The Vicar of Sorrows

by A.N. Wilson

His lack of love for either his wife or his religion do not seem to bother clergyman Francis Kreer until his mother dies, leaving him an inheritance, and he falls in love with a most unsuitable young woman.

Genres: Fiction

391 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Andrew Norman Wilson is an English writer and newspaper columnist, known for his critical biographies, novels, works of popular history and religious views. He is an occasional columnist for the Daily Mail and former columnist for the London Evening Standard, and has been an occasional contributor to the Times Literary Supplement, New Statesman, The Spectator and The Observer.

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, it is on the brink of being a comedy or a tragedy. The CofE types are deliciously and waspishly portrayed. Careerist Archdeacon. Cynical gay Anglo-catholic priest. Well-meaning but ineffectual ex-RAF church warden. And Francis himself, old fashioned, classically-trained, agnostic, book of common prayer traditionalist priest. This entertaining novel made me wonder, maybe it's true, the English are terminally sexually repressed? And a bit obsessed by social class?

[Artie LeBlanc · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoughtful description of one man's protracted descent into madness. Wryly funny at points, but overall it is very sad. Love is portrayed in its many forms - passionate, steadfast, fleeting, sexual, dependant, waning, habitual. Recommended.

[Rita Kruger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book because it is a slow fall into madness. Have you ever been trapped? Not like in a physical situation, but an emotional one. The Vicar of Sorrows is about a man trapped in a job he cannot get out of, and believe me he tries. It is also about a man trapped in marriage with a woman he does not love now, and maybe he never loved her.

Society has this idea the madness is something that just happens. People snap under pressure and do something horrible. That is not the case. Madness can be traced. It is something that develops slowly over a period of time, and if we look closely we can see its progress. But only in other people, never in ourselves.

I recommend this book to anyone that wants to see that walk from sane to insane. A.N. Wilson must have personal experience with this process, because this is done so well here.

[Deb Van Iderstine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm putting this one aside, and honestly don't think I'll be back. I know that I listened to it at some point in the past, what I'm hearing is mostly familiar, and I simply can't care enough about the characters to go on. The elements of the story all appeal to me, but the way this author has combined them simply doesn't work for me. I just read the first few chapters of a different book, and immediately want to know more, the exact opposite of my reaction to the thought of listening to the next chapter of "Vicar". Enough said.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book although it is desparately sad. Every character has their own sadness and despair with very little hope. Only Jay comes out with any ray of light. It is also extremely funny especially the descriptions ofrelationships!
Lovely language, so many references to religion, literature and the classics.

[David Gagen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it all ends rather farcically, this is quite a funny & twisted satire on Church theology & small mindedness as we witness the self-destruction of a local Vicar. Silly in places, but the almost tragic delusions of Francis make for an entertaining read. Lots of stereotypical minor characters add to the comic tone.

[Mary-margaret · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't finish this book.

[LKN75 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just did not enjoy this book. I stopped reading after a few pages. The constant bitter, snarky dialog between characters was annoying.

[Maxine · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a fan of A.N.Wilson, I found this book disappointing. Some of the writing is typical A.N. Wilson, wry, and very British. Much of it is bogged down in liturgical explanations and churchly snobbery that is uninteresting at best.

The characters are straight out of a very basic Freudian array. The vicar with his Oedipal fixation. The wife with no self esteem. The "Hippie" girl with a mothering complex. The daughter who longs to be daddy's girl. The troubled sex lives of most of them.

The book's only slightly interesting concept is the deterioration of Francis Kreer, the Vicar, as he devolves from fussy Mama's boy to utter lunacy. Somewhat interesting, but very unconvincing.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

A random read from a pile of books. I hated it at first, as it was a bitter, cynical novel full of spiteful human beings who wreck each others' lives -- but then the characters slowly grew a little on me, and I definitely wanted to learn what happened to them. The ending wasn't as satisfying as I had hoped it would be, and I still don't know if I buy the transformation (or degredation?) of the main character as realistic or possible.

[Delany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just started re-reading this one. Loving it the second time around, too.

[Jeffrey Stalk · Rating 2 out of 5]

About how crises in life can make you reevaluate your life -- sometimes with bad results. Well-written, but in the end, not my kind of story.