Almost twenty years ago, successful advertising executive, Jan Karon left behind her fast-paced life in the city and moved to Blowing Rock, North Carolina to pursue her childhood passion of writing. What she created is a contemporary classic. The Mitford Series is made up of ten novels written in a vignette format that intertwine the stories of finely-drawn characters who inhabit the fictional mountainous town of Mitford, North Carolina. The first in the series, At Home in Mitford, became a new York Times bestseller the same year my first child was born. I waited impatiently for each new novel’s publication and was always rewarded with another charming, humorous installment.
Father Timothy Kavanagh, the central character in the beloved Mitford series, epitomizes the Mitford town motto – “We take care of our own.” His parish is wider than the Lord’s Chapel where he is the Episcopalian rector. His heart reaches out to anyone he encounters, proven by his daily waking prayer: “Lord, make me a blessing to someone today. Through Christ our Lord, Amen”. Delightfully, Father Tim is also intelligent and well-read; his speech flows with literary quotations and references.
The world of Mitford may be charming, but it is not idyllic. Difficulties afflict Father Tim: loneliness, physical disease, doubt, and clinical depression; yet a message of hope is woven throughout each novel which reflects the author’s worldview. Because he loves us, God works things together for our good. The personal hardship experienced by author Jan Karon creates a depth to the stories: “There was a lot of brokenness in my family,” she observes. “Writing is a way of processing our lives. And it can be a way of healing.” (Star Tribune, Minneapolis-St. Paul). Karon married young and was divorced soon after, raising her daughter for many years as a single parent. Karon describes herself as having been “. . . driven to the wall by the circumstances and tragedy of life” which led her to embrace Christianity (Christianity Today’s website). Another good interview on Jan Karon’s life and faith journey can be found here: http://aredeemedlife.wordpress.com/interviews/on-the-road-with-jan-karon/
Father Tim is joined by a cast of endearing characters that populate Mitford and its surroundings. Our hearts are irresistibly drawn to Dooley, the lovable, yet unloved young boy who comes to Father Tim’s back door looking for a place to “take a dump”. (Yes, that is what the author means!) Endearing toothless Uncle Bill – long-suffering husband of a mentally ill wife, Miss Sadie Baxter – sweet-tempered, aging spinster, Percy Mosely – owner of the Main Street Grill, all these characters are seen through the eyes of Father Tim. “He sees these diamonds in the rough with compassionate love. Without fail, he lives out the kind of love that sees the potential of others and never gives up on them,” states my friend Joy – an avid Mitford fan.
The romance in the series captivates readers. Doris, my best friend from childhood, told me, “I am amazed that Father Tim, a bachelor at the age of 60, would take a chance at loving someone romantically. In my mind he was very brave to be open to this new life.” Although Karon offers a variety of romantic intrigues throughout the series, Father Tim and Cynthia Coppersmith steal the romantic spotlight at their advanced ages, which is fairly unique in modern fiction.
I have finished all ten novels and found comfort, hope, and a lifting of my heart. The only complaints over the years from friends who didn’t like the series include “too sweet” and “too slow”. If you have already read the books, please comment about your experience in Mitford. As Jan Karon says on her website: “My character driven work seeks to give readers a large extended family they can call their own.”
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The Mitford Years: ten novels in order of publication:
At Home in Mitford (1994)
A Light in the Window (1995)
These High, Green Hills (1996)
Out to Canaan (1997)
A New Song (1999)
A Common Life (2001)
In This Mountain (2002)
Shepherds Abiding (2003)
Light From Heaven (2005)
Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good (2014)
Jan Karon continued Father Tim’s story in his later years in settings beyond Mitford in the Father Tim novels: Home to Holly Springs, and In the Company of Others. More information at http://www.mitfordbooks.com. My favorite comment by a pineneedlesandpapertrails reader is Mimiswardrobe@wordpress.com: “I love the Mitford books, and I’m delighted to see that I missed the last one so I still have a new one to enjoy! Yes, they are slow, but like many slow rivers, they run deep! Rapids may be exciting, but they don’t give you much chance for introspection. What is wonderful about Jan Karon’s books is that her characters seem so real that reading one of her stories makes us feel like we’ve been to Mitford on vacation.”
Pineneedlesandpapertrails 
Brought back heart and soul and my buried strength to survive at a time when a spiritual lifeline was badly needed. In the past 7 years, I continue to read these books for inspiration, patience, forgiveness, humor and peaceful rest. When other books are read,they are the Bible and western classics. Haven’t had a TV set for 4 years and my life is full up. I believe the media mostly appears twisted and lacking in moral values. I am 72, married 53 years, lots of family, friends and busier than ever! Sharing Mitford and its books is spiritual nutrition. Bless you.
A Mitford book helped me in a hard time as well! God seems to bring along resources just how and when we need them! Thanks for commenting.
is there possibly a book in-between “Somewhere safe with Somebody Good ” and “Come Rain or Come Shine? .” It seems that there are still some stories to be told. Don’t ever stop writing. You are a wonderful author, so close to God.
I believe the books you mentioned were published one after the other, no other novel between. Blessings! Thanks for visiting my blog.
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Thanks for this article. Just FYI, it’s Timothy Kavanagh.
Thanks for the edit!
Goodness that was embarrassing! I posted that article a few years ago and missed that very glaring error. Who are you? Obviously, you have the editor’s eye! Blessings, Laure Covert
I was hoping Jan would weave a new series about Dooley and Lace and the rest of the “Barlow Kids”. I have read her books over and over and never tire of them.
Wow! This is a fantastic idea. I am a big fan of Dooley and Lacey….Thanks for your comment!
I think Jan Karon’s Mitford series is one of the most encouraging, realistic and lovely portrayals of Christian life as it unfolds for many of us. I’ve read (and re-read) all the books and hear (from her talk at Beuchner Institute recently) that she hopes to write one more Mitford book. Can anyone confirm that? Thanks. 🙂
Thanks for your comment. So many tell of the Mitford stories helping them through life. Do you mean another story set in Mitford? Did you read the 2 “Father Tim” novels?
Thanks so much for liking my blog. If you have a moment go to http://www.janetstobie.com for my “Tips for Grace-filled Living and to sample my books. I too love the Mitford Series. I’ve read them several times. I read them out loud to my husband in the car when we were travelling. He loves them too. I always feel fed spiritually when I finish one of Jan’s books. My hope is that people will feel some of the same things when they read my novel “Fireweed” which will be coming out this fall. Blessings Janet Stobie
Hi Janet, thanks for commenting! I will check out Fireweed this fall!
I was so in hopes that the end had not come…but it appears to be true. Friends, relatives and myself
have really enjoyed the series and hope to read new writings by Jan Karon, THANK YOU!!
Estelle
It is so sad to come to the end of a series… sigh…. Jan Karon continued writing about Father Tim and Cynthia after the Mitford series in Home to Holly Springs and In the Company of Others . Have you read those yet?
Yes, we have read them all
ah well, just thought there might be a last cookie or two in the jar for you!
Have read and SAVORED them all twice. Jan Karon develops her characters so beautifully. I love the way she weaves spiritual truths into her writing in an often subtle but powerful way. These are some of my all-time favorite books!! Oh, and I mustn’t forget to mention Uncle Billy’s jokes:)!!
Jan Karon is one of my favorites. She can walk you into another life from the first word on the page. I loved each person that she introduced to me on our journeys together, and cringed at the mishaps and felt embarrassment when they did. Ms Karon has the magic. Father Tim has my devotion. I walk away from each visit with Father Tim with a sermon in my heart.
I experience this, too… walking away with a sermon in my heart. Thanks for your comment.
I love the Mitford books, and I’m delighted to see that I missed the last one so I still have a new one to enjoy! Yes, they are slow, but like many slow rivers, they run deep! Rapids may be exciting, but they don’t give you much chance for introspection. What is wonderful about Jan Karon’s books is that her characters seem so real that reading one of her stories makes us feel like we’ve been to Mitford on vacation.
So true – that “Mitford message”. It makes all the difference to live that way 🙂
I loved each book. Yes, sweet, and yes slow. We need that sometimes in our fast-paced world. I loved the time when I could pull away for an hour when the baby was napping to sink slowly and deliciously into life in Mitford.
“To sink slowly and deliciously into life in Mitford”, nicely said!
Yes, a wonderful series. I miss waiting for the next adventure in Mitford. But, all good things must come to an end. As well as “all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose.” That is the Mitford message.
The Mitford message of “all things working together for good” – excellent comment, and so good to be reminded of.