Do You like book Harnessing Peacocks (1990)?
I picked up an old, yellowed paperback copy of Harnessing Peacocks because the cover had a pretty still life on the cover and because the author was English. I was vaguely aware of Mary Wesley, but didn't know much about her or her work. When I started reading and learned pretty early on that Hebe, the main character, is a prostitute, or a "tart" I thought, "oh boy, what have I gotten myself into?". I don't usually read books about prostitutes. But that is what this novel is all about - breaking barriers, dispelling preconceived notions, making social commentary. It is a bit dated, since it was written in the mid-80's, but that, combined with its Englishisms, and some slight anti-Americanisms sprinkled here and there, only add to the novel's charms. I can't wait to read more of Mary Wesley, who, thankfully, wrote a pile of novels.
—Deborah Purdon
I had no idea what to expect when I sat down with this book 'cold', reading it because I'm going to a lecture about the author and this particular book from her works. At first I struggled with where it was going, then started to see the fine line of irony Wesley was laying down down...and then it blew into a farce, a comedy of manners, and was deliciously entertaining. By the end I was laughing. It's sexy, bright and unapologetic with humorously odd characters (or are they more normal than the book suggests?). Just plain fun to read. My copy includes an introduction from her son Toby Eady, to whom the book is dedicated. It may well be that this was the book that explained her many lovers to her son. It also contains one of her frequent themes (according to Wikipedia): the affirmation of illegitimacy - which again relates to Toby, the result of an affair with a Czech war hero. This is my first Mary Wesley but hopefully not my last! And incidentally, the title is perfect. The main character is Hebe Rutter. In Greek mythology Hebe is the messenger of the gods, the peacock harnesser. The meaning of her name is mentioned several times through the book, but there is a particularly lovely part right at the end. What a find.
—Malvina
A young woman finds herself pregnant and surprised that her family aren't going to be supportive (in fact, they plan to get her an abortion without consulting her), she runs away and 13 years later, the book really begins. Because Hebe is living life on her terms as a cook and a "tart," and supporting her son, Silas, surrounded by a loving group of people who are both clients and friends. Everything goes well until the separate strands of her life become tangled — her son goes on a trip to an island with a family that confuses and irritates him, Hebe goes off to cook for one of her clients and two of her lovers not only find out about each other, they come to face to face.This is a loving book about people you will care about and wish the best. Its a whole different book from what I've read before and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
—Pamela Mclaren