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The Stone of Chastity
"It's in my mind to put an end to this heathen wickedness that's stalking abroad through Gillenham. It's in my mind to terrify that evil man from his morrow's sinful doings."
"We'll be going to Old Manor, then?"
"Not yet," said Mrs. Pye grimly. "We go first to the village. To rouse the women . . ."
Professor Pounce arrives in the idyllic village of Gillenham, along with his sister-in-law, his nephew Nicholas, and Carmen, his voluptuous assistant, in single-minded pursuit of the Stone of Chastity, a stepping stone in the local stream reputed to trip up impure women. His interest is cold-bloodedly scientific, but his researches, including putting the village women to the test and documenting the results, are taken rather more personally by some, including the Vicar's wife, who enlists the Boy Scouts to help suppress his efforts, and stern Mrs. Pye, possessed with the soul of an inquisitor. Ultimately, it's young Nicholas who must try to assuage the villagers' outrage, all the while coping with the repercussions of his own amorous impulses.
The Stone of Chastity, first published in 1940 and inexplicably out of print for decades, is perhaps the deftest (and daftest) of Margery Sharp's many dazzling, witty social comedies.
'Miss Margery Sharp's witticisms lift the otherwise flat and unprofitable life of the village of Gillenham to the level of a bubbling champagne-glass full of laughter' New York Times
"We'll be going to Old Manor, then?"
"Not yet," said Mrs. Pye grimly. "We go first to the village. To rouse the women . . ."
Professor Pounce arrives in the idyllic village of Gillenham, along with his sister-in-law, his nephew Nicholas, and Carmen, his voluptuous assistant, in single-minded pursuit of the Stone of Chastity, a stepping stone in the local stream reputed to trip up impure women. His interest is cold-bloodedly scientific, but his researches, including putting the village women to the test and documenting the results, are taken rather more personally by some, including the Vicar's wife, who enlists the Boy Scouts to help suppress his efforts, and stern Mrs. Pye, possessed with the soul of an inquisitor. Ultimately, it's young Nicholas who must try to assuage the villagers' outrage, all the while coping with the repercussions of his own amorous impulses.
The Stone of Chastity, first published in 1940 and inexplicably out of print for decades, is perhaps the deftest (and daftest) of Margery Sharp's many dazzling, witty social comedies.
'Miss Margery Sharp's witticisms lift the otherwise flat and unprofitable life of the village of Gillenham to the level of a bubbling champagne-glass full of laughter' New York Times
Paperback
First published January 1, 1940
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About the author
Margery Sharp
80 books183 followersMargery Sharp was born Clara Margery Melita Sharp in Salisbury. She spent part of her childhood in Malta.
Sharp wrote 26 novels, 14 children's stories, 4 plays, 2 mysteries and many short stories. She is best known for her series of children's books about a little white mouse named Miss Bianca and her companion, Bernard. Two Disney films have been made based on them, called The Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under.
In 1938, she married Major Geoffrey Castle, an aeronautical engineer.
Sharp wrote 26 novels, 14 children's stories, 4 plays, 2 mysteries and many short stories. She is best known for her series of children's books about a little white mouse named Miss Bianca and her companion, Bernard. Two Disney films have been made based on them, called The Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under.
In 1938, she married Major Geoffrey Castle, an aeronautical engineer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
August 7, 2023
an amusing English village comedy. Professor Pounce has tracked down the legendary Stone of Chastity, which apparently causes any woman of lost virtue who sets foot upon it to slip, and into the river she falls, the lascivious slattern. the indomitable professor seeks to use the censorious residents of the village where the stone has been found as his test subjects, aided by his aimless, horny nephew. hijinks ensue.
I'm not overly familiar with this subgenre, although I loved the Mapp & Lucia books and Miss Marjoribanks is perfection. but this seems like a pretty good example? so light and charming. the writing here is effortlessly witty, as well as generous in its view of human foibles. the high-handed Prof. Pounce, by turns distracted and bullying, and a surprising charmer with the ladies, is a splendid creation. I think Margery Sharp is mainly known for her Rescuers books featuring heroic mice (adapted by Disney) and the romantic comedy Cluny Brown (adapted by Lubitsch). I really like her offhand style - like an urban sophisticate slumming but not judging - and would certainly read more by her.
I'm not overly familiar with this subgenre, although I loved the Mapp & Lucia books and Miss Marjoribanks is perfection. but this seems like a pretty good example? so light and charming. the writing here is effortlessly witty, as well as generous in its view of human foibles. the high-handed Prof. Pounce, by turns distracted and bullying, and a surprising charmer with the ladies, is a splendid creation. I think Margery Sharp is mainly known for her Rescuers books featuring heroic mice (adapted by Disney) and the romantic comedy Cluny Brown (adapted by Lubitsch). I really like her offhand style - like an urban sophisticate slumming but not judging - and would certainly read more by her.
Read
June 15, 2021Entertainingly ridiculous story of an English village turned upside down when a visiting anthropologist discovers the legend of the Stone of Chastity. Fun period piece with some good jokes and a nifty glance at sour puritanism.
April 8, 2021
Such fun!
When Professor Pounce, who studies folklore heard about the Stone of Chastity, a stone in a stream that a pure women will be able to cross without incident but an impure one will slip into the stream of she touches it, he decided to rent a house in the village to study it. He takes his sister-in-law and his nephew down to help. Naturally enough, not all the villagers are delighted; the vicar's wife thinks it is paganism and tried to sabotage his efforts, whereas other ladies don't see what their chastity has to do with him.
When Professor Pounce, who studies folklore heard about the Stone of Chastity, a stone in a stream that a pure women will be able to cross without incident but an impure one will slip into the stream of she touches it, he decided to rent a house in the village to study it. He takes his sister-in-law and his nephew down to help. Naturally enough, not all the villagers are delighted; the vicar's wife thinks it is paganism and tried to sabotage his efforts, whereas other ladies don't see what their chastity has to do with him.
March 28, 2018
Folklore expert Professor Pounce is evading a bridge game by hiding in the attic of a friend's place when he spies a diary which discusses, he discovers, the Stone of Chastity. Set in a brook, it is a test for females. If they can cross without falling as the step on said stone, they have passed.
For an academic it's a godsend. He decamps to the village in question, with an entourage including his nephew who is to assist him as he finds out more about the stone and sets upon an experiment using the village women to test the veracity of the legend. What could go wrong?
rest is here: https://alittleteaalittlechat.wordpre...
For an academic it's a godsend. He decamps to the village in question, with an entourage including his nephew who is to assist him as he finds out more about the stone and sets upon an experiment using the village women to test the veracity of the legend. What could go wrong?
rest is here: https://alittleteaalittlechat.wordpre...
February 16, 2017
I have loved many of Margery Sharp’s books for many different reasons ; and the book I have chosen for Margery Sharp Day this year is the book I love for its wonderful mix of satire and silliness.
Professor Pounce, a scholar of literary antiquities held in the highest regard, has always dreamed of publishing a monograph that will dazzle his contemporaries. He thinks that he may have finally found his subject when he learns of the local legend of the ancient village of Gillenham. It is said that there was stepping stone in stream there that would ensure that virgin girls and faithful wives would never slip, while the unchaste would invariably trip into the water.
He formed a wonderfully scientific plan. He would have all of the ladies of the village fill out a questionnaire to ascertain their understanding of the local legend and state of their chastity. And then there would be an event by the stream, with all of the ladies in turn stepping on the alleged Stone of Chastity, so that he could properly establish what its powers might or might not be.
Then refreshments would be served.
It doesn’t occur to Professor Pounce that anyone might be reluctant to take part, or that they might be offended by his proposal; because he really was that caught up in his academic bubble.
Life in the sleepy village of Gillenham will never be the same again. The vicar’s wife is outrages by the revival of paganism, and the vicar is inclined to agree. The Pye family at the farm cut off supplies to the manor house that the Professor had rented for the summer. The ladies of the Women’s’ Institute marched out to confront the perpetrator of this outrage ….
The Professor ploughed on, sweetly oblivious.
He had brought his nephew, Nicholas, along to act as his secretary; and he had to deal with all of the practical issues while being horribly aware of what the villagers were likely to think of his uncle’s plan. He had to organise the questionnaires, recover the Stone itself from Mrs Thirkettle’s scullery floor, and publicise the grand testing of said Stone.
He also had to juggle three romantic interests: a statuesque beauty, a bookish blue-stocking, and a bright young thing.
That was fun, but as Nicholas was a rather unremarkable young man I’d rather have had a little less time with his love life and a little more time with the villagers and the main plot.
That’s my main reason for saying that this isn’t Margery Sharp’s best work.
But it is wonderfully entertaining.
Margery Sharp drew humour from her story beautifully, and she judged her material perfectly. She was as acute and as witty as she always was, but she was never judgemental or prurient.
I found it easy to believe in these people, the things they said and the things they did, and that the Stone of Chastity might be sitting somewhere in the very real village of Gillenham; even though I knew that it was the product of the author’s wonderful imagination and that her plot was exceedingly improbable!
I happily turned the pages, with some idea of where things were going but not much idea at all how they would all end up.
I was charmed by a wonderful cast of characters.
Carmen, an artists’ model, was a wonderful comic creation, a typical Sharp heroine who always followed her heart and her instincts. She caused quite a stir in the village.
Mrs Crowner, the vicar’s wife made me think of Trollope’s Mrs Proudie. She wasn’t quite as formidable, but the vicar clearly knew that it was best to nod and agree with her.
Mrs Pounce, the Professor’s widowed sister-in law, was a very nice lady, who always acted properly and wanted to enjoy her summer in the country.
I could pick out others, but maybe its time I just said that Margery Sharp created a wonderful ensemble.
I should also say that there were so many wonderful incidents, that the set pieces were so well done, and that the plotting really was quite clever.
The ending felt a little downbeat at first; but there was a nice, gentle twist that I loved, there was a really pleasing realisation for a particular character and it seemed that something had changed in village.
The more I thought about it, the more I liked it.
And I think I might say that about this book as a whole.
Professor Pounce, a scholar of literary antiquities held in the highest regard, has always dreamed of publishing a monograph that will dazzle his contemporaries. He thinks that he may have finally found his subject when he learns of the local legend of the ancient village of Gillenham. It is said that there was stepping stone in stream there that would ensure that virgin girls and faithful wives would never slip, while the unchaste would invariably trip into the water.
He formed a wonderfully scientific plan. He would have all of the ladies of the village fill out a questionnaire to ascertain their understanding of the local legend and state of their chastity. And then there would be an event by the stream, with all of the ladies in turn stepping on the alleged Stone of Chastity, so that he could properly establish what its powers might or might not be.
Then refreshments would be served.
It doesn’t occur to Professor Pounce that anyone might be reluctant to take part, or that they might be offended by his proposal; because he really was that caught up in his academic bubble.
Life in the sleepy village of Gillenham will never be the same again. The vicar’s wife is outrages by the revival of paganism, and the vicar is inclined to agree. The Pye family at the farm cut off supplies to the manor house that the Professor had rented for the summer. The ladies of the Women’s’ Institute marched out to confront the perpetrator of this outrage ….
The Professor ploughed on, sweetly oblivious.
He had brought his nephew, Nicholas, along to act as his secretary; and he had to deal with all of the practical issues while being horribly aware of what the villagers were likely to think of his uncle’s plan. He had to organise the questionnaires, recover the Stone itself from Mrs Thirkettle’s scullery floor, and publicise the grand testing of said Stone.
He also had to juggle three romantic interests: a statuesque beauty, a bookish blue-stocking, and a bright young thing.
That was fun, but as Nicholas was a rather unremarkable young man I’d rather have had a little less time with his love life and a little more time with the villagers and the main plot.
That’s my main reason for saying that this isn’t Margery Sharp’s best work.
But it is wonderfully entertaining.
Margery Sharp drew humour from her story beautifully, and she judged her material perfectly. She was as acute and as witty as she always was, but she was never judgemental or prurient.
I found it easy to believe in these people, the things they said and the things they did, and that the Stone of Chastity might be sitting somewhere in the very real village of Gillenham; even though I knew that it was the product of the author’s wonderful imagination and that her plot was exceedingly improbable!
I happily turned the pages, with some idea of where things were going but not much idea at all how they would all end up.
I was charmed by a wonderful cast of characters.
Carmen, an artists’ model, was a wonderful comic creation, a typical Sharp heroine who always followed her heart and her instincts. She caused quite a stir in the village.
Mrs Crowner, the vicar’s wife made me think of Trollope’s Mrs Proudie. She wasn’t quite as formidable, but the vicar clearly knew that it was best to nod and agree with her.
Mrs Pounce, the Professor’s widowed sister-in law, was a very nice lady, who always acted properly and wanted to enjoy her summer in the country.
I could pick out others, but maybe its time I just said that Margery Sharp created a wonderful ensemble.
I should also say that there were so many wonderful incidents, that the set pieces were so well done, and that the plotting really was quite clever.
The ending felt a little downbeat at first; but there was a nice, gentle twist that I loved, there was a really pleasing realisation for a particular character and it seemed that something had changed in village.
The more I thought about it, the more I liked it.
And I think I might say that about this book as a whole.
June 5, 2024
Un libro irónico y divertido!!
March 8, 2021
This is one of those charming books where one finds oneself reading and grinning. That grin being broken up by an occasional guffaw of laughter at the antics of the townsfolk, the professor, the professor's household, and the myth that is The Stone of Chastity.
I immensely enjoyed this book and Sharp's writing. The plot was light and humorous with interspersings of seriousness. Professor Pounce, devoted scholar, has stumbled upon an "an old Norse, of course," legend involving a stone that tests the chastity of a woman walking over it. If said woman tumbles off of it, into the mud, then the entire world can see her shame. He believes he's narrowed down the stone's location to the quaint, picturesque town of Gillenham. The professor, his buxom associate Carmen, nephew Nick, and sister-in-law Mrs. Pounce all descend to the Old Manor for a summer of scientific investigation. From here on the hilarity ensues which includes the Professor Pounce's questionnaire on the Stone, the battle between Mrs. Pye, Chairwoman of The Women's Institute and Professor Pounce over the nature of the stone, Nick's attempts at love and the professor's errands, and the overall comedic nature of the novel. I highly recommend this one.
I immensely enjoyed this book and Sharp's writing. The plot was light and humorous with interspersings of seriousness. Professor Pounce, devoted scholar, has stumbled upon an "an old Norse, of course," legend involving a stone that tests the chastity of a woman walking over it. If said woman tumbles off of it, into the mud, then the entire world can see her shame. He believes he's narrowed down the stone's location to the quaint, picturesque town of Gillenham. The professor, his buxom associate Carmen, nephew Nick, and sister-in-law Mrs. Pounce all descend to the Old Manor for a summer of scientific investigation. From here on the hilarity ensues which includes the Professor Pounce's questionnaire on the Stone, the battle between Mrs. Pye, Chairwoman of The Women's Institute and Professor Pounce over the nature of the stone, Nick's attempts at love and the professor's errands, and the overall comedic nature of the novel. I highly recommend this one.
October 29, 2022
The Stone of Chastity is a snarky little town-vs.-country satire. Published in 1940 but never mentioning any war, it is about a professor of folklore who has come to the remote village of Gillenham to test the veracity of a legend he read about in an 1803 diary: the existence of a stepping stone in a brook that is reputed to have the power to reveal who is chaste and who is not. Chaste women can step on it safely, unchaste women are tumbled into the brook. (The modern reader will notice that men seem to be exempt from this test—or perhaps it is simply considered otiose to test their chastity.)
The professor leases the Old Manor House in the village, accompanied by his widowed sister, his nephew Nicholas, and an artist’s model, Carmen, with the body of a “Minoan barmaid,” who casts a predictable spell over many a man in the village. In fact, she speedily seduces a local farmer, Mr. Pye, enraging his holy-roller wife. Mrs. Pye forms a league with the vicar’s wife to brand the professor’s researches pagan and blasphemous, and the village splits into two camps, those who are willing to engage with the professor and his party and those who are not.
The villagers are depicted as simple folk motivated by pecuniary reward and addicted to life’s fleshly pleasures, but despite this rather offensive stereotype they manage to turn the tables on the sophisticates in the end. (It is a common feature of English satires of this type, allowing readers to laugh and feel superior but be relieved of guilt for their attitude at the last.) The professor is a delightfully obsessed character who will remind fans of the popular fiction of this era of Gervase Fen from Edmund Crispin’s mysteries. His nephew Nicholas sits at the center of the story, and he’s the only character who can be said to have any sort of development arc. Many of the scenes are very funny in the moment without leaving a lasting impression on the mind. But it’s useless to look for any kind of profundity in such a tale; it is intended purely to amuse and offer plot twists that make the reader laugh out loud, and this it achieves very well. I imagine that in the dark days of the war, plenty of readers found a few hours’ relief in this story.
This is a farce about sex but there is nothing explicit on the page.
The professor leases the Old Manor House in the village, accompanied by his widowed sister, his nephew Nicholas, and an artist’s model, Carmen, with the body of a “Minoan barmaid,” who casts a predictable spell over many a man in the village. In fact, she speedily seduces a local farmer, Mr. Pye, enraging his holy-roller wife. Mrs. Pye forms a league with the vicar’s wife to brand the professor’s researches pagan and blasphemous, and the village splits into two camps, those who are willing to engage with the professor and his party and those who are not.
The villagers are depicted as simple folk motivated by pecuniary reward and addicted to life’s fleshly pleasures, but despite this rather offensive stereotype they manage to turn the tables on the sophisticates in the end. (It is a common feature of English satires of this type, allowing readers to laugh and feel superior but be relieved of guilt for their attitude at the last.) The professor is a delightfully obsessed character who will remind fans of the popular fiction of this era of Gervase Fen from Edmund Crispin’s mysteries. His nephew Nicholas sits at the center of the story, and he’s the only character who can be said to have any sort of development arc. Many of the scenes are very funny in the moment without leaving a lasting impression on the mind. But it’s useless to look for any kind of profundity in such a tale; it is intended purely to amuse and offer plot twists that make the reader laugh out loud, and this it achieves very well. I imagine that in the dark days of the war, plenty of readers found a few hours’ relief in this story.
This is a farce about sex but there is nothing explicit on the page.
March 17, 2022
4.5. Margery never disappoints! Loved the ending. <3
July 12, 2021
Margery Sharp always provides a fun read, if you're into social comedy. This one is quite silly at times, but provided smiles and some laughter.
January 19, 2023
Amusing and silly. Admit I got a little bored with Nicholas's love life though. My favourite character was Mrs. Pounce.
There was a very funny "Pythonesque" scene when the Ladies confronted the Professor at the Manor and went off at tangents.
(and I loved all the references to Ipswich)
3.5 stars
There was a very funny "Pythonesque" scene when the Ladies confronted the Professor at the Manor and went off at tangents.
(and I loved all the references to Ipswich)
3.5 stars
April 9, 2025
This is my second book by this author, and I have to conclude she just doesn't work for me. I can see why she is still relatively popular, and I think many more readers would enjoy her if they tried some of her books, but I've found both of them a struggle to get through and ultimately not worth the trouble.
The biggest problem for me is that the characters feel stereotyped and flat; their inner thoughts and emotions don't ring true. In fact they don't really interest me at all, though I keep feeling like the should. Still, if you're at all curious about her books - read some of them and decide for yourself, please!
The biggest problem for me is that the characters feel stereotyped and flat; their inner thoughts and emotions don't ring true. In fact they don't really interest me at all, though I keep feeling like the should. Still, if you're at all curious about her books - read some of them and decide for yourself, please!
May 8, 2024
Nota: 4 sobre 5
Premisa:
En Gillenham todo está muy tranquilo hasta que llega el profesor Pounce con su cuñada, sobrino y su asistente. Están buscando La piedra de la castidad, que según dice la leyenda es capaz de detectar a las mujeres impuras. A pesar de sus motivaciones científicas, se encontrará con una oposición férrea a sus investigaciones y experimentos.
Opinión:
Estaba deseando volver a encontrarme con Margery Sharp. Al leer Cluny Brown quedé completamente enamorada de su forma de escribir: su sentido del humor, su costumbrismo británico, lo adelantada que estaba a su tiempo, la crítica que se encuentra sin la necesidad de rascar demasiado entre sus líneas. Creo que no se habla de esta autora lo suficiente, merecería ser mucho más conocida de lo que es.
Y claro, cuando vi que esta novela destacaba por su sentido del humor no pude resistirme ni un segundo. En ella te vuelves a reencontrar con ese contexto que a mi me gusta tanto, los pequeños pueblecitos británicos de la primera mitad del siglo XX. Con su cultura y costumbres, con sus mentes algo cerradas que se escandalizan por menos de nada.
Sharp sabe cómo introducir personajes rompedores que cuestionan los convencionalismos y que, con conductas algo extremas para el momento, ponen patas arriba la forma de vida de las personas que tienen alrededor. Y no solo tiene esto como virtud, sino que las situaciones absurdas que se generan te sacarán una sonrisa segura.
Además, si os gustan las lecturas cozy, creo que os van a encantar los libros de esta autora. La sensación de sosegada felicidad con la que terminas la historia hace que la adhesión al género feel good sea incuestionable.
Yo estoy totalmente enganchada a su forma de escribir. Ya sé que los otros dos títulos que ha publicado la editorial caerán más pronto que tarde, porque de vez en cuando necesito volver a este universo de campiña y humor. ¿Os animaréis vosotros a conocerlo?
Premisa:
En Gillenham todo está muy tranquilo hasta que llega el profesor Pounce con su cuñada, sobrino y su asistente. Están buscando La piedra de la castidad, que según dice la leyenda es capaz de detectar a las mujeres impuras. A pesar de sus motivaciones científicas, se encontrará con una oposición férrea a sus investigaciones y experimentos.
Opinión:
Estaba deseando volver a encontrarme con Margery Sharp. Al leer Cluny Brown quedé completamente enamorada de su forma de escribir: su sentido del humor, su costumbrismo británico, lo adelantada que estaba a su tiempo, la crítica que se encuentra sin la necesidad de rascar demasiado entre sus líneas. Creo que no se habla de esta autora lo suficiente, merecería ser mucho más conocida de lo que es.
Y claro, cuando vi que esta novela destacaba por su sentido del humor no pude resistirme ni un segundo. En ella te vuelves a reencontrar con ese contexto que a mi me gusta tanto, los pequeños pueblecitos británicos de la primera mitad del siglo XX. Con su cultura y costumbres, con sus mentes algo cerradas que se escandalizan por menos de nada.
Sharp sabe cómo introducir personajes rompedores que cuestionan los convencionalismos y que, con conductas algo extremas para el momento, ponen patas arriba la forma de vida de las personas que tienen alrededor. Y no solo tiene esto como virtud, sino que las situaciones absurdas que se generan te sacarán una sonrisa segura.
Además, si os gustan las lecturas cozy, creo que os van a encantar los libros de esta autora. La sensación de sosegada felicidad con la que terminas la historia hace que la adhesión al género feel good sea incuestionable.
Yo estoy totalmente enganchada a su forma de escribir. Ya sé que los otros dos títulos que ha publicado la editorial caerán más pronto que tarde, porque de vez en cuando necesito volver a este universo de campiña y humor. ¿Os animaréis vosotros a conocerlo?
February 8, 2011
Very disappointing, especially as I have high expectations from Margery Sharp. I found this sloppily written and clunky to read. The plot was interesting, and at the end, I felt it was somewhat redeemed by the message. But it seemed poorly set up and confusing, with characters making strange assumptions and their motives not making sense. Or maybe it was that people's motives were all too obvious and over-explained, but they remained corny and far-fetched. I felt like, although I could see and appreciate what she was trying to do, it wasn't as effective as it could have been. Overall, not enjoyable.
March 3, 2023
Considering how many contemporary books are so formulaic, this book was totally a breath of fresh air. I couldn't predict what a character would say or do next and I found myself wanting to read on and find out what was going to happen next.
For being written in 1940, I was surprised by how certain characters weren't constrained by Victorian morals.
For being written in 1940, I was surprised by how certain characters weren't constrained by Victorian morals.
October 19, 2018
Gillenham is a little backwater of a village, and Professor Pounce (Folklore) is delighted to find it. From a chance reference, he has learned that the villagers used to have a custom to test a woman's chastity, involving a stepping stone set in a stream. A Norse survival? Could be. Now he's moved into a rented house with his fussy widowed sister-in-law and his recent University graduate nephew Nicholas. Also in the household is beautiful, enigmatic Carmen Smith, whose mere existence antagonizes all the women in the village. It never occurs to the professor that the women in this pre-World War II era might find his attempts to question their chastity...offensive. It certainly occurs to Nicholas, as he falls more or less in love with three different women during the eventful summer. A satire of both academics and villagers.
August 14, 2021
True and silly go hand in hand with Margery Sharp writing, as well for naturally historical art of work and love in life; way following upon way showing how it can.
Written during The Battle of Britain 1940, to be described as a ‘bucolic romp’ that would ‘defeat the black-out blues.'
Excerpts
"Lying on his face under a hedge Nicolas Pounce, who liked his women mature, could not make out what was the matter with him. The kissing of Carmen had disturbed him badly, and it had - felt Nicholas - no business too... Where on earth had Carmen acquired her standards of occupation?... The answer lay in the unknown, the u guess able hinterland of Carmen's private life." (Chapter 5 part 4)
Written during The Battle of Britain 1940, to be described as a ‘bucolic romp’ that would ‘defeat the black-out blues.'
Excerpts
"Lying on his face under a hedge Nicolas Pounce, who liked his women mature, could not make out what was the matter with him. The kissing of Carmen had disturbed him badly, and it had - felt Nicholas - no business too... Where on earth had Carmen acquired her standards of occupation?... The answer lay in the unknown, the u guess able hinterland of Carmen's private life." (Chapter 5 part 4)
October 26, 2020
Absurd but quite funny story about a professor staying in the country who discovers an old local legend about a stepping stone which only chaste maidens and faithful wives can safely step on. His interest in experimenting to see if there is truth to the legend arouses strong feelings among the local people and much trouble results.
May 8, 2018
Another brilliant novel by a great lost author. Laugh out loud funny.
March 3, 2021
Delightful and full of gently amusing characters. Made me happy to read. First published in 1940 and republished in 2021, along with 5 other Margery Sharp novels.
July 30, 2024
Me he divertido mucho con este libro sobre un investigador que va a una pequeña aldea inglesa para estudiar la leyenda de la Piedra de la Castidad, una piedra que se encontraba entre las que había que pisar para cruzar el río y que al parecer solo podían cruzar las mujeres castas, las otras sin importar su habilidad, resbalaban y caían al río. El profesor/investigador, como buen ejemplo de la Academia, está fuerisima de la realidad, le importa un pepino cómo pueda afectar a la vida de las mujeres del pueblo su estudio y creen que estarán todas encantadas de participar en su estudio porque LA CENCIA (a quién no le va a gustar). Para las mujeres del pueblo, por lo que sea, empezar a recibir formularios que, en su lectura, ponen en duda su buen nombre y el de sus ancestras no es el mejor plan, pero aunque le hacen desplantes continuos al profesor para que sepa que no es bienvenido, este sigue en su palacio de marfil haciéndose el cuento de la lechera con el impacto que tendrá su investigación.
Todo esto está contado de forma muy divertida en un libro escrito en 1940 ofrece una historia amable de leer, con buen ritmo y con un elenco de personajes curiosos, algunos caricaturizados como reflejo de realidades llevadas al extremo para la comedia, y otros más realistas y también divertidos, como toda la picaresca del pueblo y cuánto podrán sacarle al profesor que a su vez viene al pueblo para conseguir éxitos personales en su carrera investigadora. ¿Quién exprime a quién? 😜
Vamos, que me lo he pasado muy bien. Me lo leí para el club de lectura y me han recomendado Cluny Brown de la misma autora y editorial, así que igual ese acaba cayendo también.
Todo esto está contado de forma muy divertida en un libro escrito en 1940 ofrece una historia amable de leer, con buen ritmo y con un elenco de personajes curiosos, algunos caricaturizados como reflejo de realidades llevadas al extremo para la comedia, y otros más realistas y también divertidos, como toda la picaresca del pueblo y cuánto podrán sacarle al profesor que a su vez viene al pueblo para conseguir éxitos personales en su carrera investigadora. ¿Quién exprime a quién? 😜
Vamos, que me lo he pasado muy bien. Me lo leí para el club de lectura y me han recomendado Cluny Brown de la misma autora y editorial, así que igual ese acaba cayendo también.
June 17, 2024
Un escentrico hombre de ciencia llega a Gillenham junto a su sobrino y su hermana en busca de la famosa "piedra de la castidad".
A partir de este simple hecho, la autora nos introduce de una manera magistral en un pequeño pueblecito de la campiña británica de principios del siglo XX gracias a su maestria con la pluma logra una ambientación fascinante, casi puedes oler la campiña, el aire fresco, pasear por los calles de este pequeño pueblo, o visitar el pub del lugar, el Grapes.
Los personajes magníficamente definidos nos harán vivir una serie de situaciones llenas de ironía, el absurdo, pero "adornadas" con ese sutil humor británico que Margery Sharp también me ha demostrado dominar.
Es una obra de lectura sencilla, amena y divertida que logrará sacarte más de una sonrisa con las constantes escenas cargadas de ironía que no dejan de sucederse.
Me he divertido mucho con ella en los dos ratos en que la he leído, sin duda volveré a leer a esta magnífica autora hasta ahora desconocida para mi
A partir de este simple hecho, la autora nos introduce de una manera magistral en un pequeño pueblecito de la campiña británica de principios del siglo XX gracias a su maestria con la pluma logra una ambientación fascinante, casi puedes oler la campiña, el aire fresco, pasear por los calles de este pequeño pueblo, o visitar el pub del lugar, el Grapes.
Los personajes magníficamente definidos nos harán vivir una serie de situaciones llenas de ironía, el absurdo, pero "adornadas" con ese sutil humor británico que Margery Sharp también me ha demostrado dominar.
Es una obra de lectura sencilla, amena y divertida que logrará sacarte más de una sonrisa con las constantes escenas cargadas de ironía que no dejan de sucederse.
Me he divertido mucho con ella en los dos ratos en que la he leído, sin duda volveré a leer a esta magnífica autora hasta ahora desconocida para mi
June 30, 2024
3,5 ⭐
July 14, 2024
Muy divertido hasta la mitad, crea buenas expectativas pero luego "baja el souffle".
August 7, 2024
Una locura de novela, muy divertida. Me sorprende la frescura y descaro de la autora en su momento. Genial la caricatura del estudio “académico-folclórico”
January 4, 2025
Me ha gustado infinitamente más que “Cluny Brown”. Es una novela ligera y bastante divertida.
May 9, 2024
Divertidísimo!!! Si te gustó Cluny Brown, ¡ni te lo pienses! Me encanta esta autora ♥️
June 19, 2021
Professor Pounce has heard of a stone that will cause a woman to trip if she has ever been unchaste. He decides to take his sister-in-law, his nephew, and young Carmen Smith down to the tiny village and test out the theory. What follows are 200 pages of some of the slowest public commotion I've ever skimmed.
There's a lot to think about and critique regarding the book and society's perceptions of women and I thoroughly enjoyed the last several chapters. However, there are gaping holes in Sharp's exploration of the topic(probably related to the time it was written) and too little time is spent with the likeable characters. This issue is compounded by the fact that there are quite a few side-characters and it is incredibly difficult to keep them straight. I was disappointed because it had really good reviews here. But I also do have weird opinions sometimes.
There's a lot to think about and critique regarding the book and society's perceptions of women and I thoroughly enjoyed the last several chapters. However, there are gaping holes in Sharp's exploration of the topic(probably related to the time it was written) and too little time is spent with the likeable characters. This issue is compounded by the fact that there are quite a few side-characters and it is incredibly difficult to keep them straight. I was disappointed because it had really good reviews here. But I also do have weird opinions sometimes.
March 26, 2023
Such a fun little trifle, a bonbon of silly social comedy with shades of Wodehouse, Stella Gibbons and even Monty Python. Professor Pounce investigates the “old Norse” legend of the Stone of Chastity, which supposedly trips up unchaste women, in a small English village. You’ll have to read the novel to find out the rest.
It starts a bit slow so it took me a while to get into the book, but Sharp’s wry humor and tongue-in-cheek descriptions, added to some hilarious dialogue, first made me smile and then chuckle. Very well-written, and one that I might want to read again just to savor the turn of phrase and the ridiculous minor characters. No great literature, but a very entertaining way to spend an afternoon.
It starts a bit slow so it took me a while to get into the book, but Sharp’s wry humor and tongue-in-cheek descriptions, added to some hilarious dialogue, first made me smile and then chuckle. Very well-written, and one that I might want to read again just to savor the turn of phrase and the ridiculous minor characters. No great literature, but a very entertaining way to spend an afternoon.
June 18, 2021
This is a book of many parts. It took me a while to wrap my mind around the characters and the story. It’s a unique, even an odd, story. Oh, but funny! I’ll definitely need to re-read this to enter into its cleverness and the things it is saying about human nature and life. Professor Pounce grew on me. His handling of a fraught scene towards the end was hilarious and masterful. Nicholas grew on me too. He’s so young and thinks he’s so mature, but wasn’t I like that too? (And probably am now!) Mrs. Jim was always a treat.
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