The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy: A Novel

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry comesan exquisite love story about Queenie Hennessy, the remarkable friend who inspired Harolds cross-country journey. This lovely book is full of joy. Much more than the story of a womans enduring love for an ordinary, flawed man, its an ode to messy, imperfect, glorious, unsung humanity.The Washington Post A runaway international bestseller, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry followed its unassuming hero on an incredible journey as he traveled the length of England on foota journey spurred by a simple letter from his old friend Queenie Hennessy, writing from a hospice to say goodbye. Harold believed that as long as he kept walking, Queenie would live. What he didnt know was that his decision to walk had caused her both alarm and fear. How could she wait? What would she say? Forced to confront the past, Queenie realizes she must write again. In this poignant parallel story to Harolds saga, acclaimed author Rachel Joyce brings Queenie Hennessys voice into sharp focus. Setting pen to paper, Queenie makes a journey of her own, a journey that is even bigger than Harolds; one word after another, she promises to confess long-buried truthsabout her modest childhood, her studies at Oxford, the heartbreak that brought her to Kingsbridge and to loving Harold, her friendship with his son, the solace she has found in a garden by the sea. And, finally, the devastating secret she has kept from Harold for all these years. A wise, tender, layered novel that gathers tremendous emotional force, The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy underscores the resilience of the human spirit, beautifully illuminating the small yet pivotal moments that can change a persons life.