Since Penelope owns two incomplete panels in her home and one important work-The Shell Seekers-her children Nancy and Noel urge her to sell the works while their popularity has reached its peak. Due to their rarity, the price for these pieces are astronomical. Recently, however, there has been an increased admiration and appreciation for his works. Lawrence was a famous painter, although over the years the popularity of his paintings diminished. In addition, Penelope and Antonia take Danus, the gardener whom Penelope hires after suffering her small heart attack.Ĭentral throughout the story are the paintings made by Penelope's father, Lawrence Stern. Cosmo has recently passed away and Penelope takes her into her home in Podmore Thatch as a welcome visitor and an easy way to silence her daughter Nancy's constant admonishings that she needs a full-time caretaker. In the end, she decides to take Antonia, the daughter of Cosmo, the love of Olivia's life.

She asks each of her three children to come with her to make the trip, but all three decline, stating other obligations in their life. Penelope has just suffered a slight heart attack at the beginning of the novel and she is happy to return home (after voluntarily checking herself out of the hospital.) She then decides that it is time for her to return to Porthkerris, where she lived throughout World War II and met the love of her life, Richard. As the mother of three children named Nancy, Noel and Olivia, each of the children's lives in the present are explored briefly in order to better explain their relationship with Penelope. Although the story focuses on Penelope, there are various glimpses into other characters that are important to her. The Shell Seekers is a novel that revolves around the final months of the central character, Penelope Keeling.

The shell seekers by rosamunde pilcher