Part of the Furniture

Juno Marlowe is a very young and innocent 17 year old in the early days of WW2. As a child, she tagged along behind two older boys, cousins, like an adoring puppy and when she came with them to London when they were called up to enlist, accepted that these two arrogant youths had the right to rape her, one after the other, as their introduction to sex. Left alone on a London street during an air raid, she is rescued by Evelyn Copplestone who offers her shelter in his home but who dies of natural causes before she leaves the next day. He had given her an introductory letter to his father who lives on a large farming estate in Cornwall, and is happily accepted as an extra farm hand. When it becomes evident that she is pregnant, it is generally accepted the Evelyn was the father of her expected baby, and so his father is happy to keep her on at the farm.Juno is enchanted by country life and develops a great rapport with the farm hands and neighbours who all accept that she never speaks of the father of her unborn child. The book is filled with wonderful descriptions of local characters and animals and covers the year between the beginning of the story and its' conclusion, with gentleness and understanding without delving too deeply into unnecessary angst and violence. It's a charming, gentle book, just perfect for when one is in the mood for a gentle read.

It is so nice to read a wonderful romance novel without all the hot detailed sex scenes that American authors seem unable to write without. The was my first Wesley novel -- but it won't be my last.

The only negative thing anyone can say about Mary Wesley's novels is that there are so few of them! Not one of England's most prolific authors, Wesley is nonetheless one of its most unique writers. Each novel is a gem! (Harnessing Peacocks is my all-time favorite.) This bittersweet fairy tale concerns the intrepid Juno, who, betrayed by her girlhood heroes (a pair of beastly cousins off to fight WWII) in the worst way imaginable for a young, impressionable woman, goes on to survive and prosper, surrounded by love and affection. A triumph of the human spirit, it's a May-December romance readers will hold dear to their hearts.

I am so happy to have discovered Ms. Wesley. You must read this work of fantasy, romance and historical fiction. It is a treasure and superbly executed! I am in love with her style.

O.K., so the fix is in. Mary Wesley is my favorite writer, so naturally you would expect I would love her latest book, "Part of the Furniture." Of course, you are right -- and boy did I! Wesley is now 85 years old and her writing seems to get better with her age. In this great book, the main character, Juno Marlowe has to find out the difference between adolecent and real lasting true love. The novel takes place during WWII, but this is only secondary to romance, the true focus of the novel. As usual, there is plenty of comedy that can be found here as well (one of Wesely's trademarks). While I cannot say this is Wesley's best book ("An Imaginative Experience" still gets my vote for best Wesley novel), I can say that "Part of the Furniture" is damn close. I reccomend everyone who enjoys a well written novel, to try all of Wesley's ten novels to date