Mr Finchley Discovers His England

Synopsis of this book from the publisher is as follows
'From his abduction in a Bentley by a cheerful crook, to his smuggling escapade off the south coast, the timid but plucky Mr Finchley is plunged into a series of the most astonishing and extraordinary adventures.His rural adventure takes him gradually westward through the English countryside and back, via a smuggling yacht, to London'.

Author Victor Canning died in 1980’s Some of his books are now being republished
Mr Finchley discovers his England is book 1 in a series written in the 1930’s. I think the writing was to a high standard and its great to see these books now available to a new audience.
The story is so lovely and reminds me of bygone nostalgic times of Enid Blyton and Billy Bunter. This is totally different from modern gripping thrillers with twisting plots and edge of the seat drama. To me this was such a joy and a release from everyday life with all that entails.
I loved my time with Mr Edgar Finchley who is a portly and middle aged bank clerk on holiday. He ends up mixing with thieves, smugglers, involved with Police across Southern England.
This was such a breath of fresh air. I loved it and would highly recommend.

In Which Mr Finchley Starts His Holiday....
Book one in this trilogy from Victor Canning in which we discover the delightful, unassuming Mr Finchley. Gently humorous, beautifully written and packed with witticisms - this book is a joy. Written in the 1930's, the reader is presented with a slower and more delightful way of life - gentle and charming. When Mr Finchley is offered his first holiday, time off from his role as a Solicitors clerk, he embarkes upon a series of escapades - each more amusing than the last. A sheer delight to escape the realities of life as we know it and more so to escape into the delightful world of Mr Finchley. Highly recommended.

(Review to be published on Amazon)

I enjoyed Mr Finchley Discovers His England. Originally published in 1934, it’s a celebration of an ideal of rural England and of a staid, dull Londoner who discovers the joys of adventure and the outdoors, and of his own resilience.

The story consists of a series of mildly improbable vignettes as Mr. Finchley, a single solicitors’ clerk, takes his first holiday in over 20 years. Events conspire to take Mr Finchley not to Margate as planned but on a curious adventure through the South West of England in which he meets gypsies, tramps and thieves (quite literally), eccentric aristocrats, smugglers and so on. He ends up in a life on the road, with loving descriptions of English countryside and features as well as some adventures in which he adopts all kinds of unfamiliar roles. There is almost a feel of Bilbo Baggins about Mr F as he is taken well out of what would now be called his comfort zone and discovers some of his own qualities. The sense of the book is probably summed up in the heading for Chapter IX: “How Mr Finchley is nearly throttled and finds happiness in a view.”

The prose is enjoyable and very readable and the whole book is a warm, escapist treat. Recommended.

I enjoyed this “old-fashioned” book. I found Mr Finchley endearing and the story was very entertaining. A fun, quick read!

Mr.Finchley is a delightful character this is a wonderful charming read.We get to accompany Mr.Finchley on his forced vacation as he bicycles around England he eats his sandwiches observes his country .I loved this book glad there are two more novels two more adventures with Mr.Finchley,

What a delightful read of a man going on a vacation that turns into an adventure. Mr. Finchley has plans to have a quiet and relaxing vacation in Margate but events change his plans. This is not a book I would normally pick up and for that reason I would have missed out. Thank you Netgalley for this wonderful read. I will definitely recommend it to my friends.

Set in the days of trilby hats and elm trees, Victor Canning’s Mr Finchley Discovers His England is a comic travelogue following the misadventures of balding administrator Edgar Finchley as he tramps across southwest England one summer.

It doesn’t start with hiking boots, however. Finchley’s plan is a seaside stop in Margate, but when he wakes to find himself in the back seat of a stolen Bentley roaring through country lanes with the police in pursuit, it’s not only his holiday which derails, but his entire philosophy.

Finchley meets a parade of characters who reshape the way he interacts with threats, the unexpected, and danger. He chauffeurs a femme-fatale, dines with gypsies, pumps petrol, assists smugglers, and brushes with the possibility of romance.

The narrative portrays an England underpinned by politeness, and a countryside splendid with elm, cedar, hazels, willow, and birdsong. The reader is invited to enjoy the English countryside as much as Finchley does.

The book’s introduction of successive characters becomes formulaic, but Canning’s brisk sentences give the tale alacrity and there’s much in his precise diction to amuse logophiles: pipe-dottle, tumbril, rean, charabanc, carillon, a briar brake…

I’d certainly travel with Edgar again, and lucky for me - there are two further books in this light-hearted series.

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.

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 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.

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 !

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.

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

★★★★

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

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.

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

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 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.

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.

Mr Finchley a middle aged London solicitors clerk takes his first holiday in 20 years. He decides on Margate. Enjoy when fate takes a hand and takes Mr Finchley all over the country on many adventures. He meets many astonishing people along the way who change his look on life. These stories are set in the 1930’s and will bring a smile to your face as you follow Mr Finchley on his holiday.
I was given an ARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

If you enjoyed the Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, you will love this book.

This book was written before WWII and has the wholesome charm of that era. It’s about a clerk who is forced to take a holiday and in doing so, finds himself taking an unplanned trip across the English countryside. That trip has him meeting and interacting with many interesting characters all of which I throughly enjoyed meeting.

This book it’s a testament to what can happen if you take time to smell the roses. It also shows he adventures that can be found by being spontaneous. Me. finchley, our hero of this story, learned so much on this trip, mostly about himself. I can’t wait to read the next books to see how this personal growth effects his future.

This book, by Victor Canning (1911 – 1986) , was first published in 1934. Canning was a prolific writer but moved onto dark thrillers in later life.

Edgar Finchley is 45 and a clerk. His previous boss was a slave-driver and Mr F has not had a week’s holiday for ten years. The new boss forces him to take three weeks’ holiday and Mr F decides to visit Margate. What follows is a direct descendent of the picaresque novels of the eighteenth century: Tom Jones, Roderick Random, etc..

Mr Finchley gets accidentally kidnapped; is threatened with a gun; runs away with a woman; hits someone for possibly the first time in his life; and generally has a wonderfully exciting three weeks. Oh, and I don’t consider it a spoiler to tell you he never does reach Margate!

I wasn’t kidding when I said this is a picaresque novel. Just like those eighteenth century novels, this one leaps from one adventure to another with scarcely any pause in between. I felt almost breathless by the time I finished it. It is a long book, though. I believe it’s only just over 200 pages (it’s hard to tell on the Kindle), but it seemed a lot longer and it took me a few days to complete, although a 200-pager is usually just an afternoon’s read. I guess that’s because the author packs so much into each page. This tells of an England that is gone: buses with conductors; landladies who will pack up your belongings and post them to whatever address you mention in a telegram.

After a while, I did wish that Mr Finchley could calm down and stop having adventures. That’s the trouble with picaresque novels: it’s all action, mayhem and unresolved sub-plots. And that’s possibly closer to real-life than novels, but we’re conditioned to expect our books to have resolution and tidy finales. This one isn’t tidy: it’s messy and it’s fun. I’m looking forward to the next two in the series.

#MrFinchley #NetGalley

At 45, Mr. Finchley goes on holiday for the first time in his life. He makes plans but they are quickly interrupted before he even leaves his home town. Through a series of unfortunate events, Mr. Finchley’s holiday progresses in ways he never could have imagined. The situations and characters he encounters belong to another time and are refreshingly different from modern novels. I would recommend this book for anyone nostalgic for times long gone or for those willing to explore life when gypsies, tramps, and thieves roamed the countryside. Mr. Finchey found happiness along his way and maybe you will too for a few hours!

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)

This is the first book in Mr. Finchley’s adventures and I truly enjoyed reading this book. You definitely get lost in the escapades of Mr. Finchley. They are fun, humorous, and leaves you wanting more. As Edgar buys a dilapidated bike and takes off on his adventures you learn he spends the night at the headquarters of the gang before heading out to explore England.

The story is extremely entertaining and if you like reading stories set in the 1930’s then this book is for your.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book for anyone who loves a good mystery. 📕👍🏼

I GIVE IT A 5 STAR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a fun book! I'm glad I came across this series and am already looking forward to read the others! Great characterization and clever plotting:-)

View of Post WWI England

A gentle reminder of post WWI England, plot as described by many reviewers. What I'd like to mention is the amazing bits of detail, the encounters with 'gipsies', the encounters with many other people of the road, the nights in the 1930's version of the poor house, the pubs, the walking paths, meeting various eccentric folks, all of which give us an amazing view of post WWI England. From the lofty viewpoint of almost a hundred years after the writing, I also see the hints of the suffering, of the hunchback, of the other people of the road, and of the war veterans now out of place in 'normal' rural society. So, on one hand, an amusing read of an epic journey by Mr Finchley on his first vacation ever at age 45; on the other hand, a poignant reminder of the fact that the life of yesteryear wasn't always so rosy.

Reviewed on Amazon.com

A gentle story told from an age long since lost where even the villains are kind. A hero that find out more about himself in a tale full of humour and goodwill.
Looking forward to reading the next instalment

This was a fun and humorous read. This book is a re-release from the 1930's, I believe. It is slight mystery with some laugh out loud moments.

Many thanks to netgalley and Farrago for this advanced readers copy.

3.5 stars

Charming tale from an earlier time of Mr. Finchley, a staid London office clerk who sets off on a three-week holiday which reveals a totally different side of his personality and character. What begins as a welcome but humdrum planned vacation morphs into an exuberant adventure filled with characters and situations that Mr. Finchley has never dreamed of. He surprises himself by discovering that he has a spontaneous and carefree nature hidden under his conventional outward appearance. Quaint and quietly enjoyable. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in return for my honest review.

This is a creative, well written, fun story about the adventures Mr. Finchley has when he takes his first vacation in years. So much happens to this man and as a result he finds himself in some rather amazing and amusing situations as he travels around England. Each time the reader thinks he is really on his way to his actual destination, the story takes another turn. After a while, Mr. Finchley starts to just roll with the adventures and lets them happen while savoring what he learns along the way. This story, although over the top in the adventures that Mr. Finchley has, made me stop and think and maybe not do so much planning for my next vacation, but rather see where life takes me.

This is a charming book capturing a romanticised version of the English countryside and is a welcomed reissue for new readers. From the beginning, Mr. Finchley's holiday adventures begin by him mistakenly getting involved with car thieves and do not stop until the end of the book. In its own gentle way, the action is 'relentless' for the 45-year-old solicitor's clerk and I can not recommend this enough.

What a great story! Loved traveling back to pre-WWII England with Mr. Finchley on his vacation. What a wonderful time I had. Lots of eccentric characters and the adventure was well written. I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

Set in 1934, Edgar Finchley is a proper and rather single-minded man, at 45 he’s been the chief clerk at the same solicitor’s firm for years and never taken a holiday. But, changes are coming in the business after his boss’ death, and now with Mr. Sprake in charge, Edgar has been told he MUST take 3 weeks for a holiday. Not entirely sure just what to do with himself, but excited at the prospect with an open calendar and sufficient funds, he’s headed to catch a train. Finding himself with time to spare, he takes the first of many unexpected steps and simply takes a seat on a bench, watching the world go by. Soon after settling himself, he is asked by a man in a Bentley to “mind his car’ as the man has a quick bit of business to attend to, and it appears that Mr. Finchley is trustworthy. Thus begins his three week adventure, wholly unexpected and unscripted…..

Mr. Finchley is soon embroiled in a car chase (without his actual understanding), finding himself meeting and seeing much of the countryside without actually making any real choices as to direction. He’s the ultimate good sport – trying to maintain his certain sort of ‘dignity’ in some of the most unexpected (and new to him) circumstances. Always he remains open and honest, even when those he meets aren’t necessarily so, and while he finds himself at the wrong end of the stick often: including a blackened eye from a gypsy, a conniving maid, inside a circus, even spending time with a group of bagpiping Scots. It almost seems that trouble is bound to happen wherever he goes, and fortunately for us, he’s not particularly stuffy about these events, he’s simply seeking to get on with things and move on after adding yet another ‘tick’ to his boxes of life experienced.

So much action and adventure is packed into this little book, and Mr. Finchley truly does find a sense of the ‘variety’ of characters to be found in “his England”, many of whom he had never thought of, or perhaps even knew of, before his holiday. Originally released in the 1970’s, and set in the 1930’s, Canning was a favorite of many and the language, settings and even the pacing are sure to please fans who like the more ‘classic’ settings and pacing of novels from that era. The language feels somewhat ‘dated’, but clearly accessible in this look back at a gentler time - one that perhaps really wasn’t as the drumbeats of war were sounding in Europe, the story was engaging, entertaining and often dancing around the stereotypical. An amusing read when something totally different, action packed and paced with a relaxed and steady forward march.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-apI/” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

This is wryly humorous and very entertaining story.
Mr Finchley has led a hard-working, quiet and respectable life. Up to now, that is. He sets off on his first ever holiday. He’s booked a hotel in Margate, because he’s heard that’s the sort of thing you do for a holiday, but he never gets there. He falls in with an assortment of crooks, who take merciless advantage of him, but this exposure to the wilder side of life has Mr Finchley hooked. Bother Margate, he’s going to go where the wind takes him – on his ‘borrowed’ bicycle. Things never go smoothly for him, but this new Mr Finchley take it all on the chin, and loves every minute of it!
Set in the 1930s this wonderful story whisks us back to a simpler, more innocent time. It’s heartening and fascinating to be immersed in that period – the clothes, prices, food and manners of the time. The writing is superb and the reader is quickly engrossed, chuckling, occasionally tutting (from our modern and far more street-cred and cynical point of view) but always willing Mr Finchley on in his delightful adventures.

My thanks to NetGalley and Farrago Books for a digital review copy of this book.

First published in 1934, Mr Finchley Discovers His England is the first in a series of (I think) three books featuring Mr Finchley, a forty-five-year-old bachelor, who works as a solicitor’s clerk in London. When one of his bosses Mr Bardwell dies, and the office is taken over by his partner Mr Sprake, there comes an unexpected change in Mr Finchley’s life. For the first time since Mr Finchley was employed, he finds himself getting a three-week holiday. So of course, as holidays must usually be, he books himself into a hotel at Margate. But when he is waiting to catch his train, a man asks him to watch his Bentley, which Mr Finchley agrees to do but he falls asleep in the process. When his eyes next open, the car is being driven, away and Mr Finchley finds himself kidnapped. He is unnerved but decides to take the experience as an adventure, one he could have never had in his normal life. From here, he manages to make his escape. And with this starts a holiday completely unlike what Mr Finchley could have ever imagined. Mr Finchley traipses across the country, soaking in nature, meeting interesting people and having a series of unforeseen adventures. He falls in with tramps, artists, travellers, and gypsies, ends up taking jobs at a fair and selling petrol, being mistaken for a vagrant and a lunatic, is almost strangled, plays cricket and even takes to smuggling! His adventures change his life completely, so much so that there is likely to be a change in his everyday life too.

This was such a fun, charming read, with gentle humour and a very likeable set of characters. Something like Three Men in a Boat but without the slapstick. What I really liked about Mr Finchley as a character was how open he was to each new adventure, to each new experience, and how ready he was to enjoy every thing that came his way, irked sometimes (only initially), but never complaining or grumbling much, rather relishing every moment. The people he meets have interesting stories (unlike Mr Finchley’s own which is rather ordinary untill this adventure begins), some sad, some simply unusual, and while not all are honest and straightforward, they certainly are far from the ordinary. I also loved how away from grey London, Mr Finchley gets to really immerse himself in nature, whether it be the birds around, or the sea, or the moors, there is a certain peace about the places he spends time at which transfers itself to the reader as well. My first acquaintance with Mr Finchley and Victor Canning’s work was really delightful. Looking forward to more in the future.

The book was published on 18 April 2019!

Edgar Finchley is a middle-aged, middle class office worker in London who's about to take his first vacation (or Holiday, as the Brits say) to Margate.
But while minding someone's car, Finchley falls fast asleep in the back seat and is suddenly whisked away to a very, very different sort of vacation than he'd planned.
Once he's able to stop worrying about Margate, Finchley relaxes into a wondrous (and sometimes dangerous)) adventure across England.
This is a charming and delightful romp..

I received an advanced digital copy of this book from Netgalley.com and the publisher. Thanks to both for the opportunity to read and review.

Mr. Canning's books were originally printed in the 1930s. This reprint is a delight to read. Laugh out loud funny, exciting but not too exciting. Mr. Finchley finds himself in one predicament after another on his first proper holiday.

5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommended.

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.

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 humour and misadventure. A great, light hearted read for all.

I loved Mr Finchley. His boring holiday plans go amiss and he ends up spending his holiday travelling by foot throughout the Southeast of England. He meets some unbelievable characters and falls into lots of mischief along the way.

This book is a delight to read. Mr. Finchley is an unmarried middle aged man who has never vacationed and now must take one! His vacation turns into an adventure as he he meets a few curious characters and participates in activities that he would never have considered in his REGULAR life.
It is taking place in another time ( I found later this was actually written in the 1930"s), but still resonates with a wonderful charm and innocence of a time when you could trust your fellow man.
Makes me want to hop on a bike and go where I end up!!! Alas, this is not possible these days.

This was such a whimsical jaunt through England. Mr. Finchley was a great main character to follow around. The adventures he went through were fun/ny and so interesting. This was a nice read!

What a lovely, easy, charming read. If you're looking for a light-hearted, fun book to get lost in for a short while this is the one for you.

The Holiday

Imagine Christopher Robin grown into a rather stodgy middle-aged man, absent Pooh, suddenly rediscovering the world through his childhood eyes. That world would have been England, between the wars, when it was not uncommon for someone to take a bicycle holiday and explore the countryside. Written with a gentle sense of humor, this tale presents a coming-of-age, but from an entirely different perspective. Venture forth with Mr Finchley as he discovers the delights of unplanned encounters and the beauties of his own country.

A nostalgic and enjoyable read of life in times gone by. Mr Finchley takes off around England, and the descriptions of the country of this period are heartwarming and cosy. An enjoyable story keeps you reading.

So glad this series is being brought back - it is such a joy to read! Loved the character and his adventures! A bit dated but that made it more fun - looking forward to reading the rest of Mr Finchley's adventures!

Edgar Finchley, a clerk in a law firm, has not had a vacation in ten years when his new boss surprises him with a three week holiday. This mild-mannered, middle aged bachelor anticipates trading his typical, longstanding daily schedule for a different holiday routine, but is surprised to find himself wrapped up in a series of adventures.

Victor Canning’s Mr. Finchley Discovers His England was originally published in 1934 before WWII when the author was twenty-three. A best seller upon publication, it is a humorous work reflective of a more innocent time and makes a fun read. I enjoyed all of Finchley’s exploits. Despite the light-hearted nature of the book, the character of Finchley develops as he finds courage and flexibility he never knew he had. This book is full of well written, vivid descriptions and many British terms. I enjoyed learning words such as “roach” (a type of fish) and “rean” (a varian of reen, an irrigation ditch). Mr. Finchley Discovers His England is a delight to those who enjoy an author who can craft superlative descriptions and has an extensive vocabulary.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Ferrago for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

A highly entertaining read. I enjoyed all humor and unexpected adventures of Mr Finchley. This book was written in the 30s and by all means the content and writing are dated somewhat. However, unlike other fiction from the same period, "Mr Finchley Discovers His England" is not a difficult read at all! Cosy, funny and entertaining. Hidden gem like this book deserves a revival!

A lovely, whimsical tale of Mr Finchley who goes on his first holiday and ends up in many adventures, along with meeting the various eccentric characters who populate the countryside that Mr Finchley explores. It is a perfect piece of escapism and there is an underlying theme that many of the characters are following their own life path, away from the expected life. Maybe something we could do more of and be more like Mr Finchley.

Mr Finchley Discovers His England is the first book in a trilogy written by Victor Canning. Originally published in 1934, this reformat and re-release 18th April 2019 from Farrago is 214 pages and available in ebook format.

Despite being quite a prolific and well known author in his time, Canning has been somewhat forgotten. It's nice to see his works being reformatted and presented to a new generation of readers. This is a bucolic humorous romp with farcical overtones. It predates Thurber's Walter Mitty by 5 years but the two remind me of one another in some ways.

There is no murder, and no mystery, just a little mayhem and comedy of errors. The language is clean and despite being a product of 1934, surprisingly free of racism. I was also impressed at how little dated the narrative was. It reads perfectly well in 2019. The idiom is British (baggage (dishonest woman), fags (cigarettes), torch (flashlight), etc). The writing will not be problematic for most, especially fans of golden age British fiction from the interwar period.

I really enjoyed it and found it a diverting read. I like seeing these nostalgic gems being released into print again for new generations of readers.

Four stars.

What a quaint story. Set in the more innocent times of 1934, it tells the tale of how best laid plans can turn upside down, suddenly leaving you with the freedom of having no plans and letting the universe take you where it will.
We are taken on Edgars Finchley's travels around the English countryside. He happens across the most oddball people who tell him tales and take him on adventures, before he returns to the road on a mission to get to Margate for his three week annual leave where he had tame and relaxing plans.
Instead he is taken on a roller coaster ride of car thefts, being taken hostage, having tea with gypsies, working as a fun fair attendant, being mistaken for a mental patient as well as scraps and fights with tramps along the way..
I am almost envious of the time he has.....freedom of having no plans in a time where you felt relatively safe to meander around and interact with all sorts of people.
This book made me smile and chuckle and roll my eyes at the joy and delights of those halcyon days of pure happiness and escapism.

A thoroughly delightful story. Well-written gallop through 1930's England in the company of a man who is taken out of his comfort zone into a series of adventures. The gentle humour in this book made it a classic at the time and a classic to this day.

Thank you to the author Victo Canning, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my candid review.

What an utterly charming book. It is the story of a middle-aged, fussy, clerk who is going on a proper 3 week vacation for the first time. Except that it does not turn out in the neat, orderly way that he expected. It is an adventure, meeting many new and interesting characters along the way, and a tale of discovery. Mr. Finchley discovers that he is not the boring old coot that he thought he was and actually realizes that he is brave, adventurous and interesting.

It is an innocent, entertaining adventure about discovering England and yourself.

This book goes on so many adventures it’s almost too astonishing to believe it’s Mr FInch,!
Our vision / first impressions of MR FInch are that he is boring and has to do things in a certain way,fussy and pinickity and snobby. He does however show us his British stiff upper lip and how to deal with things in what we soon see is his own amazing way!
An absolutely suave character and a delightful start to this series of Mr Finch Books.
It is a brilliant distraction for a couple of hours and indeed a totally different read than anything I have come across recently.

This is a mild, gentle, good-natured treat. Have a bit of a picaresque walk-about with an apparently timid, (but actually rather adventuresome), middle aged Englishman. This is an entirely engaging romp from the 30's and remarkably fresh and appealing despite its age and deceptive simplicity.