Near Neighbours

Edinburgh: Greyladies. New. c1956, 2015. Softcover; Trade PB. A new book. ; <b>'In Number Six Kirkaldy Crescent lives Mrs Lenox and her five children (all in their late teens or early twenties). Number Four, the house next door, is occupied by Miss Dorothea Balfour, a gentle and unassuming spinster who was constantly surprised to find "how astonishingly nice and good people were when you knew them....What she did not know and would not have believed was that the people who knew her could not help living up to her belief in their good qualities." It seemed only natural that a warm relationship should develop between the occupants of the two houses. This is a charming story of the friendship which blossoms between people who are so outwardly different and of the happiness it bring to both households.'<p>From the 1956 dust wrapper: "Molly Clavering was born in Glasgow, but lived in the country from a very early age. After six years service with the WRNS, she settled in Moffat, Dumfries, where she is now the only woman member of the Town Council. <p> Her chief interests are anything to do with the countryside and country life, history, folk-lore, Scottish Border traditions and country dancing- and an unclipped black poodle." (Her first poodle was given to her by her friend and neighbor D.E. Stevenson.) We also know she was active in Girl Guides as was DES. A relative of Molly Clavering believes she based Kirkaldy Crescent on Raeburn Place in Edinburgh. The dust wrapper illustration from the 1956 edition reminds us of Eglinton Crescent in Edinburgh's New Town where DE Stevenson once lived. Highly recommended.</b> This edition now out-of-print. Image is one of actual copies on offer. .