The Vacillations of Poppy Carew - Mary Wesley

The Vacillations of Poppy Carew (1986) is a witty and eccentric romantic comedy by British author Mary Wesley. It follows Poppy Carew, a indecisive young woman in her mid-twenties, who is dumped by her self-centered live-in boyfriend, Edmund, for a wealthier woman. Shortly after, her beloved, gambling-addicted father dies laughing on his deathbed, leaving her a substantial fortune and a quirky final request: to organize a “fun” funeral with a specialized undertaker.

As Poppy arranges the unconventional burial, she encounters Fergus (the charming undertaker), Victor (an aspiring novelist and caterer), and Willy (a pig farmer), all of whom become smitten suitors. The wake reveals her father’s secret past with a bevy of generous elderly women who helped build his wealth. When the opportunistic Edmund reappears—abandoning his new lover Venetia upon learning of Poppy’s inheritance—and whisks her off to chaotic adventures in Africa, Poppy must navigate her sudden romantic entanglements and learn to make decisive choices about love and independence.