A Christmas Journey

I was familiar with her Thomas Pitt series and, to some extent, her Pitt series but this one takes a character from her Pitt books--Vespasia Cummings-Gould--and sets the time period back a number of decades to when she was a young socialite. It was an interesting diversion; I prefer Lady Cummings-Gould in her later years, but this book was still a good read.

I read this purely to experience something "outside my comfort zone", that is, a genre or author I would not usually find appealing or interesting. Anne Perry is well known as a writer of Victorian era crime novels - certainly not my genre of reading choice. And, ever since 2003, she has released one of these little Victorian "Christmas" novels every year. Again, not my natural choice of reading, if only because I have always regarded such slender seasonal offerings as little more than clever marketing exercises foisted upon writers by their publishers.
Having said all that, this novella was quite enjoyable. Although the Christmas message of forgiveness reads a bit like an afterthought tacked onto the end (indeed, it is not really show more integral to the story, nor to the actions and motives of the characters), the story is enough to keep the reader interested for 124 pages.
Despite my reservations about these Christmas story enterprises by publishers, this book is nonetheless well written. Clearly Anne Perry has a keen interest in the social strictures of mid Victorian Britain and this is reflected in her detailed attention to the language and gestures of her characters. She communicates effectively the serious social consequences that could ensue from a mere few thoughtless words expressed in polite company. Whether this accurately reflects the reality of Victorian manners and mores is a matter fro scholars to comment on. For me, it seemed authentic enough, certainly quite alien from 21st century society . And the narration of the two main characters' arduous journey through a Scottish winter on horseback was vividly rendered.
At the very least, this book would make me consider reading one of Anne Perry's substantive crime fictions. show less

The first of Anne Perry's series of Christmas novellas features Lady Vespasia Cumming-Gould, a supporting character in Perry's Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series. Lady Vespasia is one of my favorite characters from that series, and it was fun to see her in her prime. I wish the story had done her justice. Christmas isn't really a theme in the story. The events just happen to take place in December. The premise is implausible. Lady Vespasia is a guest at a weekend house party. One of her fellow guests commits a major social faux pas, and in order to be restored to society, she must make a journey to the north of Scotland and complete a difficult assignment. Lady Vespasia generously offers to accompany her friend on the journey. For such a show more short book, it's surprisingly repetitive. It felt like the author kept covering the same ground instead of presenting new information. Recommended mainly for fans of the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series, who will at least enjoy a glimpse of a young Lady Vespasia. show less

Lady Vespasia Cumming-Gould, in her much younger self in the mid-19th Century accompanies a friend on a mission of expiation after she makes a casually cruel remark at a country house party that causes another of the guests to commit suicide. I found this plot to be rather over-wrought, but given the author’s strange religious beliefs, not unexpected.

There is really not much about Christmas in this tale, and not much of a mystery, either. Readers of Anne Perry’s Victorian era books will recognize a character or two in this one. And while the writing is typical Perry, this short novel has little beyond that to commend it. A widow in the upper ranks of society commits suicide after an unkind remark by another party goer. It is decided by others attending the festivities that a letter left to her mother by the dead woman must be delivered to the mother by the lady who caused the suicide. This act expiation would free her of guilt; otherwise she would become a social outcast. But there is more to the woman’s death, and this is the mystery. Not much of a plot and not really a show more Christmas story. show less

Trains, boats and Shetland ponies: it's a Victorian road trip novel!

There isn't much mystery or sleuthing in A Christmas Journey. But, boy is there a lot of wonderful descriptions of bleak, freezing, snow covered landscapes. I shivered the entire time I read this novella. And, I'm not kidding.

Read this in December for the scene and mood, preferably by a warm fire with a cup of hot chocolate.

This is one of Anne Perry's short Christmas novellas that she churns out every holiday. This installment centers around Charlotte Pitt's Aunt Vespacia in her much younger days.. Lady Vespasia Cummin-Gould is at a pre-holiday house party when a waspish remark so upsets one of the guests that she commits suicide. What results is a journey of expiation that is fairly preposterous with the moral implications being dealt with a very heavy hand. Not one of Ms. Perry's best efforts.