Chronicles of a Curate #1-3

Chronicles of a Curate #1-3

by Fred Secombe

This is an excellent value omnibus edition of the first three books in Fred Secombe's entertaining and nostalgic series. It is comprised of: How Green Was My Curate, A Curate for All Seasons and Goodbye Curate.

Genres: Humor, Fiction

640 pages, Paperback

First published July 10, 1997

About the author

Secombe was born in Swansea in 1918 and ordained in 1942. The vicar of various parishes in Wales, and a Prebendary of St. Paul's Cathedral, he was also a founder of three Gilbert and Sullivan societies and won the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera Award for Utopia Ltd in 1968.

Reviews

[Dawn Livingston]

I'm not going to rate this book because I don't think there's anything wrong with it, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

The book has colorful characters and is well written. I recommend this book to anyone who know what Vicar of Dibley is and likes it.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The first three books in Fred Secombe's entertaining and humorous series, not brought together into an omnibus edition

"Set in the Welsh valleys at the close of the Second World Wat, How Green Was My Curate chronicles the arrival of Fred as a young curate in Pontywen, a village peoples with eccentric and unforgettable characters. From inauspicious beginnings, Fred finds himself settling into the community and falls in love with Eleanor, a strong-minded young doctor.

"A Curate For All Seasons sees Fred as acting vicar, in charge of three churches. He does have help, but that is half the problem. Assistant curate Charles is a walking, twitching disaster area, while lay preacher Ezekiel Evans can sermonize a congregation into unconsciousness. Nevertheless, with the help of Eleanor, Fred will finds time to found a church Gilbert and Sullivan society.

"In Goodbye Curate Fred is reaching the end of his curacy and Eleanor is about to make an honest clergyman out of him. But, as usual, life in the village is still far from straightforward. A trip to the seaside, a village fete, christenings and weddings provide ample scope for the unexpected to happen, usually with hilarious consequences."
~~back cover

I didn't find this omnibus as hilarious as the reviewer did. There were few laugh-out-loud moments for me; although the book was mildly amusing it was definitely not a page turner. All the elements for a very entertaining ramble were there -- it's just that the author wasn't up to making them humorous.

[Pauline Bicknell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Gentle. Entertaining

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm actually not sure whether this is fiction, autobiography, or a mixture of the two. The protagonist has the same name and occupation as the author, and other similarities. But I suspect some names have been changed to protect the guilty! At any rate, this (or these - it's actually three books published in the same volume) is a charming and enjoyable memoir of life as a C of E curate in 1940s Wales. The book opens between V-E day and V-J day and so one gets a picture of life with absent men in the forces, stringent rationing, and housing shortages. The various characters, good and not-so-good, who inhabit the Welsh mining village are always up to something, but with good will and faith, Curate Fred Secombe manages to steer the middle course. He also falls in love, encounters tragedy, and at the end, we can look forward to the next three books which describe his accession to the title of Vicar. Oh yes, and he starts a Gilbert and Sullivan society!

[Cece · Rating 4 out of 5]

Right up there with the Herriot books and the Irish Country Doctor. Doesn't stretchthe brain much-more like a gentle stroll through the town than a vigorous mental exercise. peaceful.

[M.E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book for any clergy person who wants to laugh at silly situations!

[Markie Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very funny and enjoyable read