Five for Sorrow Ten for Joy by Rumer Godden, Paperback, 9780349017549 | Buy online at The Nile
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Five for Sorrow Ten for Joy

A Virago Modern Classic

Author: Rumer Godden   Series: Virago Modern Classics

Paperback

A gripping novel about convent life from master storyteller Rumer Godden, now part of a sumptuous new reissue collection from Virago Modern Classics.

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Pre order release date
12th May 2025
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Paperback

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Summary

A gripping novel about convent life from master storyteller Rumer Godden, now part of a sumptuous new reissue collection from Virago Modern Classics.

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Description

BY THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF BLACK NARCISSUS AND THE RIVER

'One of our best and most captivating novelists' PHILIP HENSHER

'Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy is about growth, choice, struggle, and the freedom of the soul' JOAN CHITTISTER

'[Godden's] distinctive, poised and unsentimental books have never lost a shred of their almost hypnotic appeal' ROSIE THOMAS, GUARDIAN

The Sisters of Bethanie, a French order of Dominican nuns, dedicate themselves to caring for the outcasts of society - criminals, prostitutes and drug addicts. Lise, an English girl who after the liberation of Paris was employed in one of the city's smartest brothels and rose to become a successful madame, finds herself joining the sisters. An inspiring and entirely convincing conversion story that shows how the mercy of God extends to the darkest human places.

Master storyteller, Rumer Godden, weaves a deeply moving tale of Lise's prison sentence, her conversion and the agonising work among women whose traumatic experiences often outstrip even her own.

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Critic Reviews

[Godden's] distinctive, poised and unsentimental books have never lost a shred of their almost hypnotic appeal -- Rosie Thomas Guardian
One of our best and most captivating novelists -- Philip Hensher
[Godden has] a genius for storytelling Evening Standard
Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy is about growth, choice, struggle, and the freedom of the soul that transcends the license of the body. It is about finding sin where we least expect it -- Joan Chittister
Godden reaffirms her own faith in the convent joys: the beloved demands of the religious calendar; the simplicity and hard work of the day-to-day regimens Kirkus Reviews
All [Godden's novels] have one important thing in common: They are beautifully and simply wrought by a woman of depth and sensitivity Los Angeles Times

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About the Author

Rumer Godden (1907-1998) was the acclaimed author of over sixty works of fiction and non-fiction for adults and children. Born in England, she and her siblings grew up in Narayanganj, India, and she later spent many years living in Kolkata and Kashmir. Several of her novels were made into films, including Black Narcissus, The Greengage Summer and The River, which was filmed by Jean Renoir. She was appointed OBE in 1993.

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Product Details

Publisher
Little, Brown Book Group | Virago Press Ltd
Published
13th February 2025
Pages
272
ISBN
9780349017549

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12th May 2025
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