This poignant fable is by turns heart breaking, hilarious and uplifting. On the surface, the story of Harold Fry is that of an ordinary pensioner who is stuck in a loveless marriage with Maureen, his wife of forty years. He worked for the same company in the same position for his whole career and has retired six months before this novel is set.On a seemingly normal day in this retirement, he receives an unsolicited letter from Queenie Hennessey, a former colleague who Harold owes a debt of gratitude to. The letter reveals that Queenie has terminal cancer. She is in a hospice and her prognosis is grim.
So, Harold, being a quiet individual, trots out to post a reply. As he covers the familiar roads of his town, he begins to realise that the process of walking is bringing a number of memories back to his mind, most notably of his son David, from whom he and Maureen are estranged.
Upon hearing the inspiring story of a girl working at a garage who he stops to talk to on the way, Harold decides to walk from Kingsbridge where he lives to Berwick upon Tweed, where Queenie is convalescing, in order to try and save her.
This seemingly futile exercise holds a much deeper meaning for Harold, as he comes to confront his present loneliness and the vast difficulties of his past. As he walks, he encounters many people who are inspired by his quest and it is in these minor characters that Rachel Joyce's creation really comes to life.
She is also excellent at allowing us access to Harold's rich and troubled inner life. On the surface, Harold Fry is an everyman, seemingly dull and lacking in imagination. We find out with Joyce's help what makes him appear that way and why he seems so wracked with fear through every step of his journey.
At home, Maureen's quiet resentment of Harold continues to stir and we are given her perspective on why her marriage is failing. Maureen is not always a sympathetic character but her take on Harold's adventure is one that changes as he gets closer to succeeding in his task.
Her friendship with Rex, the Fry's next door neighbour, is touching and well realised. As Harold walks through Britain and the two of them track his progress, Maureen comes to reconcile herself to Harold not only for what he is currently doing but also for his actions towards her in the past.
It is the journey itself that changes Harold's perspective on the world and by the end of the tale, his life is irrevocably changed. The end is handled with the same delicate sensitivity that Rachel Joyce uses in the rest of the book.
A moving and rewarding novel.
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