Part madcap, part travelogue, Mr. Finchley Discovers His Holiday thrusts a ridiculously average bank employee in 1930s England into increasingly wonderfully contrived and convoluted circumstances like brushes with the British criminal underworld and high speed chases through the countryside. There's more than meets the eye with Mr. Finchley and rest assured, all's well that ends well. With a touch of Walter Mitty, I'm reminded of any number anonymous person thrust into adventure archetypes ranging from Monsieur Hulot to Bilbo Baggins and also Travels With My Aunt.

Writing style and story are firmly of their time. Plenty of English reserve, stiff upper lip, common sense and "I say, Good Man!"

In that quiet interwar England so easy to idealise if one forgets what was under the surface and around the corner, Mr Finchley is a 45-year-old solicitor's clerk living a life of such quiet desperation that he doesn't even realise he's not happy. But then a change of management at work obliges him reluctantly to break his routine and – gasp! – take a holiday. Almost instantly, hijinks and scrapes ensue, as if to confirm his initial suspicion that the least deviation from regular practice must inevitably thrust a man into the company of rogues, flirts and worse. And yet the sight of the countryside by night, and sunrise over the hills, and the people he meets, also makes him realise what he's been missing, and awaken something more within him. This isn't as good as any of my first points of comparison (most obviously Jerome, or perhaps Mr Pooter tumbling into the world of Stephen Graham), but if you like them, you will probably like this too. It gains a certain horribly ironic counterpoint from largely being read around a working day, of course, but then isn't that so often how we're obliged to consume our dreams of leaving? And while for the most part a romantic and comic take on the state of the nation, it has a surprising amount of darkness dotted around (not least in the accounts of the embittered dwarf and the rich misogynist*), and an awareness of Mr Finchley's privilege compared to the vagabonds and wanderers amongst whom he moves.

*One curious detail with this last chap: we see him redeemed from his proto-incel, reverse-Havisham rage at women by Mr Finchley's intervention, and copious amounts of alcohol. But in the morning, an embarrassed Mr Finchley leaves, meaning we're left uncertain as to whether that redemption would stick – an unexpected ambiguity in a book which can tend towards the moralistic.

(Netgalley ARC)

on his first holiday in a decade, Mr. Finchley, through a number of mishaps, finds himself in the West of England. Rather than sedately going back to his planned holiday, he makes to the roads. Thereby he discovers a world of characters and adventures well beyond his London experience.

The book is delightful, gentle, funny and very well-written. it's a great accompaniment to sitting under a shady tree on a summer afternoon.

I received an advance copy of this book from Net Galley and Farrago in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun little read, full of an older, more gentle kind of humour. Mr. Finchley is a solicitor’s clerk who goes on a vacation for the first time in his life. He was expecting to spend his vacation relaxing in a typical vacation town but ends up on a cross-country adventure full of unexpected situations and interesting characters.

My favourite thing about this book is Mr. Finchley. I enjoyed watching him grow as a person as he discovered England. I liked that he became more confident with each situation he faced and that he kept on pushing himself to experience new things.

My only complaint about this book is that it was all repetitive. Mr. Finchley finds himself in a new situation, usually a bad one, he meets someone, and they help each other, and then he goes off on the next part of his adventure. Fortunately, the cast of characters that he met were all unique and interesting, so the repetitiveness didn’t bother me too much.

Overall, this was a fun little read. It made me laugh a few times, and it left me curious enough to want to read the second and third books. I recommend this to someone who is looking for something quick and lighthearted.

I just loved this delightful book from a bygone age. It was a refreshing change from many of today's novels, wonderfully written and evokes a description of a gentle England between the wars. Totally charming with engaging characters throughout with more than a touch of humour. Mr. Finchley is a gent and is forced to take a holiday from his job but what he expects is not what happens. It's a perfect read to escape from today's madness but keeps the reader engaged with what might befall Mr. Finchley next. This is book 1 of a series and I, for one, can't wait to read the others.

I really loved this book and cannot wait to read the next one!

Mr. Finchley is a delightful man we meet right before his first "vacation". He has made plans and while waiting to catch his train, gets misdirected on a different kind of vacation. He quickly embraces his new journey and, on his way, meets and befriends a colorful array of characters and experiences. He discovers the happiness that can be found through spontaneity and chance.

Not only is it a fun journey we take with Mr. Finchley, but the lovely descriptions of the country he sees bring the reader right alongside of him. Definitely a great read for your next vacation! #mrfinchleydiscovershisengland #victorcanning #bookreview #booknerd #bookstagrammer #booksofinstagram #bibliophile #ilovemylibrary #bookish #bookworm #bookpile #book #books #instaread #bookstagram #reading

Mr. Finchley who serves as clerk for a London firm finds himself taking a 3-week vacation for the first time in years. The new manager insisted he take it. He books himself for a trip to Margate, but from the beginning of his trip things take a strange turn. Mr. Finchley finds himself in one adventure after another. Mr. Finchley is not one to be on the wrong side of the law, but he finds himself skirting it on several occasions because he is too trusting of shady characters he encounters along the way. The humor comes mostly from seeing what one considers a straight-laced person in the situations in which he finds himself. He learns quite a bit about himself along the way. The novel is not a new one. It first appeared in print in 1934. Although I enjoyed the book, I found it was one I could easily put down. I received an electronic galley in exchange for an honest review of the book.

He takes opportunity where it finds him and lets it carry him onward. And in so doing, he discovers himself as well. By the time he reaches London again, he knows he will never go back to being the man he was. It was originally written in 1934 and at times I couldn’t help but think how much the country and people would be changed forever in only a short time. I was also amazed that a writer as young as Victor Canning was then managed to write middle aged Mr. Finchley so convincingly. But it takes you back to a slower, (mainly) kinder time when you always know that Mr. Finchley will come out all right of anything he gets into. And as a woman of a certain age, it’s delightful to see an older, slightly tubby protagonist front and center. B

I loved this gentle and funny book. Even if it was written in the '30s of last century it aged well and it's still a pleasant and entertaining read.
I loved the characters and I loved the descriptions.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Farrago and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

What an utterly charming novel! It’s the story of a normal, everyday clerk who takes his first vacation in years and ends up on an adventure that takes him across the country and back again. Each escapade builds on the previous one and with each event, the reader just loves Mr. Finchley a little bit more. Originally written in the 1930s, the novels are now being re-released. I loved the re-introduction to a simpler time, where everything is straightforward and there are no hidden meanings. It was a breath of fresh air to go along on this ride with Mr. Finchley, and I look forward to the rest of his experiences. This review was written based on a digital pre-release from NetGalley.

I really like this book Its not the normal genre I would pick up but was a lovely read.
I loved following My Finchleys journey around the uk. The more he travelled the more I enjoyed the book found out more and fell in love with the character.
A real feel good funny book with a good plot and great characters. Enjoyed reading it.

What a delightful whimsical journey around the countryside with Mr Finchley. In this book we join the eponymous hero of our tale as he leaves the safety of his office and goes on holiday though nothing seems to go to plan. He ends up in a series of scrapes and adventures and meets a varying cast of vagabonds and a few nice people along the way (though they are not such fun to read about). When all is really looking grim he has the uncanny ability to just relax and light his ever present pipe and all is well with the world.
This book has a gentle humour about it, it may not be to everyone's taste, much comes from the absurdity of the situations or the reactions of the people involved.
For 1930s style this book is a tour de force with references to tramcars and the inevitable lower class mangling of the English language providing some of the mirth. It does however have a modern feel almost as though it were a parody of a bygone age rather than actually being a part of it. I am glad I was introduced to Mr Finchley and look forward to reuniting with him when he goes off to the continent in future volumes

#MrFinchley #NetGalley

Perhaps I would have enjoyed this gentle travel novel if I lived in England or was nostalgic for an England gone past. As it was I actually found it a bit depressing and also a bit dull.

The writing is good, and there were passages that made me smile like this one:
"Before Mr. Finchley had time to look around, the footman had deprived him of his rucksack and cap and, after giving him a long stare, the kind of stare which stamps the words 'I don't believe it' over its wearer's countenance, he led the way up the broad staircase at the end of the hall" (p. 120).

I certainly think this book will find its target audience of older people who enjoy gentle reads.

I read an advance reader copy re-release of Mr. Finchley Discovers His England from Netgalley.

Mr. Finchley Discovers His England tells the story of how Mr. Finchley discovered himself while on traveling like a will-o-the-wisp through England. Edgar Finchley is an established bachelor clerk whose life has been structured around work and responsibility. But with a new manager, suddenly he has a three-week vacation, the first in ten years. He plans to go to Margate, but on the way there, he agrees to watch a brand new car for someone, gets bored, and falls asleep in the back seat. He wakes up when the wild driving dumps him on the floor only to discover the driver is a thief who has stolen the car.

From there he gets into one situation after another, some dangerous and others simply hilarious. I mean he actually gets chased by a bull. Along the way, he meets several rascals and scoundrels, enough to make me think of the picaresque Lazarillo de Tormes and Gil Blas. You can’t really call this a picaresque novel, though, since Finchley is not a rogue, not at all. He’s naive, gallant, charitable, and honest. Perhaps Pilgrim’s Progress is a better comparison, and this pilgrim redeems himself by becoming less fussy, a more sympathetic person.


I enjoyed Mr. Finchley Discovers His England very much. His adventures are delightful and although there are moments of danger and risk, readers know by the number of pages left in the book that Mr. Finchley will be fine. The book is full of humor and misadventure. The only thing that seems a bit obtrusive is occasional authorial noting that Finchleys’ indigestion was not bothering him, that he was getting a tan, and that his hair was bleaching in the sun. This is the physical manifestation of the personal transformation he goes through, discovering that he is not an old fuddy-duddy after all.

Mr. Finchley Discovers His England will be released on April 18th. I received an e-galley from the publisher through NetGalley.

Mr. Finchley Discovers His England at Farrago Books
Victor Canning appreciation site

★★★★

An utterly delightful book! The adventures of a middle-aged, portly, fairly mundane clerk on his first holiday in years. No murder, no romance, no terrorist attacks. Just a very nice journey through pre-war England meeting some very interesting characters. A breath of fresh air!
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and voluntarily chose to review it.

I offered to give an honest review for this book in an exchange for a free copy of the book. Mr. Finchley discovers there is more to life than the drudgery of work. His new boss sends him on a holiday for the first time. He's to go to Margate, but he's off on an adventure that leads him to see much of England. He never makes it to England as his holiday starts with being car napped! It was written in the 1930s, and remains popular today. I fell in love with Mr Finchley, and I love reading about England.

Anyone ready for a nice, relaxing read, full of vivid, clear and lovely descriptions of people, landscape and the freedom of holidays ? Then, this is your book. ! I got tthe opportunity to read this treasure thankfully to NetGalley.
I was totally happy, one day after the other, to know that I'll get back to the story of Mr Finchley. it is timeless.
There are some great jewels, like how a ray of sunshine on the countryside can bring joy. And, this is far more better put into words than I can do, I have to admit I did not know Victo Canning, now, I want to read more from him. I found myself pleasantly surprised by the alternance of twists and relaxing stances of the plot. No real nostalgia for me, I'm too young, and also, I found out of time feelings and sheer enjoyments of reading here, in the moment. You'll need though to add pollution, noise, cars, tall buildings to make it contemporary. The rest is to be discovered in the clever plot !

A lovely book with the story that meanders through Mr Finchley"s many adventures in the English countryside. It is quite a funny book for those with a sense of the ridiculous, which will have many scratching their heads over some of the scrapes he manages to champion. Well written and fun to read.

This is a gorgeous story, set in more innocent times,1934, with quaint chapter headings ,using educated language and terminology to a higher standard,that is not seen today. This book is about the joy of serendipity, the freedom of no plans, but having money and the desire to travel around the English countryside,meeting the various oddballs that inhabit this space. Not all are honest, many are rogues or Gentlemen of the road, but all have life experiences that they are willing to share.
Edgar Finchley is a clerk, and hasn't had an annual holiday for 10 years, a concept that is totally alien in modern times. When he is given three weeks off, his immediate thought is to go to Margate, stay in a boarding house and just pootle about town. However, he becomes embroiled with car thieves, held hostage, fights with tramps, gets invited to tea with Gypsies, is mistaken for an escaped mental patient, gets casual work at a garage and village fair,and generally has a grand old time !! He packs an awful amount of living into his holiday,but the joy and delights of those halcyon days are very well described.
The terminology is dated, but of its time,and is appropriate ,but is non PC in these modern times. It is pure happiness and escapism, makes you smile and want to read the others in this series! I throughly loved this book and enjoyed many appreciative giggles! It brought back many happy memories!

A Humorous Adventure Through Pre-War England
This is a wonderful adventure story. It is mostly fun and humorous. It is definitely a glimpse into a simpler life in pre-war England. It is very similar to The Travels of Jamie McPheeters in the way the adventure unfolds and has a life of its own. While it wasn't the vacation Mr. Finchley had planned, it was more than he could have imagined in his wildest dreams. I plan on reading the entire series! I received this early release from Net Galley at no cost and this is my honest review.