The Thoughts and Happenings of Wilfred Price Purveyor of Superior Funerals

By Wendy Jones

Under the heady influence of a springtime picnic and vague notions of obligation, young undertaker Wilfred Price blurts out a marriage proposal to a woman he barely knows. Much to his consternation, she says yes. As Wilfred attempts to extricate himself from the situation, his betrothed’s overbearing father presents further complications. And when Wilfred meets another woman he does wish to marry, a comedy of manners ensues. Set in rural Wales during the 1920s, Wendy Jones’s charming first novel is a deceptive, subtly humorous entrance to the mores and social conventions of a world gone by.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Release date: Mar 4, 2014
• ISBN: 9781609451967

Wendy Jones

Wendy Jones is a graduate of the University of East Anglia and has a PhD from Goldsmiths in creative writing. She has published two novels and is the author of Portrait of the Artist as a Young Girl, a biography of Grayson Perry.

Reviews for The Thoughts and Happenings of Wilfred Price Purveyor of Superior Funerals

[laurieindra · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Frothy light reading with one creepy plot twist. I don't hate it,and I read the whole thing in two sittings, but only recommend it for a quick read when you don't really want to think much. Not badly written, but not really special.

[seven.stories.press · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was fortunate enough to read this book after getting a copy from my internship/job. The book is a truly traditional comedy of manners, but it involves a good number of surprising twists and sometimes shocking revelations. I'm looking forward to future books in the series.

[jessicariddoch · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A rather strange book that has a charm all of it own. It is a standard sort of love story in that the main character does fall in love, but there are problems on the way. What sets this book appart is the air that it manages to convey, That feeling that you are dealing with gentlemen.

[foolplustime · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

There is a lot to like about this book: it's charming and the opening scene is very engaging. My criticisms of it stem largely from what it *doesn't* do, rather than for things it does wrong.

It feels ungrounded in its setting - we're in 1924 but you'd barely know it, and the Wales we're given could be England.

It lacks tension in places. Wilfred and Grace don't speak. When a conversation would solve a character's problems (or move the plot forward) there needs to be a good reason why it doesn't happen - or more of an impact of it not happening.

I felt it left one of the story lines dangling:Grace's. I'm not a reader who demands everything be tied up neatly, quite the opposite, but this felt rather *too* unresolved maybe because the major confrontation happens offstage.

The first half was better than the second and I read the whole thing quickly, so it's three stars, but only just.

[joecanas_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Worst book title ever... yet a very well done "small-scale" story. Quintessential fare from Europa Editions (my favorite publishing house).

[kimkimkim-7 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Huge, lengthy, wonderful descriptive writing. The story while believable is mediocre.