A Dubious Legacy

A Dubious Legacy
Author: Mary Wesley
Publisher: John Curley & Associates
Total Pages: 338
Release: 1992
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 9780792713579

On a midsummer weekend in 1954 James and Matthew, two rather priggish young Englishmen, take their girls, Barbara and Antonia, away for a brief holiday at a friend's home in order to propose marriage. But no one is prepared for what unfolds--and will spin itself out over the next 40 years.

A Dubious Legacy

A Dubious Legacy
Author: Mary Wesley
Publisher: Open Road Media
Total Pages: 334
Release: 2013-11-12
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1480450626

A “darkly comic, wise and irresistible” novel of friendship, romance, and the chaos in between, from one of Britain’s bestselling authors (Publishers Weekly). When Henry Tillotson comes back from the war with a mysterious new bride from Egypt, everyone is intrigued. But intrigue turns to outright confusion when his new wife retreats to her room and refuses to leave her bed, much less the house, stranding poor Henry in a loveless marriage. Antonia and Barbara are captivated by Henry and his lavish country estate, Cotteshaw, from the very first time they are asked to visit for a dinner party with their boyfriends. Drawn by his charm, his wife’s madness and beauty, and his unusual lifestyle, they cannot help but be intrigued by their host. But as time passes, their relationships grow and change, bringing weddings, engagements, children, and even the occasional illicit liaison—as the strange heritage of Cotteshaw begins to affect all who pass through its doors. Wesley once again proves herself a master of the modern novel of manners in this energetic tale that is simultaneously laugh-out-loud funny, outrageously irreverent, and poignant. “As always, the dialogue snaps with vigor. . . . Another bright and biting novel.” —Kirkus Reviews

A Sensible Life

A Sensible Life
Author: Mary Wesley
Publisher: Open Road Media
Total Pages: 440
Release: 2013-11-12
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1480449946

This “engaging and memorable novel,” set in post-WWI England and France, takes a wise, witty look at love, growing up, and class differences (Publishers Weekly). For the British families who vacation there, the shore town of Dinard, France, is a getaway from the ills of modern life. But when Flora Trevelyan visits with her self-absorbed parents in 1926, it’s not an escape she finds—instead, it’s a doorway into a different world, a different life, that she never knew existed. As the years pass, Flora embarks on a journey of discovery, from falling for three very different young men to understanding the follies of an upper class society of which she will never quite be a part to uncovering the difference between true friends and fair-weather companions. Along the way, her own life and those of her new acquaintances will be upended, and as the shadows of World War II fall over Europe, Flora will have to decide what kind of person she wants to be—and whether being sensible makes sense. Praised by the Daily Telegraph as “delicious,” Mary Wesley’s sharply humorous coming-of-age story weaves a tale of an unloved, neglected child who turns into a fiercely independent woman, both an entertaining romp and an astute glimpse into British society between the two World Wars.

Part of the Furniture

Part of the Furniture
Author: Mary Wesley
Publisher: Open Road Media
Total Pages: 306
Release: 2013-11-12
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1480450634

A smart, sharply written novel from a talent whose “fresh and original” works made her one of England’s most beloved authors (The New York Times). Abandoned by her mother and betrayed by the men she thought she loved, Juno Marlowe is alone. So alone that when the air raid sirens ring out, she has nowhere to hide until a kind but frail man offers to take her in for the night. Her sad story inspires him to write her a letter of introduction to his family—a caring gesture that will turn out to mean more than she could have imagined. With nowhere to call home, she seeks out the man’s father, Robert Copplestone, who lives on a quiet Cornwall estate where Juno is able to earn her keep by helping him tend to his animals. And she soon finds that the strong, handsome widower is more of a friend than she’s ever had and more like family than anyone she’s ever known. But when Juno’s fractured past catches up with her, the fragile and unlikely bond Robert and Juno have formed may be in danger of breaking under the strain. This “heartwarming story of May-December love” is a gentle look at the folly of humanity, weaving a tale of friendship, love, and healing (Publishers Weekly). “An elegant, satisfying entertainment.” —Kirkus Reviews

Jumping the Queue

Jumping the Queue
Author: Mary Wesley
Publisher: Open Road Media
Total Pages: 242
Release: 2013-11-12
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1480450561

A “quirky, sad, and very funny” novel about suicide, matricide, and an unlikely love, from one of England’s best-loved authors (The Guardian). Determined to end it all after the death of her husband, Matilda Poliport’s carefully laid plans to kill herself are derailed when she comes to the rescue of another potential bridge jumper—a notorious young man on the run for having murdered his mother. Faced with the choice of either turning him in to the police or continuing on with her suicide attempt, Matilda makes the obvious decision and takes Hugh Warner home to stay with her while they both sort out what to do next. As Hugh and Matilda find surprising comfort in each other, secrets about Matilda’s deceased husband are revealed, leaving Matilda to face some very uncomfortable facts about her life. And as the pair plot to help Hugh escape the law, they will both need to face the truth about themselves and how far they are willing to go for each other. This “virtuoso performance of guileful plotting, deft characterizations, and malicious wit” showcases the talents of Mary Wesley at her caustic and comical best (The Times, London).

Harnessing Peacocks

Harnessing Peacocks
Author: Mary Wesley
Publisher: Random House
Total Pages: 274
Release: 2012-03-31
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1446443418

Hebe sits in the darkness and listens to her hypocritical grandparents and her older siblings discuss how her unexpected pregnancy must be terminated to avoid the shame it will bring. Determined to raise her child, she flees into the night with only her mother's jewellery to support her. Twelve years later she is living happily alone in Cornwall, whilst her son attends an expensive private school. Hebe has harnessed her two great talents - cooking and making love - to make a living for herself, but when the separate strands of her life become intangled the even tenor of her days is threatened, and her world changes forever.