The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

A Novel

By: Rachel Joyce

Narrated by: Jim Broadbent

Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins

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)

beautifully written debut novel.

This is a debut novel, beautifully written. Harold Fry has recently retired from a job he hated, along with his boss, for at least 20 years. He believes that he has failed at everything he’s ever done, including raising his son. His wife, Maureen, seems to agree that he’s failed at everything since she scolds him for every little thing, even the way he butters his toast. So one day he gets a letter which is from a co-worker who he hasn’t seen in 20 years, Queenie Hennessy. She is apparently dying and has written a letter to let him know that and to thank him for being kind to her at one time. Harold is immediately grief-stricken as well as feeling very guilty. He believes that while Queenie was kind to him, he failed her and let her get fired for something he had done. He sets out to send her a note that just says he’s sorry. He has on casual clothes and very casual footwear to go to the mailbox. But he keeps walking. He stops for a burger and is told by the worker there that her aunt lived and recovered from cancer because people had faith that she would. Harold decides to undertake a pilgrimage of walking 600 miles to the hospice where Queenie is dying with the idea that if he can walk that distance he’ll keep her from dying. So he starts on a two-month odyssey to reach his goal. He meets all kinds of people, some generous, some taking advantage of him. His pilgrimage becomes a celebrated cause with the newspapers getting hold of it. The results of all of this reveal his family secrets and in some ways has a very surprising result. This debut novel is already being listed as a possible Booker Prize winner, and we can expect more wonderful books from this author who seems very good at telling stories.

MOVING

I really liked this book. It touched on so many facets of life that are so easy to push under the carpet. It examines the secrets people hold inside of them, eat them up but feel hopeless to discuss them. While being blunt and honest with the problems of the characters the story also fills you with compassion and hope. Harold and Maureen come to life and you become very close to them. You cheer Harold on - laugh at some of his encounters and shake your head at others. It is a thought provoking, tender, moving book that stays with you long after you're finished with it.

Unexpected Depths ... Highly Recommended

The title pretty much says it all. One day, an older gentleman named Harold Fry decides—unexpectedly and without any prior planning— to walk across England to say goodbye to an old friend, who has just written him to tell him that she is dying. Harold’s journey is definitely unlikely (he is not one for grand gestures … or even walking, for that matter) and certainly a pilgrimage (defined as “a journey or search of moral or spiritual significance”). Going in, I expected this to be a quirky, charming little story without much depth. Although it starts off in this vein, it quickly takes on much more depth and breadth than I ever expected. I was amazed at the skill with which Rachel Joyce wove her tale—adding in layers of complexity and depth and emotion that ended up making this novel one of the most emotional I’ve read this year. By the end, I was deeply moved by Harold and Maureen’s story—much more than I ever expected. Jim Broadbent did a masterful job of narrating; you can tell he has acting experience because he brings Harold to life, with all his doubts, humility, regrets and spiritual questioning. Don’t be fooled by the simple little cover and the quirky title. This is a novel of great depth and complexity, and it will get under your skin in a most unexpected way.

Bleak and British Forrest Gump

Harold Fry is honest and mannerly but dim and forgetful. He has a sort of "I just felt like running" moment with an irrational purpose. The entire book describes his trek and the observations of Harold and wife Maureen who mostly stays home.
Unlike Forrest, Harold is not optimistic nor buoyant. He is a witness to some social phenomena and meets a famous person but otherwise this book is very different. The mood is mostly cold-drizzle bleak and the attitude is stiff-upper-lip British; it very much lacks the sunny and upbeat tone of typical American literature.

As Harold walks north across England, he meets some kind people, makes some observations, learns some things, recalls some repressed memories and deals with frailties of the flesh. He remains steadfastly agnostic, humorless and non-spiritual. His interpretation of his observations seems simple, existential and non-judgemental but often astute. You see the British people and culture examined through the eyes of a lowly citizen. In parallel, it's an uncomplicated, evenly (and slowly) plotted story; sub-themes and revelations partly distract from the otherwise unrelenting dreary atmosphere.

I make it through about 85% of audible books and this was a close call. I had to stop periodically and thank God for the better life I was given as Harold's is a real downer. (I use the Forrest Gump compare/contrast above to convey my overall impression and help you decide if you want a listen. But I'm not claiming it's a close or apt analogy.) Obviously, listen to a sample before buying.

Harold isn't someone you'd probably pick for a close friend and he had a tough life; hearing his story continuously may wear on you, but the near-excellent British prose and story development may make it worthwhile.

A wonderful story

What did you like best about this story?

This book is very well written. What really struck me was the pacing. Some other reviewers may say it starts slow. It does, but so does Harold. Some of her descriptions are quite elegant. I thought the narrator was wonderful. I'm not sure I would have liked it as well if I had read the book, rather than listened to it.

Has become an all time favorite!

What made the experience of listening to The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry the most enjoyable?

This book is charming, sensitive, beautiful and real. I would love to know more about Rachel Joyce. What a brilliant writer.

lyrical, thought provoking, memorable characters

What made the experience of listening to The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry the most enjoyable?

Well, the writing is brilliant, just brilliant. When Harold wakes from his first night spent outdoors the descriptions of nature are beautifully lyrical and orginal.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Of course Harold, and because his awakening is so profound and beautiful

What does Jim Broadbent bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Jim embodied Harold. Jim Broadbent is FANTASTIC!

If you could take any character from The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I guess Queenie because I want to know her story

Any additional comments?

I'm recommending this book to everyone. It's beautifully and movingly written.

Quirky but Endearing

The Pilgrim's journey in literature is usually metaphoric. The question for me is always whether the journey transforms the pilgrim & the reader. This "unlikely pilgrimage" was satisfying on many levels & may be for others … in the same or, perhaps, different ways.

Very enjoyable

Harold is an ordinary man who gets a letter from a coworker of long ago who is in a hospice. How can you reply to that by letter so, on his way to the post office, he decides to hand deliver the letter and tells her to hang on until he gets there. The book follows his 600 mile journey in yacht shoes. It reminded me a bit of Forest Gump's trip across country. Along the way, Harold discovers alot about himself, his part in his thorny relationship with his wife and we find out why he is taking this long journey on foot to see Queenie. I recommend you take the journey also.

Rather charming

Not quite a humor book, not quite a romance, not quite a mystery, but a little of all of that.
Pretty good.