The 27th Kingdom
The 27th Kingdom by Alice Thomas Ellis, published by Penguin in 1982, is a novel that explores the journey of Aunt Irene and her family, whose Roman Catholic Russian ancestors faced persecution and were forced to flee across various lands until they reached the 27th Kingdom. Set in a small dwelling in Chelsea, the narrative introduces a cast of characters, including Aunt Irene, her nephew Kyril, and a remarkably intelligent cat named Focus. The story unfolds with the help of two gossips, Mrs. O’Connor and Mrs. Mason, who attend to the household’s needs.
Readers will find a blend of humor and eccentricity as the plot navigates themes of family, faith, and the supernatural. The arrival of Valentine, a young postulant with miraculous abilities, adds an intriguing layer to the narrative, as her presence tests the dynamics within the household. This edition spans 159 pages and is presented in English, offering a unique perspective on the interplay between angels and demons through the lens of English humor.
Official synopsis Publisher
The Roman Catholic Russian ancestors of Aunt Irene, the central character in Alice Thomas Ellis’s new novel, were persecuted and forced to flee to the Ukraine, Lithuania, Austria or as the story-tellers would have it, across 27 lands and 30 countries until they came to the 27th Kingdom. For the good, kind and infinitely friendly Aunt Irene, her handsome but wicked nephew, Kyril, and Focus, a cat of alarming intelligence, this is Dancing Master House, a minute dwelling in the Chelsea. Two gossips, Mrs. O’Connor and Mrs. Mason, one dead common with criminal connections, the other an impoverished lady of the upper classes, clean for and take care of the needs of Aunt Irene and Kyril. From Wales, Irene’s sister, the Mother Superior, sends Valentine, a beautiful, young West Indian postulant, ostensibly to test her vocation but really because of the embarrassing discovery that Valentine has miraculous powers. The story runs between angels and demons in a style which epitomizes the refreshing eccentricities of English humor
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