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Glass of Blessings: A Novel by Barbara Pym
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Glass of Blessings: A Novel (original 1958; edition 2008)

by Barbara Pym

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingConversations / Mentions
8813321,626 (3.97)1 / 146
Barbara Pym's early novel takes us into 1950s England, as seen through the funny, engaging, yearning eyes of a restless housewife Wilmet Forsyth is bored. Bored with the everyday routine of her life. Bored with teatimes filled with local gossip. Bored with her husband, Rodney, a civil servant who dotes on her. But on her thirty-third birthday, Wilmet's conventional life takes a turn when she runs into the handsome brother of her close friend.   Attractive and enigmatic, Piers Longridge is a mystery Wilmet is determined to solve. Rather than settling down, he lived in Portugal, then returned to England for a series of odd jobs. Driven by a fantasy of romance, the sheltered, naïve Englishwoman sets out to seduce Piers--only to discover that he isn't the man she thinks he is.   As cozy as sharing a cup of tea with an old friend, A Glass of Blessings explores timeless themes of sex, marriage, religion, and friendship while exposing our flaws and foibles with wit, compassion, and a generous helping of love.  … (more)
Member:aarti
Title:Glass of Blessings: A Novel
Authors:Barbara Pym
Info:Moyer Bell and its subsidiaries (2008), Paperback, 256 pages
Collections:Your library
Rating:***1/2
Tags:Publisher, ARC, E-Book, 2013, England, 20th Century, Family, Humor

Work Information

A Glass of Blessings by Barbara Pym (1958)

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» See also 146 mentions

English (30)  Spanish (2)  Dutch (1)  All languages (33)
Showing 1-5 of 30 (next | show all)
This channeled the subtle wit and astute social observations of Jane Austen more than anything else I’ve ever read. ( )
  wandaly | Sep 20, 2021 |
late 50s, married woman slightly discontent, discovers friend's brother is in relation with man--nothing specific said, other changes in her life, Anglo Catholic atmosphere
  ritaer | Aug 10, 2021 |
Ex-lib. JCC ( )
  ME_Dictionary | Mar 20, 2020 |
Enjoyed this greatly; the human condition finely observed, although it is almost impossible to summarise the plot, because not much happens. ( )
  Roarer | Nov 17, 2019 |
Enjoyable as ever, although I wasn't quite as comfortable with the 'harmless flirtations' as the introduction (which wasn't great) suggested I should be. Wilmet (odd name) was a great protagonist and her reactions and feelings rang true. Her agnostic mother-in-law Sibyl was a breath of fresh air, and the trio of priests was also entertaining.

Not my favourite, but still 5*. ( )
  pgchuis | Oct 25, 2019 |
Showing 1-5 of 30 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Barbara Pymprimary authorall editionscalculated
Bayley, JohnIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Ford, JessieCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Schuman, JackieCover designersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Tomlinson, PatienceNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Epigraph
When God at first made man,
Having a glasse of blessings standing by;
Let us (and he) poure on him all we can
Let the world's riches, which dispersed lie,
Contract into a span.
GEORGE HERBERT: The Pulley
Dedication
First words
I suppose it must have been the shock of hearing the telephone ring, apparently in the church, that made me turn my head and see Piers Longridge in one of the side aisles behind me.
When I was a young teacher in the Oxford University English Department I used to visit in the summer holiday - the long vac as it is called - the small public library in the village where my parents were living to see if I could find something light and entertaining to offset my dutiful daily struggles with Beowulf and Paradise Lost. (Introduction)
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Barbara Pym's early novel takes us into 1950s England, as seen through the funny, engaging, yearning eyes of a restless housewife Wilmet Forsyth is bored. Bored with the everyday routine of her life. Bored with teatimes filled with local gossip. Bored with her husband, Rodney, a civil servant who dotes on her. But on her thirty-third birthday, Wilmet's conventional life takes a turn when she runs into the handsome brother of her close friend.   Attractive and enigmatic, Piers Longridge is a mystery Wilmet is determined to solve. Rather than settling down, he lived in Portugal, then returned to England for a series of odd jobs. Driven by a fantasy of romance, the sheltered, naïve Englishwoman sets out to seduce Piers--only to discover that he isn't the man she thinks he is.   As cozy as sharing a cup of tea with an old friend, A Glass of Blessings explores timeless themes of sex, marriage, religion, and friendship while exposing our flaws and foibles with wit, compassion, and a generous helping of love.  

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Book description
Wilmot Forsyth is well dressed, well looked after, suitably husbanded, good-looking and fairly young - but very bored. Her sober husband Rodney, who works at the Ministry, is slightly balder and fatter than he once was. Wilmot would like to think she has changed rather less. Her interest wanders to the nearby church, where she can neglect her comfortable household in the more serious-minded company of three unmarried priests, and, of course, Piers Longridge, a man of an unfathomably different character altogether.
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Legacy Library: Barbara Pym

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