel....with little money and no luggage except the owl in a basket. The owl hooted all night in spite of their putting it up the chimney, before the looking glass, under the bedclothes, and in a circle of lighted candles which they hoped it would mistake for the sun....Miss Child asked the waiter to get some mice for "Ruth" but none could be got."
My only complaint is that I'd have liked more general narrative and character background (I kept wanting to flip to the end to see how the story ended, but it never became a real story....) Still, very interesting, soothing reading.