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The Bishop's Wife
The film “The Bishop’s Wife” starring Cary Grant was nominated for Best Picture in 1947. It was remade into “The Preacher’s Wife” starring Denzel Washington in 1996.
An Angel comes down from Heaven to help a Bishop build a Cathedral and ends up falling in love with his wife.
Bishop HENRY BROUGHAM doesn’t know how he will find a capable archdeacon to help raise money to build a “great” cathedral for his overcrowded parish. Though his beautiful wife JULIA fulfills her marital duties, their relationship has no passion. To fill the void, she heaps affectionate praise on their four-year old daughter JULIET, embarrassing the proper Bishop. Meanwhile, the Bishop prays for help, and it comes in the form of MICHAEL, a handsome goldenhaired angel, who takes the position of archdeacon. Michael exudes love which draws new and unexpected emotions from Julia. Michael’s pure limitless capacity for love is stifled by his mortal duties of manipulating money from wealthy religious patrons, including MRS. LANYARDE and MR. COHEN. With the holidays approaching the Bishop senses the mutual attraction between Julia and Michael. His intuition is right as Julia almost succumbs to Michael before her sense of marital duty ultimately prevails. During a conversation with the scholarly PROFESSOR WUTHERIDGE, Michael learns that an angel can’t fulfill “mortal love” as it is unrelated to the divine version. With that, he returns to Heaven after completing his fundraising mission. Julia, realizing she will never have a passionate relationship with the Bishop, decides to have another child with whom to share her love.
“Mr. Nathan’s method of approach is the way of the goldfinch with the thistledown, or of the unconcerned robin guilelessly cocking his head before the peck. Moreover the words that he uses are as cobwebs that catch the dew of his thought delicately patterned filaments exactly adequate to the burden glistening upon them. In short, to say that ‘The Bishop’s Wife’ has beauty, charm, wit, and wisdom is not to over praise the book.”
-Grace Frank
Saturday Review of Literature
An Angel comes down from Heaven to help a Bishop build a Cathedral and ends up falling in love with his wife.
Bishop HENRY BROUGHAM doesn’t know how he will find a capable archdeacon to help raise money to build a “great” cathedral for his overcrowded parish. Though his beautiful wife JULIA fulfills her marital duties, their relationship has no passion. To fill the void, she heaps affectionate praise on their four-year old daughter JULIET, embarrassing the proper Bishop. Meanwhile, the Bishop prays for help, and it comes in the form of MICHAEL, a handsome goldenhaired angel, who takes the position of archdeacon. Michael exudes love which draws new and unexpected emotions from Julia. Michael’s pure limitless capacity for love is stifled by his mortal duties of manipulating money from wealthy religious patrons, including MRS. LANYARDE and MR. COHEN. With the holidays approaching the Bishop senses the mutual attraction between Julia and Michael. His intuition is right as Julia almost succumbs to Michael before her sense of marital duty ultimately prevails. During a conversation with the scholarly PROFESSOR WUTHERIDGE, Michael learns that an angel can’t fulfill “mortal love” as it is unrelated to the divine version. With that, he returns to Heaven after completing his fundraising mission. Julia, realizing she will never have a passionate relationship with the Bishop, decides to have another child with whom to share her love.
“Mr. Nathan’s method of approach is the way of the goldfinch with the thistledown, or of the unconcerned robin guilelessly cocking his head before the peck. Moreover the words that he uses are as cobwebs that catch the dew of his thought delicately patterned filaments exactly adequate to the burden glistening upon them. In short, to say that ‘The Bishop’s Wife’ has beauty, charm, wit, and wisdom is not to over praise the book.”
-Grace Frank
Saturday Review of Literature
MP3 CD
First published January 1, 1928
111 people are currently reading
383 people want to read
About the author
Robert Nathan
121 books55 followersRobert Gruntal Nathan was born into a prominent New York Sephardic family. He was educated in the United States and Switzerland and attended Harvard University for several years beginning in 1912. It was there that he began writing short fiction and poetry. However, he never graduated, choosing instead to drop out and take a job at an advertising firm to support his family (he married while a junior at Harvard). It was while working in 1919 that he wrote his first novel—the semi-autobiographical work Peter Kindred—which was a critical failure. But his luck soon changed during the 1920s, when he wrote seven more novels, including The Bishop's Wife, which was later made into a successful film starring Cary Grant, David Niven, and Loretta Young.
During the 1930s, his success continued with more works, including fictional pieces and poetry. In 1940, he wrote his most successful book, Portrait of Jennie, about a Depression-era artist and the woman he is painting, who is slipping through time. Portrait of Jennie is considered a modern masterpiece of fantasy fiction and was made into a film, starring Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten.
In January 1956 the author wrote, as well as narrated, an episode of the CBS Radio Workshop, called "A Pride of Carrots or Venus Well-Served."
Nathan's seventh wife was the British actress Anna Lee, to whom he was married from 1970 until his death. He came from a talented family — the activist Maud Nathan and author Annie Nathan Meyer were his aunts, and the poet Emma Lazarus and Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cardozo his cousins
During the 1930s, his success continued with more works, including fictional pieces and poetry. In 1940, he wrote his most successful book, Portrait of Jennie, about a Depression-era artist and the woman he is painting, who is slipping through time. Portrait of Jennie is considered a modern masterpiece of fantasy fiction and was made into a film, starring Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten.
In January 1956 the author wrote, as well as narrated, an episode of the CBS Radio Workshop, called "A Pride of Carrots or Venus Well-Served."
Nathan's seventh wife was the British actress Anna Lee, to whom he was married from 1970 until his death. He came from a talented family — the activist Maud Nathan and author Annie Nathan Meyer were his aunts, and the poet Emma Lazarus and Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cardozo his cousins
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
December 25, 2018
Fantastic book. Fantastic film. What else is there to say. If you like Christmas nostalgia, you will love this!!
December 13, 2024
This is one of those Christmas movies I watch every year. Loretta Young is elegant, David Niven is stodgy and Cary Grant is a man who can carry off being an angel. I had never thought about its being a book, let alone one written by an author who has penned another that is on my list of favorites, so I took the plunge to read (as well as view) this year.
The book has little in common with the movie. It is, in fact, a tale of a woman’s physical desires that are unmet by her husband and the presence of the angel is more a temptation for her soul than a method of reconciling her with her husband. The angel seems to be as muddled as the humans and no more godly than they are. He is full of nostalgia for a time long gone and the reasons for his attraction to the bishop’s wife was not clear in the book as it is in the movie.
Ah well, I went in search of a story I know and found one I didn’t know that was much less satisfying.
The book has little in common with the movie. It is, in fact, a tale of a woman’s physical desires that are unmet by her husband and the presence of the angel is more a temptation for her soul than a method of reconciling her with her husband. The angel seems to be as muddled as the humans and no more godly than they are. He is full of nostalgia for a time long gone and the reasons for his attraction to the bishop’s wife was not clear in the book as it is in the movie.
Ah well, I went in search of a story I know and found one I didn’t know that was much less satisfying.
May 4, 2017
One of my favorite winter holiday films is THE BISHOP’S WIFE. The performances are a delight, there is a tremendous amount of charm and plenty of humor in the story, and it sets a warm tone for the Season. I saw that Robert Nathan was the writer of the original novel, and I definitely enjoyed A PORTRAIT OF JENNIE. So, it was with a huge amount of anticipation that I came to this book.
There are reasons to recommend the book, but charm, humor and a feeling of warmth aren’t among them. There is a darkness to this story … not pitch black, but you won’t find Cary Grant dictating a sermon to a typewriter, David Niven stuck to a chair, or Loretta Young glowing over a new hat.
Early on, the Reader is reminded that people have grown to distrust one another (and especially foreigners), so Rules of Moral Code (one might call it the “Class System”) have been relied on to keep a sense of order in life. Chief among them are the dictates of the Church that frowns upon any action outside of proper decorum, and parishioners have the expectation that sermons will be rife with the condemnation of Sin.
The Bishop has made the business of the Church his life, including the building of a new cathedral, to the exclusion of truly connecting with his family. His wife, Julia, has a restless feeling that there should be more to life and certainly more to marriage. However, she consoles herself that she has a proper husband and an adorable daughter. When the Bishop agonizes over the insult to the Church if the new cathedral isn’t built, she suggests to him that he pray for help.
Enter Michael (not Dudley), a blond angel who is pleased to serve as the Bishop’s arch-Deacon and attend to soliciting the necessary funds. But, being around Julia begins to open reminders of a life before Heaven. He completely endorses the solemn pronouncements of the Church … and yet, didn’t there also used to be a joy in living?
From that set-up, THE BISHOP’S WIFE unfolds as the story of people who are aware that something is missing that feels as if it should be there. It is a very quick read and the issues it raises (primarily the comfort of tradition causing us to be oblivious to benevolence and the human spirit) are good topics. In fact, this would be an excellent selection for a book club. I would enjoy engaging in a discussion about it.
However, whenever I feel the need to reconnect with THE BISHOP’S WIFE, I’ll be going back to my film collection.
There are reasons to recommend the book, but charm, humor and a feeling of warmth aren’t among them. There is a darkness to this story … not pitch black, but you won’t find Cary Grant dictating a sermon to a typewriter, David Niven stuck to a chair, or Loretta Young glowing over a new hat.
Early on, the Reader is reminded that people have grown to distrust one another (and especially foreigners), so Rules of Moral Code (one might call it the “Class System”) have been relied on to keep a sense of order in life. Chief among them are the dictates of the Church that frowns upon any action outside of proper decorum, and parishioners have the expectation that sermons will be rife with the condemnation of Sin.
The Bishop has made the business of the Church his life, including the building of a new cathedral, to the exclusion of truly connecting with his family. His wife, Julia, has a restless feeling that there should be more to life and certainly more to marriage. However, she consoles herself that she has a proper husband and an adorable daughter. When the Bishop agonizes over the insult to the Church if the new cathedral isn’t built, she suggests to him that he pray for help.
Enter Michael (not Dudley), a blond angel who is pleased to serve as the Bishop’s arch-Deacon and attend to soliciting the necessary funds. But, being around Julia begins to open reminders of a life before Heaven. He completely endorses the solemn pronouncements of the Church … and yet, didn’t there also used to be a joy in living?
From that set-up, THE BISHOP’S WIFE unfolds as the story of people who are aware that something is missing that feels as if it should be there. It is a very quick read and the issues it raises (primarily the comfort of tradition causing us to be oblivious to benevolence and the human spirit) are good topics. In fact, this would be an excellent selection for a book club. I would enjoy engaging in a discussion about it.
However, whenever I feel the need to reconnect with THE BISHOP’S WIFE, I’ll be going back to my film collection.
July 12, 2018
Last week I was listening to OTR (Old time Radio), I heard the Lux Radio Theatre production of The Bishop's Wife. (December 19, 1949) In this version it had only David Niven and other actors as Julia and the angel. I had forgotten about this Christmas setting book and decided I would read it now. I have seen Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven in the 1947 movie, and loved it! Before I go on, I also read in the section about the author, how Robert Nathan was a screenwriter for Louis B. Meyer besides being an author. That five of his novels were made into movies but he did not enjoy the experience in tinsel town. I wonder even though the movie is perfection, maybe they changed his book too much for his liking. There is quite a difference in the novel and the movie. I really loved the book which had so many thoughts on life and insights that were different and probably harder to portray in a movie especially during those Hollywood years. The movie has a visual pleasure to it and the book had more of a mental awakening to it. What is in common is that the Bishop looks to Heaven for an angel to help him and an angel comes and brings about changes. The relationships are different and so many other things. You will just have to read it to completely understand. Life on earth we must take and do the best with what we have, and hope for the best. In this Kindle edition there are about 20 typos that I reported but did not ruin my enjoyment and I was and always thankful for the opportunity to read electronically. Hopefully they will correct the errors for other readers.
Lux radio theatre December 12,1949
https://www.oldtimeradiodownloads.com...
Lux radio theatre December 12,1949
https://www.oldtimeradiodownloads.com...
March 10, 2017
One of those rare instances where the movie is far better than the book.
Written in 1928, this novel is the basis for the Christmas film staring Cary Grant. The novel is deeper in many ways than the movie, but it's also full of theological missteps. Oddly enough, a Hollywood movie does a better job with the spiritual undertones, and it's a lot more fun, too.
Written in 1928, this novel is the basis for the Christmas film staring Cary Grant. The novel is deeper in many ways than the movie, but it's also full of theological missteps. Oddly enough, a Hollywood movie does a better job with the spiritual undertones, and it's a lot more fun, too.
February 9, 2022
Beautiful story. A great classic worth the visit. While it takes place during Christmas, I felt it could be read any time.
For the gentle reader: often adult topics are addressed, respectfully, but you may want to read before giving to a teen.
For the gentle reader: often adult topics are addressed, respectfully, but you may want to read before giving to a teen.
December 21, 2019
An angel in human form enters the life of a bishop in order to help him build a new cathedral and repair his fractured marriage. Watch Here
March 4, 2020
I have been reading books upon which some of my favorite movies are based. This is a well written story but has none of the caprice that I enjoy from the classic movie with Cary Grant, David Niven, and Loretta Young. The novel is much more about the existential yearning of the bishop's wife than a comedic romance. This is a well written story which leaves me thinking and stirs feelings. Definitely a book worth recommending.
January 11, 2015
There were parts of this book I really enjoyed--discussions of spirituality and theological questions--but I've seen the film so many times and am so fond of it, my opinion of the book was colored by that experience. This book is much deeper than the film, very different from the film, a different experience entirely.
December 31, 2024
The movie is a Christmas favorite at our house. With its subtle humor, charming characters, and warm moments it has become a must watch every season. The book, however did not do much for me. I'm surprised they pulled such a great movie out of this.
March 24, 2021
My love of the movie, The Bishop's Wife, led me to read the book. Sadly, the book was very disappointing.
The beginning was very promising: the bishop is so wrapped up in his work, he hardly has any time for his wife, Julia, and their daughter, Juliet. What's worse is that when he sleeps with Julia, he doesn't make love but rather performs his husbandly duty in a quick and emotionless manner. This devastates Julia. She always dreamed of a beautiful union of body and soul, of physical love being the expression of the deep love two souls feel for one another. She mourns the heartbreaking fact that her husband cannot see her beauty when they make love, neither physical nor spiritual.
Meanwhile, the bishop is having a hard time raising money for a new cathedral. Julia suggests he pray for help and when he does, an angel named Michael shows up to help him. And this is pretty much where the similarity to the movie ends.
[Spoiler Alert!!!!]
Instead of the bishop changing for the better thanks to Michael's influence, Michael becomes more materialistic, a tool to brilliantly extract more money to built the cathedral from the rich folk in town. He and Julia also spend time together and become closer. He gives her a small kiss, which is pretty much ignored by the writer (or is not given the heft it deserves). Julia can hardly believe it was real.
Then comes Christmas eve. The bishop, who sees how distant his wife has become and is suspecting she fell in love with the angel, tries to talk to them. He is ignored and finally goes on a long walk to think. You'd think he would come back with some new resolutions to treat Julia better, and especially cherish her beauty more, as she desires, but no!--we never hear of him again! This, to me, is utter failure by the author.
Some readers were disappointed to learn that the book is about a lustful angel, but it is made clear in the end that what Michael wanted, to the point of lustful desire, were the days before Adam and Eve, obedience to scripture to the point of self-denial, the days before lust was declared evil. This is a huge positive point in favor of the book, and is the reason why I gave it 3 stars and not just 1. If one ignores the inconclusive stuff about the bishop, and the Juliet storyline, that doesn't amount to much, one can clearly see that Robert Nathan condemned the distorted, evil concept of Original Sin, that we are somehow born already sinful and bad, and that sex is evil. He writes such beautiful words, it makes me love those passages.
Alas, after Julia rejects him, as she should, she suddenly (and out of nowhere) realizes that she can be happy after all if she has another baby, a small creature to need her and depend on her. So not only did the bishop not change, Julia accepted him as he is, his mundane, dutiful lovemaking, and his constant ignoring of her. Sigh. Such an incredible opportunity missed.
The beginning was very promising: the bishop is so wrapped up in his work, he hardly has any time for his wife, Julia, and their daughter, Juliet. What's worse is that when he sleeps with Julia, he doesn't make love but rather performs his husbandly duty in a quick and emotionless manner. This devastates Julia. She always dreamed of a beautiful union of body and soul, of physical love being the expression of the deep love two souls feel for one another. She mourns the heartbreaking fact that her husband cannot see her beauty when they make love, neither physical nor spiritual.
Meanwhile, the bishop is having a hard time raising money for a new cathedral. Julia suggests he pray for help and when he does, an angel named Michael shows up to help him. And this is pretty much where the similarity to the movie ends.
[Spoiler Alert!!!!]
Instead of the bishop changing for the better thanks to Michael's influence, Michael becomes more materialistic, a tool to brilliantly extract more money to built the cathedral from the rich folk in town. He and Julia also spend time together and become closer. He gives her a small kiss, which is pretty much ignored by the writer (or is not given the heft it deserves). Julia can hardly believe it was real.
Then comes Christmas eve. The bishop, who sees how distant his wife has become and is suspecting she fell in love with the angel, tries to talk to them. He is ignored and finally goes on a long walk to think. You'd think he would come back with some new resolutions to treat Julia better, and especially cherish her beauty more, as she desires, but no!--we never hear of him again! This, to me, is utter failure by the author.
Some readers were disappointed to learn that the book is about a lustful angel, but it is made clear in the end that what Michael wanted, to the point of lustful desire, were the days before Adam and Eve, obedience to scripture to the point of self-denial, the days before lust was declared evil. This is a huge positive point in favor of the book, and is the reason why I gave it 3 stars and not just 1. If one ignores the inconclusive stuff about the bishop, and the Juliet storyline, that doesn't amount to much, one can clearly see that Robert Nathan condemned the distorted, evil concept of Original Sin, that we are somehow born already sinful and bad, and that sex is evil. He writes such beautiful words, it makes me love those passages.
Alas, after Julia rejects him, as she should, she suddenly (and out of nowhere) realizes that she can be happy after all if she has another baby, a small creature to need her and depend on her. So not only did the bishop not change, Julia accepted him as he is, his mundane, dutiful lovemaking, and his constant ignoring of her. Sigh. Such an incredible opportunity missed.
December 22, 2017
I wonder if today's reading audiences understand what Nathan's commentary deals with? We're a different post-industrial society, with a different mindset. The questionable-angelology within these pages already points to the post-industrial world to come...
December 29, 2025
Well, I can't say I wasn't warned. Adam flagged this one as the bad apple in the Robert Nathan bunch, but I went ahead and read it anyway. The movie was sentimental but not too objectionable, so I thought the book would be likewise. Nope. Icky.
January 28, 2024
I saw the movie with Cary Grant and Loretta Young. I seem to remember loving it. I know it was so different from the book. 1. Husband, bishop doesn’t love his wife in a Godly manner, if at all. 2. This would exclude him from being qualified to be a leader of a church/ cathedral. 3. An angel sent to do the work of God would do exactly what he was sent to do, period. 4. If an angel could do what Michael did, he would become a fallen angel. 5. Can’t happen since the fall of Lucifer and angels made their choice to follow Satan, and the others to follow God. That cycle can never happen again. No more rebellion of angels, and once a person has truly accepted Jesus, there is no losing one’s salvation. Free will has been exercised.
Angels of God have no capacity to sin. Don’t get the comparison of Eve in the Garden of Eden. Eve had no sin in her spirit, soul or body until she and Adam fell into temptation. Then they were expelled from the Garden. The book was so ridiculous, definitely not Christian and I don’t see the point of it on any level. Nothing changes in the end. Life continues as usual except another child is on the way, if I understood correctly. This book is beyond redeemable, unless the author prefaced it by saying (I want everyone to know that I am full of ape crap, and have no idea what Christmas and love really mean, and know nothing about theology and don’t care to know).
This should never have been written. Michael is probably the highest of all angels. Gabriel is second, and Lucifer was first before he sinned. This author is dead and I haven’t researched him, but not interested in any of his writings. I have tried to think of movies that were not as good as their books, and can’t think of any. I think movies are better.
This is New Years Day! Happy New Year to all!! CathyR ❤️🤗
Angels of God have no capacity to sin. Don’t get the comparison of Eve in the Garden of Eden. Eve had no sin in her spirit, soul or body until she and Adam fell into temptation. Then they were expelled from the Garden. The book was so ridiculous, definitely not Christian and I don’t see the point of it on any level. Nothing changes in the end. Life continues as usual except another child is on the way, if I understood correctly. This book is beyond redeemable, unless the author prefaced it by saying (I want everyone to know that I am full of ape crap, and have no idea what Christmas and love really mean, and know nothing about theology and don’t care to know).
This should never have been written. Michael is probably the highest of all angels. Gabriel is second, and Lucifer was first before he sinned. This author is dead and I haven’t researched him, but not interested in any of his writings. I have tried to think of movies that were not as good as their books, and can’t think of any. I think movies are better.
This is New Years Day! Happy New Year to all!! CathyR ❤️🤗
January 18, 2015
Having seen the movie so many times (being a huge Cary Grant fan) I was prepared to be disappointed. It's hard to separate from the movie, but overall it's a good read.
February 3, 2022
Evidently this short tale has been made into a movie more than a few times. Do I have vague recall of John Travolta playing an angel called Michael as well? Was that a nightmare?
For some people, its clearly a Christmas movie favourite. Cary Grant as an angel? I just can’t picture it myself; will have to find the movie somewhere.
But of course, the book is not quite the same and the theme is one of my favourites: be careful what you wish for.
The bishop wants a new deacon who can help him with his ambitious building project, his wife wants love, the angel wants... a home, maybe?
2 stars
For some people, its clearly a Christmas movie favourite. Cary Grant as an angel? I just can’t picture it myself; will have to find the movie somewhere.
But of course, the book is not quite the same and the theme is one of my favourites: be careful what you wish for.
The bishop wants a new deacon who can help him with his ambitious building project, his wife wants love, the angel wants... a home, maybe?
2 stars
January 21, 2025
Definitely focuses more on the titular Bishop's wife even though as a result it is more about her attraction to the angel, named Michael, in the absence of her husband and relationship to her daughter which is resolved in a less satisfying way. This is also accompanied by pages devoted to bemoaning how lost people are in their engagement with the church and Christianity that fails to be meaningful or say much about that loss of faith that it feels like preaching to a choir lost in its own way. While I did see the film adaptation with Cary Grant and Loretta Young first, this book still just felt like a template for something that would be improved upon in making more concentrated the thematic resurgence of one's relationship to the people around them and spiritual renewal. As a result, I can only halfheartedly recommend the book to people if they would like to see a less polished version of the Christmas story that inspired the 1947 film.
July 21, 2019
Eh. I heard this is a great movie, but it must have improved on the book.
“My duties led me into the darkest cellars as well as the most beautiful cathedrals; often I found the cellar illuminated with a holy light, and the cathedral dark.”
“His mother on the other hand, drawing his head down to her bosom, exclaimed with a sigh, “My poor son.” And she remained silent, lost in mysterious thoughts which troubled and perplexed him. Presently she added, “I can assure you that what you imagine to be so important, is not important at all.” And because she was of a devout turn of mind, she concluded mysteriously, “Faith alone will help you to bear the disappointments of life. The Church is a great refuge. Never forget to say your prayers.”
“My duties led me into the darkest cellars as well as the most beautiful cathedrals; often I found the cellar illuminated with a holy light, and the cathedral dark.”
“His mother on the other hand, drawing his head down to her bosom, exclaimed with a sigh, “My poor son.” And she remained silent, lost in mysterious thoughts which troubled and perplexed him. Presently she added, “I can assure you that what you imagine to be so important, is not important at all.” And because she was of a devout turn of mind, she concluded mysteriously, “Faith alone will help you to bear the disappointments of life. The Church is a great refuge. Never forget to say your prayers.”
December 13, 2022
A story of sexual repression, unhealthy need for validation, and sketchy theological themes. Hats off to the people who read it, finished it, and took the skeleton idea and made it into a holiday classic.
In all fairness, perhaps I'm comparing it too much to the movie, but that is why I read it. But even as a standalone book, it's a hard read. I didn't care for the writing style, which had too much internal thought and too much telling what was happening instead of showing the story.
And, Spoiler Alert:
the ending was unsatisfying. If I'd gone through all of this and the characters changed for the better, it might have been worth it. But they didn't.
In all fairness, perhaps I'm comparing it too much to the movie, but that is why I read it. But even as a standalone book, it's a hard read. I didn't care for the writing style, which had too much internal thought and too much telling what was happening instead of showing the story.
And, Spoiler Alert:
the ending was unsatisfying. If I'd gone through all of this and the characters changed for the better, it might have been worth it. But they didn't.
August 28, 2024
I ruined it for myself. I love the movie but it seemed like the book took the things from the movie that I didn’t like and it focused on them. Really, it’s not the same story. It feels like the writer tears down an angel to want to have an affair with a woman who will never be satisfied in her marriage. I didn’t feel like it ended well either. Sad day, I really liked the movie. There is such a draw to the angel and his goodness and he catches himself as he starts to slip. I wish they could have captured the same angel glow from the movie and ended it happily ever after but I guess it’s just a different story. I didn’t care for it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2020
I adore the movie “The Bishop’s Wife”. After watching it recently I thought I’ve got to read the book it was based on………I would defiantly recommend sticking with the movie. The book is much more serious, not sweet and romantic like the movie. Throw Gary Grant into the mix and it certainly helps it to be a winner.
Favorite quote –
“It is the curse of human beings to desire always what does not belong to them. It was Epictetus who said, true education lies in learning to distinguish what is ours from what does not belong to us.”
Favorite quote –
“It is the curse of human beings to desire always what does not belong to them. It was Epictetus who said, true education lies in learning to distinguish what is ours from what does not belong to us.”
December 7, 2021
Definitely enjoyed the movie more, but it's an interesting story. The author allows us into the inner dialogue of each character and greater insight into who they are. I feel like the script didn't focus so much on the Angel's more carnal intentions, but rather gave all a renewed appreciation for their lives and hope for their futures. The book makes it seem like Julia settles for her life out of moral obligation. Obviously I'm partial to anything with Cary Grant in it, but the casting in the movie really was topnotch and is far superior to this book.
January 8, 2022
3 1/2 stars. This is the book the movie The Bishops Wife was based on. I love this movie. I didn’t know it was based on a book. Recently, I saw that this book existed. Several people commented that they loved the movie and hated the book. Somebody said they view them as separate entities. I enjoyed the book. It’s different from the movie but the movie keeps the same heart, the same idea to it. The same angel trying to help mortals and getting entwined with them. I enjoyed it. It’s not the movie for sure. But I’m glad I read it
December 5, 2025
ETA - the author was married 7 times!!!
Knowing that his former wives divorced him for cruelty in the 1940s and 1950s shine a bit of light on this novel.
Reading this made me think of what the typical marriage must have been like during the time the novel was written. I felt sorry for Julia and although it ended nicely, if this book was inspired by true feelings of “longing” (term used in the book) how did the story really end for the author or the couple that inspired the book? I want to watch the movies now! It’s been years since I watched the Preacher’s Wife.
Knowing that his former wives divorced him for cruelty in the 1940s and 1950s shine a bit of light on this novel.
Reading this made me think of what the typical marriage must have been like during the time the novel was written. I felt sorry for Julia and although it ended nicely, if this book was inspired by true feelings of “longing” (term used in the book) how did the story really end for the author or the couple that inspired the book? I want to watch the movies now! It’s been years since I watched the Preacher’s Wife.
December 26, 2025
Watched the film and now read the book! Pleased I have. I read it in a couple of hours it is quite short. If you have watched the film (1947, Cary Grant, Loretta Young) don't expect it to be the same - it isn't. The book has a more serious tone although there are some dashes of light in there. In not many pages a lot is said about how we behave and act towards others, written in 1928, it could be said of anywhere today, just update slightly. I didn't expect to be reading this today, but I oftentimes watch the film over Christmas and this year, I felt inclined to read the book.
December 12, 2021
I hate to judge this based off of the movie, so I tried to view it on its own merits. By doing so, I still found it pretty bad. Wooden characters that you care nothing for, and the story just sort of ends abruptly made it difficult to care about the book. It felt like an unfinished writing exercise. It provides a decent backbone for a book, but it sort of falls flat in character development and plot.
November 5, 2023
Let me say right off that my favorite Christmas movie is The Bishop’s Wife. It has been for 40 years! I love it. So maybe I was being naive when I was excited to read the book that the movie was made from. I think about 25% of the movie has some similarity to the book. And the part that is different is very dated and politically unpleasant. So thankfully the movie is so different. Please do not read the book just enjoy the movie.
November 30, 2023
🖋️ An entertaining Christmas story; made into a movie in 1947 with Cary Grant, David Niven, Monty Wooley, and Loretta Young. In the novella, the angel is named "Michael", not "Dudley" as in the movie. The daughter's name is also changed in the movie to "Debbie" from "Juliet."
🔵 The e-book version of the original novella can be found at Internet Archive.
📙Published in 1928.
🎥1947 movie.
●▬●🔷●🔷●▬●
🔵 The e-book version of the original novella can be found at Internet Archive.
📙Published in 1928.
🎥1947 movie.
●▬●🔷●🔷●▬●
December 30, 2023
The Bishop’s Wife is my favourite Christmas movie. The book has a very different focus and feel. This is not a feel good book and the relationship between the angel and Julia is quite different from the movie. There are also more religious discussions in the book compared to the movie. It isn’t really fair to compare the charm of Cary Grant with an old book. If you are looking for something similar to the movie, you will be disappointed.
December 6, 2024
I decided to read this book because the film adaptation starring Cary Grant is a holiday staple in our family. While the book is an interesting story, it's far bleaker than I expected and left me feeling rather hopeless, on the whole. This is one of those rare occasions where I believe the film improved on the book, though seeing the origin of the story was has certainly given me more depth. I'll likely look at the film differently now.
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