The Dean's Watch

Each of us is an Odysseus. Now and then in our journey as readers, we encounter a novel at just the right time in our lives, and it resonates with us, and we carry the lives of the characters and their joys and sorrows in our own hearts.Dean of the Cathedral, Adam Ayscough is unloved by his beautiful wife, misunderstood by his congregation, and thought ugly by all, except the whirlwind child, Bella. Unsuccessful in ridding the town of a slum, Adam feels like a failure. A talented administrator, what Adam truly wants to be is a shepherd to his flock. Breaking out of the script written for him, Adam decides to do just that: Be a shepherd!With a keen understanding of the hungers of the human heart, Adam transforms the lives of an indentured servant, his cruel master, an alcoholic pastor grieving for his wife, a jobless mother, and lovable Isaac Peabody, the depressed watchmaker who lives with the sourest of sisters.It's refreshing to read about a good person doing good things, restoring joy to the lives of those living on the edge of bleakness and despair. Goudge reminds us how our lives intertwine with others and, that sometimes, life does indeed have a happy ending--and that we can be the bringer of happiness to others. The love story of Polly and Job is an antidote to the unrequited marriage of the Dean and his wholly selfish wife, Elaine. (Ah, we all need a Polly in our lives--cheerful, forgiving, pragmatic. Polly was my favorite character in the novel).A master storyteller, few writers can touch Elizabeth Goudge's lyrical prose or the transporting depth and breadth of her Dickens-like characters, plot, and research. It's as if she can see the underside of leaves, of hearts. I find myself rereading, reciting aloud, and emailing to others her memorable insights. The chapters on the intricacies of watchmaking and the history of cathedrals are wholly fascinating: Goudge elevates her readers.Only one thing is lacking in this edition--the wonderful sketches of A. R. Whitear. I hope the publisher will consider including them in this edition.This novel would be a perfect gift for Advent or Lent; I am a richer, kinder person for having read it. My next reading adventure will be Goudge's "Scent of Water".

At first, I didn’t think I would enjoy reading this book because of how old-fashioned it is in its layout. But then, I fell in love with the way she described things and I could see that her thinking, though not linear, was beautiful in the way it connected people and places, and everything that was described was with such beauty. I want to devour all of her books thank you Elizabeth. Someday we will meet. Grateful for the gospel of love.

Ah, this story is so beautiful and sad! A sermon is a personal contract. He had failed at personal contracts. What a statement! The Dean was a good man, but what him a great man was that in the last few months of his life, he made personal contracts. Do not wait to truly love others personally. Life is too short to be selfish, unforgiving, aloof, angry, or indifferent. These things not only rob is of relationships, they rob us of enjoying the beauty around us, of truly living. Goudge wove a hauntingly beautiful story that is worthy of a reread.

Elizabeth Goudge wrote like no one else with whom I may compare her. Writing today, she might be called a magic-realist. I won't pigeonhole her; she took me to the 1800s as real and as unearthly as any dream. When I closed the book after the final sentence, such a mingling of emotions passed through me that I had a sense of exhilaration mingled with anguish. God, loneliness, vanity, the tragic hero, the child who continues to live in each of us--Goudge brings the reader to such a thorough understanding of each that the Dean's Watch is a sort of exquisite poetic primer for life. The dark and frigid nature of a winter torrent is inextricably woven into the kindness of one drenched wayfarer to another; one suddenly knows that the weather and the characters are one.The same is true again and again throughout the book. What does a clock have to do with making a meal with tanning a hide with fishing with chimney sweeping with an unlikely friendship? Everything and nothing and this is, finally, everything. If any writer capsules in words all the facets of Life, that writer is Goudge. In her work, she can never be gone from us. What a witty, welcome trick she has played.

This is a very simple novel, but like Glittering Images or Theo of Golden, there is a spiritual truth that runs through the whole of the book. The novel is not as good as Theo of Golden but I enjoyed it simple message.

With every book I have read by Elizabeth Goudge I have met some great characters but have also learnt lessons that help in my own daily living. I enjoyed how the main male personalities came together in The Dean's Watch, how their friendship caused each of them to look at themselves and situations differently, how it helped both characters reach out to others. The female characters I have not only met in my life time but now recognize some of their characteristic in my own personality (which I had not noticed before and I am not that proud of them)and reading how the author coped with these ladies has given me tools for repairing my own behavior in the future. I had a good feeling when I had finished this book, it left me searching out more book by Elizabeth Goudge and I have enjoyed all of her works that I have reads so far.

The Dean's Watch is a book that should be better known than it is, just as Elizabeth Goudge is an author who should be better known than she is. A quiet, powerful story of courage, faith, creativity, craftsmanship, loss, forgiveness and the redemptive power of love, in The Dean's Watch, the author affectionately observes the nobility of ordinary people struggling to do right in their ordinary day-to-day lives. Appealing to readers of all ages and genders and a page-turner from start to finish, The Dean"s Watch is a compelling story written by one of the best working authors of her generation.

Characters were compelling and the story well written. I could picture the characters and the environments. I liked the faith journeys depicted.

I nearly gave up during the first few pages or so which describe the watchmaker at his work. I thought it seemed a bit slow, and nearly gave up. How glad I am that I persevered with this wonderful book.It follows the lives of a small group of people who live in and around Ely cathedral and traces how they are changed through their interactions with each other, and how they grow in love- a Christian would describe it as how they are offered God's grace, and how they respond to it.Seeing how the characters change and grow in happiness is just wonderful. I have already recommended the book to several friends. It's a book you will want to talk about with kindred spirits.Beautifully written. Fascinating detail about the history of Ely. A book to keep and come back to, time and time again.A refreshment to the spirit.

Beautifully written and touching story about unlikely friendships in a 19th century English village. Highly recommended.

This is a wonderful book. I read it every year around Christmas and can only recommend it to everyone. It is just great.

A book for those who wish to turn from the ugliness and stress of so much modern literature. It sooths the mind and strengthens faith.

I first read this book about 40 years ago, and have read it again a number of times since. It is a December treat!So many wonderful characters whom one grows to know and love. Marvellous descriptions of a 19th century city and its inhabitants and its glorious cathedral. A tale of suffering, love and redemption. I cannot recommend it highly enough!