The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

By: Rachel Joyce

Narrated by: Jim Broadbent

Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

Winner: New Writer of the Year – Specsavers National Book Awards 2012.

When Harold Fry nips out one morning to post a letter, leaving his wife hoovering upstairs, he has no idea that he is about to walk from one end of the country to the other. He has no hiking boots or map, let alone a compass, waterproof, or mobile phone. All he knows is that he must keep walking - to save someone else's life.

Harold Fry is the most ordinary of men. He just might be a hero for us all.

Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent has starred in a huge range of films, from British favourites including Bridget Jones, Hot Fuzz and The Iron Lady, to Hollywood blockbusters such as Moulin Rouge, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and the Harry Potter films. He is set to star in the upcoming film adaptation of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry.

©2012 Rachel Joyce (P)2012 Random House AudioGo

Critic reviews

“From the moment I met Harold Fry, I didn't want to leave him. Impossible to put down.” (Erica Wagner, The Times)

“Harold Fry is infuriating, hilarious and completely out of his depth, but 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. Marvellous!” (Helen Simonson, author of Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand)

“A magical, moving and uplifting tale about a man's journey across Britain and into his own heart.” (Deborah Moggach)

“I loved this book. I loved its purity, its brutality and unerring honesty. I don't think I have read such richly composed metaphors before. They are like shooting stars glittering across each page. I can't believe this is her first novel- I wait with bated breath for her next.” (Natascha McElhone)

“The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry isn’t just a book I enjoyed reading, it’s a book I feel lucky to have read. It takes the most ordinary and unassuming of men and turns him into a hero for us all. Harold Fry faces the same questions we all do as we age, questions about the meaning of our lives, faith and love, but confronts them in a most surprising way. To go on this journey with him will not only break your heart, it might also just heal it.” (Tiffany Baker, New York Times best-selling author of The Little Giant of Aberdeen County)

Fabulous

I really loved her book. It captured the reality our journey as humans, how delicate life and living is. Inner feelings we all have and how they change. A beautiful story of real life and enduring love and friendship.
Thank you.

what an enlightening read

loved it. loved the story line. kept me listening as every chapter passed I wanted to know more

Great narration, story needed a good edit

This book should have been inspiring and in parts it was but it was let down by the length and meandering that gripped the book.

Stunning!

Not only is Rachel Joyce's narrative a keen commentary on life, but Jim Broadbent's performance is utterly superb. I'm so glad I selected this novel and will likely listen to it again.

Excellent! Moving and very light at the same time!

My wife picked this book, as I would never have picked about someone that walks out the door and keeps walking... However I was hooked in 5 minutes and needed to finish. Great characters, well written dialogs, storyline and great feeling to the overall story.

picked up towards the end

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

i havent read it

Would you be willing to try another book from Rachel Joyce? Why or why not?

yes

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

at times i thought he was a bit mumbly and i had to go back and listen to what he was saying

Superb perceptive, well-constructed story

Would you listen to The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry again? Why?

"For years they had been in a place where language had no significance" This quote epitomizes the breath-taking originality of the imagery in this novel. Astoundingly well-written (first published novel), with characters beautifully explored and delineated in meaningful ways. The journey takes us through ordinary towns and people, but each presented fully as recognisable individuals, but again with originality. The nature and deterioration of Harold’s marriage to Maureen (“she liked her toast thin and cold” is beautifully told from the startling moments of Harold’s brief early happiness, through the destruction from Maureen’s grating bitterness and daily life to the final tragedy that clamped shut any giving between them, forms the background to the detail of his long walk. A death is described with beauty and believable meaning. People’s weakness and pettiness, and attempts at goodness are lovingly developed. Rachel Joyce must have a superb love and understanding of her fellow humanity.

Six stars

This wonderful, so very English journey is filled with the ups and downs that is life. The triumph and tragedy will have you cheering for Herald, rolling eyes at the passers by and touched by the deep, sincere humanity of this story. An incredible read by Jim Broadbent, could not have enjoyed this as much without his performance. Thank you Rachel for sharing your gift and creating this work!

An unexpected delight

A man receives a letter from an old friend who is terminally ill. He walks to the post box to send a reply, but keeps walking. He continues walking across England because he is convinced it will save his friend's life. The premise 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' is based on is so unlikely that I didn't read it for a long time, despite glowing reviews. I can't say, even now, why I changed my mind, only that I am glad I did.

The story is so much more than a man's physical journey from one end of England to another. It is a journey through his life, through his triumphs and disappointments, his regrets and if-onlys. Along the way he meets people who help him, people who hinder him, and somewhere along the way he finds a sort of peace. I know this sounds rather fanciful and neatly-tied-with-a-bow. It isn't. It is about life being about connections and wonder and fear and laughter and a collection of memories of interconnections and opportunities missed and taken. And it's funny - laugh out loud funny in parts. Jim Broadbent is a brilliant narrator. Rightly or wrongly I pictured him as Harold, but it wasn't because he injected himself too far into the story, but rather because he sounded to me like he got Harold.

The problem I am finding with audiobooks is that when the author uses a particularly brilliant turn of phrase, or expresses something perfectly I can't dog-ear a page and come back to it later. Rachel Joyce is a talented writer, and there were quite a few times I wished I wasn't driving (I listen to audiobooks in the car) so I could write something down. You'll just have to discover these treasures for yourself. Recommended.

how endearing a story!

what a read! I loved traveling with Harold on his journey...map book out... and felt his sore feet and sad memories.