
Harish Hope and the Earls of Wishanger Hall
by A. K. Karla
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
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Pub Date Jun 28 2022 | Archive Date Jul 15 2022
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Description
The merry-go-round of life continues, but a decision to change one’s attitude can change everything...
After a lifetime of stories about his ancestors in England, Wishanger Hall, and the lost title that goes with it, Harish Hope Jnr finally confronts his usurper, with Delilah his closest friend by his side. Meera Gupta has dreams of her own, as does her brother Manju, shaken by a chance encounter that could alter his life forever. Newcomer, Mo Meghani, enters the world of the hardware store with consequences beyond his wildest dreams, and Chandu strikes out on a new path after the loss of his wife Babita.
In India, Fathers Ryan and Malachy take time to reflect, as does Rani Kapur after a shocking revelation comes to light. Meanwhile the fortune teller continues to sit in the marketplace, sharing his wisdom with those who need to hear it…
A Note From the Publisher
Born in England to refugee and economic migrants, she studied at the University of Bristol where she was awarded a doctorate in Narrative and Life Story Research.
Her working life is split between writing and as a clinical psychotherapist in the mental health sector.
She also writes European fiction under her own name and psychological fiction under the pseudonym Jack Duval.
Advance Praise
"With such lush descriptions of India, this book places you right into the humble, brutal beginnings of the life of mystical Rani and her experiences first at Harrish House, and onwards through a challenging life. An amazing read! Totally recommended reading!" - NetGalley review for The House of Rani Kapur
I'm glad I decided to read this book. I started it with no real expectation of interest but once started, and I make no apology for the cliche, I couldn't put it down. It's about relationships, of acquaintances, family, friends and lovers, I found it charming, funny, thoughtful and very, very sad.
I recommended this book immediately to my family and friends and have no hesitation in recommended to anybody who has a soul.
It's also forced me to download and read 'The House of Rani Kapur', not that I have any complaints at all with that! - NetGalley review of Mr Gupta's Hardware Store
Marketing Plan
OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES:
MR GUPTA’S HARDWARE STORE
THE HOUSE OF RANI KAPUR
OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES:
MR GUPTA’S HARDWARE STORE
THE HOUSE OF RANI KAPUR
Available Editions
EDITION | Ebook |
ISBN | 9781803139968 |
PRICE | £4.99 (GBP) |
PAGES | 344 |
Featured Reviews

We meet a large cast of characters, including Harish Hope, his good friend Delilah, both teenagers as the book opens, then Harish's mum and various people who help her run Hope House, once a sort of safe and kind brothel, now a home for unmarried mothers, including George, his father's ex-lover, and various locals. Harish's grandfather was disinherited when he married an Indian woman, and neither he nor his son dared to go back to claim their rights. Then there's Delilah's aunt and uncle over in London, who run a hardware shop with the help of a beloved worker, recently widowed. And THEN there's the current stand-in Earl of Wishanger Hall and his faithful retainers, all of whom fairly early on seem more accepting of the situation than they might, especially in the 1970s, when the book is set.
It became clear early on that this was part of a series, and indeed there is one book telling Harish's mother's story and one telling the story of the London folk - both are recapped in this book such that you don't need to read the other two, however I think it would probably really read better as part of the series. And as it's set in the 1970s, and there's a sequel on its way already, I suspect it's a long planned series. I did find there was quite a lot of repetition, for example when mentioning what happened previously to characters - maybe an area for a tighter edit.
I liked the positivity of the book - especially the characters in England are moving on with their lives and looking to greater things, in the service of their community or with their creativity. There are lovely strong female characters and sweet, supportive male characters. Harish might be said to be representing asexuality (that's in a lot of my reads at the moment!) but I'm not sure if that's a real thing or a temporary plot point. Religion is also seen positively, with two Catholic priests helping to raise Harish and a prayer room in Delhi that has icons from all religions.
My review on my blog (published 10 July) https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2022/07/10/book-review-a-k-karla-harish-hope-and-the-earls-of-wishanger-hall/

With such lush descriptions of India, this book places you right into the humble, brutal beginnings of the life of mystical Rani and her experiences first at Harrish House. Remarkable concept and impeccable execution from start to the end. Every single page gives a full-throttle effect. The story moved marvellously. I finished the book overnight.

Overall, this was a positive read with some strong female characters interwoven with individuals who cared about the concepts of community and kindness. There was a bit of repetitiveness throughout but it was a sweet, kindhearted story. I will certainly look into other works by this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.