Customer Reviews

City of the Bells

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This book, in my opinion one of Goudge's best, is about the power of love (as many of her books are). Set in Edwardian England, the plot is simple. A young man, Jocelyn, invalided out of the army after being injured in the Boer War, cannot decide what to do with himself so he pays a visit to his grandparents who live in a small cathedral town; his grandfather is a canon of the cathedral. Living with the elderly couple are Hugh, a grandson and cousin of Jocelyn, and Henrietta, whom Grandfather adopted from an orphanage. There are also all the eccentric characters who people the Cathedral Close and the town, all of whom are bound up in each others lives in some interesting ways. Jocelyn finds his destiny, love, and the meaning of service on all levels. Henrietta discovers her past and her future. And what of the mysterious, melancholy poet who left so many clues about himself behind? Is he dead or alive? This book is completely enthralling. I've read it I don't know how many times and its charm and gentleness never pall. The Blue Hills is the follow-up book to this one.

HThis lovely story is set in Torminster (a lightly disguised Wells) at the turn of the last century. Jocelyn, injured in the Boer War, comes to stay with his saintly Grandfather and sharp Grandmother, and their grandchildren, the practical, questioning Hugh Anthony, and intense, artistic Henrietta. Jocelyn opens a bookshop in Torminster, much to Grandmother's disgust - a grandson in trade, o horror! "But the apostles were in trade, dear - fish" Grandfather points out. "What has that to do with it?" she retorts "the Apostles were not my grandsons!" The book is full of delightful characters, vivacious Felicity whom Jocelyn loves, eccentric Mrs Jameson whose husband was eaten by cannibals, the haughty Dean, the determinedly bachelor Bishop, neurotic poet Gabriel Ferranti, and many others. The story is full of details about the cathedral year and customs and has strong religious felling running through it, but a lot of humour too. Miss Goudge wrote two more books featuring the same cast of characters, Sister of the Angles and Blue Hills, they are all delightful.