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Essie's second novel was first published in 1958 by Mills and Boon, and by Harlequin
in 1965. Here's what she says about "Bachelors Galore" in her autobiography:
"My second book was under way very soon after
the acceptance of the first. Alan Boon handed me the idea on a golden platter, I felt. He wrote out to say what an impact
Mazengarb's report had had, that New Zealand had so many surplus bachelors. Why not write a story based on this? The heroine
would not, of course, come out to New Zealand in search of one, but the hero could think this was her design. He thought perhaps
she could travel out on one of
Oh, how fortuitous. My publisher did not,
of course, know that Bill had ever been a chaplain on one, but the whole thing was right into my hands. The only thing was
that I have never liked writing about places not known personally, but I had Bill's diary, his letters and his recollections.
Nevertheless, we were both glad when I got the heroine safely to Wellington and could carry on from there. Bachelors Galore
brought me another milestone, it was serialized by a Scots magazine... "
Set in the foothills of South Canterbury, near
Ashburton, on the estate of Alpenlinden, in the fictional Linden Peaks township, it is the story of Marty Reddington and Philip
Griffiths.
"Eligible bachelors in New Zealand!"
Marty felt such an outlandish claim deserved
the joke she made about landing a rich sheep farmer.
It never entered her head that anyone
would take her seriously, but someone had: Philip Griffiths, a New Zealand bachelor and sheep farmer!
At the time, Marty had simply dismissed the
grazier as having no sense of humor. It proved a far more difficult task when she discovered herself living next door to him!'
Marty goes on holiday with the Logies and Philip to the Marlborough Sounds, where they have a private cove and beach
cottage.
Marty
and Philip are revisited in "Spring In September", at which time they have four children; Dorothy, Roberta, Richard ( Richie
), named for his grandfather, and Peter.
Cast Of Characters:
Martha ( Marty ) Mary Reddington, A new
immigrant to New Zealand from Suffolk, England
Pauline and Laura, Marty's friends and fellow immigrants
Sparks, A crew member on the ship
Philip ( Phil ) Richard Griffiths, The Liaison Officer on the ship and farmer-owner of Ngaio
Bend Station at Linden Peaks
Rev. Fergus MacNeill, The Padre on the ship and the Presbyterian minister of St.
Ninian's Church at Linden Peaks
Rachel MacNeill, Rev. MacNeill's wife
Jocelyn and Grant, The MacNeill children
Leonard ( Len, Lennie ) & Joy ( nee
Watson ) Logie, Marty's employers, and owners of the Alpenlinden estate at Linden Peaks
Anne ( 11 ),
Robin ( 9 ), Gaynor ( Gay ) & Gregory ( twins ) ( 3 1/2 ), The Logie children
Graham Stewart, Philip's
manager
Rhona Stewart, Graham's wife and a new mother
Bill and Hine ( Hinemoa ) Lancaster, Employed on Lennie's station
Maraea and Tiaki, The Lancaster children
Mrs. Lancaster, Bill's mother
Morgan Hervington-Blair, the local veterinarian
Stephanie Hervington-Blair, Morgan's sister
Stephen and Marion Hervington-Blair, Morgan's parents
Noel
West, A very eligible local bachelor
Isobel, Noel's ex-fiancee
Nan,
Louise Walberry ( nee Morgan ), Philip's ex-fiancee and Morgan's cousin
Tod Walberry,
Louise's Australian husband
Bernard, Marty's ex-fiancee
Mrs. Rivington, A local woman given to snide innuendos
Other Important Characters ( now deceased ) :
Richard George Griffiths, Philip's father
Dorothy, Peter and Rob Reddington, Marty's siblings, killed in the Blitz
Christopher, Isobel's deceased husband
Marty
exquisite of face
dimples
vivid blue eyes
red hair
Marty was injured in the blitz of WW2. She was 10 years old
and the youngest of 4 children ( 2 brothers and a sister ) when a wall fell; Marty was trapped under a beam and it took 6
hours to free her. She was the only one of the children who survived. It caused a shoulder injury with lasting effects, which
later forced her to give up her nursing career and turn to secretarial work.
chatham islands
'Yet, despite all, there was witchery in the night, fathomless waters, the line of the creaming wake. On the far horizon,
clouds lay, looking like islands in a dream world, the moon making a shining track on the sable waters, and the radiance of
the countless stars winking at their reflections...'
bridge of remembrance
Perhaps it was a poster much like this one that first piqued
Marty's interest in New Zealand!
There are several pet dogs in the story,
a boxer Muggins, and a wee reddish spaniel Rusty
the children have a pony, Old Randy
and Marty has a horse, Fran, short for Francesca.
My Opinion:
This book is more fun than 'New Zealand Inheritance', there are quite a few humorous moments,
plus it is a very active book, with always lots going on. The immigration storyline is interesting to read about,
life onboard the ship with stops at Curacao, Cristobal, Balboa and Panama. Once in N Z Marty gets used to country living,
goes on lots of dates, she gets out more that most of Essie's heroines, I think!
Also, this book has a very convoluted story, with lots of twists and turns, which becomes an Essie standard
for many of her books.
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