At a glance
Excellent Women
Classic fiction
Excellent Women
Mildred Lathbury is an unmarried woman in postwar London whose competence makes her the natural recipient of parish duties and other people's confidences. The arrival of glamorous, quarrelsome neighbors Helena and Rockingham Napier disturbs her quiet routines and draws her into a marriage not her own. Meanwhile, anthropologist Everard Bone and the self-absorbed clergyman Julian Malory complicate Mildred's assumptions about usefulness, affection, and what life may still offer her. Subtle and very funny, this novel suits readers who enjoy church communities, observant spinsters, restrained longing, and heroines whose apparent plainness conceals the clearest intelligence in the room.
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Jump to the pours ↓Chapterhouse Cold Brew + Competitive Espresso Martini
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No surprises at chapter twelve
Content notes
Death and grief; loneliness and emotional distress; romantic disappointment and infidelity references; alcohol use; religious/social judgment; class and gender expectations.
Alcohol-Free Pour
Chapterhouse Cold Brew
Rich coffee suits a lively, lighthearted reading mood.
What you'll need
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.How to mix it
- Stir any sweetener, cocoa, or spices into the coffee until dissolved. Add milk or cream if listed and garnish as indicated.
- Garnish: Orange peel if listed; otherwise none.
- Glassware: Mug or highball glass as appropriate.
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Highball glass ↗Mug ↗Cocktail Pour · 21+
Competitive Espresso Martini
For adults of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly.
Espresso and coffee liqueur give this martini a rich kick for the final round.
What you'll need
- 1 1/2 oz vodka
- 1 oz coffee liqueur
- 1 oz freshly brewed espresso, cooled slightly ↗
- 1/4 oz simple syrup ↗
- Ice
Shop the spirits 21+Search Total Wine for Vodka · 21+ ↗Search Total Wine for Coffee liqueur · 21+ ↗
How to mix it
- Shake vigorously with ice until well chilled and frothy. Double-strain into a chilled coupe.
- Garnish: 3 coffee beans.
- Glassware: Coupe.
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Coupe glass ↗Set up the bar cart
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