Rosamunde Pilcher Collection, Volume 2: Wild Mountain Thyme / The Empty House / The End of Summer

by Rosamunde Pilcher

Reaching back into the past provides the key to true happiness in three piercingly romantic novels from the best-loved author

Genres: Fiction, Romance

640 pages, Paperback

First published February 6, 1992

About the author

Rosamunde Scott was born on 22 September 1924 in Lelant, Cornwall, England, UK, daughter of Helen and Charles Scott, a British commander. Just before her birth her father was posted in Burma, her mother remained in England. She attended St. Clare's Polwithen and Howell's School Llandaff before going on to Miss Kerr-Sanders' Secretarial College. She began writing when she was seven and published her first short story when she was 18. From 1943 through 1946, Pilcher served with the Women's Naval Service. On 7 December 1946, she married Graham Hope Pilcher, a war hero and jute industry executive who died in March 2009. They moved to Dundee, Scotland, where she remained until her death in 2019. They had two daughters and two sons, and fourteen grandchildren. Her son, Robin Pilcher, is also a novelist.

In 1949, her first book, a romance novel, was published by Mills & Boon, under the pseudonym Jane Fraser. She published a further ten novels under that name. In 1955, she also began writing under her married name Rosamunde Pilcher, by 1965 she her own name to all of her novels. In 1996, her novel Coming Home won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by Romantic Novelists' Association. She retired from writing in 2000 following publication of Winter Solstice. Two years later, she was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Reviews

[Michael Wilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always find that a book by Rosamunde Pilcher is immensely satisfying. The descriptive details are so vivid that you get the impression that you are there as the events unfold.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rosamunde Pilcher Collection contains three short novels by the noted British author. It might well be called The Rosamund Pilcher Collection of books about young women obsessed with their families. There is Rebecca Bayliss of The Day of the Storm, who is told by her critically ill mother that she has a grandfather in Cornwall. Rebecca, who has never met any family members, goes off to Cornwall to meet said grandfather.
There is Emma Litton, of Another View, who comes back from a term as au pair in a French household, to keep house for her father, Ben Litton. Ben is a well-known artist, who has never paid any particular attention to Emma. Emma relishes getting to know her father better.
Finally, there is Selina Bruce, who has been reared by her grandmother, highly proper Mrs. Bruce, and has no idea who her father is. One day, she sees a photograph on the dust jacket on a book and is convinced that the author is her long lost dad. On the spur of the moment, she decides to find him.
Don't get me wrong. I love Rosemunde Pilcher. She is a whizz at description, especially of villages in Cornwall. Her books are so cozy, the reader imagines being wrapped in a wool blanket, while sitting in front of one of those famous British fires Pilcher writes about. But, they are a little old fashioned. Characters leap into marriage, even with people they don't know very well. Men worry about ruining women's reputations. (Who has a reputation anymore?) Women look forward to keeping house for their fathers, or agree to keep house for their male relatives, sans pay of course. Men want to protect women.
The Rosemunde Pilcher Collection is a great beach book, or in these pandemic times, a great backyard book, or book to take to the pool.

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite authors. Love reading & re-reading her stories!

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three great long stories each of which left me wishing it were a whole book.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosamunde Pilcher’s second collection is a tender exploration of love, loss, and the quiet strength found in everyday life. Some quotes in the book:
From Wild Mountain Thyme
"You can’t spend your life avoiding pain. If you do, you turn your back on every possibility of a meaningful relationship."
From The Empty House
"Things unfold the way they’re meant to. There’s a pattern and a purpose to everything. When you look back, it all makes sense. Nothing happens without reason. Nothing is truly impossible."
From The End of Summer
"People matter more than things."

[Susan Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started Wild Mountain Thyme on 13/1/22 finished on 23/1/22

Started Empty House in 24/1/22 finished on the 25/1/22. Nice book

Started on the third book The End of Summer but, no left it. Think what did it was the dog! I find if an animal appears in a book I have to flick through and see what happens to it! So left it!

First two were ok though

[Madge · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Wild Mountain Thyme"
Started: 1/4/18
Completed: 1/4/18
Rating: 3/5
Favourite quote: “Perhaps not wanting to say goodbye is just another word for loving.”

"The Empty House"
Started: 1/4/18
Completed: 4/4/18
Rating: 1/5
Not Pilcher's best, in my opinion. Abrupt, with no flowing continuity; the storyline was not impressive enough to leave any mark on a reader.

"The End of Summer"
Started: 4/4/18
Completed: 4/4/18
Rating: 2.5/5
Predictable and short, but sweetly memorable.

[Franziska Self Fisken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vivid depiction of Porthkerris, Cornwall. Varied characters sympathetically drawn. Satisfying hot water bottle romance.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading Rosamunde Pilcher books in the 80's. She was, and is, one of my favorite authors.

[Sarah Scowen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will definitely not be reading more from this author. The books aren't worth the money it costs to buy them.

[Deepika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced moving romance stories!

[Fi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harmless comfort reading