Margery Sharp

Two enterprising mice live up to the motto of the Rescue Aid Society, "We help anyone ... anywhere," when they rescue a kidnapped orphan.

After resigning as Chairwoman of the Mouse Prisoners' Aid Society, it is up to Miss Bianca to plan a rescue of the man imprisoned in the turret that she spotted during a picnic in the park.

When the bride's sister disappears the day before the wedding, Miss Bianca and Bernard search for her, fearful that she is under the spell of a vengeful doll.

Two enterprising mice live up to the motto of the Rescue Aid Society, "We help anyone ... anywhere," when they rescue a kidnapped orphan. Based on the 1977 Walt Disney Productions full-length animated film of the same title, inspired by characters created by Margery Sharp.

The kidnapping of a little girl by a wicked Duchess spurs Miss Bianca, a clever mouse, to the rescue.

"Years ago, they were all the best of friends. But as time passed and circumstances changed, they grew apart, became adults with families of their own, and began to forget about the past--and the terrible lie they all shared. But now Gordon, the youngest and wildest of the five, has died and the others are thrown together for the first time in years. And then the revelations start. Could their long-ago lie be the reason for their troubles today? Is it more dangerous to admit to what they've done or is it the strain of keeping the secret that is beginning to wear on them and everyone close to them? Each one of these old friends has to wonder if their secret has been discovered--and if someone within the circle is out to destroy them."-- Publisher description.

I have read this a few times because I love Ms. Sharp's writing style -- it is a beautifully drawn picture of a household of British civilians at loose ends at the end of WWII, having to share accommodations with other people that they really would prefer not to be with. The mistress of the household is an elderly widow, and although she has a reputation for being foolish (hence, the title), she is goodhearted. The domestic drama arises from the woman's conviction that she should invite a distant cousin to join the household to atone for her bad behavior towards this relative when they were young girls. The cousin, a classic "poor relation", has an overwrought and anxiety-ridden personality which probably resulted from years of precarious employment in various households as a ladies' companion. She is unlikable and mean-spirited, seeking out gossip and attempting whenever she can to disrupt the lives of the others. The mistress of the household tries to sooth her busybody cousin and convince her that she has a permanent home with them, and more. The other members of the household are adamant that this decidedly difficult person entering their family circle is not to be borne and do their best to try to get her to leave. Margery Sharp manages to make it all work out and tells a very compelling story about people who are not at their best trying to make the best of a difficult situation.

Miss Bianca's faithful lieutenant, Bernard, directs a hazardous operation that repulses the army of rats infesting the regions under the Ambassador's cellar.

This is an anthology of three of Margery Sharp's earlier novelettes, published in America in 1941 by Little, Brown, of Boston. As far as is known there is no British edition of the anthology, but two of these novelettes had originally been published by Arthur Barker of London, in the early 1930's. All three are thematically connected, and are small Victorian/Regency era vignettes of tragicomedy. As Margery Sharp did not usually write 'romances' in the traditional Victorian or Regency sense of the word, these represent Sharp's exploration of styles, her love of theater, representing an interest in the works of Chekhov, Moliere, Shakespearean drama/comedy, and similar. All three are gems of light, crisp irony, punctuated by moments of absurdity and/or tenderness. The stories in this collection are: The Nymph and the Nobleman, Sophy Cassmajor, The Tigress on the Hearth.

Bernard, secretary of the Mouse Prisoner's Aid Society, and his teddy bear ally Algernon attempt to rescue an orphan heiress who has been kidnapped by her guardian.

Attempting to rescue an old friend from the Antarctic, Miss Bianca and her right-hand-mouse, Bernard, become stranded there themselves.

(Description from the first edition) Miss Bianca, the intrepid heroine of The Rescuers, Miss Bianca, and The Turret, is back as Perpetual Madam President of the M.P.S.A (Mouse Prisoners' Aid Society). In her new and responsible position she has reached the ultimate in status, experience and resourcefulness. When last seen, Miss Bianca was engaged in the rescue of her mortal enemy Mandrake, imprisoned in The Turret. In her latest adventure, dainty but dauntless, Miss Bianca faces her most perilous rescue to date. Assisted by her stalwart companion Bernard and two crusty old professors, she embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue Teddy-Age-Eight from the salt mines. The quartet meets with obstacles which would make the faint of heart desert the quest and leave the prisoner to his fate: the narrow-gauge railway they must ride whose accident rate is mortally high; the deep and treacherous lake surrounding Teddy-Age-Eight's prison; the greedy and cruel Governor who has made Teddy his slave. These are some of the dangers which must be overcome before Teddy-Age-Eight can be brought to safety. Bernard, Miss Bianca's faithful lieutenant, comes into his own in this latest and most exciting of the chronicles. All those, both young and old, who are followers of Miss Bianca's adventures will enjoy this most ingenious and imaginative addition to Margery Sharp's winsome series. This story, like its predecessors, is enchantingly illustrated by Garth Williams, and his creations of Miss Bianca, Bernard, all the characters both animal and human, are charming and delightful. Margery Sharp is the versatile author of novels including The Eye of Love, The Gypsy in The Parlor, Cluny Brown, The Sun in Scorpio, and, of course, the wonderful Miss Bianca series. Jacket design by Garth Williams.