Farther Afield

Among the many delightful books by "Miss Read", FARTHER AFIELD afield is unique in that part of the action takes place on the island of Crete, far outside the cozy circle of English villages that the dedicated follower of this series has come to know and love. The book opens just as the school term is ending. Our schoolteacher heroine (also the first person narrator) is looking forward to the summer and has many projects planned for her leisure time. Disaster strikes on the first day! She suffers a accident injuring both an arm and a leg. In one fell stroke, all the simple tasks of everyday living become unbearably difficult if not impossible. Although she has always enjoyed her single status, she wonders glumly if she should have married in order to have someone to help her in this extremity. Rescue comes from her longtime friend Amy. Amy takes in her old chum as a house guest. But Miss Read realizes that her friend is unhappy and the cause is not hard to determine. Amy's husband is having an affair with a younger woman and Amy is facing the possible end of her marriage. The two old friends silently support one another in their misfortunes. When Amy's husband refuses to take a long-planned vacation to Crete with his wife, Miss Read is invited along as Amy's companion. "Miss Read" has always delighted her followers with her acute observations; now she takes these "farther afield" and the result is like a delightful holiday. Everyone they meet has causes for unhappiness. The debate of whether it is better to be single or married is never settled but rest assured that our intrepid friends will find that time heals most wounds. One note: this page claims that this is the 11th in the Fairacre Series. My edition is identical in text but the cover claims it as "the 14th in the Series". I think it must depend on how they are counting.

This was just another great story telling by this author. She makes you feel that the people are alive.

This book mostly takes place outside of Fairacre -- and is a revealing insight into the characters of Miss Read and her best friend Amy. It also gives insight into the relationship of women and their husbands in the 1960's.