While Harold Fry was walking up through England with his media circus (The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Henry Fry), Queenie preparing to die, was hanging on for him. This is what she did while she waited in her Catholic hospice. Unable to speak, she wrote and wrote and wrote. The nuns typed and Queenie’s reminiscences poured out. A beautiful tale of unrequited love, or tragedy and of her life in the hospice, of her fellow patients, all waiting to die and all becoming involved in waiting for Harry Fry. This is lovely, a pure gem.
When Queenie Hennessy discovers that Harold Fry is walking the length of England to save her, and all she has to do is wait, she is shocked. Her note had explained she was dying. How can she wait? A new volunteer at the hospice suggests that Queenie should write again; only this time she must tell Harold everything. In confessing to secrets she has hidden for twenty years, she will find atonement for the past. As the volunteer points out, 'Even though you've done your travelling, you're starting a new journey too.' Queenie thought her first letter would be the end of the story. She was wrong. It was the beginning. Told in simple, emotionally-honest prose, with a mischievous bite, this is a novel about the journey we all must take to learn who we are; it is about loving and letting go. And most of all it is about finding joy in unexpected places and at times we least expect.
5 stars The Telegraph Touching ... a quiet, gentle, moving novel. Joyce's writing has a simplicity that sings and she captures hope best of all. The Observer If you loved The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, you'll be thrilled with this sequel. The Sun Invest in a box of Kleenex before you start this tear-jerker - [one of] this month's big reads. Women & Home A delightful read. ... Joyful moments and gentle comedy. an uplifting and moving companion to Harold Fry -- Kat Berry Daily Express
Author
About Rachel Joyce
Rachel Joyce is the author of the Sunday Times and international bestsellers The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Perfect, The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy, and a collection of interlinked short stories, A Snow Garden & Other Stories. Her work has been translated into thirty-six languages. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Book prize and longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. Rachel was awarded the Specsavers National Book Awards ‘New Writer of the Year’ in December 2012 and shortlisted for the ‘UK Author of the Year’ 2014. Rachel has also written over twenty original afternoon plays and adaptations of the classics for BBC Radio 4, including all the Bronte novels. She moved to writing after a long career as an actor, performing leading roles for the RSC, the National Theatre and Cheek by Jowl..
