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Wilfred Price #2
The World is a Wedding
Wendy Jones picks up where 'The Thoughts and Happenings of Wilfred Price, Purveyor of Superior Funerals' left off. It's 1926 and Wilfred Price, purveyor of superior funerals, is newly married to the beautiful Flora Myfanwy. His brief and painful marriage to Grace is in the past. He's busy with funerals - and preparing for fatherhood by reading a philosophy book and opening a paint and wallpaper business. As much as he loves Flora, he senses her distance from him - are marriage and fatherhood going to be very different from how Wilfred imagined?
Grace has fled from Narberth to London, where she is working as a chambermaid at the luxurious Ritz Hotel. But Grace has a secret, one that can't be hidden forever, and binds her to her old life in west Wales.
Despite Wilfred's earnest effort to embrace the future, he is beginning to wonder if the past has too powerful a hold on him.
Grace has fled from Narberth to London, where she is working as a chambermaid at the luxurious Ritz Hotel. But Grace has a secret, one that can't be hidden forever, and binds her to her old life in west Wales.
Despite Wilfred's earnest effort to embrace the future, he is beginning to wonder if the past has too powerful a hold on him.
272 pages, Paperback
First published September 5, 2013
4 people are currently reading
294 people want to read
About the author
Wendy Jones
58 books32 followersWendy Jones is a graduate of the University of East Anglia and has a PhD from Goldsmiths in creative writing. She has published two novels and is the author of 'Portrait of the Artist as a Young Girl', a biography of Grayson Perry. She lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
August 12, 2018
This was an amazing read in so many ways. I haven't read the first book in the series and probably won't read the third one, but as a standalone it was an excellent novel. The prose was just so well done, I could not get enough.
I did not experience the book as a light, humorous read. The elements in the book were just too bizarre, surreal, too creative-writing unique. However, I constantly waited for something really bad to happen, but in the end it turned out to be the opposite and I closed the book with a huge sigh of relief.
Mr. Wilfred Price of Narberth, Wales can be added to the list of all-time favorite classic literary characters to be remembered and revered. He ain't no Mr. Darcy, or Hercules Poirot, but endeared himself to many an enchanted female reader for sure. I am one of them. The subtle humor in the book was so brilliantly applied. I constantly reread passages to just take it in one more time.
I'm in a hurry, won't have time this week to write a review, but thought I just wanted to shelve it for now. There's so much to think about! It's definitely a historical fiction experience, with women's issues being the mainstays in the book. The story is so atmospheric and dark, even gross in one instance, but the reader was allowed to come up for air in the end and walk away astounded.
An outstanding experience! I wish I had time to really think and write a review. Hopefully it can happen later. It's 240 pages of brilliance. Five stars for that alone.
I did not experience the book as a light, humorous read. The elements in the book were just too bizarre, surreal, too creative-writing unique. However, I constantly waited for something really bad to happen, but in the end it turned out to be the opposite and I closed the book with a huge sigh of relief.
Mr. Wilfred Price of Narberth, Wales can be added to the list of all-time favorite classic literary characters to be remembered and revered. He ain't no Mr. Darcy, or Hercules Poirot, but endeared himself to many an enchanted female reader for sure. I am one of them. The subtle humor in the book was so brilliantly applied. I constantly reread passages to just take it in one more time.
I'm in a hurry, won't have time this week to write a review, but thought I just wanted to shelve it for now. There's so much to think about! It's definitely a historical fiction experience, with women's issues being the mainstays in the book. The story is so atmospheric and dark, even gross in one instance, but the reader was allowed to come up for air in the end and walk away astounded.
An outstanding experience! I wish I had time to really think and write a review. Hopefully it can happen later. It's 240 pages of brilliance. Five stars for that alone.
August 5, 2018
I didn't know there was a sequel to The Thoughts and Happenings of Wilfred Price, Purveyor of Superior Funerals, but when I found out, I knew I had to read it. This one is every bit as good as the first, maybe better, and they should be read as one story.
This time around, Wilfred is married to the woman he really loves, Flora. He wants to be the perfect husband and father, so continues reading the dictionary (he's up to the B's now), and checks out "The Last Days of Socrates" from the library. It takes him a while, and he doesn't understand much of it, except that it's not enough just to live, man must live a good life. He tries, and that's what's so lovable about Wilfred, he tries.
Meanwhile Flora, at first afraid that she has "settled" by marrying him, comes to realize that marriage to a good, kind man is more than a lot of women get to have. Then there's Grace, pregnant and in London, trying to make her own way, but failing in that too.
A novel about an undertaker in 1926, in the Welsh village of Narberth, may not seem like an amusing, uplifting book, but I can assure you it is both funny and wise, with the suspense born of just living daily life. As when Wilfred tries to teach Flora to drive: "The main thing to remember is not to hit anything". And this: "Undertaking was not an easy trade because it was the practical end of dealing with the ultimate mystery". One final quote: "The living were intermingled and knotted like the roots of trees in the earth. Only the dead let go fully. Everything living was knitted and wedded to the world. This was the wedding of the world".
If you need to escape to a gentler time, these two books will take you there. 4 stars for each book, 5 stars for both together.
This time around, Wilfred is married to the woman he really loves, Flora. He wants to be the perfect husband and father, so continues reading the dictionary (he's up to the B's now), and checks out "The Last Days of Socrates" from the library. It takes him a while, and he doesn't understand much of it, except that it's not enough just to live, man must live a good life. He tries, and that's what's so lovable about Wilfred, he tries.
Meanwhile Flora, at first afraid that she has "settled" by marrying him, comes to realize that marriage to a good, kind man is more than a lot of women get to have. Then there's Grace, pregnant and in London, trying to make her own way, but failing in that too.
A novel about an undertaker in 1926, in the Welsh village of Narberth, may not seem like an amusing, uplifting book, but I can assure you it is both funny and wise, with the suspense born of just living daily life. As when Wilfred tries to teach Flora to drive: "The main thing to remember is not to hit anything". And this: "Undertaking was not an easy trade because it was the practical end of dealing with the ultimate mystery". One final quote: "The living were intermingled and knotted like the roots of trees in the earth. Only the dead let go fully. Everything living was knitted and wedded to the world. This was the wedding of the world".
If you need to escape to a gentler time, these two books will take you there. 4 stars for each book, 5 stars for both together.
September 23, 2018
A sweet tonic for our turbulent times; a delicate pastry that crumbles in your mouth, a creamy soothing balm. I have not read the earlier book in this series, but it didn’t matter. This book stands alone as the story of dear Wilfred Price, the Purveyor of Superior Funerals, and the women in his life in the small Welsh town of Narberth in 1926. And it was exactly what I needed after being steeped in today’s bad news.
Although this is a lovely and quaint story, it deals with the depths of human pain and the meaning of life so skillfully and honestly you might not notice the brilliance of the work.
Although this is a lovely and quaint story, it deals with the depths of human pain and the meaning of life so skillfully and honestly you might not notice the brilliance of the work.
May 13, 2018
This is my first book that I have read about undertaker Wilfred price. I have learned from other reviews that in the previous book Wilfred was married to Grace and she ran away. Wilfred in this book however get married again to Flora myfanwy. After seven weeks of Flora married to Wilfred she claims she is pregnant. Wilfred reads a book on philosophy preparing himself for fatherhood. Wilfred opens a wallpaper and paint shop.
Grace becomes a chambermaid in London at the Ritz hotel. The butler tells Grace the guest make the chaos and the maid provides order.
This book is claimed to be quirky. I think it is a very nice light read. I personally think Wendy Jones is such a talented author that I personally would like to see Wendy leave Wilfred in the past now and write about a different topic with fresh new characters.
Grace becomes a chambermaid in London at the Ritz hotel. The butler tells Grace the guest make the chaos and the maid provides order.
This book is claimed to be quirky. I think it is a very nice light read. I personally think Wendy Jones is such a talented author that I personally would like to see Wendy leave Wilfred in the past now and write about a different topic with fresh new characters.
September 3, 2018
This sequel to The Thoughts and Happenings of Wilfred Price, Purveyor of Superior Funerals finds charming Wilfred the small town Welsh undertaker married to his true love Flora and Grace his very temporary previous wife in London trying to sort her tragic past. If this sounds confusing it's because you really MUST read both books to get the proper story here. Luckily they are both very enjoyable reads for anyone who likes a good character study of small town life and the social etiquette of bygone times.
According to the forward in the first book the film rights to these books have been purchased by the producers of Downtown Abbey and I'm hoping a mini-series is in the works.
5 stars
According to the forward in the first book the film rights to these books have been purchased by the producers of Downtown Abbey and I'm hoping a mini-series is in the works.
5 stars
September 14, 2013
This is the sequel to the delightful "The Thoughts and Happenings of Wilfred Price, Purveyor of Superior Funerals". Although this can be read as a stand alone novel, it makes much more sense to read the books in order and understand why the characters have ended up where they are. In This novel, we find Wilfred now married to the beautiful Flora, while Grace has fled, alone, to London.
Wilfred and Flora are trying to come to terms to being married; even as Flora mourns the marriage she never had with her lover, who was killed in the war. They tiptoe around each other, uncomfortable and ill at ease, as Wilfred tries too hard (his concentrating on Stanley Baldwin to try to become a better husband are hilarious!). As well as undertaking, Wilfred attempts to earn more money by opening a wallpaper and paint shop in his front room. Meanwhile, Grace ends up working at The Ritz, discovers the suffrage movement and tries to come to terms with what has happened to her.
This novel is about many things, but much of it concerns the problems of women: loss, childbirth, domestic abuse and lack of power are all covered in this novel, with a deft touch and great sensitivity. Not much is as it seems in this book and the author has a clever way of making you reassess situations and people that you had labelled as one thing, only to have to realise that you were wrong. As before, Wilfred is a man you cannot help but love - he tries his best; he is, at his very core, a good man. I am so glad that I discovered this author - her writing is sublime and her characters ones that you will surely come to care about. I just hope that we will be visiting Narbeth again soon.
Wilfred and Flora are trying to come to terms to being married; even as Flora mourns the marriage she never had with her lover, who was killed in the war. They tiptoe around each other, uncomfortable and ill at ease, as Wilfred tries too hard (his concentrating on Stanley Baldwin to try to become a better husband are hilarious!). As well as undertaking, Wilfred attempts to earn more money by opening a wallpaper and paint shop in his front room. Meanwhile, Grace ends up working at The Ritz, discovers the suffrage movement and tries to come to terms with what has happened to her.
This novel is about many things, but much of it concerns the problems of women: loss, childbirth, domestic abuse and lack of power are all covered in this novel, with a deft touch and great sensitivity. Not much is as it seems in this book and the author has a clever way of making you reassess situations and people that you had labelled as one thing, only to have to realise that you were wrong. As before, Wilfred is a man you cannot help but love - he tries his best; he is, at his very core, a good man. I am so glad that I discovered this author - her writing is sublime and her characters ones that you will surely come to care about. I just hope that we will be visiting Narbeth again soon.
May 22, 2017
I started this, realised there was a Book 1, paused with this, read Book 1 and then came back to this. It made a big difference, having read the first book, as so many of the themes in Book 2 originated in Book 1. Maybe you could read the second book happily without having read the first book but I found that reading Book 1 helped me to understand this one. I found Book 2 less engaging than Book 1 as the relationship between Wilfred and Flora seemed to have moved backwards rather than forwards. At times, I got the impression that the author had written this book to tie up the loose ends of the first book without really knowing exactly what to do with them. Wilfred is still a likeable character who tries hard in a world he is unsure of. Flora suffers from a certain event and seems to lose her way as the character she was in Book 1. Grace takes on a new life and personality and grows on this path. And we meet various other characters who play their roles without really affecting the reader - though I did like the Da character. I think this would have been better as a longer ending to Book 1 with a lot of the extraneous material left out. 2 1/2 stars. Would I recommend it? Yes, but with reservations.
April 1, 2023
First of all, I would recommend you read the first book about Wilfred Price before you read this one, although I think it could work as a stand alone.
This is a slow, gentle, thoughtful book, yet I found myself not wanting to put it down. The author allows the characters to develop through life’s challenges and rewards, all against the interesting backgrounds of a small village in Wales and urban life in London in the mid 1920s. There is a dual story line, but the characters are closely interconnected.
Wilfred is a quirky character…I like quirky! He wants to do things right and he wants to learn more, but is also naive about many things to the point it felt a little unbelievable. But he grew up without a mother and has a loving but passive dad, so he is immature in important ways. I just love him!
This is a slow, gentle, thoughtful book, yet I found myself not wanting to put it down. The author allows the characters to develop through life’s challenges and rewards, all against the interesting backgrounds of a small village in Wales and urban life in London in the mid 1920s. There is a dual story line, but the characters are closely interconnected.
Wilfred is a quirky character…I like quirky! He wants to do things right and he wants to learn more, but is also naive about many things to the point it felt a little unbelievable. But he grew up without a mother and has a loving but passive dad, so he is immature in important ways. I just love him!
November 30, 2017
I enjoyed the first book of the Wilfred Price series and sought out this book immediately after finishing it. I loved this book more than the first and was (like the first) deeply captivated by beautiful words and the continuation of lovely characters — although did feel a bit sad Wilfred’s da featured less in this book.
I appreciate this book for being able to be read alone but would recommend reading the entire series.
Only downside is the ending! I just want more! Very much hoping there is another book on the way!
I appreciate this book for being able to be read alone but would recommend reading the entire series.
Only downside is the ending! I just want more! Very much hoping there is another book on the way!
May 26, 2021
Even better than part one
I enjoyed Wilfred's continued story as he settled into married life. He does a lot of self searching and starts to realise what is true goodness and love. In part one he seemed rather silly and gullible, but in part two he becomes a more conscientious, loving and caring husband and friend. There is much humour in this book, with an underlying good story.
I enjoyed Wilfred's continued story as he settled into married life. He does a lot of self searching and starts to realise what is true goodness and love. In part one he seemed rather silly and gullible, but in part two he becomes a more conscientious, loving and caring husband and friend. There is much humour in this book, with an underlying good story.
October 1, 2018
Hmmm--maybe I should have read the first book, before this one. There were a lot of details. Grace is pregnant, her brother is a dirtbag, and Wilfred seems torn between his ex-wife, Grace, and his present wife. Other than that and the ending, which was odd, also, I must have missed something. Many people gave it high ratings. I didn't.
June 12, 2023
What a gorgeous find Wendy Jones is! Beautiful writing and as a Welsh person living away now for many years she brought back fond memory’s of my youth. Read book 1 and fell in love with the characters and was delighted to find a book 2 which was even better as the characters evolved. I will be reading more from Wendy Jones I’m sure!
March 25, 2020
A good book, though not amazing (not like the Neopolitan novels). In fact I forgot I had already finished it because it was still lying around and only when I picked it up again thinking to finish it that I realized I had already read it! So memorable enough but not too much!
July 29, 2017
I will admit I bought this book for the cover, but i enjoyed the gentle story and the insight into the world post WW1. i don't know that I'll bother to read the first book, but you never know...
August 31, 2017
Such a pointless book.
October 24, 2017
A follow-up to another book. I didn't really see the need for a sequel and the title makes no sense o me.
November 19, 2017
4 stars for the calm the lovely Wilfred makes me feel, he's a sweetie.
July 24, 2018
Not quite as good as the first book, but still liked it
October 21, 2018
3.5 rounded up
June 12, 2020
lame
November 7, 2020
This is a nice, gentle read set in a bygone era. I rooted for Wilfred, Flora and Grace as they faced their difficulties and struggled to find their way through life's challenges.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2021
" I am sorry I didn't understand. I saw the hurt in your eyes"
,
Beautiful piece of an imaginary art into fiction.
,
Beautiful piece of an imaginary art into fiction.
March 30, 2024
The second Wilfred Price book, just as good as the first.
Read
November 24, 2024This was simple and sweet. I didn't realise it was the second book in a series, but it didn't really matter that I hadn't read the first one.
October 16, 2013
I read and enjoyed ‘The Thoughts and Happenings of Wilfred Price Purveyor of Superior Funerals’ very recently when I knew I would be receiving this, the sequel to review. I enjoyed Wilfred Price, a charming story of 1920’s Welsh village life, with a slightly dark thread running through it, its peopled with memorable characters, but there was so much left unresolved that I was a little frustrated, and very glad I had the sequel waiting. The events in this novel carry straight on from those in Wilfred Price, and in such a way that I was left fully satisfied this time. I loved this second instalment, at times a quite poignant novel, there is depth and charm in equal measure.
In ‘The World is a Wedding’ there are two story strands – the main story picks up that of Wilfred Price. Following his brief – and later annulled – marriage to Grace Reece, Wilfred is now free to marry his adored Flora Myfanwy – which he does in the first chapter. The second story follows Grace to London, where she has fled following her ostracism from her family. Grace has left Wales with a dark secret, which she goes to some lengths to conceal. Soon she is working as a chamber maid at the Ritz. Here Grace meets her first suffragettes, attends a couple of suffrage meetings and even goes along to a jujitsu class for women.
“Grace glanced around. She had seen what large groups of people – of men – did during the war. And what had been done to them: how they returned –her brother Madoc included –with a disturbed sanity. And a destructive arrogance. She had seen the stupidity of groups and the fantasies they could concoct. Were these women aping men, being called to arms for yet more violence, triumphant and expanded on the fantasy of victory? She had read in the newspaper that Christabel Pankhurst had said the Great War was Gods vengeance upon the people who held women in subjugation. But, as in the War, Grace had no passion for this fight. She didn’t understand what the suffragettes wanted.”
Meanwhile back in Narberth, Flora and Wilfred have to settle down to married life, aware that they don’t really know each other all that well. In the next weeks, Wilfred and Flora must deal with joy and heartache. Flora still nurses an old grief for her beloved fiancé killed in the War, and a new grief for her father – who Wilfred buried. Wilfred – still set on improving himself, nurses his own secret sorrow, for Grace, who he feels terrible guilt for. He quickly realises that she is out there on her own, vulnerable and hurting, and that his great happiness has been possible because of Grace’s disgrace and flight.
I will say no more – as I have a feeling a lot of people will be reading this novel and I don’t want to spoil it – but I have a feeling those who are already fans of Wilfred Price and Flora Myfanwy and who like me worried about poor Grace – will enjoy seeing how their stories come together and resolve.
Although I did enjoy Wilfred Price – and was glad I had read it – I liked this second instalment much more – I could hardly bear to tear myself away from it on Monday night – I had to prise it from my fingers and lay it aside eventually leaving the last 50 pages or so to look forward to the next day. I thoroughly enjoyed the two story strands – the different settings of London and Narberth really helps to move the story forward. There is such a wonderfully resonant Welsh voice running through the whole novel, helping to give it a strong sense of place. Grace’s story is brilliantly done, her isolation and fear, and bewilderment and at the same time curiosity about the suffrage movement helps us to see Grace as an intelligent woman – trying to find her way in a society that is quick to punish those who it sees as transgressors. Wilfred and Flora’s relationship is really very touching, realistically portraying early married life. In the villagers of Narberth Wendy Jones had created a community that readers will relish spending time with.
In ‘The World is a Wedding’ there are two story strands – the main story picks up that of Wilfred Price. Following his brief – and later annulled – marriage to Grace Reece, Wilfred is now free to marry his adored Flora Myfanwy – which he does in the first chapter. The second story follows Grace to London, where she has fled following her ostracism from her family. Grace has left Wales with a dark secret, which she goes to some lengths to conceal. Soon she is working as a chamber maid at the Ritz. Here Grace meets her first suffragettes, attends a couple of suffrage meetings and even goes along to a jujitsu class for women.
“Grace glanced around. She had seen what large groups of people – of men – did during the war. And what had been done to them: how they returned –her brother Madoc included –with a disturbed sanity. And a destructive arrogance. She had seen the stupidity of groups and the fantasies they could concoct. Were these women aping men, being called to arms for yet more violence, triumphant and expanded on the fantasy of victory? She had read in the newspaper that Christabel Pankhurst had said the Great War was Gods vengeance upon the people who held women in subjugation. But, as in the War, Grace had no passion for this fight. She didn’t understand what the suffragettes wanted.”
Meanwhile back in Narberth, Flora and Wilfred have to settle down to married life, aware that they don’t really know each other all that well. In the next weeks, Wilfred and Flora must deal with joy and heartache. Flora still nurses an old grief for her beloved fiancé killed in the War, and a new grief for her father – who Wilfred buried. Wilfred – still set on improving himself, nurses his own secret sorrow, for Grace, who he feels terrible guilt for. He quickly realises that she is out there on her own, vulnerable and hurting, and that his great happiness has been possible because of Grace’s disgrace and flight.
I will say no more – as I have a feeling a lot of people will be reading this novel and I don’t want to spoil it – but I have a feeling those who are already fans of Wilfred Price and Flora Myfanwy and who like me worried about poor Grace – will enjoy seeing how their stories come together and resolve.
Although I did enjoy Wilfred Price – and was glad I had read it – I liked this second instalment much more – I could hardly bear to tear myself away from it on Monday night – I had to prise it from my fingers and lay it aside eventually leaving the last 50 pages or so to look forward to the next day. I thoroughly enjoyed the two story strands – the different settings of London and Narberth really helps to move the story forward. There is such a wonderfully resonant Welsh voice running through the whole novel, helping to give it a strong sense of place. Grace’s story is brilliantly done, her isolation and fear, and bewilderment and at the same time curiosity about the suffrage movement helps us to see Grace as an intelligent woman – trying to find her way in a society that is quick to punish those who it sees as transgressors. Wilfred and Flora’s relationship is really very touching, realistically portraying early married life. In the villagers of Narberth Wendy Jones had created a community that readers will relish spending time with.
November 4, 2018
The end of the first Wilfred Price book left a few things unresolved, so I was glad to see those ends tied up in this one. I really think that with good editing, these two books could’ve been one larger book.
June 14, 2016
The Kindness of Wilfred Price
To review this sequel, I have to reveal some of the plot points of the first novel. The hidden spoiler below refers to that book only. Readers who have already read it—and I strongly recommend that you do so—may open it without fear of further spoilers for this one.
Rereading my review of the first novel, I see I was struck by the surprising dark turns the story took, even at the risk of leaving many loose ends untied. Here Jones takes up the threads from exactly where they had been left off, and if anything dyes them darker still. But she does not leave them untied. What holds this novel together at the end is neither comedy nor tragedy, not coincidence, not revenge, not even love, though there is love aplenty. It is quite simply kindness. And that may be the most important quality of all.
In the High Street, Willie the Post, carrying his bulging mailbag, waved at Wilfred cheerfully. Mrs. Cadwallader was singing operas in her steaming bakery. Wilfred heard Handel Evans, the organist, playing Bach in the Bethesda Chapel as he did every morning of the week, crashing chords and hitting harmonies. Meanwhile, no doubt, the Reverend Waldo Williams MA (Oxon.) sat hunched at the lectern beneath the organ, suffering perturbations over the Psalms in the big black King James Bible he so earnestly studied. Shiny-faced schoolboys scampered around Wilfred, and outside Dai the Mint's a baby in a broken perambulator cried.A typical morning in the Welsh village of Narberth, but its comedy and broad-brushed characters might almost make it Llareggub from Dylan Thomas' Under Milk Wood. The year is 1925. Delighted readers of Wendy Jones' first novel, The Thoughts and Happenings of Wilfred Price, Purveyor of Superior Funerals, will recognize the atmosphere and warm to the character of Wilfred, the shy undertaker, who is reading The Life of Socrates and working his way through the dictionary from A to B in order to improve himself.
To review this sequel, I have to reveal some of the plot points of the first novel. The hidden spoiler below refers to that book only. Readers who have already read it—and I strongly recommend that you do so—may open it without fear of further spoilers for this one.
Rereading my review of the first novel, I see I was struck by the surprising dark turns the story took, even at the risk of leaving many loose ends untied. Here Jones takes up the threads from exactly where they had been left off, and if anything dyes them darker still. But she does not leave them untied. What holds this novel together at the end is neither comedy nor tragedy, not coincidence, not revenge, not even love, though there is love aplenty. It is quite simply kindness. And that may be the most important quality of all.
November 11, 2013
This is the second novel to feature undertaker Wilfred Price, set in Narberth, Wales – the first was The Thoughts and Happenings of Wilfred Price, Purveyor of Superior Funerals.
I very much enjoyed the first encounter with Wilfred, yet I must admit that I liked this second book even more. It is 1925, we are back in the affectionately portrayed Welsh countryside, and Wilfred is now happily married to Flora, and together they live with Wilfred’s father, whilst Grace is headed away to London alone, escaping a painful past, though there is no real escape for her from her situation. It was a delight to be reminded of these characters and to follow their lives once again. Wilfred is looking to expand his operations by starting up a wallpaper and paint business, whilst Grace takes a position as a maid at The Ritz hotel, and discovers the Suffragettes.
I love how Wendy Jones uses words; there are some sentences to savour in this book. She writes about her characters with compassion and honesty, there is humour and a lightness of touch, but she doesn’t shy away from the sometimes very painful truths of life either, and there are some thoughtful moments as Wilfred contemplates his life.
There are some lovely moments as Wilfred and Flora adjust to married life and living together; Wilfred and his da have been used to a certain way of living and they are aware that some adjustments ought to be made now that it is Flora’s home too. Flora realises she has a good man for a husband in Wilfred, yet she mourns for the man she loved before him, who died in the war.
I cared about Wilfred, Grace and Flora when I started reading; as I read on, I grew to care about them even more. Wilfred is an endearing character and a fundamentally decent man; I felt he really grew and developed as a character this time and there is some wonderful humour in his actions and thoughts - his philosophical musing whilst judging the dog with the waggiest tail for example, and his use of his newly acquired vocabulary from the dictionary - as well as poignancy at the sadness that befalls the couple, and regret as to what happened with Grace. I loved the reflections on his reading of Socrates.
I also really liked the chapters involving Grace finding her feet in London and tentatively finding out more about the Suffragette movement. I would never have guessed they did the activity that they do in the book back then (I won't spoil it by mentioning it here). Through the narrative and her characters the author also highlights some often very difficult situations and limited choices for women at that time, and this felt right in the tale to me, done skillfully and never in a heavy-handed manner.
It's an attractive cover on this hardback edition too. My enjoyment of this one was enriched by having already read the first novel featuring these characters; it's not a necessity but I would recommend it. I hope there will be more to come should Wendy Jones decide to revisit Narberth once more, as this novel made for very good reading indeed.
I very much enjoyed the first encounter with Wilfred, yet I must admit that I liked this second book even more. It is 1925, we are back in the affectionately portrayed Welsh countryside, and Wilfred is now happily married to Flora, and together they live with Wilfred’s father, whilst Grace is headed away to London alone, escaping a painful past, though there is no real escape for her from her situation. It was a delight to be reminded of these characters and to follow their lives once again. Wilfred is looking to expand his operations by starting up a wallpaper and paint business, whilst Grace takes a position as a maid at The Ritz hotel, and discovers the Suffragettes.
I love how Wendy Jones uses words; there are some sentences to savour in this book. She writes about her characters with compassion and honesty, there is humour and a lightness of touch, but she doesn’t shy away from the sometimes very painful truths of life either, and there are some thoughtful moments as Wilfred contemplates his life.
There are some lovely moments as Wilfred and Flora adjust to married life and living together; Wilfred and his da have been used to a certain way of living and they are aware that some adjustments ought to be made now that it is Flora’s home too. Flora realises she has a good man for a husband in Wilfred, yet she mourns for the man she loved before him, who died in the war.
I cared about Wilfred, Grace and Flora when I started reading; as I read on, I grew to care about them even more. Wilfred is an endearing character and a fundamentally decent man; I felt he really grew and developed as a character this time and there is some wonderful humour in his actions and thoughts - his philosophical musing whilst judging the dog with the waggiest tail for example, and his use of his newly acquired vocabulary from the dictionary - as well as poignancy at the sadness that befalls the couple, and regret as to what happened with Grace. I loved the reflections on his reading of Socrates.
I also really liked the chapters involving Grace finding her feet in London and tentatively finding out more about the Suffragette movement. I would never have guessed they did the activity that they do in the book back then (I won't spoil it by mentioning it here). Through the narrative and her characters the author also highlights some often very difficult situations and limited choices for women at that time, and this felt right in the tale to me, done skillfully and never in a heavy-handed manner.
It's an attractive cover on this hardback edition too. My enjoyment of this one was enriched by having already read the first novel featuring these characters; it's not a necessity but I would recommend it. I hope there will be more to come should Wendy Jones decide to revisit Narberth once more, as this novel made for very good reading indeed.
August 31, 2014
Time taken to read - 1.5 days
Publisher - Corsair
Pages - 265
Blurb from Goodreads
Wendy Jones picks up where 'The Thoughts and Happenings of Wilfred Price, Purveyor of Superior Funerals' left off. It's 1926 and Wilfred Price, purveyor of superior funerals, is newly married to the beautiful Flora Myfanwy. His brief and painful marriage to Grace is in the past. He's busy with funerals - and preparing for fatherhood by reading a philosophy book and opening a paint and wallpaper business. As much as he loves Flora, he senses her distance from him - are marriage and fatherhood going to be very different from how Wilfred imagined?
Grace has fled from Narberth to London, where she is working as a chambermaid at the luxurious Ritz Hotel. But Grace has a secret, one that can't be hidden forever, and binds her to her old life in west Wales.
Despite Wilfred's earnest effort to embrace the future, he is beginning to wonder if the past has too powerful a hold on him.
My Review
Having read the first book I would suggest you read it before picking this one up. You can read this one without having read the first but I think you would enjoy it more checking out the first part of the story. We pick up with Wilfred Price, undertaker and funeral director, set in 1925. After a quick and painful marriage to Grace, he is now looking toward his impending marriage to the lovely Flora. Their tale covers their union, the business and the small town they live in and the happenings of Narbeth. Grace has since fled to London, trying to find work and hiding a secret meaning she can't quite escape Narbeth or her past.
This is a tale with happiness, sadness, confrontation, secrets & the heart of relationships. We see Wilbur's character continue to grow, looking after her new bride, trying to expand his business and trying to prepare for the future. Although Grace has gone and Flora is everything he hoped for her can't quite forget about Grace and her misfortune.
The is a book that has a few layers and deals with subjects that can be difficult to read, it is dealt with in a sensitive manner yet still evokes sympathy and feeling from the reader. There was just a few things that I didn't quite get although I feel I may be in the minority with it. One character has quite a change in their personality and behavior with not a great deal of explanation and I found a few things that one or two characters done came from nowhere which I personally don't like. However, over all it is a good read, the author has a gentle style that flows and despite the book being set in the early 1900s, which isn't always a bit hit with me, she covered it very well. 3/5 for me this time, I would read this author again and much thanks to Little Brown Book Group for sending me a copy.
Publisher - Corsair
Pages - 265
Blurb from Goodreads
Wendy Jones picks up where 'The Thoughts and Happenings of Wilfred Price, Purveyor of Superior Funerals' left off. It's 1926 and Wilfred Price, purveyor of superior funerals, is newly married to the beautiful Flora Myfanwy. His brief and painful marriage to Grace is in the past. He's busy with funerals - and preparing for fatherhood by reading a philosophy book and opening a paint and wallpaper business. As much as he loves Flora, he senses her distance from him - are marriage and fatherhood going to be very different from how Wilfred imagined?
Grace has fled from Narberth to London, where she is working as a chambermaid at the luxurious Ritz Hotel. But Grace has a secret, one that can't be hidden forever, and binds her to her old life in west Wales.
Despite Wilfred's earnest effort to embrace the future, he is beginning to wonder if the past has too powerful a hold on him.
My Review
Having read the first book I would suggest you read it before picking this one up. You can read this one without having read the first but I think you would enjoy it more checking out the first part of the story. We pick up with Wilfred Price, undertaker and funeral director, set in 1925. After a quick and painful marriage to Grace, he is now looking toward his impending marriage to the lovely Flora. Their tale covers their union, the business and the small town they live in and the happenings of Narbeth. Grace has since fled to London, trying to find work and hiding a secret meaning she can't quite escape Narbeth or her past.
This is a tale with happiness, sadness, confrontation, secrets & the heart of relationships. We see Wilbur's character continue to grow, looking after her new bride, trying to expand his business and trying to prepare for the future. Although Grace has gone and Flora is everything he hoped for her can't quite forget about Grace and her misfortune.
The is a book that has a few layers and deals with subjects that can be difficult to read, it is dealt with in a sensitive manner yet still evokes sympathy and feeling from the reader. There was just a few things that I didn't quite get although I feel I may be in the minority with it. One character has quite a change in their personality and behavior with not a great deal of explanation and I found a few things that one or two characters done came from nowhere which I personally don't like. However, over all it is a good read, the author has a gentle style that flows and despite the book being set in the early 1900s, which isn't always a bit hit with me, she covered it very well. 3/5 for me this time, I would read this author again and much thanks to Little Brown Book Group for sending me a copy.
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