If you’re not lucky enough to be going on a cruise this summer, this 1934 novel by Ursula Bloom is the next best thing! It will give you the opportunity to visit Gibraltar, Marseille, Malta, Naples and Venice, all without leaving your own home. You’ll sail on the Allando in the company of Ann Clements, a thirty-five-year-old single woman who has never been abroad in her life…until now.
At the beginning of the novel, Ann is living in rented rooms in London and working as a secretary, having been left penniless after her father’s death. Her routine rarely changes – long days in a gloomy office, then home to do the ironing and sewing, with only two weeks by the sea with her controlling, bullying older brother Cuthbert to look forward to. She has almost given up hope of having any excitement in her life, until the day she wins a large sum of money in a sweepstake she didn’t even know she had entered. Ignoring Cuthbert’s advice to invest the money in a trust fund for his daughter, Ann decides to spend it on a Mediterranean cruise – and this one decision will change her life forever.
Even while she’s boarding the ship, Ann is having second thoughts. Is she really brave enough to travel alone? Has she brought the right clothes? Surely she’s too old and boring to be having an adventure like this! As the days go by, however, she finds herself doing things she had never imagined herself doing before and for the first time she begins to learn who she really is and what she wants out of life.
I enjoyed this book from beginning to end; Ann is an endearing character and it was lovely to watch her grow in confidence, start to think for herself and leave behind the shy, insecure woman who has grown up under her brother’s thumb. Having been convinced that she would remain a spinster to her dying day, she also meets several men on the cruise who make her wonder whether it’s not too late to fall in love after all. Yet I wouldn’t describe this book as a romance so much as a book about a woman discovering that romance is possible, if that makes sense!
I also loved the descriptions of the places Ann visits, particularly as I’ve been to some of them myself, as well as life on the ship itself, as Ann gets to know her fellow passengers. They are a real mixture of people and although Ann has some preconceived ideas (thanks to Cuthbert’s influence) regarding those who are ‘not her sort’, as part of her transformation she is exposed to new ways of thinking and starts to change her own views.
Wonder Cruise is the first novel I’ve read by Ursula Bloom, but it seems she was very prolific and wrote over 500 books under various pseudonyms, which got her into the Guinness Book of Records in the 1970s! If you’ve read any of them maybe you can help me decide which one I should try next.
This is book 6/20 of my 20 Books of Summer 2023
She Reads Novels 
Intriguing. I’m amazed at how many books are out there that we readers read, if that makes sense, lol.
It seems nostalgic and important. I’m glad that many women have left their stories and views in books that we’re finding and reading. Finding that romance is possible, love it.
I know what you mean – I’m often surprised by how many books and authors I see on other blogs that I didn’t even know existed! And yes, it’s always interesting to read the views of women from the past.
500-wow, that is prolific. This sounds a delightful read–on the lines of Miss Pettigrew and Flowers for Mrs Harris, if I’m reading the vibes correctly. I haven’t come across Bloom before but this certainly seems a book I would very much enjoy.
It’s a bit more serious than Miss Pettigrew, but otherwise yes, it has a similar premise and themes.
I’ve actually been looking for a book about a cruise shop after reading Lara Williams’s The Odyssey, so I will definitely be picking this up!
I haven’t read many books set on cruise ships, but I did enjoy this one!
Sounds like a lovely read, as well as a wonderful glimpse into travel in the past before tourism had completely taken over!!
Yes, it’s always fascinating to read about travel in the first half of the 20th century – so different from what it would become!
I’ve always wanted to go to Gibraltar and Venice! I love when books take you to places you can’t travel to yourself, and this book sounds so delightful. I hope I can find a copy to read. 😀
I haven’t been to Gibraltar, but I’ve been to Venice and would definitely recommend going! It’s such a beautiful, atmospheric place.
I haven’t read anything by Ursula Bloom but I am looking forward to giving this one a try!
This will be a good one to start with – it’s certainly left me wanting to read more of her books!
500 books! Good grief! I’m exhausted just thinking of it! This sounds lovely, and a cruise round the Med is very appealing…
Yes, I don’t know how she had time for anything else! A cruise would be lovely this summer, but I’m afraid I’ve had to settle for the virtual version.
Nice review. This is going straight to my TBR! Thank you!
Great! I really enjoyed it.
This sounds wonderful, although seems to be hard to find.
This and some of her others are available for Kindle here in the UK, but physical copies seem harder to find.
I read an Ursula Bloom a few years ago and enjoyed it. This one sounds perfect for summer.
Yes, it’s a good summer read. I’ll have to try more of her books.
Actually, now that I look, I got her mixed up with Ursula Orange. But I’ll give this one a try.
This sounds right up my street. I love books of this type and date and a 1930s cruise! I’m sold. I shall be buying a kindle copy forthwith.
I think this is definitely your sort of book. And the good thing is, there are a lot more of her books available on Kindle if you enjoy it!
I’m going to start it tonight because I just finished my book.
Hi Helen,
we worked in the book business until we retired as author, editor, bookseller etc. but we have never heard of Ursula Bloom. Her books sound a bit like chickLit.
Thanks & cheers
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
It seems that Ursula Bloom was very popular in the early 20th century but has been almost forgotten today. I’m glad I could bring her to your attention!
Sounds a good read. And I had never heard of her before. I do like a book that takes you on holiday and I also like a book where the female character doesn’t do what their father/brother/husband wants them to!
Yes, it was nice to escape into the pages of this book and get away from the wet, miserable summer we’re having here!
Thanks for the alert on this book! It is both delightful and thought provoking.
You’re welcome!
The very thought of a cruise is my idea of hell, but this sounds an intriguing read. I’ve never read anything by Bloom. She’s so prolific, it’s hard to see how I have avoided her. Time to put that right?
You always find the most unique books Helen! This one sounds like a winner and I love anything with the word “cruise” in the title. Books set on the water are some of my favorites. Will be looking for this one in the future. Thanks for another great review 🙂
This sounds wonderful! Thank you for introducing me.
I really enjoyed it. I’m definitely planning to read more by Ursula Bloom soon.