Riceyman Steps · Chapter
III: International explained
Violet Earlforward deals with Mr.
What happens
Violet Earlforward deals with Mr. Bauersch, a New York book dealer, in her husband Henry's absence. She appraises him with suspicion, noting his resemblance to Henry but disapproving of his foreign style. After a tense transaction over a large book purchase, Mr. Bauersch struggles to arrange delivery, revealing Violet's unyielding and unhelpful demeanor. The chapter highlights cultural and commercial friction between English and American business practices.
Themes in this chapter
Class and Social Mobility
Violet's suspicion of Mr. Bauersch as a foreigner and her rigid adherence to her own code reflect class-based and national prejudices in a changing commercial world.
Urban Decay and Industrial London
The shop's lack of modern amenities like a telephone and the difficulty of arranging transport highlight the decaying infrastructure of post-war London.
Domesticity and Routine
Violet's management of the shop and her domestic role as house-mistress are intertwined, as she resists disruption to her routine from Mr. Bauersch's demands.
Characters to notice
- Violet Earlforward
Managing the shop alone, she is suspicious of Mr. Bauersch, adheres strictly to her code of equal treatment for customers, and shows a hard, unhelpful side in business dealings.
- Mr. Bauersch
A New York book dealer who resembles Henry Earlforward; he is courteous but becomes impatient with Violet's uncooperative attitude and struggles with local logistics.
- Henry Earlforward
Absent from the shop, possibly at a sale; his prior arrangement with Mr. Bauersch causes tension as Violet is left to handle delivery issues.
- Elsie
Mentioned as having been surpassed by Violet in learning about book pricing; previously marked prices in plain figures.
Key passages
“According to Violet’s code, all customers were equal in the sight of the shopkeeper, and although the first customer was shabby and dirty, and carried for his acquisitions a black stuff sack which he slung over his shoulder, Violet would not abate one comma of her code.”
Violet treated every customer equally, even a shabby one with a sack, sticking firmly to her principles.
Illustrates Violet's rigid adherence to her personal business ethics.
“She was confirmed in her original lightning impression that he bore a resemblance to Henry. He was of about the same age and build; he had the same sort of pointed beard, and the same mild demeanour; and also his suit was of the same kind and colour of cloth as Henry wore on Sundays. But what a different suit from Henry’s! It had a waist.”
Mr. Bauersch looked like Henry in age, build, and beard, but his suit had a waist, which Violet disapproved of.
Highlights Violet's critical eye and her preference for Henry's more conservative style.
“If he could have ruined the shop by never coming into it again he would perhaps have ruined the shop. But it was the shop’s cursed indifference that spiritually beat him and ensured the triumph of the astonishing system.”
Mr. Bauersch wished he could punish the shop by boycotting it, but its indifference to his business defeated him.
Summarizes the cultural clash and the power dynamic in the transaction.