The Dean's Watch

by Elizabeth Goudge and Illus Goudge . Whitear

Book Overview

A compelling saga of an unlikely friendship threaded together by redemption and grace.Dean of the cathedral in an 1870s English town, Adam Ayscough is respected and misunderstood. A dogged crusader... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: B003LMO0H8
• Release Date: January 1943
• Publisher: Hodder Stoughton
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.

Customer Reviews

I am almost finished reading The Dean's Watch and I wish I had just begun the reading. Her characters are rich with human frailties and unbelievable strengths in kindness. Goudge's descriptions put me onto the page and into the story. I hope other readers will meld with the characters as I have.

A work of quiet resonance...

Elizabeth Goudge is a fine writer. Her language is rich as butter. All of her stories are interesting, but this one is beautiful. I believe that, after all the books I have read in my rather long life, books of all manner of styles and genres, this book is the deepest and best. Her characterizations are strong and complex, her consideration of the human state both honest and compassionate. There is great affection for humanity, even in her most honest and grieving portrayal of it. Beautiful writing, strong story, interesting and provoking characters - I enjoy so much the honor of spending a few hours with this woman and the depth of her faith, courage and love.

Subtle & powerful: the writing & changes in the characters

My favorite by Goudge, by far. She takes you there on a flying carpet of words so that you can see, smell and hear, visiting the homes and lives of the rich and weak, the poor and strong, the bitter, the loving, the young, the old, and helpless. Central to it all is the Dean of the Cathedral, only now in his last year is he being truly changed under God's hand. And his "watch" is a timepiece, but also his alloted time on duty. Interesting things happen during his watch!There are characters we love, rejoice with, sigh for, and laugh at. We see the joy of a little girl receiving a gift of a parasol (though the Dean's joy in giving it exceeds her joy in receiving). But his wife, who has greater riches, does not rejoice in what she receives. Though non-Anglicans may need a bit of help with certain terms and concepts, grab the book and enjoy. Then share it with a friend, while you run off to get Goudge's Green Dolphin Street.

The book for which the author would like to be remembered

and I think perhaps she may be right, with the exception, perhaps, of The Little White Horse. There was a poetic, magical quality about Elizabeth Goudge's writing. I always imagined I could SMELL the English countryside when reading one of her books--which is particularly amazing considering that I don't have much sense of smell to start with! Since I wrote the above (in October 1999) the whole world has come to know that The Little White Horse is Joanne Rowling's favourite book, so I guess it's now "no contest" as to which book Goudge will be most remembered by. In some respects, that's a shame.

A well-written, fable-like story with a deeper message.

This is my favorite Elizabeth Goudge book. I read this every December before the Christmas holidays. This is a very well-written story about people in a small English cathedral village thrown together by a humble clockmaker. Lives are being changed and we are told how and why. It's a gentle story, and told with much insight into human behavior.

a beautiful depiction of the power of love to change lives.

This novel takes place in a remote Cathedral city in England; the reader is drawn into various peoples'lives, central among them the Dean of the Cathedral. It is the story of the way that this humble man, who is unaware of the impact of his simple love for God and his fellow man, deeply affects many in his city. It is a beautifully told story of the healing power of love. Highly recommended.