DownloadThe Portobello Bookshop Gift Guide 2024

Mr Fortune's Maggot

A journey of faith and understanding on a remote island

Sylvia Townsend Warner author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Penguin Books Ltd

Published:25th Feb '21

Should be back in stock very soon

Mr Fortune's Maggot cover

The Reverend Timothy Fortune's mission to convert a remote island tests his faith and optimism in Mr Fortune's Maggot, revealing profound insights.

In Mr Fortune's Maggot, the Reverend Timothy Fortune has dedicated his life to spreading Christianity on the isolated island of Fanua. Once an ex-clerk at Lloyds Bank, he has embraced his new role with unwavering enthusiasm. Despite the indifference of the island's inhabitants, save for a curious young boy named Lueli, Mr. Fortune's optimism remains intact. His mission is not only about faith but also about understanding the lives and beliefs of those he seeks to convert.

As Mr. Fortune continues his efforts, he faces a profound challenge that tests his faith and convictions. The tranquility of Fanua is disrupted, leading him to confront the complexities of belief, purpose, and the human condition. This poignant narrative explores the depths of faith and the intricacies of cultural exchange, revealing the struggles and triumphs of a man caught between two worlds.

With lyrical prose and a keen psychological insight, Mr Fortune's Maggot invites readers to reflect on the nature of belief and the impact of one individual’s journey on a community. The story is both moving and thought-provoking, offering a unique perspective on the challenges of faith in a world that often seems indifferent to it. Through Mr. Fortune’s experiences, we are reminded of the power of conviction and the importance of understanding in the face of adversity.

Original, elegant and hypnotically strange -- Miranda Seymour * The New York Times *
At long last I pulled down from its place on the shelves Sylvia Townsend Warner's plump little novel impishly titled Mr. Fortune's Maggot and was once again amazed by what a witty, poetic, clairvoyant writer this English woman was -- John Updike
Mr. Fortune's Maggot is satire at its best. There are passages here - particularly those delightfully malicious ones, of which there are many - that still cause the reader to laugh out loud. There is so much truth here -- Anthony Slide
Sylvia Townsend Warner pursues the psychology of the story with beautiful accuracy -- John Carey
Her writing is full of melodic skills... Her sentences move like talk between intimates. Perhaps that is why this quizzical tale is so intensely moving -- Gillian Beer * New Statesman *

ISBN: 9780241476093

Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 8mm

Weight: 123g

160 pages