The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce: book review

The UnlikelyPilgrimage of Harold Fry (2012) is the story of a retired man from Kingsbridge on the southern coast of England. He receives a letter in a Turkish Delight coloured pink envelope. It is from Queenie Hennessy, dying of cancer in a hospice in Berwick-upon-Tweed in Scotland – almost as far north as you can get.

Harold and Queenie used to work together in the local brewery. She was one of the first women to work there, employed in the finance department.

Harold pens a sympathy letter to Queenie and walks down the street to post it. But he doesn’t stop. He walks to the next post box, and just keeps on walking, with no preparation, no gear, and no mobile phone, and without saying goodbye to his wife, Maureen. He has this idea that he will walk to Queenie’s hospice. He sends postcards to Queenie to tell her to wait – don’t die yet – he’s coming.

Harold telephones Maureen about every second day. How does she cope with his news, his desire to see Queenie? Will he come back to her? Should she get in the car and bring him back home? And what of their son David?

He hasn’t seen Queenie in 20 years, since the time she left work abruptly. After 87 days and 627 miles (1,009 kilometres), he arrives in Berwick.

This is about a journey, a purpose in life, but it is also about the impact of his spontaneous decision on his wife and their 45-year marriage, the people he meets along the way (their influence on him and his influence on them), the anticipation and the outcome of the eventual reunion.

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Pir-E-Kamil - The Perfect Mentor by Umera Ahmed: book review

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