⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 – 4.5 stars
In The Clergyman’s Wife we find ourselves intruding upon the lives of William and Charlotte Collins. This Pride and Prejudice-inspired novel begins a few years after Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth Bennett’s cherished friend, marries awkward, harried Mr. Collins and settles down in the quaintly comfortable Hunsford parsonage in Kent. Charlotte, having hastily recommended herself for marriage to Mr. Collins when Elizabeth adamantly rejected him, has resigned herself to her melancholy existence as his wife. She’d perceived her marital prospects as slim given her lack of natural beauty and inconvenient social standing, which elevated her above the neighboring hopefuls thanks to her father’s favoring vanity over economic prudence, and now she recognizes the gravity of her impetuous decision. If this weren’t enough, their benefactress, Lady Catherine de Bourgh, of whom William Collins is ridiculously solicitous, diligently oversees nearly every aspect of their living arrangement, to Charlotte’s dismay. So when Charlotte witnesses her sister, Maria’s, excitement over her betrothal to the man she actually loves, irrespective of how their family or acquaintances view his humble profession of Apothecary, her own decision to settle for security over love leaves her with a degree of regret and sadness. Can anyone restore her initial grateful countenance?
Mr. Travis, a tenant farmer, has been commissioned by Lady Catherine de Bourgh, to beautify the Hunsford garden with roses. No botanist or gardener himself, but the son of one who painstakingly tended to the gardens of Rosing’s Park, Lady Catherine’s estate, Mr. Travis sets out to accomplish the task for which he’s been assigned. His work in the Hunsford garden necessitates regular visits to the Collins’ home of which Charlotte has grown accustomed. She is consciously aware of her anticipation of Mr. Travis’s visits and tries her utmost to appease herself with excuses for her imprudent feelings towards the man. Mr. Travis awakens her sensibilities in a way that her husband never has, and she is at once delighted by her thoughts and distressed by the impropriety associated with them. Charlotte is torn between loyalty to her well-meaning but emotionally distant husband and the anticipatory exhilaration in keeping congenial company with Mr. Travis. His apparent interest in her daughter, Louisa, her love of novels and sketching has enlivened Charlotte’s mundane existence, and has subsequently broadened her activities as a parson’s wife, impelling her to make visits upon the widows and elderly—bringing them gifts and conversing on a regular basis. Charlotte’s disposition has improved on account of Mr. Travis, and owing to this fact, her feeling of mortification and shame both chides her and spurs her on. What’s a loyal, morally upright woman to do?
If you loved Pride & Prejudice, or enjoy historical novels, you won’t want to miss The Clergyman’s Wife. Ms. Greeley’s melodious prose is descriptive and atmospheric; I could smell the damp leaves on the forest floor and hear the rustle of the dry leaves in the trees as the wind kicked up before a menacing downpour. I could see the Hunsford garden’s vibrant flowers swaying in the breeze while toddler, Louisa, squealed while frolicking. Events in the book evoked feelings of poignancy and mirth, and there was a nice balance between the two. The Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine de Bourgh characters so accurately embodied their familiar personalities from Pride and Prejudice that I found myself chuckling at their mannerisms and dialog, which was a real treat.
The Clergyman’s Wife is an even-paced, gentle read that elicits a feeling of longing to transport oneself back to the Regency era where gentility and propriety were the norm.
Thank you, William Morrow, for a free ARC of The Clergyman’s Wife, in exchange for my honest review, which I have given.
Thank you for visiting!
I have to get my hands on it. Loved your review, i’m so curious. I’ve always felt Charlotte deserved more, not less. I’m so pleased she has her own story. I could live in the regency era, although plumbing would be an issue.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
And yes….a chamber pot is a deal breaker for me. 💩
LikeLike
I did see this book somewhere and wondered about it. Reading through your review has made me want to read it. Utterly intriguing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was a lovely read, Kathryn.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so happy you loved this, Laurie! I thought it was spectacular! Fab review!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jennifer!!
LikeLike
Thanks for the review, Laurie. This book sounds like a winner to me. Another one to add to my exploding “Wish List.” 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you would enjoy this gentle read, Jill. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
My first thought upon seeing this book in your review was that it is a shame someone is doing a series related to Pride and Prejudice as it would be hard to do it justice. Reading your review, however, has truly convinced me otherwise! This sounds like a really good plot with a plausible conflict for that day and time and for those characters. I wanted to reach out and magically change the situation to make all the problems go away for Charlotte; but, of course, that doesn’t happen in real life or in books. Thanks for putting this book on my radar!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You summed it up perfectly!! It is most definitely a “good plot with a plausible conflict for that day.”
I think you would really enjoy this one, Linda. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved getting your take on this one. I’ve already had my eye on it and now I want it more than ever. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. It was such a beautifully written book. I think you’ll truly enjoy it. 😊
LikeLike