Harold and Maureen and their epic journey of redemption - to Berwick Upon Tweed

We are celebrating World Book Night this year with Abingdon Library at a free event with guest speaker, Rachel Joyce – to which you are invited.

Hotly tipped as being one of the debuts of the year, Rachel Joyce has written a story about a modern day pilgrimage with a very unlikely hero – Harold Fry.

Harold Fry hasn't done anything much since he retired. In fact, looking back, he hasn't ever done very much. So when he sets out to post a letter and ends up deciding to walk over 600 miles to deliver it in person, no-one is more surprised than Harold at his new-found determination.

Fun, thoughtful and touching read where you are always willing Harold to succeed. The journey is less than smooth, but it is also redemptive and a lesson that it is never too late to start again.

Here is what Abingdon Library’s Rosie Tilston has to say about 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry':

I loved this book. I was drawn in from the very beginning, captivated by the idea of a man setting out to save someone’s life by walking the length of England. This he does entirely on impulse; he intended to post the letter to his dying friend not deliver it to her personally!

Like Christian from the John Bunyan classic, Harold Fry introduces the reader to the many fascinating people he meets on his journey and with every step and encounter he unravels the tangle of his life. As we, Harold’s travelling companions, piece together his story and each new revelation draws us further into his world we learn too of his wife, Maureen, waiting at home forced to confront her past also, by her husband’s unexpected departure.

Rachel Joyce has written a “page turner” but it would be important not to dismiss it as only that. Here, difficult issues are handled with a touching sensitivity and the reader is left at the end feeling uplifted, moved and changed by the experience.

World Book Night looks set to become an annual national celebration of books – a good excuse for all lovers of good books to unite on a particular evening to swap and recommend favourite books and to find new authors to read.

We are really pleased to be hosting this joint event with Abingdon Library, Transworld and Rachel Joyce to celebrate World Book Night this year.

Tickets are free. There will be refreshments, as well as lots of enthusiasm about books. This event is expected to be very popular so you do need to get a ticket (from Mostly Books or the library) – although tickets are free.

We look forward to hearing what Rachel Joyce has to say about her own writing journey to becoming such a hotly tipped new authors. The event is on Monday 23 April at 7.30pm.


(Until 29 March, listen to Rachel Joyce on Woman's Hour - fast forward to 34 mins and 30 secs...)