Vortreffliche Frauen

London in the late forties: Here, a single woman over thirty is already considered an old maid. Mildred Lathbury, a somewhat colorless lady without firm attachments, has grown up as a vicar's daughter, works for a charity, and is active in the church community. Everything runs smoothly until new neighbors move in: an attractive anthropologist and a charming naval officer. This couple turns Mildred's life upside down. Not only are they inclined towards alcohol, but they also name things that a lady would prefer to keep quiet about; above all, Mildred is repeatedly drawn into marital disputes. When the vicar finally falls in love with a new parishioner and asks Mildred for help, it becomes too much for her. Suddenly, the ever-helpful Mildred discovers her own needs and ultimately finds herself faced with a choice between two men. Will she become the devoted wife of the scientist, organizing catalogs, choose the vicar, or even give up on both? With subtle wit and keen observation, Barbara Pym tells the story of a single woman in 1940s England, proving herself to be a brilliant stylist. Selected by 82 international literary critics and scholars as one of the most significant British novels.