It was with delight that I noticed I Capture the Castle would help me with my Century of Books project, because I liked it so much when I read it years ago. It had an ending that was completely different from what I remembered, though, my memory having possibly been polluted by seeing a couple of TV versions of it.
Cassandra lives with her family in a house attached to a ruined castle. The house, which was purchased during the heights of her father’s success as a writer, is now woefully decrepit. Her father has not produced anything since his initial success, and the money ran out long ago. Now their clothes are shabby, and they can barely afford to eat. Rent hasn’t been paid for months, and they’ve sold all the good furniture.
There is exciting news, though. Their landlord having died, new occupants of the estate, which includes their home, have arrived. They are American brothers, Simon and Neil Cotton.
The brothers arrive when Cassandra is taking a bath in the kitchen. She keeps quiet and they go away, but they return so she has to announce herself. They take her for a child. Her sister Rose, who is beautiful, decides that she will marry Simon, the heir, no matter what, even though she hates his beard.
Cassandra likes both men at first but then overhears them talking about Rose, who has been behaving affectedly. With a little advice, Rose begins to act naturally, though, and soon she has accomplished her goal. She is engaged to Simon, although Neil seems to hate her. The only trouble is, Cassandra is in love with Simon.
This sounds like a straight love story, but it isn’t. There are lots of terrifically eccentric characters and subplots to go with them. There is the issue of whether their father will write again. And will Topaz, their stepmother, who sees herself as an artist’s muse, leave him for someone who is working? What can Cassandra do about Stephen Colley, a devastatingly handsome young man who lives with and basically supports the family and copies out poems to give to her?
This novel is charming. Its narrator mixes wit with naiveté and wisdom, and the novel is written in a sprightly, entertaining manner. It’s a lovely light read.
What? Me Read? 
Coincidentally, I’ve just finished this book (in a gorgeous new hardback edition) and I loved it more than I can say.
It took me a while to accustom myself to the style but once I’d realised it was intentional (!) I threw myself into the story and struggled to put it down.
Yes, I loved this one.
I loved this book, but it’s been so long since I read it I can’t remember much about it now. I’m glad you enjoyed re-reading it – maybe I should do the same soon!
It ended differently than I remembered.
Cassandra Mortmain is one of my top 5 women I would like to be.
For some reason I’ve always thought this was a children’s book and therefore have never read it. It sounds far more interesting than I thought and I already know which man I want her to marry! 😉 I shall add it to my next Classics Club list.
Ha ha! Great!