Mrs. Palfrey at the ClaremontMrs. Palfrey at the Claremont
Score Classic
What it's about
On a rainy Sunday in January, the recently widowed Mrs. Palfrey arrives at the Claremont Hotel in London, where she will spend her remaining days among eccentric residents who live on crumbs of affection and gossip and fight boredom and death. Then she strikes up an unexpected friendship with Ludo, a handsome young writer.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of the 100 best novels in English. Elizabeth Taylor's quiet novel is funny, sad and wise about old age.
You'll love it if you liked
The Remains of the Day
Stoner
A Man Called OveGood to know
It's short and gentle. Elizabeth Taylor is the British novelist, not the actress.
By the numbers
- Readers64 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics51 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #129 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #343 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1153 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving, Thought-provoking
If you like this, read next
The Color Purple
The Caine Mutiny
East of Eden
I, Claudius
A Room of One's Own
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Quick answers
Is Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of the 100 best novels in English. It ranks #1,153 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 71.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont about?
On a rainy Sunday in January, the recently widowed Mrs. Palfrey arrives at the Claremont Hotel in London, where she will spend her remaining days among eccentric residents who live on crumbs of affection and gossip and fight boredom and death. Then she strikes up an unexpected friendship with Ludo, a handsome young writer.
How long does it take to read Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont?
About 6 hours (224 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont?
If you liked it, try The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro, Stoner by John Williams or A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman.