Excellent Women

by Barbara Pym

Oh, how I loved this gem of a novel! Ladies: a cup of tea and a comfy chair are the perfect accompaniments to this delightful, slim tome.

Mildred Lathbury is the daughter of a clergyman and a spinster. In her time (1950s England), she would be considered to be one of those “excellent women.” Mildred is smart and supportive and repressed. Men take her for granted, and she seems to think nothing of it, as if that were her role in life.

From her attractive (and married) neighbor, Rocky, to the local clergyman, Julian, Mildred faces a series of challenging circumstances with aplomb and good manners. Her behavior in even the stickiest of situations makes her a most excellent woman.

Charming!

1/14/13