I wasn't at all sure what to expect from George McDonald, whose only books I knew, to date, were The Princess and the Goblin and The Princess and Curdie, which I first read as a child, many years ago.
'The Vicar's Daughter' claims to be an autobiography, but is in fact a fictional one written by Wynnie, whose father is a gentle, intelligent clergyman. Wynnie has a happy childhood and falls in love with Percivale, a struggling artist. Eventually he feels able to offer her a home, and they are married with her family's blessing.
The book is a series of anecdotes, involving both Wynnie and her family and also her increasing circle of friends. We share her agony as one of her children disappears; we learn a great deal about the impoverished of society of the time, through the eyes of Marion Clare, a music teacher who has chosen to live amidst poverty in order to help others rise above their roots.
It's a rambling account, ideal for reading a chapter or two at night, since most are complete in themselves. There's no overall plot, and not a great deal happens, but character-driven novels suit my tastes, and I was able to skim some of the more long-winded passages.
There's a clear Christian worldview, whch comes out in various discussions, particualrly near the end when Wynnie befriends a hypochondriac woman who makes the most of her supposed illness. However I don't think it was overdone; there's no preaching as such. In places, the book was quite thought-provoking.
I downloaded this for nothing from Amazon, and read it on my Kindle, although the links given are to re-published paperback editions.
Recommended, in a low-key kind of way, to anyone wanting something fairly easy, with more depth than some modern novels.
Review copyright Sue's Book Reviews, 19th April 2011
'The Vicar's Daughter' claims to be an autobiography, but is in fact a fictional one written by Wynnie, whose father is a gentle, intelligent clergyman. Wynnie has a happy childhood and falls in love with Percivale, a struggling artist. Eventually he feels able to offer her a home, and they are married with her family's blessing.
The book is a series of anecdotes, involving both Wynnie and her family and also her increasing circle of friends. We share her agony as one of her children disappears; we learn a great deal about the impoverished of society of the time, through the eyes of Marion Clare, a music teacher who has chosen to live amidst poverty in order to help others rise above their roots.
It's a rambling account, ideal for reading a chapter or two at night, since most are complete in themselves. There's no overall plot, and not a great deal happens, but character-driven novels suit my tastes, and I was able to skim some of the more long-winded passages.
There's a clear Christian worldview, whch comes out in various discussions, particualrly near the end when Wynnie befriends a hypochondriac woman who makes the most of her supposed illness. However I don't think it was overdone; there's no preaching as such. In places, the book was quite thought-provoking.
I downloaded this for nothing from Amazon, and read it on my Kindle, although the links given are to re-published paperback editions.
Recommended, in a low-key kind of way, to anyone wanting something fairly easy, with more depth than some modern novels.
Review copyright Sue's Book Reviews, 19th April 2011
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