by Neil Boyd ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 11, 1981
More sunny, sentimental, often quite funny clerical capers--in Boyd's third sketchbook about the parish of St. Jude in 1951 West London. Again Father Neil is the bemused curate to great-hearted, corner-cutting Father (""little Charlie"") Duddleswell. And also along are housekeeper Miss Pring (""who,"" says Duddleswell, ""can lift me off the ground just with a blast of her mouth""); Billy Buzzle, bookie and convenient ""convert"" at ecumenical meetings; Dr. Daley, chum and ever-ready co-conspirator; and the local Mother Superior (also known as the Big Penguin). The twelve episodes lead off with the arrival of a thunderous, bibulous, octogenarian priest, Father Abe, during Holy Week--a week which includes a visit from Bishop ""Sponger"" O'Reilly, hilarious rounds with Father Abe, Father Duddleswell's lumbago, not to mention the longest rosary on record. And among the other giddy doings at St. Jude: a rivalry between undertakers and a nick-of-time switch of coffins; Fr. Duddleswell's ill-fated enterprise to promote miraculous holy water for fertility, with unfortunate results on an Episcopal interior; plus a pilgrimage spent in a mouse-infested inn and under a billiard table, all because the Big Penguin is determined to enshrine a relic--the tibia of the order's Mother Foundress. But, as always, there are also a few solemn matters in all the drollery: the happy marriage of a Jewish orphan (protÉgÉ of a tragedy-scarred rabbi) and a young Catholic girl (rescued from a fire by Fr. Duddleswell); the suicide of a homosexual headmaster whose reputation is protected by Fr. Duddleswell; and the death and double burial of Fr. Abe and the last baby he'd baptized. With lots of Freely feathered flights of Irish oratory and wrecking-ball insults, a nice serving of clergy comedy in the Barry Fitzgerald spirit.
Pub Date: Aug. 11, 1981
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Morrow
Review Posted Online: N/A
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1981
Categories: FICTION
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.