Miss Buncle Married by D. E. Stevenson

Ah, Miss Buncle.  You cannot help but love her.  I recently reviewed Miss Buncle's Book, about how Barbara Buncle became a bestselling author but her book riled up her little village when they discovered someone had fictionalized the inhabitants, their quirks and motives with stunning detail.  

Miss Buncle's Book was such a delight that naturally I had to read Miss Buncle Married when I found out it was being reissued by Sourcebooks Landmark.  

In Miss Buncle Married, Barbara is now Mrs. Abbott.  Mr. & Mrs. Abbott are happily married and have a wide circle of friends.  But, their social life has become such a burden that they've decided that it's time to move.  Barbara busies herself with the task of finding a new home.  Eventually she discovers the perfect place, a wreck called The Archway House that has sat empty for many years.  Mr. Abbott is dismayed, but he's utterly unable to resist his wife's charming determination.  They buy the house for a song and Barbara sets about having it redone.

When Barbara first views the house, she is mistaken for a woman much older than herself, who has recently changed her will.  The mistake leads to a bit of inside information that Barbara promises to keep close.  That's a bit too complex to go into and you wouldn't want me to spoil the fun, anyway, would you?  

As they settle into their new home, the Abbotts gradually become popular in their new social circle in Wandlebury.  And, beyond that, there's just so much goofy fun that I can't even begin to describe it all. Somewhere in there, for example, is a little bit of intrigue about a fellow dressed up in Shakespearean garb and mistaken for a ghost.  Trust me, you just have to read it.  

I was slightly more entertained by Miss Buncle Married than I was by Miss Buncle's Book but, as I said in my review of the former, I think that has something to do with the fact that we were in the midst of a move.  Well, that and the huge cast of characters. Miss Buncle is charming and insecure in Miss Buncle's Book but in Miss Buncle Married, she begins to develop self-confidence.  She is a lovely, quirky, wonderful character.  

Miss Buncle Married was originally published in 1936.  Whilst perusing a list of D. E. Stevenson's books at Wikipedia, I discovered there's a book called The Two Mrs. Abbotts.  I hope that's another Barbara Buncle Book and that I can get my mitts on a copy.  I highly recommend Miss Buncle Married.  

Cover thoughts:

Love, love, love the covers of the both books.  I think they reflect the heroine's spirit perfectly.  

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