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The Rector's Wife
The Rector's Wife
Nov 29, 2025 3:03 AM

Author:Joanna Trollope

The Rector's Wife

Joanna Trollope has the priceless gift of drawing characters so clearly, and cleanly, that within half a dozen pages, you feel you have known them all your life - and The Rector's Wife is no exception. A thought-provoking, emotionally-charged and, at times, wonderfully witty, read bringing to light the trials and tribulations of marriage - and the struggle when it doesn't give you what you need. Perfect for readers of Elizabeth Noble, Erica James and Amanda Prowse.

'Elegantly written' -- The Sunday Times

'Compulsive reading' -- The Times

'Prepare to be wittily and wisely entertained by an exceptional writer' -- Daily Mail

'A wonderful read, just read it and enjoy' -- ***** Reader review

'Just fabulous - what more can I say?' -- ***** Reader review

'A must read' -- ***** Reader review

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IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO FIND YOUR OWN WAY

For twenty years, Anna Bouverie, as a priest's wife, has served God and the parish in a variety of ways. She has baked for the Brownies, delivered parish magazines, washed and ironed her husband's surplices and clothed herself and her children in jumble-sale items.

When her husband fails to gain promotion to archdeacon and retreats into isolated bitterness, and the bullying of her daughter at the local comprehensive reaches an intolerable level, Anna rebels. She takes a job in the local supermarket where she earns her own money, her sense of self-worth, the shocked disapproval of the parish and the icy fury of her husband.

She also attracts the passionate interest of three very different men, each of whom was to play a significant part in the blossoming of her life...

Reviews

'The portrayal of the petty frustrations of clerical life is spot on and the novel is elegantly written'

—— The Sunday Times

'I would have killed anyone who wrested this novel from my hands...it's compulsive reading'

—— Victoria Glendinning , The Times

'This is Trollope's finest novel to date. Prepare to be wittily and wisely entertained by an exceptional writer'

—— Carla McKay , Daily Mail

'Like a Barbara Pym novel, though Joanna Trollope has a much stronger grasp than Pym on the tangled web of family life'

—— The Times

We are astoundingly lucky to have Michael Moorcock. In his range, his skill, invention and his passion he exemplifies the very best of more than one literary tradition

—— China Mieville

Here we have one of science fiction and fantasy's most respected and well-loved authors writing Doctor Who. What could possibly go wrong? The answer is absolutely nothing. This is a phenomenal book - 10/10

—— Total Sci Fi

Exhilarating, funny and deeply peculiar...It's been years since the Doctor Who range put out anything as smart and engaging as this. Fingers crossed it's the first of many such volumes

—— SFX

A bold, eccentric quasi space opera

—— Doctor Who Magazine

The great Michael Moorcock has written a Doctor Who book which is like Burt Bacharach knocking out an album for Lady Gaga

—— Word Magazine

A marvel- beautifully written, surprisingly moving, quietly rather brilliant

—— Harry Ritchie , Daily Mail

While Malouf's chief interest is in the human impulses that lie behind the epic deeds, he remains faithful to the beliefs and values of the ancient world

—— Edmund Gordon , Times Literary Supplement

immensely moving, modern novel

—— Elizabeth Speller , Independent

A dignified performance ... in writing this novel Malouf is honouring a great work and also making a great work of his own ... his graceful fiction deals in truth and is always beautiful

—— Eileen Battersby , Irish Times

Beautifully written and very moving, Ransom is a reimagining that respects Homer's original while expanding expertly on its themes.

—— Alastair Mabbott , Herald

Malouf captures the moving humanity of Priam's grief

—— Robert Collins , Sunday Times

Lyrical reworking of the final scenes of The Iliad

—— Metro

This superb novel goes by in a heartbeat, so smooth and engrossing is David Malouf's prose...It is a touching tale, full of pain, but rendered beautifully by Malouf's humanity

—— Lesley McDowell , Independent on Sunday

An audacious reworking of Homer's Iliad.

—— Holly Kyte , Sunday Telegraph

David Malouf...has given Homer's epic fresh life in this haunting mood piece...a graceful, eloquent text dominated by rage and sorrow

—— Eileen Battersby , Irish Times

This novel explores the timeless motifs of epic, in miniature

—— The Times

You know it ends in death, and so do Malouf's haunted protagonists, but this telling, at once unfussy and wonderfully poetic, breathes warm life into a great epic

—— James Smart , Guardian

Breathtaking skill...an extraordinary emotional charge.

—— Colm Toibin , Guardian, Christmas round up

A finely honed, writerly and wise revisiting of one of the most famous episodes in The Iliad, when Priam the King of Troy goes to bring home the body of his dead son Hector. No-one in prose has managed to better Malouf's imaginative recreation of the Homeric world.

—— Robert Crawford , Sunday Herald, Christmas round up

a potent new yarn... Beautifully written in simple language freighted with meaning, Ransom explores a king's impulse to act as a mourning father.

—— James Urquhart , Financial Times
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