Appointment with Venus

by Jerrard Tickell

In 1940, after the fall of France, the fictitious Channel Island of Armorel is occupied by a small garrison of German troops under the benign command of Hauptmann Weiss. He finds that the hereditary ruler, the Suzerain, is away in the army, leaving the Provost in charge.

Back in London, the Ministry of Agriculture realise that during the evacuation of the island, Venus, a prize pedigree cow, has been left behind. They petition the War Office to do something urgently, and Major Morland is assigned the task of rescuing Venus. When he realises that the Suzerain's sister, Nicola Fallaize is in Wales, serving as an army cook, she is quickly posted to the War Office and the two, with a sergeant and a naval officer, are landed on the island...

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II, War, Fiction, Historical, British Literature

190 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1951

Reviews

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy moly this was a good read! Wow wow wow! Someone else please read so we can discuss!!

I almost always get a certain peculiar ache in my chest when I read books set during WWII. It’s such a uniquely tragic and courageous and fraught time. Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher is another book with that ache.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set during WWII the small (imaginary) British Channel Island of Amorel is taken captive by the Germans. During the occupation the inhabitants of the bucolic island feel the restrictions of the occupation keenly, and yet they never give in to despair. Society on the island - as it is- is based upon an ancient French feudal system providing strength, structure, and hope to the population. Britain is suffering nightly bombings and appears to be losing the war effort. But, hope prevails and the symbol of that is a cow. Yep, a cow. Of distinctive and pure British breeding lines -one of a kind, really, and in calf. Rescuing said cow is of national importance since the Germans plan to send her and her calf to Germany for study and breeding. The island is infiltrated and a rescue of the thoroughbred cow is afoot (or ahoof).

I enjoyed this novel. Humor is sprinkled throughout and I got a real sense of the tight knit community. The cownapping escapades and espionage was fun to follow. I would gladly hand this book over to a friend.
~an honest review in exchange for an ARC

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never would have thought that a book about a plot to rescue a cow could be so gripping! Set on the fictional Channel Island of Arkell during WWII, the British devise a scheme to rescue a pedigreed, pregnant cow from the Germans who have taken control of the island. What follows is an adventure story unlike any other. I thought this novel was great fun and I was rooting for Venus’s rescue the entire time. I loved the sense of community amongst the islanders and how so many did their part to stick it to their Nazi captors.

Now I need to track down the movie that was made of this!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most unexpected. Starts almost as a farce with a dollop of misogyny from Uncle George, but rapidly becomes an adventure with a high degree of tension - despite the outcome being obvious from the start - and ends with an extraordinary example of humanity, albeit tragically. Recommended

[Daniel Myatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A daring adventure, to rescue a cow! Yes a cow, from a Nazi occupied Channel Island.

Well written, engaging characters, dramatic and houmous in perfect amounts.

A perfect VE Day read.

[Elsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, what a wonderful book! Written in 1951 and set during WWII in 1940 by Irish writer Jerrard Tickell, whom I had never heard of before.

The semi-feudal island of Armorel (based on real-life Sark) is occupied by the Germans while the two young reigners, Luke and Nicola Fallaize, have left the island to join England’s war effort, leaving their cousin, Bohemian painter and pacifist Lionel, on the island. Also on the island with the occupied but loyal islanders, is Venus, an elite Guernsey cow, pregnant with an offspring who’s supposed to be the very top of the line. Unfortunately, the Commandant Herr Weiss was a cattle breeder in Bavaria and recognizes Venus’ excellence, and intend to bring her to Germany as a prize for the Nazis, who see this as a propaganda opportunity. However, news of this filters out to the War Office, who hatches a plan to steal the cow of the island, also seeing this as a pr opportunity in order to strengthen public morale. “Uncle George”, the MI5 boss, sends two secret agents with Nicola Fallaize and a Armorel-born sea captain, on a submarine to Armorel in order to carry out their very dangerous, secret mission. From there on, it’s a tense and fun adventure thriller reminiscent of Where Eagles Dare.

There are so many wonderful aspects of this slim novel. The island is beautifully described, the peasant villagers perfectly so in the dialogue of their own French patois. Apart from the thriller and satire elements, there is also a philosophical discussion about the effects of war and violence on all participants. The characters are fabulous and I was rooting like crazy for them to save the cow and themselves. Interestingly, this feels to me a bit like an early sixties spy novel in that the spotlight is on both the ruthlessness and the kindness on both sides - shades of Cold War mentality rather than a pure adventure yarn. Uncle George is a ruthless “M” playing 3D chess, sacrificing his agents when it is to England’s advantage. Commandant Weiss, a believing Nazi, is also a decent and honorable man.

A modern classic, highly recommended. Also in an exquisite new edition by Manderley Press!

[Annabel Frazer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reread this (at one sitting) for the first time since I was a teenager and loved it even more than I remembered. Many people who have never read it will have some dim awareness of its plot - the Channel Islands fall to the Germans in World War 2 and the British (and the brave Channel Islanders) hatch a reckless plot to steal the prize pedigree cow Venus (soon to calve) off the island from under the noses of the Germans.

It sounds like a caper but in fact this is a much more thoughtful tale of loathing of war (by the heroes and some of the German villains, too) and of childhood, loyalty, courage and being true to your beliefs. The characters are better drawn than in most wartime thrillers and the treatment of female characters is also refreshing - I love the creation of courageous, intelligent, compassionate Nicola Falaize. The setting of the fictitious Channel Island of Armorel is also beautifully realised.

If I have a complaint, it would only be that the whole affair is so tautly, efficiently written that it was over before I had had time to comfortably settle down with its setting and characters. I could have done with it being half as long again or even, dare I sacrilegiously say it, with a sequel.

[Mitzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ordered a copy of APPOINTMENT WITH VENUS by Jerrard Tickell from The Book Bus Depot, and I am so glad I did. This classic wartime adventure is charming, witty, and full of heart. A daring mission to rescue a prize cow during World War II makes for such a fun and surprising story. The new Manderley Press edition is beautiful too. A great pick for fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

[Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming and quirky wartime adventure about the saving of a prize cow from a fictional channel island under German command. Initially it seems a harmless escapade, the bureaucratic passage of which is almost farcical - I imagined an episode of Allo Allo; but then you start to realise what is really at stake and the true dangers of wartime, when a mutual admiration of a cow is not going to overcome national enmities. It is a very enjoyable read, with an unexpectedly emotional punch.

[Susann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book and only wish I had reviewed it more quickly, so that I could better capture my enthusiasm. It was unputdownable, combining a light touch mixed with gravitas and a surprisingly powerful sense of honor. The Manderley Press version is lovely. Thanks to Cincy Book Bus Depot for offering these UK selections!

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This came highly recommended - the Goodreads reviews are amazing. It was fine for what it is: a cozy take on the brutality of WWII. I was annoyed that everyone fell immediately in love with the impossibly beautiful 20-year-old woman, before she said or did anything. I’m in a reading slump; maybe that decreased my enjoyment.

[Christine Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really charming and enjoyable read. It helped that I had been to the Channel Islands and was familiar with the beauty of a Guernsey cow.

[Owain Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice enjoyable 1950’s jaunt.

[M Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming tale of a commando raid to rescue a prize cow from the Nazi-occupied Channel Islands. Remarkably well written and subtle

[Paola · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,75

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

So smart and engaging. A light read with deep themes. I loved it.

[Betty-Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

🤩 ❤️

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle old-fashioned tale of wartime espionage, heroism and a cow. A story of its era, for sure, and a little dated, but overall none the worse for that. It has stood the test of time remarkably well, thanks to Tickell’s skill as a novelist, and it’s humorous, well-plotted and expertly constructed. A little bit of romance adds to the reading pleasure. Set on the imaginary Channel Island of Armory under German occupation the book concerns a valuable cow, Venus, who has to be saved from the wicked machinations of the Germans. A rather improbable tale, admittedly, but it’s all carried off with great narrative aplomb and I really enjoyed it.

[Debora Cheetham Hepburn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have very fond memories of reading this at school in the seventies, so it was quite a nostalgia-trip for me to re-read it. It's a fun story - quirky and very British, although somewhat old-fashioned for current tastes, I suspect.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely hilarious gem of a book! Read after having seen the film. I love how it's all WWII and espionage and thrilling and... Venus is a cow. So wonderfully British!

[Helsbels · Rating 2 out of 5]

Entertaining enough, easy read.

[Brian Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, whimsical story about an entirely impossible, but very probable, escapade during the war. I loved every moment of this book, from the beautiful descriptions of the countryside to the sheer aggression and terror of the War.

[Uxie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5