Close Quarters: A Novel (Thirkell, Angela Mackail, Angela Thirkell Barsetshire Series.) (Paperback)

by Angela Mackail Thirkell (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
In the 17th volume of the beloved Barsetshire series, widowed Margot (Phelps) Macfadyen is in search of a house. As she calls on her numerous friends, readers find themselves in the midst of another Thirkellian social whirl. When the dust settles, Teddy Parkinson is installed in his new vicarship, Mavis owns a washing machine, and Tubby Fewling has regained Margot's heart.

From the Publisher
"When in doubt the answer's always tea," Sister Chiffinch sagely remarks in this penultimate novel in Angela Thirkel's Barsetshire series, and what reader would disagree with her? For like everything else in Thirkell's world, even the summer is very British: "short, brutish, and nasty: also very cold and damp," and a spot of tea is just the thing to set things right. And who better to join us around the teapot--either in person or in conversation--than the many friends Thirkell has introduced us to in her charming comedies of manners? The focus of the author's attention this time out is Mrs. Donald Macfayden, formerly Margot Phelps, whose personal transformation was the subject of Jutland Cottage. Though she is thrice-bereaved in a few short months, uprooted from her home and shuttled from one family to another, she nevertheless embraces a new promise of happiness before the last chapter reaches its end. It goes without saying that Thirkell's legion of devoted readers will be delighted to join her.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 277 pages
• Publisher: Moyer Bell; 1st edition (October 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155921290X
• ISBN-13: 978-1559212908
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #391,421 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars unreadable, January 6, 2008

By	life long reader (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This book is , not to put too fine a point on it, awful. In order to comprehend any of it you have to have read most of the previous books and even then this book is not very good. The characters blab on and on about nothing with frequent asides by the author. I have now read 5 books by Miss Thirkell and, for the most part, enjoyed them but this one is almost unreadable. Why two stars ? I like Angela Thirkell and I really liked the cover.

4.0 out of 5 stars Good old Margo, October 9, 2008

By	D. Cooke "the reading teacher" (London, England) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

To me this is the best of the last few books about Barsetshire. Although dealing throughout with the sad themes of death and its aftermath it manages to feel fresher than some of Angela Thirkell's other later books in the series. I feel that this is down to the strongly written character of Margo who we have seen develop in Jutland Cottage and who now emerges as a fully rounded person in the face of a time of difficulty. Nicely oberved social commentary as usual adds to the enjoyable blend.