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I Capture The Castle from Dodie Smith

Did you know that the author of “101 Dalmatians wrote other great books as well? She did, and one of them is the book “I capture the castle”, written in the year 1948. It tells the story of 17-year old Cassandra Mortmain, who lives together with her family in an old castle in the beautiful countryside of England. 

Cassandra shares her life at the castle with her father, stepmother Topaz, sister Rose, brother Thomas and help Stephen. She describes it as being romantic and blissful, when in reality they are more than poor. The father is the author of one successful book; but he stopped writing afterwards. 

Rose and her sister don’t believe in being a financial help for the family, but before all hope is lost two handsome American brothers, Simon and Neil, move in in the estate up the hill …

Cassandra tells us about her first love, her first actual problems and the experience of growing up in a beautiful country castle. 

Sitting in the kitchen sink, she starts to capture the characters In her notebooks, the love of Simon to her sister and the beauty of the castle and its surrounding lands, being quiet and peaceful. Cassandra lives together with her parents, Topaz and James, her siblings Rose and Thomas and their former handyman Stephen, who now works at a farm to bring the family their only income. She describes the trouble of each person, how Stephen is in love with Cassandra, but never thinks he is good enough for her, as he is not born to be a gentleman, how Cassandra loves Simon, who only has eyes for Rose and how Rose and Neil secretly love each other but have a long time finding the courage in admitting though. Meanwhile, Simon and Rose engage themselves and Rose gets to spend plenty of money and go to theaters, which makes her talk arrogantly about others. 

Cassandra fancies Simon while turning to Stephen for help. Desperate for a way to direct her passion and find a place in life, she even starts to go to church, but soon stops again. Throughout the book, she tries to make sense of her feelings and a way to engage life. Together with her brother Thomas, they lock up James in the old prison, until he starts writing for his new book, which brings happiness as well as independence to the family. 

In the end, everybody is able to be truthful to themselves: Neil and Rose get married, Cassandra does not go overseas with Simon but finds peace with herself and even sealing up her journals to demonstrate to face the future alone. Stephen acknowledges his feelings to Cassandra are one-sided and moves out of the castle and James gets a new book contract, making him and Topaz happy. 

Our opinion: 

Cassandra is charming, there is no denying that. But she also comes off as a girl that only ever has read books about life and love, without ever experiencing it. Nonetheless, we are astonished, how clear she was able to capture her world, her feelings and her castle.

Stephen is a big contrast to the family, working for what he wants in life (Cassandra). We are happy he did not fall into despair after being rejected by Cassandra, but was able to move on with his life quickly.

The book had long passages without big changes, but it was very nice how the problems of each character where stated relatively at the beginning of the book and the happy conclusion to this rather complex setting for a countryside castle at the end.