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The Chronicles of Carlingford #4
The Perpetual Curate
Unwilling to go against his principles, Frank Wentworth, the perpetual Curate of St. Rogue's, alienates Mr. Morgan, the new Rector, who will not recommend him for advancement
540 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1863
8 people are currently reading
417 people want to read
About the author
Mrs. Oliphant
1,107 books174 followersMargaret Oliphant Wilson Oliphant (née Margaret Oliphant Wilson) was a Scottish novelist and historical writer, who usually wrote as Mrs. Oliphant. Her fictional works encompass "domestic realism, the historical novel and tales of the supernatural".
Margaret Oliphant was born at Wallyford, near Musselburgh, East Lothian, and spent her childhood at Lasswade (near Dalkeith), Glasgow and Liverpool. As a girl, she constantly experimented with writing. In 1849 she had her first novel published: Passages in the Life of Mrs. Margaret Maitland which dealt with the Scottish Free Church movement. It was followed by Caleb Field in 1851, the year in which she met the publisher William Blackwood in Edinburgh and was invited to contribute to the famous Blackwood's Magazine. The connection was to last for her whole lifetime, during which she contributed well over 100 articles, including, a critique of the character of Arthur Dimmesdale in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter.
Margaret Oliphant was born at Wallyford, near Musselburgh, East Lothian, and spent her childhood at Lasswade (near Dalkeith), Glasgow and Liverpool. As a girl, she constantly experimented with writing. In 1849 she had her first novel published: Passages in the Life of Mrs. Margaret Maitland which dealt with the Scottish Free Church movement. It was followed by Caleb Field in 1851, the year in which she met the publisher William Blackwood in Edinburgh and was invited to contribute to the famous Blackwood's Magazine. The connection was to last for her whole lifetime, during which she contributed well over 100 articles, including, a critique of the character of Arthur Dimmesdale in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 26, 2022
This is the third in a series of books entitled Chronicles of Carlingford. Unfortunately for me, I read this out of order. This was the 3rd in a 5-book series, and I have yet to read the one preceding it, ‘Salem Chapel’. Oh well. I guess I shall read that next. 😐
Carlingford Chronicles
• Book 1: The Rector AND The Doctor’s Family (1863)
• Book 2: Salem Chapel (1863)
• Book 3: The Perpetual Curate (1864)
• Book 4: Miss Marjoribanks (1866) ...I liked this bunches and gave it 4 stars. This is considered by others to be the best book of the Chronicles.
• Book 5: Phoebe Junior (1876)
Huge book, 540 pages. At times I was vacillating as to whether continue on with the book because it was seeming to go nowhere. However, by the end of the book, I was ready to sob...I was verklempt. I was emotionally attached to Lucy Wodehouse and the Perpetual Curate. Imagine that! 🙂 🙃
I just found something out... This was published as three volumes by William Blackwood (Publishers, Scotland; 1864) but the Virago Modern Classics edition that I read from did not indicate this. In the original edition, Chapters I – XIX formed the first volume, XX – XXXV formed the second volume, with XXXVI – XLVIII forming the third.
Mrs. Oliphant had asked the publisher for 1500 pounds for this book, up front, and he gave it to her. That was extraordinary in that day and age, especially considering how women were second-class citizens in that era in England.
Penelope Fitzgerald wrote the Introduction (which I read at the very end) and I found it on the Internet just now: https://lit.wikireading.ru/57951 for those interested in reading it (very interesting but if you want to read the book, then save this for after having read the book).
There were a number of protagonists in the tome, but after a while I was able to keep track of them. One character reminded me of Charles Dickens’ character in David Copperfield —Uriah Heep — with his “humble-speak” obsequious way of speaking. It was a man who had a shop selling newspapers, Mr. Elsworthy, who had a 17-year-old “pretty” niece, Rosa, who halfway through the book went missing. Was the Perpetual Curate responsible for her going missing, and if so, where had he hid her? And wasn’t he supposed to be in love with Lucy Wodehouse who had an old-maid older sister? And he was poor so he couldn’t marry Lucy, right?
Reviews:
• http://wutheringexpectations.blogspot...
• http://desperatereader.blogspot.com/2...
Carlingford Chronicles
• Book 1: The Rector AND The Doctor’s Family (1863)
• Book 2: Salem Chapel (1863)
• Book 3: The Perpetual Curate (1864)
• Book 4: Miss Marjoribanks (1866) ...I liked this bunches and gave it 4 stars. This is considered by others to be the best book of the Chronicles.
• Book 5: Phoebe Junior (1876)
Huge book, 540 pages. At times I was vacillating as to whether continue on with the book because it was seeming to go nowhere. However, by the end of the book, I was ready to sob...I was verklempt. I was emotionally attached to Lucy Wodehouse and the Perpetual Curate. Imagine that! 🙂 🙃
I just found something out... This was published as three volumes by William Blackwood (Publishers, Scotland; 1864) but the Virago Modern Classics edition that I read from did not indicate this. In the original edition, Chapters I – XIX formed the first volume, XX – XXXV formed the second volume, with XXXVI – XLVIII forming the third.
Mrs. Oliphant had asked the publisher for 1500 pounds for this book, up front, and he gave it to her. That was extraordinary in that day and age, especially considering how women were second-class citizens in that era in England.
Penelope Fitzgerald wrote the Introduction (which I read at the very end) and I found it on the Internet just now: https://lit.wikireading.ru/57951 for those interested in reading it (very interesting but if you want to read the book, then save this for after having read the book).
There were a number of protagonists in the tome, but after a while I was able to keep track of them. One character reminded me of Charles Dickens’ character in David Copperfield —Uriah Heep — with his “humble-speak” obsequious way of speaking. It was a man who had a shop selling newspapers, Mr. Elsworthy, who had a 17-year-old “pretty” niece, Rosa, who halfway through the book went missing. Was the Perpetual Curate responsible for her going missing, and if so, where had he hid her? And wasn’t he supposed to be in love with Lucy Wodehouse who had an old-maid older sister? And he was poor so he couldn’t marry Lucy, right?
Reviews:
• http://wutheringexpectations.blogspot...
• http://desperatereader.blogspot.com/2...
March 11, 2024
There are a lot of extremely impressive things about Mrs oliphant’s works, but one in particular is her ability to make this atheist-Jew really care about the nuances of Victorian Christianity. I genuinely felt the serious, all-encompassing nature of the dilemmas faced by these characters, and cared about their decisions. I also had a great time reading a novel which, for a good 200 pages, is a regular page-turner that I couldn’t put down.
Not to mention the fact that she was banging out work of this quality at the pace of 2 or 3 a year for decades while dealing with the death of her children, death of her husband, death of her brother and subsequent taking of financial responsibility for his widow and kids etc etc.
What an extraordinary, brilliant, funny woman she was.
Not to mention the fact that she was banging out work of this quality at the pace of 2 or 3 a year for decades while dealing with the death of her children, death of her husband, death of her brother and subsequent taking of financial responsibility for his widow and kids etc etc.
What an extraordinary, brilliant, funny woman she was.
November 8, 2009
For everyone who has exhausted Trollope - Mrs. Oliphant is the next best thing. Cruder in style, a little less detail, but she makes it up in passion - particularly passion among English clergymen in the Victorian era, who were slow to kindle but when kindled, hard to extinguish.
January 9, 2025
4.5 stars! I enjoyed this so much! The Perpetual Curate of the title, Frank Wentworth, is such a great character. His is the main storyline in the novel, but we also get an arc with his aunts (one of whom has a startling revelation), with his older brother Gerald’s religious convictions, with his rascally older brother Jack’s unsavory livelihood, with the Rector and his new wife who are adjusting to marriage after a long engagement, and more! There is romance, scandal, church politics, family dynamics, and even a temporary court of justice set up to try the Perpetual Curate… 😱 I liked Frank Wentworth as much as I disliked the pastor in Salem Chapel, the previous book in the series. Frank has been a curate for five years and he is clearly called to and gifted in his ecclesiastical role. It makes the points of conflict with his rector, his aunts, his brothers, and the townspeople especially interesting. So many enjoyable dynamics at work. Margaret Oliphant keeps the various plots nearly as well balanced as Trollope. I won’t say as good as because Trollope is the master, but the pacing and plot intertwining is very good indeed. I can’t wait to keep reading in this series!
January 22, 2020
"The Perpetual Curate" is a novel written by Margaret Oliphant and published in 1864. Margaret Oliphant Wilson Oliphant was a Scottish novelist and historical writer, who usually wrote as Mrs. Oliphant. Her fictional works encompass "domestic realism, the historical novel and tales of the supernatural". When I read that on the back cover of the novel what I had to find out was how this woman ended up with the name Margaret Oliphant Wilson Oliphant, it seemed rather strange. This is what I found out; Margaret was the daughter of Francis W. Wilson a clerk, and his wife, Margaret Oliphant. In May 1852, she married her cousin, Frank Wilson Oliphant, at Birkenhead, and settled at Harrington Square in London. So if I get this right, Margaret was named Margaret Oliphant, after her mother, than her father's last name Wilson, then married her cousin and ended up with the name Margaret Oliphant Wilson Oliphant; however, on the cover of the book I have, she just called herself Mrs. Oliphant. Much simplier that way I guess.
As a young girl, Margaret Oliphant constantly experimented with writing and in 1849 had her first novel published:" Passages in the Life of Mrs. Margaret Maitland". This dealt with the Scottish Free Church movement, with which Mr. and Mrs. Wilson both sympathised, and met with some success. It was followed by Caleb Field in 1851, the year in which she met the publisher William Blackwood in Edinburgh and was invited to contribute to the famous Blackwood's Magazine. The connection was to last for her whole lifetime, during which she contributed well over 100 articles. She had now become a popular writer, and worked with amazing industry to sustain her position. Unfortunately, her home life was full of sorrow and disappointment. Her husband had delicate health, and three of their six children died in infancy, while her husband developed alarming symptoms of consumption. For the sake of his health they moved in January 1859 to Florence, and then to Rome, where Frank Oliphant died. His wife, left almost entirely without resources, returned to England and supported herself and her remaining children by her writing. All of which is sad, but it gets worse. Of her three remaining children, her daughter Maggie died in 1864 while they were still in Rome and was buried with her father, then her eldest son, Cyril Francis, died in 1890, and the younger, Francis (whom she called "Cecco"), died in 1890. With the last of her children lost to her, she had but little further interest in life. Her health steadily declined, and she died at Wimbledon, London, on 25 June 1897. This is all so sad, having one child die before you would be sad but to have all six die before you, I can hardly imagine. Oliphant, during an often difficult life, wrote more than 120 works, including novels, books of travel and description, histories, and volumes of literary criticism. And that finally brings me to one of these 120 works, "The Perpetual Curate".
Now that I'm at the book the first thing I want to know is what exactly is a perpetual curate? So, like always, I look it up. The first most interesting and least helpful definition I found was this:
"In simple terms, every incumbent who was not a rector was a vicar, and every vicar who was not a vicar was a perpetual curate."
That was definitely not helpful. So I continued on. " Perpetual Curate was a class of resident parish priest or incumbent curate within the United Church of England and Ireland. 'Perpetual' in that, once licensed, they could not be removed by their nominating patron; and could only be deprived by their diocesan bishop through the ecclesiastical courts. 'Curates' in that they were licensed by the diocesan bishop to provide "Cure of Souls" for the people of a district or parish."
"Chaplains and curates were licensed by the bishop and, not having benefices, were not instituted or inducted. Curates, who may be assistant, temporary or stipendiary, assist the rector or vicar and are employed and paid by him. A perpetual curate, however, was nominated to a benefice by the lay owner or impropriator of its great or rectorial tithes. This lay patron kept the income from the benefice and paid (or granted land to) the curate. The latter needed only a licence from the bishop and was "perpetual" as he could only be removed by the withdrawal of that licence. A chapel of ease could be established in the outlying parts of a parish provided the bishop, patron and incumbent agreed. This might be convenient for the patron but the curate of such a place was paid from the income of the "mother church" and disputes frequently arose about the division of fees, tithes and the costs of repairs to the benefice house and the two churches." OK, now that I have an idea of the difference between curates, vicars, rectors and the like, I move on to "The Perpetual Curate".
"The Perpetual Curate" is one of Mrs. Oliphant's "Chronicles of Carlingford" series following "The Rector ", "The Doctor's Family" and "Salem Chapel" all published in 1863. The story is about Frank Wentworth, the perpetual curate of the title, Frank is a young man who loves his work but understands that it doesn’t pay enough for him to marry the woman he loves, Lucy Wodehouse. He comes from a wealthy family, but, unfortunately, Frank is not only the fourth son, but the second clergyman, so the family living is unavailable. His three maiden aunts own another living, and everyone assumes that it will go to the nephew once the current elderly occupant expires. But Frank and his aunts do not agree on how a church service should be run, his aunts are "low church" and Frank is a "high church" traditional Angelican. His aunts arrive in town unexpectantly and are shocked to see flowers on the altar during the Easter service. They also don't approve of his type of sermon. It all seems like such silly little things to cause such strong disagreements, but nevertheless, it doesn't look good for Frank getting his living through his aunts.
There are all kinds of problems surrounding Frank and his family. I was already interested in the story of Frank and the aunts fighting over flowers, now his brother Gerald Wentworth, the Rector of the family parish, has been struggling with doubts and has now been converted, or "perverted" as the aunts call it, to the Roman Catholic Church. Frank receives a letter from Gerald's wife begging him to come home immediately, and he arrives thinking something has happened to Gerald, he finds that Gerald hopes to become a Catholic priest. I found myself interested to know if Gerald could somehow divorce his wife, leave her and all their children, and somehow the Catholic Church would allow him to become a priest, but you'll have to find that out for yourself. If you're Catholic you probably already know the answer. Frank feels badly for his brother and wants to help him, but Frank, like everyone else in the family, think Gerald is making a mistake, and all the family relies on Frank to bring Gerald to his senses. It lingers over the book that if Gerald resigns the Wentworth living it will be there for Frank and Lucy, but Frank hates thinking of this.
Frank's problems just keep coming. The new Rector, Mr. Morgan, just arriving in town at the beginning of the novel, dislikes Frank, getting angry at him for running services for the poor in his district without asking his permission; something that seemed silly to me and had me on Frank's side until near the end of the novel when Frank makes the comment that no one would ever have services in his district without his permission, acting the very same way Mr. Morgan acted toward Frank. There is also the mysterious, poorly-dressed man who shows up in Frank’s lodgings, and whom Frank takes in for reasons he won't explain, even though his neighbors are none too pleased. Then another brother, the eldest, Jack, shows up entangling the Curate in his dissolute life. Now Frank is seen in what looks like a compromising situation with Rosa Elsworthy, a pretty, young shop girl, and rumors begin to fly. Now the townspeople, led by Rosa's uncle really begin to turn against our perpetual curate. It gets so bad a hearing is finally held. I'm not telling you what happens though.
Here are some of the quotes I'm still thinking about:
"He is the sort of man who would do anything foolish, you know. He doesn't understand what prudence means. Remember, I believe he is a good Christian all the same. It's very incomprehensible; but the fact is, a man may be a very good Christian, and have the least quality of sense that is compatible with existence."
"But it was difficult, throbbing as he was with wild life and trouble to the very finger-points, to get himself into the shadow of that rock-hewn grave, by which, according to his own theory, the Church should be watching on this Easter Eve. It was hard just then to be bound to that special remembrance. What he wanted at this moment was no memory of one hour, however memorable or glorious, not even though it contained the Redeemer's grave, but the sense of a living Friend standing by him in the great struggle, which is the essential and unfailing comfort of a Christian's life."
" One always feels more inclined to take the simple view of any matter—to stand up for injured innocence, and to right the wronged—when one feels one's self better off than one's neighbours."
"I have had a happy life," said the elder brother. "I have not been driven to ask such questions for myself. To these the Church has but one advice to offer: Trust God."
"We say so in England," said Frank Wentworth; "it is the grand scope of our teaching. Trust God. He will not explain Himself, nor can we attempt it. When it is certain that I must be content with this answer for all the sorrows of life, I am content to take my doctrines on the same terms,"
"He looks to me as good for work as any man I know; but you'll give your livings to any kind of wretched make-believe before you'll give them to Frank. I am aware," said the heir of the Wentworths, with a momentary flush, "that I have never been considered much of a credit to the family; but if I were to announce my intention of marrying and settling, there is not one of the name that would not lend a hand to smooth matters. That is the reward of wickedness," said Jack, with a laugh; "as for Frank, he's a perpetual curate, and may marry perhaps fifty years hence; that's the way you good people treat a man who never did anything to be ashamed of in his life; and you expect me to give up my evil courses after such a lesson? I trust I am not such a fool," said the relapsed prodigal. He sat looking at them all in his easy way, enjoying the confusion, the indignation, and wrath with which his address was received. "The man who gets his own way is the man who takes it," he concluded, with his usual composure, pouring out Miss Leonora's glass of claret as he spoke."
My favorite character by far was Mrs. Morgan, and because of her another of my favorite characters became her husband, the Rector Mr. Morgan. I loved everything about this lady who seemed to at least always try to do the right thing, although she didn't always succeed, and she had the kind of temper I have. I wish Mrs. Morgan would have had a larger role in the novel. This novel reminded me of Trollope. I kept thinking of Barchester the entire time. I kept expecting Mr. Morgan to be another Bishop Proudie, and Mrs. Morgan another Mrs. Proudie, which isn't what happened at all, but I did feel like I was back in Barchester. I wonder if I will keep seeing the similarities in the next book, Miss Marjoribanks. I'm glad I read this book and I would read more books by Mrs. Oliphant, although besides the two I have now which I came across in an used book store, I've never seen one of her books anywhere. It's between three and four stars for me, I'm in a good mood so far today, so I'll give it four.
As a young girl, Margaret Oliphant constantly experimented with writing and in 1849 had her first novel published:" Passages in the Life of Mrs. Margaret Maitland". This dealt with the Scottish Free Church movement, with which Mr. and Mrs. Wilson both sympathised, and met with some success. It was followed by Caleb Field in 1851, the year in which she met the publisher William Blackwood in Edinburgh and was invited to contribute to the famous Blackwood's Magazine. The connection was to last for her whole lifetime, during which she contributed well over 100 articles. She had now become a popular writer, and worked with amazing industry to sustain her position. Unfortunately, her home life was full of sorrow and disappointment. Her husband had delicate health, and three of their six children died in infancy, while her husband developed alarming symptoms of consumption. For the sake of his health they moved in January 1859 to Florence, and then to Rome, where Frank Oliphant died. His wife, left almost entirely without resources, returned to England and supported herself and her remaining children by her writing. All of which is sad, but it gets worse. Of her three remaining children, her daughter Maggie died in 1864 while they were still in Rome and was buried with her father, then her eldest son, Cyril Francis, died in 1890, and the younger, Francis (whom she called "Cecco"), died in 1890. With the last of her children lost to her, she had but little further interest in life. Her health steadily declined, and she died at Wimbledon, London, on 25 June 1897. This is all so sad, having one child die before you would be sad but to have all six die before you, I can hardly imagine. Oliphant, during an often difficult life, wrote more than 120 works, including novels, books of travel and description, histories, and volumes of literary criticism. And that finally brings me to one of these 120 works, "The Perpetual Curate".
Now that I'm at the book the first thing I want to know is what exactly is a perpetual curate? So, like always, I look it up. The first most interesting and least helpful definition I found was this:
"In simple terms, every incumbent who was not a rector was a vicar, and every vicar who was not a vicar was a perpetual curate."
That was definitely not helpful. So I continued on. " Perpetual Curate was a class of resident parish priest or incumbent curate within the United Church of England and Ireland. 'Perpetual' in that, once licensed, they could not be removed by their nominating patron; and could only be deprived by their diocesan bishop through the ecclesiastical courts. 'Curates' in that they were licensed by the diocesan bishop to provide "Cure of Souls" for the people of a district or parish."
"Chaplains and curates were licensed by the bishop and, not having benefices, were not instituted or inducted. Curates, who may be assistant, temporary or stipendiary, assist the rector or vicar and are employed and paid by him. A perpetual curate, however, was nominated to a benefice by the lay owner or impropriator of its great or rectorial tithes. This lay patron kept the income from the benefice and paid (or granted land to) the curate. The latter needed only a licence from the bishop and was "perpetual" as he could only be removed by the withdrawal of that licence. A chapel of ease could be established in the outlying parts of a parish provided the bishop, patron and incumbent agreed. This might be convenient for the patron but the curate of such a place was paid from the income of the "mother church" and disputes frequently arose about the division of fees, tithes and the costs of repairs to the benefice house and the two churches." OK, now that I have an idea of the difference between curates, vicars, rectors and the like, I move on to "The Perpetual Curate".
"The Perpetual Curate" is one of Mrs. Oliphant's "Chronicles of Carlingford" series following "The Rector ", "The Doctor's Family" and "Salem Chapel" all published in 1863. The story is about Frank Wentworth, the perpetual curate of the title, Frank is a young man who loves his work but understands that it doesn’t pay enough for him to marry the woman he loves, Lucy Wodehouse. He comes from a wealthy family, but, unfortunately, Frank is not only the fourth son, but the second clergyman, so the family living is unavailable. His three maiden aunts own another living, and everyone assumes that it will go to the nephew once the current elderly occupant expires. But Frank and his aunts do not agree on how a church service should be run, his aunts are "low church" and Frank is a "high church" traditional Angelican. His aunts arrive in town unexpectantly and are shocked to see flowers on the altar during the Easter service. They also don't approve of his type of sermon. It all seems like such silly little things to cause such strong disagreements, but nevertheless, it doesn't look good for Frank getting his living through his aunts.
There are all kinds of problems surrounding Frank and his family. I was already interested in the story of Frank and the aunts fighting over flowers, now his brother Gerald Wentworth, the Rector of the family parish, has been struggling with doubts and has now been converted, or "perverted" as the aunts call it, to the Roman Catholic Church. Frank receives a letter from Gerald's wife begging him to come home immediately, and he arrives thinking something has happened to Gerald, he finds that Gerald hopes to become a Catholic priest. I found myself interested to know if Gerald could somehow divorce his wife, leave her and all their children, and somehow the Catholic Church would allow him to become a priest, but you'll have to find that out for yourself. If you're Catholic you probably already know the answer. Frank feels badly for his brother and wants to help him, but Frank, like everyone else in the family, think Gerald is making a mistake, and all the family relies on Frank to bring Gerald to his senses. It lingers over the book that if Gerald resigns the Wentworth living it will be there for Frank and Lucy, but Frank hates thinking of this.
Frank's problems just keep coming. The new Rector, Mr. Morgan, just arriving in town at the beginning of the novel, dislikes Frank, getting angry at him for running services for the poor in his district without asking his permission; something that seemed silly to me and had me on Frank's side until near the end of the novel when Frank makes the comment that no one would ever have services in his district without his permission, acting the very same way Mr. Morgan acted toward Frank. There is also the mysterious, poorly-dressed man who shows up in Frank’s lodgings, and whom Frank takes in for reasons he won't explain, even though his neighbors are none too pleased. Then another brother, the eldest, Jack, shows up entangling the Curate in his dissolute life. Now Frank is seen in what looks like a compromising situation with Rosa Elsworthy, a pretty, young shop girl, and rumors begin to fly. Now the townspeople, led by Rosa's uncle really begin to turn against our perpetual curate. It gets so bad a hearing is finally held. I'm not telling you what happens though.
Here are some of the quotes I'm still thinking about:
"He is the sort of man who would do anything foolish, you know. He doesn't understand what prudence means. Remember, I believe he is a good Christian all the same. It's very incomprehensible; but the fact is, a man may be a very good Christian, and have the least quality of sense that is compatible with existence."
"But it was difficult, throbbing as he was with wild life and trouble to the very finger-points, to get himself into the shadow of that rock-hewn grave, by which, according to his own theory, the Church should be watching on this Easter Eve. It was hard just then to be bound to that special remembrance. What he wanted at this moment was no memory of one hour, however memorable or glorious, not even though it contained the Redeemer's grave, but the sense of a living Friend standing by him in the great struggle, which is the essential and unfailing comfort of a Christian's life."
" One always feels more inclined to take the simple view of any matter—to stand up for injured innocence, and to right the wronged—when one feels one's self better off than one's neighbours."
"I have had a happy life," said the elder brother. "I have not been driven to ask such questions for myself. To these the Church has but one advice to offer: Trust God."
"We say so in England," said Frank Wentworth; "it is the grand scope of our teaching. Trust God. He will not explain Himself, nor can we attempt it. When it is certain that I must be content with this answer for all the sorrows of life, I am content to take my doctrines on the same terms,"
"He looks to me as good for work as any man I know; but you'll give your livings to any kind of wretched make-believe before you'll give them to Frank. I am aware," said the heir of the Wentworths, with a momentary flush, "that I have never been considered much of a credit to the family; but if I were to announce my intention of marrying and settling, there is not one of the name that would not lend a hand to smooth matters. That is the reward of wickedness," said Jack, with a laugh; "as for Frank, he's a perpetual curate, and may marry perhaps fifty years hence; that's the way you good people treat a man who never did anything to be ashamed of in his life; and you expect me to give up my evil courses after such a lesson? I trust I am not such a fool," said the relapsed prodigal. He sat looking at them all in his easy way, enjoying the confusion, the indignation, and wrath with which his address was received. "The man who gets his own way is the man who takes it," he concluded, with his usual composure, pouring out Miss Leonora's glass of claret as he spoke."
My favorite character by far was Mrs. Morgan, and because of her another of my favorite characters became her husband, the Rector Mr. Morgan. I loved everything about this lady who seemed to at least always try to do the right thing, although she didn't always succeed, and she had the kind of temper I have. I wish Mrs. Morgan would have had a larger role in the novel. This novel reminded me of Trollope. I kept thinking of Barchester the entire time. I kept expecting Mr. Morgan to be another Bishop Proudie, and Mrs. Morgan another Mrs. Proudie, which isn't what happened at all, but I did feel like I was back in Barchester. I wonder if I will keep seeing the similarities in the next book, Miss Marjoribanks. I'm glad I read this book and I would read more books by Mrs. Oliphant, although besides the two I have now which I came across in an used book store, I've never seen one of her books anywhere. It's between three and four stars for me, I'm in a good mood so far today, so I'll give it four.
October 22, 2024
The Perpetual Curate is the 4th volume in Victorian author Mrs. Oliphant’s 6 book series, The Carlingford Chronicles, her attempt to emulate Anthony Trollope’s Chronicles of Barsetshire. However, after reading and enjoying what Goodreads calls #.5 in the series, The Executor, I consider it to be a 7-book series, with The Perpetual Curate being the 5th volume.
I have now read 5 of the 7 books, the first two of which are short stories and the 3rd a novella, leaving only the last four as full length 350-to-550-page novels. These are the books with my rating and Goodreads average rating:
#.5 The Executor - (4 stars) 3.48
#1 The Rector - (3 stars) 3.47
#2 The Doctor's Family - (3 stars) 3.53
#3 Salem Chapel – (not read yet) 3.40
#4 The Perpetual Curate- (4 stars) 3.93
#5 Miss Marjoribanks - (4 stars) 3.77
#6 Phoebe Junior – (not read yet) 3.96
While they don’t quite achieve the caliber of Trollope’s work, they do have some of the characterization, depiction of place, social insight, wit and light satire that Trollope was known for. As I’ve read the entire Chronicles of Barsetshire series twice, this series will suffice to fill the gentle but witty Victorian pastoral book void until I’m ready for read #3.
Happily, I found The Perpetual Curate a definite step up from my previous series read, The Doctor’s Family, and I consider it the best of the 5 of the series I have read so far.
The story is about Frank Wentworth, the perpetual curate of the title, a young man who loves his work but understands that it doesn’t pay enough for him to marry the woman he loves, Lucy Wodehouse. Frank loves the work he does with the poor in Carlingford but would have to become a rector to do so.
The main tension in the story is whether Frank will get a rectorship and be willing to move out of Carlingford to do so.* This question is complicated by various plot events, including the arrival of three aunts, more evangelical than the traditionally Anglican Frank, who will soon have a living to bestow. Besides these intrusive aunts, Frank faces local gossip about a pretty young shopgirl, a conflict with the newly arrived Rector, his rector brother’s possible defection to become a Catholic priest, and the arrival of a less than scrupulous older brother.
I was first introduced to both Frank and Lucy in volume #1, The Rector, and was intrigued enough by them to be particularly looking forward to this volume. I was not disappointed. Lucy is a bit underdrawn, but her work with the poor and sisterly relationship make her a worthy match for Frank.
With our hero Frank, Oliphant, as she did with Miss Marjoribanks, has created a hero with very positive traits, but also flaws. Frank is a better all-around person than Miss Marjoribanks was, but he also suffers from the excessive pride Victorian male heroes are prone to. While this caused me to be frustrated with Frank at times, I mainly found myself feeling positive about and rooting for him, more so than I did for Miss Marjoribanks.
Additionally, the plot events were of such variety and substance to keep me quite interested. More than in any previous volume of the series, I found myself excited to read more. It was even a page turner at times. I enjoyed this book and rate it as 4 stars.
*“Perpetual” does not mean a cleric is stuck being a curate forever but that his tenure as a curate is secure against removal except for cause through a trial before a clerical panel.
I have now read 5 of the 7 books, the first two of which are short stories and the 3rd a novella, leaving only the last four as full length 350-to-550-page novels. These are the books with my rating and Goodreads average rating:
#.5 The Executor - (4 stars) 3.48
#1 The Rector - (3 stars) 3.47
#2 The Doctor's Family - (3 stars) 3.53
#3 Salem Chapel – (not read yet) 3.40
#4 The Perpetual Curate- (4 stars) 3.93
#5 Miss Marjoribanks - (4 stars) 3.77
#6 Phoebe Junior – (not read yet) 3.96
While they don’t quite achieve the caliber of Trollope’s work, they do have some of the characterization, depiction of place, social insight, wit and light satire that Trollope was known for. As I’ve read the entire Chronicles of Barsetshire series twice, this series will suffice to fill the gentle but witty Victorian pastoral book void until I’m ready for read #3.
Happily, I found The Perpetual Curate a definite step up from my previous series read, The Doctor’s Family, and I consider it the best of the 5 of the series I have read so far.
The story is about Frank Wentworth, the perpetual curate of the title, a young man who loves his work but understands that it doesn’t pay enough for him to marry the woman he loves, Lucy Wodehouse. Frank loves the work he does with the poor in Carlingford but would have to become a rector to do so.
The main tension in the story is whether Frank will get a rectorship and be willing to move out of Carlingford to do so.* This question is complicated by various plot events, including the arrival of three aunts, more evangelical than the traditionally Anglican Frank, who will soon have a living to bestow. Besides these intrusive aunts, Frank faces local gossip about a pretty young shopgirl, a conflict with the newly arrived Rector, his rector brother’s possible defection to become a Catholic priest, and the arrival of a less than scrupulous older brother.
I was first introduced to both Frank and Lucy in volume #1, The Rector, and was intrigued enough by them to be particularly looking forward to this volume. I was not disappointed. Lucy is a bit underdrawn, but her work with the poor and sisterly relationship make her a worthy match for Frank.
With our hero Frank, Oliphant, as she did with Miss Marjoribanks, has created a hero with very positive traits, but also flaws. Frank is a better all-around person than Miss Marjoribanks was, but he also suffers from the excessive pride Victorian male heroes are prone to. While this caused me to be frustrated with Frank at times, I mainly found myself feeling positive about and rooting for him, more so than I did for Miss Marjoribanks.
Additionally, the plot events were of such variety and substance to keep me quite interested. More than in any previous volume of the series, I found myself excited to read more. It was even a page turner at times. I enjoyed this book and rate it as 4 stars.
*“Perpetual” does not mean a cleric is stuck being a curate forever but that his tenure as a curate is secure against removal except for cause through a trial before a clerical panel.
October 21, 2016
The Perpetual Curate, the 4th in the Chronicles of Carlingford by Mrs. Oliphant, again revolves around the life of a young clergyman. Frank Wentworth is a curate in the Anglican church and has begun a work among the trades people under previous rectors that doesn't sit well with the new rector. This however is a minor aspect of the book which revolves around Frank's family, his love for the previously mentioned Lucy Wodeworth, and at least one mysterious visitor to the town.
I enjoyed this book just as much if not more than the previous books in the series. They are all stand-alone. Both Wentworth and Lucy have appeared in other books, but nothing that is necessary knowledge to read this one. Recommended for people who like 19th century literature.
I enjoyed this book just as much if not more than the previous books in the series. They are all stand-alone. Both Wentworth and Lucy have appeared in other books, but nothing that is necessary knowledge to read this one. Recommended for people who like 19th century literature.
May 16, 2022
The Perpetual Curate of the church of St Roque's in Carlingford is Frank Wentworth. A position that is too poorly paid to pay court to Lucy Wodehouse. But events brings him trials and tribulations, including those from his family. Can he overcome all these and save his reputation and achieve peace.
An enjoyable re-read of this Victorian story.
An enjoyable re-read of this Victorian story.
August 2, 2015
An intriguing story.
The Perpetual Curate was full of twists and turns. I enjoyed this more than novels of today because it was more authentic. I highly recommend this book.
The Perpetual Curate was full of twists and turns. I enjoyed this more than novels of today because it was more authentic. I highly recommend this book.
October 17, 2025
It might be fair to say that this is the Perpetual Curate's story only in part; even if it is a dreadfully convoluted part. Fortunately, Mrs Oliphant reveals herself to have a sense of fun, as she weaves her complex plot in the unsuspecting life of Carlingford. Frank Wentworth has already made brief appearances both in ‘The Rector’ and in ‘Salem Chapel.’ His story may be separated into three strands: his conflict with the new Rector of Carlingford, Mr Morgan, who replaced Mr Proctor (of ‘The Rector' in the same series) is the first.
The second lies in his relations with his family, especially touching his aunts. The other family concern affects the story more seriously. His elder brother Gerald, who is at present the Rector of the Wentworth family living, converts to Catholicism, and resigns his post. If he wishes to continue as a Catholic priest, he must of course abandon his large family and a pregnant wife, who is driven to desperation, not so much for her husband's despair and doubt, as regarding her own position in society. Is she to be considered henceforth as a wife or a widow? Or something in between? Where will she go? How will she provide for her children? How many of her fashionable friends will receive her in future? Since, of course, the now-vacant living, in his father's gift, will be given to Frank, and he will become the Rector of Wentworth, with a substantial income and social privileges, and will be in a position to marry.
The third and far more ominous strand is that Frank Wentworth is suspected of having ruined the reputation and virtue of a little shop girl, while courting Miss Lucy Wodehouse, a respectable young lady, from an impeccable family, brought up in ease and luxury, who had devoted herself to good works among the poorest people of Carlingford.
Out of these three major plotlines, Oliphant builds a narrative as complicated as any devised by Wilkie Collins himself.
But far more interesting than the plot are her characters and their lives, which burst in upon us so vividly, and out of whom the story develops. Some of Oliphant’s most mischievous creations are given house-room here: Frank Wentworth’s father, Squire Wentworth, married three times and with large familes from every one of them. At the present moment, the children of his first family have children of their own, while his young wife is never seen in this novel, being fully occupied with her own nursery. The maiden aunts, so potent an influence over Frank's life; the prodigal sons of two families, who have teamed up together to make a misery of everyone's lives, but for whom one cannot but hold a sneaking liking; and all the men and women who play no small part in the drama that plays out before our eyes have a distinct personality, ranging from autocratic to hysterical, with, coquettish, sly, mean, gentlemanly and dishonourable in between.
Of the several themes presented to us, scandal and rumour that blacken character and reputation and ruin a person's prospects for life forms the backbone of the novel. Frank’s reputation suffers enough to warrant a quasi-offical inquiry led by the Rector in person. Frank refuses to defend himself to anyone, his own confidence in his honour being unshaken by any rumour. The same cannot be said of the two prodigals who take refuge under his wing.
Another complex case is marriage. To take the two principal couples, Mr and Mrs Morgan and Mr and Mrs Gerald Wentworth, the Rector of Wentworth: they are neither of them young, so when the crisis comes upon them, they simply have not the resilience of young hopes and courage. To both couples comes the realisation that love alone is not enough in a marriage and each pair is tormented by doubt and resentment, arising of course, from very different causes.
Prejudice is a serious matter taken up by Oliphant, and it is connected with the greater question of ecclesiastical matters. To decorate a church at Easter with a bunch of lilies seems almost as bad as Catholicism to the aunts, who keep blackmailing Frank with a living in their gift. Similarly, their prejudice turns them against Lucy Wodehouse because she wears a grey cape when she goes out visiting among the poorer parishioners. To them, she is little better than a Catholic nun. All because she wears a grey cape! But indeed, the greatest prejudice is that of the new Rector against the Perpetual Curate, because he preaches and baptises in what the the Rector jealously regards as infringing on his own rights in his own parish. This dislike leads him on to believe all the malicious gossip he hears, and he ends by the commission of an act of gross injustice. Sadly, he loses his wife's respect, if not her duty, as a result.
But Mrs Oliphant, being a kindly author as well as a fun-loving one, all the persons in her novel are treated to happy endings. Perhaps the moving one of all is that of the former Rector of Carlingford, Mr Proctor, who marries the woman he has loved from a long way off. Mrs Oliphant is no moralist, despite the happy endings for the hero. This is a novel in which the disreputable also enjoy a degree of happiness at the end, even if the shine of virtue remains slightly tarnished.
(In ‘The Perpetual Curate’ there are two curates: Mr Leesing, the Curate of Carlingford Rectory, who is the bane of the Rector's wife, since he has the happy instinct of smelling what's for dinner at the Rectory and turns up uninvited almost everyday just as the Rector is sitting down at table; and there is a Perpetual Curate, Mr Frank Wentworth, a cheerful young man, who is the bane of the Rector of Carlingford.
A simple curate was someone being trained for greater clerical duties before being ordained as a rector of a parish himself. His fees were paid by the Rector or Vicar out of the glebe, tithe and parish funds. His appointment (or dismissal) was at the rector’s discretion.
A Perpetual Curate, on the other hand, was appointed directly by the Bishop of the diocese, and with the concurrence of the Rector. He could officiate at weddings, christenings and funerals. Although he could be removed only by the Bishop, it was not easy for the Bishop himself to dismiss him except for very grave offences against the Church. He was paid out of the diocesan treasury, usually a simple stipend, and had no other claim on parish funds. Nor did he have an allotted house, like a rectory, vicarage or curatage, despite his greater independence in the duties of his office. Frank takes lodgings in a private house owned by a respectable widow.)
The second lies in his relations with his family, especially touching his aunts. The other family concern affects the story more seriously. His elder brother Gerald, who is at present the Rector of the Wentworth family living, converts to Catholicism, and resigns his post. If he wishes to continue as a Catholic priest, he must of course abandon his large family and a pregnant wife, who is driven to desperation, not so much for her husband's despair and doubt, as regarding her own position in society. Is she to be considered henceforth as a wife or a widow? Or something in between? Where will she go? How will she provide for her children? How many of her fashionable friends will receive her in future? Since, of course, the now-vacant living, in his father's gift, will be given to Frank, and he will become the Rector of Wentworth, with a substantial income and social privileges, and will be in a position to marry.
The third and far more ominous strand is that Frank Wentworth is suspected of having ruined the reputation and virtue of a little shop girl, while courting Miss Lucy Wodehouse, a respectable young lady, from an impeccable family, brought up in ease and luxury, who had devoted herself to good works among the poorest people of Carlingford.
Out of these three major plotlines, Oliphant builds a narrative as complicated as any devised by Wilkie Collins himself.
But far more interesting than the plot are her characters and their lives, which burst in upon us so vividly, and out of whom the story develops. Some of Oliphant’s most mischievous creations are given house-room here: Frank Wentworth’s father, Squire Wentworth, married three times and with large familes from every one of them. At the present moment, the children of his first family have children of their own, while his young wife is never seen in this novel, being fully occupied with her own nursery. The maiden aunts, so potent an influence over Frank's life; the prodigal sons of two families, who have teamed up together to make a misery of everyone's lives, but for whom one cannot but hold a sneaking liking; and all the men and women who play no small part in the drama that plays out before our eyes have a distinct personality, ranging from autocratic to hysterical, with, coquettish, sly, mean, gentlemanly and dishonourable in between.
Of the several themes presented to us, scandal and rumour that blacken character and reputation and ruin a person's prospects for life forms the backbone of the novel. Frank’s reputation suffers enough to warrant a quasi-offical inquiry led by the Rector in person. Frank refuses to defend himself to anyone, his own confidence in his honour being unshaken by any rumour. The same cannot be said of the two prodigals who take refuge under his wing.
Another complex case is marriage. To take the two principal couples, Mr and Mrs Morgan and Mr and Mrs Gerald Wentworth, the Rector of Wentworth: they are neither of them young, so when the crisis comes upon them, they simply have not the resilience of young hopes and courage. To both couples comes the realisation that love alone is not enough in a marriage and each pair is tormented by doubt and resentment, arising of course, from very different causes.
Prejudice is a serious matter taken up by Oliphant, and it is connected with the greater question of ecclesiastical matters. To decorate a church at Easter with a bunch of lilies seems almost as bad as Catholicism to the aunts, who keep blackmailing Frank with a living in their gift. Similarly, their prejudice turns them against Lucy Wodehouse because she wears a grey cape when she goes out visiting among the poorer parishioners. To them, she is little better than a Catholic nun. All because she wears a grey cape! But indeed, the greatest prejudice is that of the new Rector against the Perpetual Curate, because he preaches and baptises in what the the Rector jealously regards as infringing on his own rights in his own parish. This dislike leads him on to believe all the malicious gossip he hears, and he ends by the commission of an act of gross injustice. Sadly, he loses his wife's respect, if not her duty, as a result.
But Mrs Oliphant, being a kindly author as well as a fun-loving one, all the persons in her novel are treated to happy endings. Perhaps the moving one of all is that of the former Rector of Carlingford, Mr Proctor, who marries the woman he has loved from a long way off. Mrs Oliphant is no moralist, despite the happy endings for the hero. This is a novel in which the disreputable also enjoy a degree of happiness at the end, even if the shine of virtue remains slightly tarnished.
(In ‘The Perpetual Curate’ there are two curates: Mr Leesing, the Curate of Carlingford Rectory, who is the bane of the Rector's wife, since he has the happy instinct of smelling what's for dinner at the Rectory and turns up uninvited almost everyday just as the Rector is sitting down at table; and there is a Perpetual Curate, Mr Frank Wentworth, a cheerful young man, who is the bane of the Rector of Carlingford.
A simple curate was someone being trained for greater clerical duties before being ordained as a rector of a parish himself. His fees were paid by the Rector or Vicar out of the glebe, tithe and parish funds. His appointment (or dismissal) was at the rector’s discretion.
A Perpetual Curate, on the other hand, was appointed directly by the Bishop of the diocese, and with the concurrence of the Rector. He could officiate at weddings, christenings and funerals. Although he could be removed only by the Bishop, it was not easy for the Bishop himself to dismiss him except for very grave offences against the Church. He was paid out of the diocesan treasury, usually a simple stipend, and had no other claim on parish funds. Nor did he have an allotted house, like a rectory, vicarage or curatage, despite his greater independence in the duties of his office. Frank takes lodgings in a private house owned by a respectable widow.)
July 12, 2021
1864
I am thrilled to have the LRB 16 July 2020 essay 'On the Shelf' by Tom Crewe, who discusses all Margaret Oliphant's work---see some quotes at bottom. [1828 – 1897] I had bought this volume years ago at De Slegte when they were selling a whole bunch of Virago editions for a euro apiece; most of the authors I had never heard of but am so pleased to have these Virago books, most of which are very good indeed.
[Goodreads blurb says:
The Perpetual Curate is the 5th of seven works set in the delightful country town of Carlingford.
Free download of all seven works in the series can be found here:...]
I definitely will enjoy reading more of her [many] books!
Has many characteristics of the 'standard' Victorian novel. But the author seems to see through all of the insincerity, the over-zealous attention to 'duty', the terrifically harmful [yet human, the author seems to tell us] gossip. She also shows us quite well the position of women [at least those of the middle class, which is what nearly all the main characters all belong to, landowning families perhaps need a higher class rating] -- the very circumscribed radius of possible activities for women. We see how men [of these classes] dominate without their ever even realizing it, it is so 'natural' and accepted.
Oliphant's main female characters seem to divide into clear categories:
--the very weak-minded are aunt Dora and Louisa wife of Gerald, and aunt Mary, and Lucie's older sister [though she gains in strength towards the end]
--the strong women who have considered opinions and dare to take action: aunt Leonora, Lucie, Mrs. Morgan.
However, I was disappointed to see at the end that the author seemed to be bringing Mrs. Morgan down a peg and showing her retreating into docile wifeship interested only in furnishing her home and her garden.
The men seem to be of a greater variety, and I surely wonder whether it's because Oliphant [like so many women of my generation today] sees them as more interesting because they have more power, or whether it's simply a result of men's much greater scope in her times, such that women were restricted to so few roles they could not make up a highly varied cast of characters.
William's eldest brother Jack is an interesting case; he lives a high life with others of his ilk, doing whatever he pleases and engaging in questionable sometimes criminal activities. He will inherit the family land and fortune, unless his father disinherits him which is difficult to do. Jack is shown to give some very helpful advice to his family at the end of the book, before disappearing to continue his renegade life of pleasure. [I call that Victorian -- to ascribe [questionably IMO] such helpful behavior to him at the end.]
Supposedly Oliphant means William [the perpetual curate] to be her main focus, and she ascribes a great many thoughts and actions to him, with many many shifts. He appears to gain in confidence toward the end of the book. At least my impression in the first half was that William was quite humble and acted less 'high' than his landowning-family-background warranted; but by the end he was definitely acting like the son of a landowner, not necessarily being rude to anyone but assuming/presuming dominance and privilege.
This society [presumably all English higher society] is shown to highly value NOT showing [or talking about] feelings/emotions. This is stated outright a couple of times in the book.
Learned more about what the various parts of the Anglican hierarchy are: the Rector [quite well paid and reasonably high social position], the Curate [not well paid], 'vicar' and 'parish priest' are synonyms for rector. A rector 'has a living', basically a position in the church which can be filled by one person at a time only, so when a rector dies, a new one will be appointed [by the bishop, I believe] to that 'living'. Yet there is also such a thing, significant in this plot, called a 'family living', and the landed family [on whose land this church is located???] are the ones who appoint the rector for it, often someone in their own family. In this book the three unmarried sisters of the landowner [= Gerald and William's father] somehow are the ones who appoint the rector for this family living.
Interesting about Gerald deciding to convert to Roman Catholicism -- much discussed in the book by various of the characters. And a lot about 'high' and 'low' church among the Anglicans. No idea if any of that is talked about today or not.
521 "The lessons of experience, however valuable, are sometimes very slow of impressing themselves upon a generous and hast temperament, which has high ideas of honour and consistency, and rather piques itself on a contempt for self-interest and external advantages." [said of William]
510 "It had not occurred to him to doubt that he himself was the final authority on this point..." [William not realizing he needed to consult his fiancee about their marriage arrangements!]
507 "Against the years when family bonds make up all that is happiest in life...the bosom of a family [can be] the most unrestful and disturbing place in existence."
504 "Miss Leonora had been a strong-minded woman all her life, and managed everybody's affairs without being distracted in her career by those doubts of her own wisdom, and questions as to her motives, which will now and then afflict the minds of weaker people when they have to decide for others."
505 "Miss Lenora knew that there were some things which could be done, and yet could not be done -- a piece of knowledge difficult to a woman." ??? Why would the author think this???
494 The rector [Morgan] "was quite able to content himself with the thought that women were incomprehensible, as he went back to his study. To be sure, it was best to understand them, if you could; but if not, it did not so very much matter, Mr. Morgan thought...."
487 A good paragraph on women putting men on a pedestal, especially a young woman putting her young husband on a pedestal, thereby always feeling disappointed when he turns out to have the failings of any other man.
I really enjoyed Oliphant's satire and commentary, the book is full of it.
Tom Crewe [LRB]: 'Margaret Oliphant's novel Miss Marjoribanks is surely the most interesting and entertaining example of a woman writing about men in the 19c.'
And he tells the many ways why he says this.
I am thrilled to have the LRB 16 July 2020 essay 'On the Shelf' by Tom Crewe, who discusses all Margaret Oliphant's work---see some quotes at bottom. [1828 – 1897] I had bought this volume years ago at De Slegte when they were selling a whole bunch of Virago editions for a euro apiece; most of the authors I had never heard of but am so pleased to have these Virago books, most of which are very good indeed.
[Goodreads blurb says:
The Perpetual Curate is the 5th of seven works set in the delightful country town of Carlingford.
Free download of all seven works in the series can be found here:...]
I definitely will enjoy reading more of her [many] books!
Has many characteristics of the 'standard' Victorian novel. But the author seems to see through all of the insincerity, the over-zealous attention to 'duty', the terrifically harmful [yet human, the author seems to tell us] gossip. She also shows us quite well the position of women [at least those of the middle class, which is what nearly all the main characters all belong to, landowning families perhaps need a higher class rating] -- the very circumscribed radius of possible activities for women. We see how men [of these classes] dominate without their ever even realizing it, it is so 'natural' and accepted.
Oliphant's main female characters seem to divide into clear categories:
--the very weak-minded are aunt Dora and Louisa wife of Gerald, and aunt Mary, and Lucie's older sister [though she gains in strength towards the end]
--the strong women who have considered opinions and dare to take action: aunt Leonora, Lucie, Mrs. Morgan.
However, I was disappointed to see at the end that the author seemed to be bringing Mrs. Morgan down a peg and showing her retreating into docile wifeship interested only in furnishing her home and her garden.
The men seem to be of a greater variety, and I surely wonder whether it's because Oliphant [like so many women of my generation today] sees them as more interesting because they have more power, or whether it's simply a result of men's much greater scope in her times, such that women were restricted to so few roles they could not make up a highly varied cast of characters.
William's eldest brother Jack is an interesting case; he lives a high life with others of his ilk, doing whatever he pleases and engaging in questionable sometimes criminal activities. He will inherit the family land and fortune, unless his father disinherits him which is difficult to do. Jack is shown to give some very helpful advice to his family at the end of the book, before disappearing to continue his renegade life of pleasure. [I call that Victorian -- to ascribe [questionably IMO] such helpful behavior to him at the end.]
Supposedly Oliphant means William [the perpetual curate] to be her main focus, and she ascribes a great many thoughts and actions to him, with many many shifts. He appears to gain in confidence toward the end of the book. At least my impression in the first half was that William was quite humble and acted less 'high' than his landowning-family-background warranted; but by the end he was definitely acting like the son of a landowner, not necessarily being rude to anyone but assuming/presuming dominance and privilege.
This society [presumably all English higher society] is shown to highly value NOT showing [or talking about] feelings/emotions. This is stated outright a couple of times in the book.
Learned more about what the various parts of the Anglican hierarchy are: the Rector [quite well paid and reasonably high social position], the Curate [not well paid], 'vicar' and 'parish priest' are synonyms for rector. A rector 'has a living', basically a position in the church which can be filled by one person at a time only, so when a rector dies, a new one will be appointed [by the bishop, I believe] to that 'living'. Yet there is also such a thing, significant in this plot, called a 'family living', and the landed family [on whose land this church is located???] are the ones who appoint the rector for it, often someone in their own family. In this book the three unmarried sisters of the landowner [= Gerald and William's father] somehow are the ones who appoint the rector for this family living.
Interesting about Gerald deciding to convert to Roman Catholicism -- much discussed in the book by various of the characters. And a lot about 'high' and 'low' church among the Anglicans. No idea if any of that is talked about today or not.
521 "The lessons of experience, however valuable, are sometimes very slow of impressing themselves upon a generous and hast temperament, which has high ideas of honour and consistency, and rather piques itself on a contempt for self-interest and external advantages." [said of William]
510 "It had not occurred to him to doubt that he himself was the final authority on this point..." [William not realizing he needed to consult his fiancee about their marriage arrangements!]
507 "Against the years when family bonds make up all that is happiest in life...the bosom of a family [can be] the most unrestful and disturbing place in existence."
504 "Miss Leonora had been a strong-minded woman all her life, and managed everybody's affairs without being distracted in her career by those doubts of her own wisdom, and questions as to her motives, which will now and then afflict the minds of weaker people when they have to decide for others."
505 "Miss Lenora knew that there were some things which could be done, and yet could not be done -- a piece of knowledge difficult to a woman." ??? Why would the author think this???
494 The rector [Morgan] "was quite able to content himself with the thought that women were incomprehensible, as he went back to his study. To be sure, it was best to understand them, if you could; but if not, it did not so very much matter, Mr. Morgan thought...."
487 A good paragraph on women putting men on a pedestal, especially a young woman putting her young husband on a pedestal, thereby always feeling disappointed when he turns out to have the failings of any other man.
I really enjoyed Oliphant's satire and commentary, the book is full of it.
Tom Crewe [LRB]: 'Margaret Oliphant's novel Miss Marjoribanks is surely the most interesting and entertaining example of a woman writing about men in the 19c.'
And he tells the many ways why he says this.
July 31, 2020
"One always feels more inclined to take the simple view of any matter—to stand up for injured innocence, and to right the wronged—when one feels one's self better off than one's neighbours."
I kind of feel that I read almost the same plot in Salem Chapel. We have a clergyman who is well-regarded in Carlingford. However, his conduct leads to rumours and familial scandal that may damage his reputation. But Mrs. Oliphant did a way better job here in The Perpetual Curate than in her previous books.
We follow Frank Wentworth, the Perpetual Curate of Carlingford, and how he is in love with Lucy Wodehouse. But because he is a poor Curate, he cannot afford to marry. I always loved the mentiones of Frank and Lucy that we got in the other books, so I was really looking forward to reading about their love story. I also really enjoyed the insights into Frank's family, his aunts and brothers. Mrs. Oliphant really captured the feelings of a large family: How you both love and are loyal to each other, but also can't stand each other most of the times.
The sensational plot was also handled better than in Salem Chapel. There was genuine mystery, and I did doubt who was the real culprit behind Rosa Elsworthy's disappearance. And it sometimes seemed very doubtful that Frank could clear his reputation. However, the plot did also drag on quite a bit. Especially the ending, when we had pretty much resolved everything, dragged on for another 50 pages with not much happening that couldn't have been explained in half those amount of pages.
This book has ranged from everything from 2 to 4 stars, so I will settle on a solid 3-star read. It had its ups, and it definitely had its downs, but all in all a very enjoyable read - just a bit too long.
My other reviews of the Chronicles of Carlingford series:
The Doctor's Family (#2)
Salem Chapel (#3)
Miss Marjoribanks (#5)
Phoebe Junior (#6)
I kind of feel that I read almost the same plot in Salem Chapel. We have a clergyman who is well-regarded in Carlingford. However, his conduct leads to rumours and familial scandal that may damage his reputation. But Mrs. Oliphant did a way better job here in The Perpetual Curate than in her previous books.
We follow Frank Wentworth, the Perpetual Curate of Carlingford, and how he is in love with Lucy Wodehouse. But because he is a poor Curate, he cannot afford to marry. I always loved the mentiones of Frank and Lucy that we got in the other books, so I was really looking forward to reading about their love story. I also really enjoyed the insights into Frank's family, his aunts and brothers. Mrs. Oliphant really captured the feelings of a large family: How you both love and are loyal to each other, but also can't stand each other most of the times.
The sensational plot was also handled better than in Salem Chapel. There was genuine mystery, and I did doubt who was the real culprit behind Rosa Elsworthy's disappearance. And it sometimes seemed very doubtful that Frank could clear his reputation. However, the plot did also drag on quite a bit. Especially the ending, when we had pretty much resolved everything, dragged on for another 50 pages with not much happening that couldn't have been explained in half those amount of pages.
This book has ranged from everything from 2 to 4 stars, so I will settle on a solid 3-star read. It had its ups, and it definitely had its downs, but all in all a very enjoyable read - just a bit too long.
My other reviews of the Chronicles of Carlingford series:
The Doctor's Family (#2)
Salem Chapel (#3)
Miss Marjoribanks (#5)
Phoebe Junior (#6)
May 10, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. The characters and setting are wonderfully realised and there is a fun bit of humour that runs through the whole book - especially the older female characters that cry and get flustered at the drop of a hat and one who has a massive issue with a carpet. I did find the book ran a little long, particularly towards the end, and the plot is very, very predictable but that didnt detract too much from my enjoyment.
January 1, 2010
What a lovely book -- another in the Carlingford series. The characters in the little drama are well drawn. There are an awful lot of weepy old women, and that got a little tiresome, but overall Oliphant did a masterful job in highlighting the quirks and petty motivations of a town populated with well meaning but all-so-human people.
January 5, 2018
One of my favorite books. This is the 5th of seven works set in the delightful country town of Carlingford.
Free download of all seven works in the series can be found here: Chronicles of Carlingford.
Free download of all seven works in the series can be found here: Chronicles of Carlingford.
August 26, 2012
An interesting book with high church/low church tension and a sex scandal, all patly wrapped up at the end in typical Oliphant fashion.
August 24, 2016
See my review here:
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2016/...
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2016/...
November 5, 2017
Another long one, but enjoyed it as much as Miss Marjoribanks. Loved all the characters and their exploits.
May 5, 2022
Frank Wentworth (who appeared as a minor character in The Doctor’s Family) is the permanent curate of the title, in charge of St Roques’s church. As well as his ecclesiastical duties he is engaged in good works, evangelising the bargees of Wharfside in which endeavour he is aided by Miss Lucy Wodehouse. Their appearances together are the subject of warnings to her by an older woman as being liable to gossip. As a perpetual curate Wentworth’s prospects are dependent on either a living turning up elsewhere or the good will of the parish’s Rector.
Unfortunately the new Rector of Carlingford, Mr Morgan, has taken a dislike to Wentworth precisely because of those good works, since he had not sanctioned them. That the previous Rector, Mr Proctor, had done so is neither here nor there. Morgan’s wife has no such objections; her strictures are directed at the hideous carpet installed in the Rectory by the previous incumbent. Of her, Oliphant tells us in an odd unsisterly phrase, “Though she held that elevated position” (wife of the Rector of Carlingford) “she was only a woman, subject to outbreaks of sudden passion, and liable to tears like the rest.” But this is a Victorian novel after all.
Frank’s high church tendencies are somewhat looked down on by his aunts who have the living at Skelmersdale in their gift. Their extended visit to Carlingford coincides with the of the plot.
Frank lodges at Mrs Hadwin’s where he has vouched for a mysterious man going by the name of Tom Smith, who comes and goes by night. Also lurking round Mrs Hadwin’s is Rosa Elsworthy, an orphan taken in by her shopkeeper uncle. She is referred to as a child but later revealed to be seventeen. Finding her at the garden gate as he comes home one evening Frank makes the mistake of escorting her straight home, instructing her uncle to take more care where she is concerned, but is of course seen by those who are out and about. Carlingford is a rumour mill at the best of times and this is a juicy morsel.
A message from his brother’s wife calls him home to Wentworth where Gerald Wentworth, the vicar there, has decided to turn to Rome. Their father is the local squire and greets Frank by “holding out his hand to him as became a British parent.” (Wentworth senior has had various families with successive wives.) With Gerald’s situation not resolved Frank is recalled to Carlingford by a mysterious missive from their elder brother Jack, the black sheep of the family. In the meantime Rosa Elsworthy has disappeared and Frank is given the blame.
The attentive reader notices several thematic and plot similarities to the author’s other Carlingford novels - especially Salem Chapel - and her continuing interest in ecclesiastical doings.
The unravelling of the above plot strands, the identity of the mysterious lodger and his connection with other characters, the resolution, all take some time. The book’s wordiness is of a piece with the Victorian novel and is exacerbated by Frank throughout the book being referred to not only as Mr Frank Wentworth, but at times as the Perpetual Curate, or the Curate of St Roque’s, and even the Evangelist of Wharfside. This is one of Oliphant’s stylistic tics. She far too frequently refers to characters with phrases such as these or attributions like “said the disturbed monitor” instead of using a character’s name. Was this to add to the word count or perhaps to avoid close repetition? In any case, less here is more. In addition Oliphant has Aunt Leonora Wentworth objecting to things “‘ending off neatly like a novel in this sort of ridiculous way,’” thereby bringing attention to the fact that it does.
This is not great literature, but it is serviceable. Oliphant had an audience and catered to it. Presumably they liked what they read.
Unfortunately the new Rector of Carlingford, Mr Morgan, has taken a dislike to Wentworth precisely because of those good works, since he had not sanctioned them. That the previous Rector, Mr Proctor, had done so is neither here nor there. Morgan’s wife has no such objections; her strictures are directed at the hideous carpet installed in the Rectory by the previous incumbent. Of her, Oliphant tells us in an odd unsisterly phrase, “Though she held that elevated position” (wife of the Rector of Carlingford) “she was only a woman, subject to outbreaks of sudden passion, and liable to tears like the rest.” But this is a Victorian novel after all.
Frank’s high church tendencies are somewhat looked down on by his aunts who have the living at Skelmersdale in their gift. Their extended visit to Carlingford coincides with the of the plot.
Frank lodges at Mrs Hadwin’s where he has vouched for a mysterious man going by the name of Tom Smith, who comes and goes by night. Also lurking round Mrs Hadwin’s is Rosa Elsworthy, an orphan taken in by her shopkeeper uncle. She is referred to as a child but later revealed to be seventeen. Finding her at the garden gate as he comes home one evening Frank makes the mistake of escorting her straight home, instructing her uncle to take more care where she is concerned, but is of course seen by those who are out and about. Carlingford is a rumour mill at the best of times and this is a juicy morsel.
A message from his brother’s wife calls him home to Wentworth where Gerald Wentworth, the vicar there, has decided to turn to Rome. Their father is the local squire and greets Frank by “holding out his hand to him as became a British parent.” (Wentworth senior has had various families with successive wives.) With Gerald’s situation not resolved Frank is recalled to Carlingford by a mysterious missive from their elder brother Jack, the black sheep of the family. In the meantime Rosa Elsworthy has disappeared and Frank is given the blame.
The attentive reader notices several thematic and plot similarities to the author’s other Carlingford novels - especially Salem Chapel - and her continuing interest in ecclesiastical doings.
The unravelling of the above plot strands, the identity of the mysterious lodger and his connection with other characters, the resolution, all take some time. The book’s wordiness is of a piece with the Victorian novel and is exacerbated by Frank throughout the book being referred to not only as Mr Frank Wentworth, but at times as the Perpetual Curate, or the Curate of St Roque’s, and even the Evangelist of Wharfside. This is one of Oliphant’s stylistic tics. She far too frequently refers to characters with phrases such as these or attributions like “said the disturbed monitor” instead of using a character’s name. Was this to add to the word count or perhaps to avoid close repetition? In any case, less here is more. In addition Oliphant has Aunt Leonora Wentworth objecting to things “‘ending off neatly like a novel in this sort of ridiculous way,’” thereby bringing attention to the fact that it does.
This is not great literature, but it is serviceable. Oliphant had an audience and catered to it. Presumably they liked what they read.
May 23, 2025
I found this quite gripping in places. Frank, the eponymous Perpetual Curate, is in love with Lucy, but can't propose to her as he doesn't earn enough to support a family. He has a large family and they also bring him problems: his father is aging rapidly; his aunts disapprove of his high church theology and therefore won't offer him the parish they control; his rector brother Gerald is converting to Roman Catholicism and is convinced this means he must abandon his wife and children to become a priest. On top of all this Mr Morgan, the new rector of Carlingford, is angered by Frank's work with the poor bargemen in the parish, and then a young girl goes missing and gossip suggests Frank has something to do with this.
I thought Frank was an excellent and believable character, but I was especially touched by the thread involving Mrs Morgan, who was engaged for 10 years and now she has finally married is discovering the fiancé she idolized is not a perfect husband.
This was my favourite so far in this series.
I thought Frank was an excellent and believable character, but I was especially touched by the thread involving Mrs Morgan, who was engaged for 10 years and now she has finally married is discovering the fiancé she idolized is not a perfect husband.
This was my favourite so far in this series.
December 11, 2023
Nice, gentle little story about very well behaved people in a very quiet village. The big dramas are someone converting to Catholicism, the curate and nice Lucy falling in love, the reappearance of her dastardly long lost brother and the running away of teenage shop girl. Pretty much everything could be solved in five minutes if everyone wasn't too proud and proper but instead village gossip makes everything more complicated than it needs to be. At the end things are wrapped up so neatly and perfectly that even the characters start seeming to question if they're in fiction.
October 5, 2022
Frank Wentworth is the other side of the coin from Arthur Vincent in Salem Chapel. He’s just what a young clergyman ought to be and acts just as a young clergyman ought to act, with one exception. He undertakes something he knows to be wrong in order to please a woman. Always a bad idea, and it really comes back to bite him. On the other hand, he refuses to compromise himself in order to please the tyrant of the family, Aunt Leonora. The aunts Wentworth are the best part of the book. Aunt Cecilia speaks no evil, actually speaks not at all. Aunt Dora hears no evil because she’s crying all the time. Aunt Leonora sees nothing but evil in everyone she meets. She even sees evil in Easter Lillies and a boys choir. I’m sure the people who read this in it’s time understood the controversy between Low Church, High Church, and Evangelicals, but it escapes me. The best scene in the book is when Aunt Leonora upbraids Frank for his success after she has worked so hard to make him miserable. She held the family living out to him like a lollipop so she could drop it in the dust and crush it the minute he reached for it. Frank not only refused the lollipop, he turned his back on it with a smile and refused to be crushed. The nerve! It’s hysterical. I laughed till I cried. The second best scene is Jack’s speech to his high and mighty respectable family when he, the black sheep heir on whom they will all be dependent one day, tells them what hypocrites they all are. I’m pretty sure this speech is the moral of the story. Delicious! Franks’ love interest, Lucy, the Sister of Mercy, is pretty boring, actually. She’s just a pretty face. Her sister Mary is much more interesting, and she gets her own HEA, which is lovely. (Is there a book written in this time period that doesn’t have a character named Lucy? This series has two Lucys and a Lucilla. Did they use this name so often because it was the most popular name in the 19th century, or the least popular? I’m so sick of it!) The story certainly kept me entertained. I’m not sure why these stories about the everyday lives of everyday people keep me on the edge of my seat, but they certainly do. It has taken me a long time to discover Mrs. Oliphant. Now I can’t get enough of her.
October 11, 2024
While I definitely liked The Perpetual Curate more than the previous book in the series, I was still expecting more from it.
The book was definitely too long for me. The general plot and themes were interesting, but it dragged a lot in my opinion, and I would happily have cut 200 or so pages.
As for the characters, from what I had seen of Frank and Lucy in the previous books, I was looking forward to seeing them as main characters, but I didn't care all that much for them in this one. Lucy, especially, was a very passive character and Frank was more interesting, even though I often didn't agree with his actions.
The secondary characters were more noteworthy. Frank's three aunts were quite amusing, and I enjoyed their very different personalities. And, surprisingly, Frank's older, rascal brother Jack was one of my favourite characters. His sharp dialogues were deliciously amusing and his last irreverent speech to his aunts was just great.
All in all, not a bad book, but I would definitely have enjoyed it more had it been shorter.
The book was definitely too long for me. The general plot and themes were interesting, but it dragged a lot in my opinion, and I would happily have cut 200 or so pages.
As for the characters, from what I had seen of Frank and Lucy in the previous books, I was looking forward to seeing them as main characters, but I didn't care all that much for them in this one. Lucy, especially, was a very passive character and Frank was more interesting, even though I often didn't agree with his actions.
The secondary characters were more noteworthy. Frank's three aunts were quite amusing, and I enjoyed their very different personalities. And, surprisingly, Frank's older, rascal brother Jack was one of my favourite characters. His sharp dialogues were deliciously amusing and his last irreverent speech to his aunts was just great.
All in all, not a bad book, but I would definitely have enjoyed it more had it been shorter.
June 25, 2008
A Virago Modern Classic.
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