• The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

  • A Novel
  • By: Rachel Joyce
  • Narrated by: Jim Broadbent
  • Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (11,069 ratings)

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The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry  By  cover art

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

By: Rachel Joyce
Narrated by: Jim Broadbent
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Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • LONGLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE WASHINGTON POST

Meet Harold Fry, recently retired. He lives in a small English village with his wife, Maureen, who seems irritated by almost everything he does, even down to how he butters his toast. Little differentiates one day from the next. Then one morning the mail arrives, and within the stack of quotidian minutiae is a letter addressed to Harold in a shaky scrawl from a woman he hasn’t seen or heard from in twenty years. Queenie Hennessy is in hospice and is writing to say goodbye.

Harold pens a quick reply and, leaving Maureen to her chores, heads to the corner mailbox. But then, as happens in the very best works of fiction, Harold has a chance encounter, one that convinces him that he absolutely must deliver his message to Queenie in person. And thus begins the unlikely pilgrimage at the heart of Rachel Joyce’s remarkable debut. Harold Fry is determined to walk six hundred miles from Kingsbridge to the hospice in Berwick-upon-Tweed because, he believes, as long as he walks, Queenie Hennessey will live.

Still in his yachting shoes and light coat, Harold embarks on his urgent quest across the countryside. Along the way he meets one fascinating character after another, each of whom unlocks his long-dormant spirit and sense of promise. Memories of his first dance with Maureen, his wedding day, his joy in fatherhood, come rushing back to him—allowing him to also reconcile the losses and the regrets. As for Maureen, she finds herself missing Harold for the first time in years.

And then there is the unfinished business with Queenie Hennessy.

A novel of unsentimental charm, humor, and profound insight into the thoughts and feelings we all bury deep within our hearts, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry introduces Rachel Joyce as a wise—and utterly irresistible—storyteller.

Advance praise for The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

“When it seems almost too late, Harold Fry opens his battered heart and lets the world rush in. This funny, poignant story about an ordinary man on an extraordinary journey moved and inspired me.”—Nancy Horan, author of Loving Frank

“There’s tremendous heart in this debut novel by Rachel Joyce, as she probes questions that are as simple as they are profound: Can we begin to live again, and live truly, as ourselves, even in middle age, when all seems ruined? Can we believe in hope when hope seems to have abandoned us? I found myself laughing through tears, rooting for Harold at every step of his journey. I’m still rooting for him.”—Paula McLain, author of The Paris Wife

“Marvelous! I held my breath at his every blister and cramp, and felt as if by turning the pages, I might help his impossible quest succeed.”—Helen Simonson, author of Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand

“Harold’s journey is ordinary and extraordinary; it is a journey through the self, through modern society, through time and landscape. It is a funny book, a wise book, a charming book—but never cloying. It’s a book with a savage twist—and yet never seems manipulative. Perhaps because Harold himself is just wonderful. . . . I’m telling you now: I love this book.”—Erica Wagner, The Times (UK)

“The odyssey of a simple man . . . original, subtle and touching.”—Claire Tomalin, author of Charles Dickens: A Life

©2012 Rachel Joyce (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"When it seems almost too late, Harold Fry opens his battered heart and lets the world rush in. This funny, poignant story about an ordinary man on an extraordinary journey moved and inspired me." (Nancy Horan, author of Loving Frank)

"There's tremendous heart in this debut novel by Rachel Joyce, as she probes questions that are as simple as they are profound: Can we begin to live again, and live truly, as ourselves, even in middle age, when all seems ruined? Can we believe in hope when hope seems to have abandoned us? I found myself laughing through tears, rooting for Harold at every step of his journey. I'm still rooting for him." (Paula McLain, author of The Paris Wife)

"Marvelous! I held my breath at his every blister and cramp, and felt as if by turning the pages, I might help his impossible quest succeed." (Helen Simonson, author of Major Pettigrew's Last Stand)

What listeners say about The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

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  • 12-15-12

A Touching Journey

This book is an EVERYMAN book. It is meant to convey a message to all of us about our connection to our fellow human beings - about how we are all really alike, how much we have to teach each other, and how precious and yet fragile these connections are. It's not until the end of the book that Harold finally realizes and internalizes how we all make choices along the way that affect not only ourselves but those close to us.

"He saw that people would make the decisions they wished to make, and some of them would hurt both themselves and those who loved them, and some would pass unnoticed, while others would bring joy."


Harold's walk to the north of England was both a discovery and a healing process for him and for his wife, Maureen. Harold and Maureen had a lot of healing to do, not only from their son's problems but also from their marriage AND from Harold's cold and abusive family. Along Harold's path, he makes slow and sometimes painful discoveries about himself through the people he meets and the adventures that he has. As Harold learns, so does the reader. I found myself very moved by many of the lessons, I must say. Although the message/theme aspect of the book was forefront, I thought the author did a good job of balancing these messages and the plot.

Another thing that struck me as I was reading is a similarity to a book I recently finished - Wild, from Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed. Although Wild is a memoir and much more hip and contemporary, it has a similar message that a physical journey can engender an emotional one, and that many dark places can be healed by taking on a journey or a task. The goal that is reached is not only a physical one but also a psychic one as well in both cases.

I looked up Pilgrim's Progress, that 17th century religious classic by John Bunyan, and it seems to me that this Harold Fry book is intentionally related to that book as well:

"The Pilgrim’s Progress demonstrates that knowledge is gained through travel by portraying Christian and his companions learning from their mistakes on their journey. Pilgrimage depends on travel, and so a pilgrim must be a voyager prepared to go far and wide. Yet in Bunyan’s book, voyage in itself does not make a traveler a pilgrim. The pilgrim must advance spiritually as he or she advances geographically. The key factor is knowledge, which must increase as the pilgrim proceeds forward. Christian never makes the same mistake twice or meets the same foe twice, because he learns from his experiences. Once he experiences the Slough of Despond, he never needs to be despondent again. Other pilgrims who lack understanding may advance fairly far, like Heedless and Too-bold, who almost get to the Celestial City; however, they do not understand what they undergo, and so they only babble nonsense and talk in their sleep. They are travelers but are not pilgrims because they cannot verbalize or spiritually grasp what they have been through." (SparkNotes Editors)

What's interesting to me in comparing the Harold Fry book to Pilgrim's Progress is that Harold Fry definitely does NOT consider himself religious and several times mentions this and directly spurns religious ceremonies. However, in the end, the location to which he's hiking IS a Catholic run hospice facility with nuns taking care of the patients. Also, Harold does seem to go through a spiritual transformation, and he does wander off the path and almost lose hope, almost die, etc, before he finally rises up and reaches his final destination and finds his own salvation, whether secular or spiritual. So he is on a journey similar to that in Pilgrim's Progress.

In the end, I think all 3 books I've mentioned contain a pilgrimage in the sense that the main characters definitely learn from the difficulties they encounter along the way.



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Great Narration, way too long

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I enjoyed the overall story, but it dragged far too long. My mind would wonder and Harold had only slogged along a few more miles.... But the intended message was a good one, and a reminder to all of us that we can rise above our own human frailties.

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A very depressing book

I am not easily discouraged, but found that this book was a downer. It seemed to go on and on and on... and at the end I couldn't wait for it to end.

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A simple man on a Joseph Campbell quest

Would you consider the audio edition of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry to be better than the print version?

I am not a good person to answer this, because I am legally blind and can no longer reader hard copy books. The only way I read is through audio books. And after 15 years of this, I can tell you that the narrator can take a fabulous book and ruin it. By the same toke, a narrator can elevate a well-written tome to the heavens. This is one of those books, a gorgeously written novel with a brilliant narrator!

What other book might you compare The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry to and why?

If you loved MAJOR PETTIGREW'S LAST STAND, you wifll love this book. If you are near retirement age, you will probably also find much in this book that resonates with you. I am at the point in my life where I'm trying to figure out what the last quarter of my years will look like...all aspects of it, from love to family to spirituality and personal goals. Harold, a recent retiree with a marriage that has stagnated (or possibly incineratred by subtle anger) sets out one day to take a letter to the nearest mail box. This simple errand turns into a walk across the country, in which Harold reflects on past mistakes and tries to figure out how to give his life meaning.

Left behind is Harold's wife. Though she's not walking, she ends up on a quest of her own, in which she discovers life-altering truths about herself and her long marriage.

This book brings to mind another "road" book I loved, THE MEMORY OF RUNNING, by Ron McLarty. It is sad, funny, thoughtful and thought-provoking. A very quiet story, this none-the-less provides powerful commentary on the human condition.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was very moved by the relationship between Harold and his wife, how sadly separate they are at the beginning of the book, and how they gently realize their parts in that situation...and struggle to find one another again. I really appreciated the fact that these are very real, older people, with older people problems. I really loved this book.

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Only read if you're ready for a good cry

This book will be at the top of my list of the best books I've ever read (listened to). The writing was lyrical and evocative and Jim Broadbent's narration was perfect. Since my husband and I are basically the same age as the main characters in the novel and our marriage about as long (but luckily without the silence and tragedy) I found so many parts to be particularly poignant.

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I WILL NEVER FORGET HAROLD FRYE

I loved this book! It touched me very profoundly with its simplicity and incredible depth. I cared so much for Harold that ultimately I cried for him and with him. Maybe others won't feel the same but I found myself taking the trip along side him. The narrator was so Harold. I will always remember this book with great fondness.

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Old People Rock!

If you could sum up The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry in three words, what would they be?

Surprisingly good listen

Who was your favorite character and why?

Toss up between the main three. Harold for his stamina- Maureen for her ability to look within herself and be true and Rex for the absolutely perfect explanation of losing a treasured mate and how it feels.

What about Jim Broadbent’s performance did you like?

His voice was clear and easy to understand.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes, when Maureen "gets it" and understands why Harold is doing his pilgrimage and decides to support him .

Any additional comments?

We really enjoyed this book and we were mildly surprised by the journey we were taken on along with Harold and Maureen

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Really sweet book!

Ohh I loved this audio book. Reading it makes you feel motivated and appreciative of your life and love. Go Harrold!

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An amazing pilgrimage indeed

I highly recommend this book for men and women, all ages. A remarkable story, well told and well narrated.

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A lovely book

Where does The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Pretty high up there.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Well, Harold, of course. If he wasn't you wouldn't enjoy the book.

Have you listened to any of Jim Broadbent’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but I certainly would. He was excellent.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me laugh and cry--but sometimes the tears were for good. It is so touching a story.

Any additional comments?

I don't think anyone who hasn't been married or lost someone to cancer can truly get this book.

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