When God told Prophet John Wroe to comfort himself with seven virgins, his congregation gave him its daughters. So begins this provocative and imme...
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reviews
Mar 22, 2011
Adrian
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Mr. Wroe is the Prophet of the Christian Israelites and one day he gets a message that he’s supposed to take seven virgins into his household. And his congregants are eager to offer up their daughters - the young ones, the ones to crippled or mentally deficient to marry otherwise, the unwanted niece. Some want to be chosen - the pious old maid and the beautiful egotist with a secret that needs to be hidden.
What I first assumed seemed to be incorrect. After all, what else would a man More...
What I first assumed seemed to be incorrect. After all, what else would a man More...
Feb 12, 2011
Lauren
rated it:
A provocative and well written fictional account of the British 19th c. religious doomsday cult headed by the physically challenged but charismatic Mr. Wroe. Wroe requests from his community seven virgins "for succor and comfort." The novel is told in the voice of four of these women, during the nine months the community held together before (unsurprising) allegations tore it apart. The voices of the women are wonderfully written, at times ironic, at times poignant, at times arch.
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Apr 06, 2009
(The Creative Writing audio lessons provided by the Open University on iTunes includes two interviews with Jane Rogers on her craft, both dealing with Mr Wroe's Virgins. They are: Jane Rogers as Novelist and Jane Rogers on Adapting for Television. All links will open in iTunes.)
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Jul 15, 2008
Julie
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I'm very surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I'd tried to start it before, and was turned off by the religious aspect (too close to the polygamist cult scandal here in Texas), but on a second try, it really stuck. These 7 girls/women are not just blind religious followers. They are each there for different reasons, and benefit in various ways. Although some are "bad", others learn from the other women, and from the prophet and his teachings as well. The chance to become one of t
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Jul 28, 2010
Sarah
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One of the best books I have ever read. Loved the way different characters tell different aspects of the story from a different point of view and contradict each other. Characterisation of different girls brilliant - you really knew whose chapter you were reading.
Jul 25, 2011
Kirsty
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I read this after seeing the BBC(?) drama, and I loved the book very much indeed. Each of the different women splits your loyalties and makes you wonder about how you feel about Mr Wroe and what you would have done in their position. Not perfect, but quite marvellous.
Aug 12, 2009
Marvin
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A complex, difficult, but rewarding book. A sectarian "prophet" takes 6 virgins into his household. In the voices of 4 of them--one of them mentally disabled--we hear how their lives are transformed by this charlatan.
Apr 12, 2009
Mary Angel
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I loved this book. It grabbed me from page one. I like when books are narrated from different points of view & this writer does so very effectively.
Jan 06, 2009
Daisy
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A tale of religious cults in 19th century England. Who knew it would be so dull?
Dec 03, 2007
Charity
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Love this! Sometimes there's nothing creepier than a little reality. This is a fictional account of the man who in 1800’s England announced that God intended him to have 7 virgins. So what happened? People handed over their little princesses. Rogers’ version of life with the 'prophet' is truly dark and gripping.
Jul 03, 2011
Lauren
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I plowed through this entire book and at the end I felt like I missed something. I didn't really enjoy reading it and found the book to be kind of dull. I picked up the book because I found the plot line to be intriguing (who ISN'T intrigued by cults?), but I think it fell flat.
May 19, 2011
Sally
rated it:
I remember the mini-series...wish it was available on DVD as I'd love to see it again. The book is great - fascinating....
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