ABANDONED. Old widow, new life-start

[Marion]

Plot: An old woman's well-known, esteemed husband dies. She's always been of the quiet sort + kept her thoughts to herself.
Now her (I think 3) grown, useless, snobbish, unempathic children think it their duty to care for her. They don't really want to have her living with them, but talk about their "duty" at length (revealing their atrocious characters).

The new widow has other plans: She kind of leases an old house from the very eccentric owner (he often moves in dance-steps) and moves in alone.
The owner is very caring of this old gentlewoman, and he + she come to have a tender, polite relationship. (He puts up flowwers for her secretly.)

The widow refuses to see any of her children, but she follows the life of her granddaughter, who finally comes to visit her and they have a good talk.
I think the widow dies in the end.

Very uplifting story of women's power of re-inventing oneself even at a high age.

Sadly, I don't remember either title or author (I think it was a female author).
Can anyone help? Thanks!

[Becca]

This sounds interesting - roughly when (what year) did you read it?

[Marion]

Hi Becca, thanks for your answer! I read the novel twice, maybe during the last 4 years.

I like the book very much, was convinced I had it on my shelves, and have had a thorough look, but I just can't find it (I'm notoriously bad with author names, and sadly, I can't remember any of the characters' names, either).

I've googled extensively, and found quite a few books with similar topic/ issues, but the one I'm looking for didn't appear.

I also think I remember it as an older book, i.e., maybe 19... rather than 20....

The book is not of the highest literary merit, but well written, with many humorous bits. Stylewise, think Jane Gardam, or maybe Elizabeth Taylor (the one of Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont).

I can remember so much of the plot: The heroine had seen the house long before, and taken a great liking to it; remembering it when her husband died.

The marriage of the old heroine (who is small and thin, but healthy) wasn't loveless, but she did live for her husband (I think he was a politician) and the children only, foregoing her own wishes and dreams.

The childrens' shallow characters are wonderfully drawn; I think it was one son and 2 daughters.

I do hope I find the book again....

x, Marion.

[Kris]

Marion, please post a new comment if you're still looking for this book - or if you found it.

Marion (OP) was last active on the site in March 2020. Moving to Abandoned folder.