Mr Finchley Goes to Paris

Written by Victor Canning

Narrated by John Higgins

Book 2 of the classic trilogy of humorous adventures

An ebullient Mr Finchley is about to propose marriage to a lady he had rescued from mishap, when he is sent to Paris by his firm.

There he manages to upset a boat, adopt a stray orphan and get himself kidnapped. The fine tangle he gets into takes some unravelling! Only when eventually back in London does he complete the proposal of marriage that was interrupted at the start.

This gentle comedy trilogy was a runaway bestseller on first publication in the 1930s and retains a timeless appeal today. It has been dramatized twice for BBC Radio, with the 1990 series regularly repeated.

What people are saying about the Mr Finchley series:

‘Wonderful character from a kinder slower England between the wars.’

‘An overlooked gem. An innocent picaresque novel set in an arcadian version of mid 20th century England. The literary equivalent of naive painting, it narrates the adventures of a respectable upper middle-aged man who takes retirement.’

‘An antidote to the rush of the early 21st century.’

‘A thoroughly enjoyable stroll through a vanished England with some lovable characters. Don't expect modern, fashionable agonisings, here there is good, evil, and understanding. A lovely reminiscent wallow of a read.’

‘Gentle well told simple story, full of pleasant surprises, and a mild mannered believable hero. Loved it to bits.’

‘So gentle, it hurts.’

‘There is a freshness about the writing which is charming and that disarms criticism. Don't expect any great profundities, a gripping plot or inter-character tensions - these books are of the world of Billy Bunter and William Brown - but do expect a very well-written and enjoyable romp through early twentieth-century England in the company of an engaging protagonist.’

‘A delightful story of a man who finds himself jolted out of his comfort zone and taken on a journey beyond his wildest imaginings.’

‘Another lovely book detailing the adventures of Mr Finchley in altogether far too short a series. Full of humour and a book I was sorry to finish as I wanted it to go on and on.’

‘Highly recommended for anyone seeking an entertaining amusing read.’

‘A delight to be transported to an England I never knew despite growing up in the 1950s and to experience the countryside through the sharp eyes of the author who obviously had a great love of all things rural.’

Editorial reviews:

‘Quite delightful, with an atmosphere of quiet contentment and humour that cannot fail to charm … The longer we travel with Mr Finchley, the better we come to love him. He makes us share his bread and cheese, and beer and pipe. His delight at the beauties of the countryside and his mild astonishment at the strange ways of men are infectious.’ Daily Telegraph

‘His gift of story-telling is obviously innate. Rarely does one come on so satisfying an amalgam of plot, characterisation and good writing.’ Punch

‘A paean to the beauties of the English countryside and the lovable oddities of the Engli

• Language: English
• Publisher: Duckworth Books
• Release date: Aug 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9781788423908

Victor Canning

Victor Canning was a prolific writer, his first novel published when he was just 23. His later thrillers were dark and complex, and received great critical acclaim. "The Rainbird Pattern" was awarded the CWA Silver Dagger in 1973. In 1976 it was transformed by Alfred Hitchcock into the comic film The Family Plot. He also wrote pseudonymously as Julian Forest and Alan Gould. He died in February 1986 in Cirencester.

Reviews for Mr Finchley Goes to Paris

[Abi may · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Gentle visit to another time, no real tension as everything works out in the end. Unrealistic, a few dated attitudes and cultural idiosyncrasies, but still enjoyable if you don't take it seriously. Back to an era when the post was delivered multiple times a day. The "evening post"!