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The White Ladies of Worcester: A Romance of the 12th Century
Of late the old lay-sister- Mary Antony- had grown fearful lest she should make mistake in this solemn office of the counting.
First published January 1, 1917
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About the author
Florence L. Barclay
73 books46 followersShe was born Florence Louisa Charlesworth in Limpsfield, Surrey, England, the daughter of the local Anglican rector. One of three girls, she was a sister to Maud Ballington Booth, the Salvation Army leader and co-founder of the Volunteers of America. When Florence was seven years old, the family moved to Limehouse in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
In 1881, Florence Charlesworth married the Rev. Charles W. Barclay and honeymooned in the Holy Land, where, in Shechem, they reportedly discovered Jacob's Well, the place where, according to the Gospel of St John, Jesus met the woman of Samaria (John 4-5). Florence Barclay and her husband settled in Hertford Heath, in Hertfordshire, where she fulfilled the duties of a rector's wife. She became the mother of eight children. In her early forties health problems left her bedridden for a time and she passed the hours by writing what became her first romance novel titled The Wheels of Time. Her next novel, The Rosary, a story of undying love, was published in 1909 and its success eventually resulted in its being translated into eight languages and made into five motion pictures, also in several languages. According to the New York Times, the novel was the No.1 bestselling novel of 1910 in the United States. The enduring popularity of the book was such that more than twenty-five years later, Sunday Circle magazine serialized the story and in 1926 the prominent French playwright Alexandre Bisson adapted the book as a three-act play for the Parisian stage.
Florence Barclay wrote eleven books in all, including a work of non-fiction. Her novel The Mistress of Shenstone (1910) was made into a silent film of the same title in 1921. Her short story Under the Mulberry Tree appeared in the special issue called "The Spring Romance Number" of the Ladies Home Journal of 11 May 1911.
Florence Barclay died in 1921 at the age of fifty-eight. The Life of Florence Barclay: a study in personality was published anonymously that year by G. P. Putnam's Sons "by one of Her Daughters.
In 1881, Florence Charlesworth married the Rev. Charles W. Barclay and honeymooned in the Holy Land, where, in Shechem, they reportedly discovered Jacob's Well, the place where, according to the Gospel of St John, Jesus met the woman of Samaria (John 4-5). Florence Barclay and her husband settled in Hertford Heath, in Hertfordshire, where she fulfilled the duties of a rector's wife. She became the mother of eight children. In her early forties health problems left her bedridden for a time and she passed the hours by writing what became her first romance novel titled The Wheels of Time. Her next novel, The Rosary, a story of undying love, was published in 1909 and its success eventually resulted in its being translated into eight languages and made into five motion pictures, also in several languages. According to the New York Times, the novel was the No.1 bestselling novel of 1910 in the United States. The enduring popularity of the book was such that more than twenty-five years later, Sunday Circle magazine serialized the story and in 1926 the prominent French playwright Alexandre Bisson adapted the book as a three-act play for the Parisian stage.
Florence Barclay wrote eleven books in all, including a work of non-fiction. Her novel The Mistress of Shenstone (1910) was made into a silent film of the same title in 1921. Her short story Under the Mulberry Tree appeared in the special issue called "The Spring Romance Number" of the Ladies Home Journal of 11 May 1911.
Florence Barclay died in 1921 at the age of fifty-eight. The Life of Florence Barclay: a study in personality was published anonymously that year by G. P. Putnam's Sons "by one of Her Daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 23, 2009
It is the 12th century in the city of Worcester. At the Nunnery of the White Ladies, old lay-sister Mary Antony performs her daily ritual. As the nuns return from Vespers through the underground passage into the cloisters, she counts them in her unique way--dropping one pea for each nun from her hand into a bag. Today the count is different. Today the nuns pass, all the peas drop into the bag, and then one more nun passes by.
Who is this intruder? Could Mary Antony's senses be failing her? Or is it the ghost of Sister Agatha who, years before, was accidentally locked into the underground passageway and suffered an untimely death?
The White Ladies of Worcester is another winner from Florence Barclay, author of The Rosary. As in the Rosary, Barclay pulls you into the action of the novel straight away. The rest of the story revolves around the Prioress of the nunnery who, in her youth, was deserted by her betrothed. The depth of her anguish sends her to the nunnery, and she eventually rises to the top of the ranks. Later events unfold to make the Prioress question the vows she took, while others try to sway her decisions with their own interests in mind.
Barclay invents some wonderful, developed characters here. Our hero, the knight Hugh d'Argent, is strong and burley--a guy you wouldn't want to mess with. But he's easily the most sensitive guy in the novel. Unlike Fanny Burney whose heroes should be slapped for being so whiny, Hugh feels strongly but stoically, which makes one love him all the better.
As I made my casting recommendations for the Rosary, I also have some in mind for The While Ladies.
The Prioress: Cate Blanchett would make a lovely Prioress. She must be beautiful, but understated enough for a nunnery. She must have long, flowing, blonde hair. She also must have a temper and be strong in her resolve.
Hugh d'Argent: Oh how I wanted to cast Richard Armitage as Garth Dalmain in the Rosary! But that just wouldn't work out, James McAvoy fits Garth much better. However, Armitage would fit the Knight to perfection: dark and handsome, has that melting stare, and looks great in armor.
The Bishop: I had a hard time picturing the Bishop for the majority of the novel, probably because he's a hard character to make out. Is he good, is he bad, is he neither? Towards the end it finally came to me: Jeremy Irons would meld this ambiguity of character wonderfully.
Mary Antony: This is my favorite character in the book, and I imagine would also be the most fun to enact. She's quite old, and she's got an attitude. Someone like Sophia from the Golden Girls (Estelle Getty) would be great, however it appears she is no longer with us.
Who is this intruder? Could Mary Antony's senses be failing her? Or is it the ghost of Sister Agatha who, years before, was accidentally locked into the underground passageway and suffered an untimely death?
The White Ladies of Worcester is another winner from Florence Barclay, author of The Rosary. As in the Rosary, Barclay pulls you into the action of the novel straight away. The rest of the story revolves around the Prioress of the nunnery who, in her youth, was deserted by her betrothed. The depth of her anguish sends her to the nunnery, and she eventually rises to the top of the ranks. Later events unfold to make the Prioress question the vows she took, while others try to sway her decisions with their own interests in mind.
Barclay invents some wonderful, developed characters here. Our hero, the knight Hugh d'Argent, is strong and burley--a guy you wouldn't want to mess with. But he's easily the most sensitive guy in the novel. Unlike Fanny Burney whose heroes should be slapped for being so whiny, Hugh feels strongly but stoically, which makes one love him all the better.
As I made my casting recommendations for the Rosary, I also have some in mind for The While Ladies.
The Prioress: Cate Blanchett would make a lovely Prioress. She must be beautiful, but understated enough for a nunnery. She must have long, flowing, blonde hair. She also must have a temper and be strong in her resolve.
Hugh d'Argent: Oh how I wanted to cast Richard Armitage as Garth Dalmain in the Rosary! But that just wouldn't work out, James McAvoy fits Garth much better. However, Armitage would fit the Knight to perfection: dark and handsome, has that melting stare, and looks great in armor.
The Bishop: I had a hard time picturing the Bishop for the majority of the novel, probably because he's a hard character to make out. Is he good, is he bad, is he neither? Towards the end it finally came to me: Jeremy Irons would meld this ambiguity of character wonderfully.
Mary Antony: This is my favorite character in the book, and I imagine would also be the most fun to enact. She's quite old, and she's got an attitude. Someone like Sophia from the Golden Girls (Estelle Getty) would be great, however it appears she is no longer with us.
December 2, 2020
A well-written romance about a group of nuns in a convent, centering on the Prioress, who believed her betrothed had married and another. The bishop is an interesting character.
May 28, 2020
A Mistake
Gratefully, I got this book for free on Freebooksy. There is too much of the convent life and relationships for me in the book. Was the author a nun but leaped over the wall to leave? No recommendation from this reader for the book, unless you are considering entering the convent.
Gratefully, I got this book for free on Freebooksy. There is too much of the convent life and relationships for me in the book. Was the author a nun but leaped over the wall to leave? No recommendation from this reader for the book, unless you are considering entering the convent.
May 30, 2020
Beautiful
Dedication to religion described to shocking detail. How could the love of a man ever compare to the dedication to the IDEAL? Certainly this tale investigates in minute and breathtaking detail.
Dedication to religion described to shocking detail. How could the love of a man ever compare to the dedication to the IDEAL? Certainly this tale investigates in minute and breathtaking detail.
February 12, 2020
Wordy by modern standards--a VERY romantic the story of a nun who enters a convent thinking her lover is dead and a knight who was told his lady had married another . . .The knight is bold and honorable. The lady's concerns appear almost TOO picky for a modern reader though Ms. Barclay has you almost buying into them.
Written in 1917, it must have been a delightful escape into a peaceful version of Medieval England.
Written in 1917, it must have been a delightful escape into a peaceful version of Medieval England.
August 27, 2012
Barclay explores various Christian experience in the path of discipleship and personal relationship with Christ, as well as her take on the nobility of honorable marriage, setting her story in a earlier English setting so that she can incorporate her understanding of Catholic perspectives of the former theme as well as her own Protestant one. And she switches to a more archaic style, perhaps to better proximate the style of some of the Medieval novels written in the previous century. As a result, though the exploration of human interaction with faith in God is reminiscent of some of her earlier work the style is quite different.
As in her other works I've read she has a flair for the dramatic and does not fall into shallow predictability and if you are interested in her thoughts on theology they are woven neatly into thoughtful narrative and conversation, not used as a hammer to hit the reader over the head.
If you are looking for a novel with a quick pace and much action, the isn't it. It is slow paced. But if you like a well written period piece, are understanding about the social context in which it was written and enjoy gleaning theological perspectives from character studies and conversations this is a pleasant read.
As in her other works I've read she has a flair for the dramatic and does not fall into shallow predictability and if you are interested in her thoughts on theology they are woven neatly into thoughtful narrative and conversation, not used as a hammer to hit the reader over the head.
If you are looking for a novel with a quick pace and much action, the isn't it. It is slow paced. But if you like a well written period piece, are understanding about the social context in which it was written and enjoy gleaning theological perspectives from character studies and conversations this is a pleasant read.
August 12, 2009
I love Florence Barclay. This is my least favorite of her books (not true: now "Returned Empty" is, this is exponentially better!)
It's the most catholic of her books that I've read (lots of prayers to Mary etc.) but the ending brings the main characters to a more (protestant) Christian understanding and belief.
It's the most catholic of her books that I've read (lots of prayers to Mary etc.) but the ending brings the main characters to a more (protestant) Christian understanding and belief.
August 25, 2024
I have always loved this story of the galant knight, the beautiful nun and the wise bishop and even though I in my older years recognize the old fashioned language and plot devices, it still manage to capture me. But I am afraid that time may be running from it and I wonder if my grandchildren will even consider reading it.
February 21, 2011
Great period piece; a 1917 take on a nun, a knight and a bishop in the 12th century. High romance and much religiosity. Perhaps I should have bumped this up to three stars for entertainment value, but I'm feeling curmudgeonly. Or perhaps ashamed of myself for the way I kept turning the pages!
September 1, 2008
I enjoyed this book, especially the contrast between the bishop and Hugh. But somehow, the plot just wasn't as capturing for me as the Rosary's was.
February 8, 2009
The best of Barclay. She really delivers and unusual tale with humor and poignancy. And avoids getting too sentimental, for the most part.
May 4, 2009
Mine of course was an old version, and not a reprint. One thing I liked about this book was the insight it gave to life in a convent.
January 29, 2013
Too much repetition The whole book could have been written in a third of the space. however it was a free download. Got bored and only finished it as other delights were awaiting
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews