The Wonderful Year

by William John Locke

1916. A novel set in the Perigord of France at the onset of World War I.

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1916

About the author

William John Locke was a British novelist, dramatist and playwright, best known for his short stories. His works have been made into 24 motion pictures, the most recent of which was Ladies in Lavender, filmed in 2004 and starring Dame Judi Dench and Maggie Smith. Probably the most famous of Locke's books adapted to the screen was the 1918 Pickford Film Corporation production of Stella Maris starring Mary Pickford. In addition, four of his books were made into Broadway plays, two of which Locke wrote and were produced by Charles Frohman.

Reviews

[Alisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I've come to expect from this author, the story won't stay in one place for too long. His people are not archetypal either; they're all pretty distinct.
Martin and Corinna rediscover each other in Paris--they're old friends, and they're both at loose ends with no sure purpose in life. Just then they run into a Fortinbras, a man who styles himself "the merchant of happiness." For a small fee he listens to anybody's problems and then advises them.
In Martin and Corinna's case, he advises a long bicycle trip, destination: Brantome, a rural village where the inn is run by Fortinbras' family. Once there, anything can happen. People fall in and out of love. Martin becomes a waiter extraordinaire. A trip to Cairo springs up. World War I happens. A lot of things happen on the way to a simple, happy ending. If you like Locke, you will like this.

[Jeremy Wyllie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book one of his best quiet an evocative story and a story travelling across the continent it starts off with 2 friends meeting in Paris both looking for work and goal aspirations then they meet up with this kind of mystic old gentleman who tell them how to find themselves. It develops at at slow pace but then becomes quite dramatic and more exciting and the plot thickens . Usual romance with twists and turns . Some good description of principal life in France prior tonwar outbreak
1 main hero character which is well drawn
It is set just prior to WW2
Worth 4 stars

[🐶 Amy Beagle Mom x2 🐶 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I’m so glad I gave it a go, as I’d never heard of this author- but the story really kept me going and I loved it.
I can’t wait to read some of his other titles.
I listened to the audiobook, courtesy of LibriVox.
If the reader has basic (to a little beyond) knowledge of the French language it isn’t mandatory but I sure think it helps. The book is in English but many of the characters speak French and occasionally Mr Locke throws in few words and phrases en Francais.
The reader of this volume was the excellent Simon Evers. I admire the way he can ever so slightly color the tone of his voice and you immediately know which character is speaking.
How did I overlook William John Locke being that I enjoy fiction from this era? I don’t know but I’m happy to have found him and this book in particular.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the original edition of this book and enjoyed it thoroughly. Not that it was compelling or engrossing, but it transported me to another time and another country.

[Perry Whitford]

- Martin Overshaw: a mild thirty year old French teacher in need of an adventure
- Corinna Hastings: a failed art student
- Fortinbras: Corinna knows him to be a 'Marchand de Bonheur, eccentric Bohemian, half charlatan, half good-fellow,'

[Ana Osorio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es un libro encantador, capaz de transportarte a una época olvidada.

[Estott · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young man with only a modest amount of money doesn't know what to do, so he consults an oracular friend at a cafe who advises that he ride a bicycle through rural France and stop at the inn a friend runs. He becomes quite friendly with the innkeeper and his family, and when it turns out they need a waiter, he obliges- after all, he has a dress suit and no place to wear it! Charming and warm hearted light romance with a few tragic notes towards the end- and of course World War 1 enters the plot.