Copyright 1967, ex-library, hardcover with dustjacket, 184 pages. "A sly and delightfully funny tale. Arthur Prelude, a banking expert has died in a plan crash where his devoted wife survives with a mere shaking up. She hastily identifies his remains and returns to England for the funeral and the reading of the will. Doubts set in that perhaps it wasn't dear Arthur and perhaps he is alive after all. With the help of their children and her cousin, the Mrs. Prelude returns to the Geneva area to investigate." Library cardholder/checkout sheet and stamps/notations inside. Dustjacket is enclosed in mylar overlay taped to cover. Binding is secure.
Margery 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.
I discover as I wend my way through Sharp's books, that she has her bad ones. This is too thin by any stretch. It's not an absolute stinker, but it's hard to recommend it. Those who are compelled, as I seem to be, to read the lot will, nobody else should.
I love the way Sharp uses the vocabulary of the day, reading any Sharp is to discover new words.
Margery Sharp was well-named. She was very sharp! Wonderful writer with style reminiscent of P.G. Wodehouse, Georgette Heyer and others of that scintillating ilk. This was a kind-hearted but no-holds-barred, fast-paced satire on the human ability fool selves and others. Delightful, deluded characters. I look forward to reading more Margery Sharp!