The Carousel

by Rosamunde Pilcher

Prue is intelligent, artistic, independent - and bored. Pressurized by her mother to make a conventional and dull marriage, she is delighted to escape London and seek retreat with her eccentric and bohemian aunt in Cornwall. A chance encounter with an attractive young artist on the sea shore leads to day after idyllic summer's day of exploring the Cornish countryside and coast. But there is something troubling Daniel and Prue, now deeply entangled, feels compelled to discover what it is. Voices in Summer Laura, newly married and ever conscious of the shadow of her husband Alec's first wife, takes a holiday with his family in Cornwall. Through the long, hot summer days she is charmed by the beautiful old house and the people she learns to know and love. The sight of the sparkling, brilliant sea quiets for a while her uneasy spirit. Only an anonymous letter, accusing her of having an affair, can threaten her new-found tranquillity.'Enormous charm and warmth' -- Kirkus'I don't know where Rosamunde Pilcher has been all my life...' -- New York Times'Rosamunde Pilcher weaves her magic delightfully' -- Publishers Weekly

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit, British Literature, Contemporary, Adult Fiction, Audiobook

184 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

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

[Nikoleta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Το πρωτο βιβλιο της Πιλτσερ που διαβαζω. Δεν μπορει να πει κανεις αυτο το βιβλιο συναρπαστικο, ουτε φυσικα αγωνιωδες. Βεβαια οταν κανεις πιανει στα χερια του βιβλιο της συγκεκριμενης συγγραφεως δεν θα επρεπε να περιμενει τετοιου ειδους συναισθηματα. Αντιθετως, οι παμπολες περιγραφες των τοπίων, των ηρώων κ των συναισθημάτων τους, προκαλούν μια χαλαρότητα στον αναγνώστη. Οι ήρωες είναι απλοικοι κ βιώνουν καταστάσεις ρεαλιστικές, καθημερινές με μικροανατροπές που εν τέλει τους βοηθουν να αναθεωρήσουν τη στάση τους κ να ωριμάσουν λίγο περισσοτερο. Ανάγνωσμα που διαβάζεται αβίαστα. Ακατάλληλο για τους φαν της δράσης.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every so often, I leave my chosen world of non-fiction for a breath of fresh, fictional air. Rosamunde Pilcher takes me to Cornwall - or Scotland, or other places in Great Britain - where I plunge into a plethora of old-fashioned British words that take me to the rural countryside and to towns named Porthkerris and small trains that trundle through "cuttings" and and villages almost always on bluffs sweeping down to the sea and delightful characters that capture my interest immediately. She gives me everything I need in a fictional book; fascinating story lines, romance, adversity, adventure and the most amazing word paintings.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a great fan of Rosamunde Pilcher, but this novel was something of a disappointment. It was very short and the plot was not particularly interesting. The main protagonist was banal as was the interactivity between her and the other characters: picnic or no picnic? That is the question! Compared to her other works, this is very light and easily forgotten.

[writer... · Rating 4 out of 5]

THis Saturday's Charming story that convinced me once more why I love a Rosamunde Pilcher read...

Contemporary conflicts developed and resolved within it's 233 pages. tissues required.
believable characters who are likeable. relatable issues. well defined description of recognizable locales...

EnJoyable reading!

[Sotiris Karaiskos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few things are so ideal to restore your inner balance after a hard day than Rosamund Pilcher's books. This optimism, the gentle romance, the relaxing descriptions of nature and in general all this world of her are the ideal elements that one can look for in these conditions and their positive effect on me is something stable. Of course, there is nothing different from her other books, which of course can be described as negative but, on the other hand, this absence of surprise works just as relaxing as the reader knows what he will encounter. So here we have a story in beautiful Cornwall, with a young woman looking for her way, a man who has lost it and a neglected girl, all under the roof of a wise middle-aged woman and faced with the consequences of the actions of selfish and immature people. In this bubble of love and understanding, everything can be done, the tears can dry, true love can bloom, solid solutions can be found and, of course, the reader can find refuge for a few hours. However, in the case of this book, the hours are really few and that is something negative but I have the feeling that all these nice things are given in an ideally condensed way that actually enhances the book and makes it more enjoyable. That's why I could not avoid the rating you see.

Λίγα πράγματα είναι τόσο ιδανικά για να επαναφέρουν την εσωτερική σου ισορροπία μετά από μία δύσκολη μέρα από τα βιβλία της ρόζαμουντ πίλτσερ. Αυτή η αισιοδοξία, ο ήπιος ρομαντισμός, οι χαλαρωτικές περιγραφές της φύσης και γενικότερα όλος αυτός ο κόσμος της είναι τα ιδανικά στοιχεία που μπορεί κάποιος να αναζητήσει σε αυτές τις συνθήκες και η θετική επίδραση τους πάνω μου είναι κάτι σταθερό. Φυσικά κάτι διαφορετικό δεν υπάρχει σε σχέση με τα άλλα βιβλία της, κάτι που φυσικά μπορεί να χαρακτηριστεί αρνητικό αλλά, από την άλλη, αυτή η απουσία έκπληξης λειτουργεί εξίσου χαλαρωτικά καθώς ο αναγνώστης ξέρει τι θα συναντήσει. Έτσι εδώ έχουμε μία ιστορία στην όμορφη Κορνουάλη, με μία νεαρή γυναίκα που αναζητά το δρόμο της, έναν άντρα που τον έχει χάσει και ένα παραμελημένο κορίτσι, όλοι τους υπό την σκέπη μιας σοφής μεσήλικης γυναίκας και αντιμέτωποι με τις συνέπειες των πράξεων εγωιστών και ανώριμων ανθρώπων. Μέσα σε αυτήν την φούσκα αγάπης και κατανόησης τα πάντα μπορούν να γίνουν, τα δάκρυα να στεγνώσουν, ο πραγματικός έρωτας να ανθίσει, να βρεθούν στέρεες λύσεις και φυσικά ο αναγνώστης να βρει καταφύγιο για λίγες ώρες. Βέβαια στην περίπτωση αυτού του βιβλίου οι ώρες είναι πραγματικά λίγες και αυτό είναι κάτι το αρνητικό αλλά έχω την αίσθηση ότι όλα αυτά τα ωραία πράγματα δίνονται με έναν ιδανικά συμπυκνωμένο τρόπο που στην πραγματικότητα ενισχύει το βιβλίο και το κάνει πιο απολαυστικό. Για αυτό δεν μπόρεσα αποφύγω τη βαθμολογία που βλέπετε.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely book! Prue goes to stay with her eccentric aunt, and on the way meets a delightful ten-year-old girl. There are one or two coincidences early in the book, but they are quite acceptable in light of the wonderful characterisation and wonderful plot. It's quite moving in places, too.

On re-reading seven years after the last time, and again nine years later, I found myself totally engrossed once more, having forgotten many of the details. The carousel of the title is only a small part of the story; the relationships are what matter. Somehow, Rosamunde Pilcher's people are so real that I feel a sense of loss when I come to the end of one of her books. And this one isn't very long.

Highly recommended to anyone who likes women's fiction.

Latest full review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Christiana Hadji · Rating 3 out of 5]

Μια σύντομη ιστορία με χάππυ εντ για τους αθεράπευτα ρομαντικούς και τους ευσυγκίνητους αναγνώστες. Δυστυχώς δεν ανήκω σε καμία απ' αυτές τις κατηγορίες, οπότε το ρομάντζο της Πρου με τον φευγάτο ζωγράφο με άφησε παγερά αδιάφορη. Το μόνο που εκτίμησα στο μυθιστόρημα ήταν οι περιγραφές της Κορνουάλης, που με έκαναν να νοσταλγήσω τη ζωή μου στην Αγγλία. Τα πίκνικ στην αγγλική ύπαιθρο, το τζάκι να ζεσταίνει τους παλιούς ταπετσαρισμένους τοίχους και τα ξύλινα πατώματα, τα ατελείωτα τσάγια με κέηκ και σάντουιτς, οι ζεστές κρεατόπιτες, τα μουντά βροχερά πρωινά, όλα αυτά ξύπνησαν ξαφνικά μέσα μου, μετά από πάροδο σχεδόν μιας δεκαετίας, την ανάγκη να επισκευθώ ξανά αυτή την υπέροχη χώρα.

[Mela · Rating 4 out of 5]

...there is no way you can escape reality. Cruelty, indifference, selfishness.

One can see here Rosamunde Pilcher's wisdom. It was interesting, quite deep as for her lighter romances.

Oh, dear Lord, the things we do to our children.

Yes..., what we really do... It was written in the 80ties of XX, but the hard life that some children have today is even worse sometimes. Yes, they don't have to work in factories but...

Worth mention are also the characters of Daniel, Mrs. Tolliver and Annabelle. They were well constructed and interesting.

[Stephen Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prue Shackleton. who works in London. was due to go on holiday to Scotland with her boyfriend when she was called to help her aunt Phoebe in Cornwall who had broken her arm. She welcomed the change of plan, realising that she preferred her aunt's company anyway. On the train she met Charlotte, a schoolgirl whose school had closed because of a burst boiler, and was going to the same village to stay with her grandmother, who didn't really want her. When they7 arrive they see more of each other than they expected, and have an unexpected visit from Daniel, who had previously studied art with Phoebe's now dead live-in lover, and seems to have a mysterious past.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to this audiobook version of another Rosamunde Pilcher book I’ve read numerous times. I love these kind and gentle books from a wonderful storyteller.

[Gina House · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve finally finished reading all of Rosamunde Pilcher’s novels (at least written under this name).

It was a slightly disappointing book to end with, so I’m hoping to reread another soon.

This story was subdued, a little depressing and also more on the cynical side.

I didn’t really feel any connection to the main character of Pru, though I did like her aunt Penelope. Little X was also a sadly sweet little girl, longing for affection and family.

I was relieved by the satisfactory ending, but it was also a little unbelievable. Not sure if I would recommend this book, but you might like it more than I did. I don’t think I’ll reread this one, though.

[olivia ୨୧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read several of Rosamunde Pilcher's books. "The Carousel" is still my favorite so far. My Mom got me hooked on Rosamunde's books years ago. I've read several many times. She was so good at capturing your attention and not letting go. Not only do you become personally involved in the lives of the characters, but you also feel like you're physically there. I feel like I just spent time in Cornwall, walking along the shore, watching the gulls as they cry above me, and standing mesmerized taking in the beautiful surroundings as the surf rolls in until I'm surrounded by the sea. Spend a holiday in Cornwall with Prue Shackleton as she helps care for her Aunt Phoebe, who fell and broke her arm. You'll be glad you did... and you won't want to leave!

[Camilla · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't much care for the story. It ended well, but it was too brief and unbelievable. In this rare instance, I felt that the story would have been more realistic and believable if it had not ended so happily. And the title of the book refers to a toy carousel that really had nothing to do with the story. I didn't see a purpose to the protagonist at all--she was unambitious and untalented, but somehow she had caught the eye of a vagabond artist. We readers are meant to care about these two characters, but I couldn't see a reason to, and I never ended up relating to either of them.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I like about Pilcher is I can pick her up any time and just read. She grabs me from the first page. I have read this at least once before, but only really remembered a small part. It was a very quick read and a great book for escape reading. They are romances but very very light on the romance part, which i like. and this one takes place in cornwall, which is a setting i enjoyed a lot.

And here I am a year and a half later having read it again.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Το γνωστό ύφος Πίλτσερ, κατά πολύ κατώτερο.
Εκείνο που άξιζε ήταν οι περιγραφές των τοπίων της Κορνουάλης και της εγγλέζικης εξοχής που, ομολογουμένως, σε κάνουν να θες να αρπάξεις το πρώτο αεροπλάνο για Λονδίνο και μετά το πρώτο τρένο για εκεί. Και να μείνεις εκεί διαβάζοντας κάτι άλλο.
Το εξώφυλλο κατατάσσεται στα χειρότερα του είδους.

[Ariadne Skyrianidou · Rating 2 out of 5]

Έχοντας διαβάσει το Ψάχνοντας για κοχύλια και τον Σεπτέμβρη με απογοήτευσε το σύντομο ρομαντικό μυθιστόρημα Το Καρουζέλ γιατί σίγουρα η Πίλτσερ είναι καλύτερη από αυτό. Αλλά οι περιγραφές της Κορνουάλης είναι πάντα το αγαπημένο μου στοιχείο!

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

How could I not like this book, set in Cornwall by the sea.

[Χρήστος Αναστασόπουλος · Rating 5 out of 5]

Το λογοτεχνικό μου λιμάνι! Έχω πάντα δίπλα στο κομοδίνο μου ένα ή περισσότερα βιβλία της Ρόζαμουντ για ώρα ανάγκης. Το καρουζέλ ήταν ένα εξαιρετικό βιβλίο όπως όλα της άλλωστε.

[m d · Rating 3 out of 5]

So... another guilty pleasure. 2019 hasn't been the best of the years for me, so I'm finishing it by reading books that tell unrealistic stories about happy people and happy endings ;)

[Lydia Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

RP books are always a comforting read & I enjoyed this one on audio but definitely not a favourite of hers- the story line regarding the little Charlotte having no further contact with her parents was a little disturbing. The setting as usual though was sublime.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book - 4.5 stars
Narration by Helen Johns - 5 stars

[P.R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short work by Rosamunde Pilcher, yet contains everything which makes her longer works so compelling. I loved it.

Five stars. Would I read it again? Definitely!

[Katherine Coble · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This book was surprisingly awful. Pilcher doesn't do awful, really, but this is what a Pilcher version of awful looks like.

The evocative language is there. The embrace of Cornwall, the praise of the offbeat life of the artist, the fact that everyone has a maid...all the Pilcher touches are there. And they keep the book from being a 1-star.

But the story itself is so incredible and so ridiculous and so...sappy? I am not sure what to call it. Told in first person, the story is thus limited by the narrator's POV, and she herself is a blank. The rest of the story hinges on a number of improbable coincidences converging on a two-week period.

Most of all--and here there be spoilers--the "hero" is so unrealistic as to invite ridicule. He's an artist who is self-centered enough to walk away from a baby that might be his. (Sure, it might not be. But a man stays to find out.)
He treats the heroine like a hall table...a place to dump all your bills and inconvenient post that you'd rather not deal with. That's all believable. What isn't believable is that he'd have an awakening, a complete shift in personality and come riding in to save the day.

[Litfox Ag · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Carousel takes place in Cornwall starring Prus, a young girl who tries to escape from the routine in search of a romantic adventure. Pauy is forced to go and take care of her aunt, and there she meets a charming artist who falls in love. At the same time, however, he tries to employ a silent little girl, whose parents have set her aside.

Unfortunately, the book remains only at this level. Even now I haven't found the meaning, I felt empty and no connection to the characters. Generally very simple and predictable story where they lived well and better.

Undoubtedly, the author has a unique way of writing by emphasizing landscapes and giving basis to description rather than narration. Without action, however, you can hardly pique someone's interest.
Short, superficial and frustrating!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This backlist title is from 1982 and is substantially more modern than the previous one I read from 1968. The female characters have more agency (but the males are still bossy.) I liked Prue and Daniel together but they fell for each other almost instantly; perhaps more plot could have been written for them.

[Lorrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man, how I love Rosamunde Pilcher's writing! This was a quick read and rather predictable but, oh, how sweet it was! Phoebe with her broken arm, always wearing a hat, lots of gold jewelry around her neck; Pru......

[Gillian · Rating 2 out of 5]

A short, snappy read but not one of a Rosamund Pilcher's better efforts. Quite pale in comparison with less believable characters. No Scotland in this novel but quite enough of Cornwall, London and the usual mention of Northumberland.

[El rincón de moob · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too boring.