England Books

This book is very well written and heartfelt, but realize this is NOT a book you read when you need cheering up! If you wish to explore human emotion, however, this is a great way to explore that through fiction. Good read!

I was surprised to receive this very thin, small novel, but within those 175 pages, Edith Wharton has woven a supremely delicate and beautiful tale. If you're looking to be taken away to another place and another time - but only have a few hours - this is the book for you! Anita Shreve's introduction is equally impressive.

Edith Wharton filled her novels with a feeling of ruin, passion and restriction. People can fall in love, but rarely do things turn out well.

But but few of even her books can evoke the feeling of "Ethan Frome," whick packs plenty of emotion, vibrancy and regrets into a short novella. While the claustrophobic feeling doesn't suit her writing well, she still spins a beautiful, horrifying story of a man facing a life without hope or joy.

It begins nearly a quarter of a century after the events of the novel, with an unnamed narrator watching middle-aged, crippled Ethan Frome drag himself to the post-office. He becomes interested in Frome's tragic past, and hears out his story.

Ethan Frome once hoped to live an urban, educated life, but ended up trapped in a bleak New England town with a hypochondriac wife, Zeena, whom he didn't love. But then his wife's cousin Mattie arrives, a bright young girl who understands Ethan far better than his wife ever tried to. Unsurprisingly, he begins to fall in love with her, but still feels an obligation to his wife.

But then Zeena threatens to send Mattie away and hire a new housekeeper, threatening the one bright spot in Ethan's dour life. Now Ethan must either rebel against the morals and strictures of his small village, or live out his life lonely. But when he and Mattie try for a third option, their affair ends in tragedy.

Wharton was always at her best when she wrote about society's strictures, morals, and love that defies that. But rather than the opulent backdrop of wealthy New York, here the setting is a bleak, snowy New England town, appropriately named Starkfield. It's a good reflection of Ethan Frome's life, and a good illustration of how the poor can be trapped.

Even when she describes a "ruin of a man" in a cold, distant town, Wharton spins beautiful prose ("the night was so transparent that the white house-fronts between the elms looked gray against the snow") and eloquent symbolism, like the shattered pickle dish. There's only minimal dialogue -- most of what the characters think and feel is kept inside.

Instead she piles on the atmosphere, and increases the tension between the three main characters, as attraction and responsibility pull Ethan in two directions. It all finally climaxes in the disaster hinted at in the first chapter, which is as beautifully written and wistful as it is tragic.

If the book has a flaw, it's the incredibly small cast -- mainly just the main love triangle. Ethan's not a strong or decisive man, but his desperation and loneliness are absolutely heartbreaking, as well as his final fate. Mattie seems more like a symbol of the life he wants that a full-fledged person, and Zeena is annoying and whiny up until the end, when we see a different side of her personality. Not a stereotypical shrew.

"Ethan Frome" is a true tragedy -- as beautifully written as it is, it's still Wharton's description of how a man merely survives instead of living, hopeless and devastated.

The Romeo and Juliet of its time, Ethan Frome is a suspenseful story about a man shackled by marriage to the lady of his nightmares, and when he finds the love of his dreams he is torn to shreds by what he should do and what he needs to do. An excerpt from the story that best summarizes his predicament is "With the sudden perception of the point to which his madness had carried him, the madness fell and he saw his life before him as it was. He was a poor man, the husband of a sickly woman, whom his desertion would leave alone and destitute; and even if he had the heart to desert her he could have done so only by deceiving two kindly people who had pitied him." As you can see the story has an intricately designed plot that keeps you wondering until the end.

Aristocratic New York woman residing in Paris writes about impoverished New England man's demise in love - a formula which few would encourage today, and certainly was a misanthropic venture in 1911 when this book was published.

But, Wharton excels in her delivery. The dialogue incorporates much of the Massachusetts' accent. The description of the countryside: magnificent. "On a road I had never traveled, we am to an orchard of starved apple trees writhing over a hillside among outcroppings of slate that nuzzled up through the snow like animals pushing out their noses to breath." And, the story - Bronte meets Sterling. Depressing, grey as the winter weather, and as cold as a Massachusetts' December.

Zeena, originally thought to be named Zenobia, is Ethan Frome's wife from hell. They live in the aptly named town of Starkfield. Zeena, ill and nagging, haunts Ethan as her querulous droning echoes in his psyche, whether he be in the home listening or safely outside working in the farm. Zeena's niece, Mattie or Matt, comes to aid her ailing aunt. And, without any appreciation, she does her chores.

Frome's exclusive enjoyment is seeing Mattie's face each morning - so much does he like this that he commences shaving every morning to look right for her. The amorous affection is not a one-way road. Each becomes increasingly more entranced by the other. And, when Zeena leaves for an overnight stay at a doctor's, opportunity knocks.

But, this is Wharton and written about people in puritanical Massachusetts in the late 19th century - much of the book is reminiscing in 1911 about what transpired 20 years earlier. Illicit love is the forbidden fruit. Contract or arranged marriages delivered sexual pleasure, not love of the heart. Wharton's characters often are prisoners of their societal marriages - Ethan Frome being worse than others as he also lacks any societal privileges or money. True love is doomed too often in Wharton's books: Selden in "House of Mirth", Newland Archer in "Age of Innocence" and Ralph Marvell in "The Custom of the Country" lead similar demises.

The ending is tremendously depressing. I will not detail what transpired, as that would be unfair to readers of this review. But, its twist is what reminds me of Sterling or O'Henry. It was both alarming, and perfect.

If you liked and read the first two books in this series, then you will not be disappointed.

I hope there are more to come!

Melanie's writings truly bring characters to life. The books are well researched. I like how the characters deal with real life situations and problems. God's love shines through the series without being preachy.

Reviewed by Rebecka Vigus for Reader Views (12/06)

Ms. Jeschke writes a wonderful book that spans two generations. "Evasions' tells of first love, of love lost, war, love, separation, misunderstanding, fear and deprivation. Through all of this, love of God prevails. With his love all things can be faced.

In the first part of the book Stuart asks for Natalie's hand in marriage. When her father suggests that the young man consult Natalie, he hesitates and goes to pave the way with his own father. That is how Eric and Annie begin to tell the story of their love to their children.

Eric's first love was Laurene. She was a beautiful Scottish lass who was stations above Eric in the social class. Her father agreed that they could be engaged, but not marry until Laurene had finished college. He then decided on the brink of World War II to send his daughter to the United States to keep her safe. As it turned out, that was not the wise thing to do as the ship she was sailing on was hit with a torpedo launched from a German ship. Eric, devastated by this turn of events, turns from his religious studies and enlists in the Royal Air Force (RAF).

Annie is an impetuous young lady from Virginia who is in London visiting her brother Jeff, a student at Oxford University. Annie does not get on the ship for America and is not lost at sea. With the impending war, she finishes her nursing and begins work at St. Bart's in London. Jeff visits frequently. On an evening out, Eric approaches Annie with a theater ticket. Jeff pretends to be her boyfriend to scare Eric into behaving.

Jeff, Annie, and Eric become fast friends. As Eric is stationed nearby he comes to visit Annie often. He even proposes to her and they take their vows in a small church near his base. Although they are not truly married they spend the night together.

Jeff, meantime, makes arrangements for Annie to stay with C.S. Lewis and his family in Oxford should the time come when she must evacuate from London. When this time comes Annie sends a letter to Eric.

Eric has been moved to another base as his was bombed. He does not get the letter and gets frantic as to Annie's safety. When he goes to look for her, he is told she moved out and that one of the girls was killed. This only makes Eric more frantic as he doesn't know which girl has been killed.

Annie has decided that Eric has chosen to forget her. She confides in Mr. Lewis that she is not truly married.

Mr. Lewis is engaged to speak to the troops about religion. While he is there, Eric seeks him out in the hopes that he may know where Annie is. A surprised Lewis asks if Eric can get time off and takes him to Annie, where the two lovers reunite.

The book returns to the present in Scotland where the family has gone to celebrate Eric's fiftieth birthday. All are present but Stuart. Natalie is unhappy and goes to the hillside to think and pray. This is where Stuart finds her.

I will not tell you how the book ends or all the details of Eric and Annie's relationship. Ms. Jeschke tells a marvelous tale that leaves the reader wanting more. I do hope she will continue with this series known as the Oxford Chronicles. It gave much insight into what life was like in London during the war and also much insight into C.S. Lewis and his cronies. The book is well written and transitions easily from present to past and back.

This book is well on a par with John Jake's series "War and Remembrance." `Evasions' is a book to last for the ages.

The Oxford Chronicles is a must ready for anyone, especially those that love romance. Evasions is Melanie Jeschke's third book in the series. Each book is better than the next, but Inklings book one is amazing. She has a way of making the characters come so alive, that you feel so connected to them and feel what they are going through. You will not want to put this book or the other two down!! Evasions has the added bonus of being set in World War II, which is one of my favorite time periods to learn about. This book includes not only romance but history and a story of redemption that anyone would love and be hooked! Buy and read this book and her first two!!

This is the third book in a series-the first book is Inklings, and the second one is Expectations. I would highly recommend all three of these titles to anyone who is an Anglophile and/or a fan of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. These books are very well researched, and very well written. I got interested in the characters right away, and couldn't wait to find out what happened to them.

In this novel Reginald Hill tells a more concise and tighter story than the overblown behemoths he's been churning out in recent years. Shorter is better when it comes to crime fiction. It's funny, well-written, deftly-plotted, full of eccentric, crackling good characters, insightful stuff with a good understanding of human nature. Hill is darn near at the top of his form.
In the opening pages three men in their early seventies die under unfortunate circumstances. Fat Andy Dalziel is marginalized in the investigation because he is suspected of causing the death of one of these men who's been struck down in an auto accident. Was a heavily soused Andy the driver?
Dalziel's second in command, the better educated and more politic Peter Pascoe, is the star of this enterprise with a good assist from Detective-Constable Dennis Seymour who likes the ladies and his pints.
Old people do not fare well in this story. It's almost an anti-geriatric rant as in this quote: "People live a long time these days. Trouble is they don't stay young longer. They stay old longer."
Hill has created two brilliant characters in Dalziel and Pascoe, and we see how distinctive they are in this book. Pascoe trods the straight and narrow, and fat Andy incongruously teeters on the tightrope of what seems dodgy and felonious. Read it and have a good time whether you're young or old.
Nine Lives Too Many
The Daemon in Our Dreams
The Rice Queen Spy
Clawed Back from the Dead

I read it once, and just got it in the mail today after
purchasing it from a fine Amazon bookseller. I plan to
read it again. This time, with Large Print. Great book.
I LOVE Andy Dalziel :)

The Dalziel and Pascoe series is a great series, and Reginald Hill is a smart and intelligent writer. This is the eighth or ninth book in this series, and it's probably one of the better ones in my opinion. The book starts with the death of three elderly gentlemen, and two looked like accidents, while one was definitely a murder. While Pascoe is trying to solve his murder, he begins to wonder whether or not one or both of the other deaths is related somehow. Hill's characters are wonderful, and he outdoes himself with this one with Pascoe's heart-rending search for the truth. And the end of the book is a total shock! What a wonderful story. It kept me guessing, and I was wondering about Andy all the way throug too.

EXIT LINES (Reginald Hill, 1984) is a particularly good book, even by Reginald Hill's particularly high standards. It tackles the themes of death and ageing in both a humorous and a tragic way, showing the keen intelligence and humanity of the author.

The book opens with the deaths of three old men on a November night: as Detective Inspector Pascoe remarks, decidedly "not a good night for the old". One was murdered in his bathtub, his daughter arriving just in time to hear him gasp "Charley" and die; one died of exposure on playing fields, the discoverer of the body hearing him cry "Polly"; and the third murmured "Paradise! Driver... fat bastard...pissed!"-understandably so, for Superintendent Dalziel was in the car which hit him. The dying messages serve as clues as enigmatic as death itself, reinforced by the choice of dying words as chapter headings (great fun for those quotation spotters and spouters out there!). Police work uncovers connections between the supposedly separate cases-and police corruption hovering in the air, with Dalziel going on a shooting spree (of pheasants, that is)-"grand".

Reginald Hill shows himself as a keen observer of humanity, fascinated by the human race-but not becoming bogged down in Ruth Rendell's social conscience or P.D. James' bleak pessimism, but instead remembering that the writer's first duty is to the reader, to entertain. Take, for example, Ellie Pascoe's father's senility as an example of how to handle family background problems without intrusion: it is secondary to the plot, but is there as a play on the book's theme of ageing, and also serves to provide a vital clue. Characterisation is superlative, the reader really feeling sympathy for the characters, or despising those who view the old as a burden. Hill achieves this through a remarkable mixture of humour and genuine emotion, contrasting-but never clashing-humour with grief in succeeding paragraphs. Old age is really brought home to the reader by the senile dementia of Mrs. Escott, a genuinely pathetic and well-drawn character.

The whole-detective story, novel elements-culminates in a particularly neat and moving ending in which all the loose ends tied up, with both good clues and affecting murderers. This book shows Reginald Hill at the height of his powers-without any doubt the best of the modern writers of detective stories who are still writing.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Reginald Hill's Dalziel/Pascoe stories are unique, in that they vary from very light hearted (Pictures of Perfection) to grim and haunting, and even to the paranormal! This story is on the lighter side. The unusual twist is that Pascoe himself is forced to wonder whether, by driving under the influence, Dalziel has corrupted the investigation. The story ties together the threads of 3 different deaths on the same night. A newer character, Detective-Constable Seymour, assists Pascoe and Sgt Wield in the investigation. The completely clueless and luckless Constable Hector manages to hinder most of the help Seymour is providing. The story has some very funny moments despite the tragedy of the deaths of the three elderly victims. As always it is great when Mrs. Ellie Pascoe is a part of the story. And she is "present" in this one, although she's physically away, taking care of her own elderly father. The mystery is satisfying and the reader's natural suspicion of Dalziel's motives, and maybe even his integrity, actually enhances the plot. Well done.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

(For a sampling of the haunting, deeper side of Reginald Hill's Dalziel/Pascoe stories try "On Beulah Height: or "The Wood Beyond".)

Lady Appleton is on trial, now, and must discover the real murderer if she is to survive the accusations. There are times I have to ask myself if Emerson was actually alive during this time period and froze herself to be brough back during our time period to write so well. (Of course not, I'm just being silly!)

For a look at the cover of this book and other news about the series, visit my website. I have my own domain name, so I'm easy to find. I also have a newsletter, Face Down Update, for those interested in knowing more about Lady Appleton. P.S. I couldn't submit this without rating the book. I do think it's the best in the series to date, but I hate the idea of rating anything. Much too subjective!

Officially, he died from drowning. Though eighteen months have passed since that declaration, the deceased's spouse Susanna Appleton rejects the finding. She knows that she has been married to Robert for too many years for her to be so easily rid of him. Her belief is proven accurate when Roberts sends her a note demanding she bring a large amount of gold to him. Though she no longer loves her husband, Susanna feels bound to honor her marital vows. She leaves Leigh Abbey to travel to London for her rendezvous with Robert.

When Susanna arrives at their appointed locale, the innkeeper mistakes her for another woman who was kissing Robert while sitting on his lap. Susanna learns that Robert has already left the sleazy Black Jack Inn. She leaves to find lodging in a better neighborhood. While looking at the nearby Eleanor Cross, Susanna sees a man fall to his death. Based on what she observed, the noted herbalist feels someone poisoned the victim. The innkeeper testifies that Susanna was the last person seen with the dead person. The police arrest her, placing her in Newgate while awaiting trial for murder. Her good friends in high places obtain her temporary release, but Susanna plans to uncover the truth before she is burned at the stake.

Kathy Lynn Emerson has written another exciting Elizabethan mystery that stars a memorable and likable heroine. FACE DOWN BENEATH THE ELEANOR CROSS has been so meticulously researched it feels as if Ms. Emerson was there to document the tale. Reminiscent of the best of Gellis and Penman, this novel deserves awards while encouraging readers to find the previous three tales in a rewarding series.

Harriet Klausner

If you read the "Face Down" series purely for the Whodunit, than this one is as strong as the others - in fact, harder for me to figure out than some of the others have been. I have to admit - I'm a bit disappointed in how Emerson resolved some relationship issues in this one. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but I felt that some things were a bit rushed and seemed out of character for two of the players - but all in all, I love how Emerson continues to grow the the characters of the supporting crew to Susanna - another fun mystery.

This time Susanna, Lady Appleton is suspected of the murder of her husband, and, as the author makes clear, this is hardly the best century in which to be a murder suspect. Susanna fights against time to find the real murderer and escape a gruesome death. A riveting mystery with authentic and fascinating period details, well drawn characters, and always a plucky heroine. Fans of Anne Perry should check out this series!

This was one of the best mysteries I have ever read. I came upon it by accident, not even knowing if it were a mystery or not. It is a wonderful successor to the great writers of the original English mystery. George Felse ranks up there with Poirot and Holmes, but shows a bit more humanity. The other characters, also, show qualities that make you forget that you're reading. The plot, I'm sure, will perplex you and will have you back for more Ellis Peters. I will say that after reading most of the Felse mysteries and a few Cadfael that Felse is better, but this one is the best in the lot.

I have read and loved all Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael mysteries, and for that reason I had been reluctant to start her equally well-known George Felse series. I am very glad that I did decide to begin this series. It's been awhile since I actually read a Brother Cadfael, and I had forgotten what a marvellous writer Ms. Peters was. Her characters in this series are just as well-rounded and realistic as the ones in the Cadfael series. The time and place are much different, but Ms. Peters' wonderful plotting and story-telling are the same. I truly believe that Ms. Peters is still in a class of her own when it comes to authorship. In this book the main sleuth is not George Felse himself, but his protege of a son - Dominic, who is 13 years old. Ms. Peters has written a coming of age mystery book here with her usual great skill. Dominic and his sidekick Pussy are two youngsters that readers will not soon forget. Also, George's wife Bunty is another wonderful character that I can't wait to read more about. They mystery too is ingenious and such a pleasure to uncover. Can't wait for more George Felse.

After reading almost all of Ellis Peters' Cadfael mysteries, I decided to give her other works a try, just to see if they could possibly compare. Well, to say I was surprised at what a fantastic novel this is can only be appreciated by those who have read and marveled at the brilliant Cadfael series.

Peters has created not only a very suspenseful and intriguing whodunnit, but a work of great depth, warmth, humor, and tragedy, full of complex character studies and profound insights into human nature, the effects of war, and how the murder of a man whom everyone hated anyway still rips apart the fabric of a small, close-knit community. And above it all emerges a playful, lighthearted banter between a precocious 13-year-old and his loving parents which is absolutely delightful to read. Somewhere around the middle of the book, after she has painted a vivid picture for us of the people, place, and times, young Dominic becomes central as the book's primary protagonist, and I cannot think of a more well-suited character to carry this novel.

As for the mystery itself, it was simply ingenious, better than many of the Cadfael mysteries, some of which are fairly easy to solve. This one had me on my toes until the very end, and threw some whopping surprises in along the way.

This is truly a work of genius, many-layered, lovingly crafted, and brilliantly well-told. Good luck finding another modern author who can come close to this level of accomplishment. Peters' work deserves much more acclaim than it has received.

Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.
- Psalms 7:14 - 15

In these days after WWII, England is no longer the place the young men left when they went away to fight. The mining industry has been nationalized, and even Comerford's old slapdash efforts at opening up its shallow coal deposits are about to be reopened, with a flood of new faces coming in to operate the new machinery. The men who went away, of course, aren't those who came back: Jim Tugg, the hired man at the Hollins farm, with daring exploits as a paratrooper; Chad Wedderburn, the pacifist classics master who spent years in guerilla fighting; even Charles Blunden, son of Selwyn Blunden of Harrow, fought all the way across North Africa and Sicily.

Expatriates from all over Europe are common enough, even ex-POWs who still slip and say 'Heil Hitler!' if they forget. (And get beaten up, maybe, by somebody whose brother died in a Stalag.) Helmut Schauffler, though, has been asking to be murdered by going far beyond that.

Gerd Hollins had lost her entire family in the concentration camps. Haunted by memories of horror that won't stay suppressed, she asked her husband to hire Helmut, because if she could learn to see one German as a human being, it would help her to let go of her nightmares. Unfortunately, Helmut is a creep - an actual Nazi who enjoys psychological torment (though he's not stupid enough to try it in front of her husband or hired man). When he's fired and takes a job at the quarry, he still harasses her in a slimy way, while causing discord everywhere else he goes.

Sergeant Felse isn't surprised when Helmut finally turns up floating in the brook, head bashed in, although he's less than thrilled that his 13-year-old son Dominic found the corpse. Despite George's best efforts, Dominic gets interested in the case, especially since his classics master is a suspect.

Best known for her "Brother Cadfael" series, Ellis Peters (1913-1985) was also the author of thirteen novels featuring Inspector George Felse. Published in 1951, FALLEN INTO THE PIT is first novel in that series--and easily the best.

Most of the Inspector Felse novels run approximately two hundred pages; FALLEN INTO THE PIT runs over three hundred. To a certain extent this is due to Peters' establishment of the main characters and locales--but in simple fact the novel is much more densely written than her other Felse novels, so much so that at times it has an almost poetic quality.

Set in England following World War II, the plot focuses on a young German prisoner of war named Helmut Schauffler, who has remained in England after his release. Unfortunately, Helmut is a nasty bit of goods: a bully who attacks only when reasonably certain that there will be no retribution. Needless to say, he makes enemies right and left--and no one is greatly surprized when he is found with his head crushed in and thrown into a country stream.

Peters' plots are typically contrived, and although handsomely written and more than usually entertaining this is no less true of FALLEN INTO THE PIT than it is of her other works; long-time mystery readers will likely spot the killer through the way the author draws out her plot and sets forth the characters. Even so, this remains a particularly fine title in the Felse series. Recommended.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Some might say nothing can equal Middlemarch as Eliot's greatest work but I think that even if Felix Holt doesn't rank alongside it in literature, it should be given at least an equal status.

The novel deals with provincial politics in nineteenth century England through the mouthpiece of one of the best male protagonists ever drwan in literature by a female writer. As in all her books, Eliot is sharp in her details, the satire is poignant and she doesn't miss out on humor. Feminism takes a different turn here, with telling criticisms on the way females were brought up at that time and in many third world countries, still are brought up.

Eliot is never bitter, never hopeless, yet always realistic and idealistic with this difference: she doesn't let it get out of control. Fear not: mawkish is the last thing this book is. Some details might seem to be superfluous but it adds up to showing the literary prowess of this great woman, and is very helpful in letting you understand the real stuff going on at that time. A good, very well-written socio-political novel, that depicts the atmosphere of its time with more accuracy than many other books I've read.

Eliot does have the most amazing ability to get into her characters' minds. although this book is an all rounder in the sense that it comments on most social issues, the two main intimate themes of the books are personal to the central character, Felix, the most "alive" hero of nineteenth century literature: his politics and his love interest, in herself a very compelling and subtly drwan character.

Worth reading for all Eliot, Dickens, and Hardy fans. Will definitely give you two or three new opinions: even if the time period is different, much of the philosophy of the book is still very relevant.

This is my 4th novel by George Eliot (after "Adam Bede", "Middlemarch" and "The Mill on the Floss") and it has become my favourite along with "Middlemarch". "Felix Holt" is so marvelously written and gave me many hours of reading pleasure - I can't understand why it's not as highly acclaimed or well-known as Eliot's other novels.

If you're a fan of Victorian literature, then you mustn't miss this brilliant work. The story's set in the 1830s and is 1/3 focused on politics (i.e. a fascinating insight into the electioneering process and the fight for a Parliamentary seat between the Torys and the Radicals), 1/3 on family and sensational issues (e.g. illegitimacy, dispute over who has the legitimate claim on the wealthy estates of the Transome family and plenty of blackmail, manipulation and betrayals) and 1/3 devoted to a love triangle.

George Eliot wrote so eloquently and beautifully that many times I find myself re-reading a particular phrase in order to saviour its beautiful words. Each chapter also starts with either a beautiful poem or some well-chosen lines from Shakespeare/the Classics. Here's a favourite of mine from Chapter 45 (a poem by Eliot):

"We may not make this world a paradise
By walking it together with clasped hands
And eyes that meeting feed a double strength.
We must be only joined by pains divine,
Of spirits blent in mutual memories".

I confess that above all, it is the suspense over the touching love story that kept me turning the pages very quickly. The hero is Felix Holt, a passionate, idealistic young man who studies medicine but chooses to quit midway and forgo a comfortable future as a doctor in favour of leading the more righteous life (in his opinion) of an ordinary, poor workingman because of his scorn for wealth and its corrupting powers. Felix is described as honest, brusque, generous and highly intelligent. He's got "wild hair", dresses simple and to his own liking e.g. not wearing a cravat "like all the other gentlemen", and sometimes looks like a "barbarian". He patronizes no one and is rather unpopular in the town of Treby Magna where the story takes place. His political views are Radical (i.e. more severe than the Liberals) but his main concerns are for the well-being of the working class and especially the future of their children. (Read the excellent "Address to Working Men by Felix Holt" which comes after the Epilogue). Felix's good intentions land him in great trouble with the law later on when a massive riot breaks out among the drunk working class directly after the election and Felix is wrongly accused of being the leader of the mob.

Early on in the novel, Felix is introduced to the heroine, Esther Lyon (the beautiful daughter of a poor chapel minister) whose vanity and high-bred manner he scorns. He rebukes and lectures her constantly in that straight-forward and honest manner of his because he cares to improve her views on what are truly the important things in life. Esther dislikes him utterly at first... she cannot understand why Felix doesn't admire her beauty and graceful manners like other young men do. Esther is vain and proud (at least, initially) and has always dreamed of leading a better life, with fineries and beautiful clothes and servants to do her bidding. And Felix Holt is definitely not her idea of a lover! But Esther is not unkind or ungenerous - she loves her father dearly and treats everyone well. Gradually, she begins to see the true nature of Felix's character and noble aims, and holds him in great esteem, despite his outward looks and manners. But Felix has declared never to marry and if he were ever to fall in love, he would just "bear it and not marry" (preferring to "wed poverty"). Later in the novel, Esther is courted by the rich and handsome Harold Transome whose initial reason for wooing her is to save his family estates. But he doesn't count on falling in love with her subsequently.

Who does Esther ends up with finally: Felix or Harold? But take it from me that the romantic scenes between Felix and Esther are the most passionate and heart-wrenching I've ever come across in a classic literature - with many kisses and hugs amidst pure longing and despair, and scenes filled with beautifully spoken words of affection which brought tears to my eyes.

For many, many reasons, "Felix Holt" makes for a most brilliant read. I urge you not to miss it.

George Eliot is an acquired taste. If one were to pick up only one of her books it would probably be "The Mill on the Floss", "Silas Marner" or "Middlemarch" and with any one of those might come frustration with Eliot's myriad of plots (not to mention her tendency for being a bit wordy). But I found "Felix Holt", for all its political twists and turns, to be the most accessible of Eliot's books. This accessibility can be attributed to two of the finest characters ever created: Mrs. Transome and Ester Lyon. I would say that the character of Mrs. Transome ranks up there with Emma Bovary in terms of literary creation and chapters 42 and 49 (I don't want to give away the story) are absolutely cinematic. I truly love this book.

George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) was a great English novelist of
the Victorian period. Her list of classics is impressive:
"Scenes from Clerical Life'; "Adam Bede"; "The Mill on the Floss"
Middlemarch" and "Daniel Deronda" are among the greatest novels
ever written in the English Language.
Felix Holt tells the story of a radical candidate for Parliament. He has become a watchmaker; cares for his mother
and courts Esther Lyon the sophisticated daughter of a poor
minister. Esther is also courted by Harold Transome who like
Holt is also a Radical candidate for Parliament. Harold is rich, 35, a widower with a young son. Holt is young, fiery and idealistic.
The most interesting character in the novel is Mrs. Transome who has secrets to keep. She is well drawn by Eliot.
In addition to the love story is the tale of an inheritance.
This tangled delve into old documents is complex and may lose
some readers.
The tale climaxes with a working man's revolt and other suprises for the interested reader. The book is not as long as
some of her novels but does hold one's interest.
This is not Eliot's best novel but it is worth reading.

Felix Holt occupies a middle-tier in the critical estimation of Eliot's novels. It is often disparaged as the "political novel," or alternatively "the one where the legal subplot is way too complicated."

At first, this seems unfair. The early introduction of Mrs. Transome is a showstopper, heroine Esther Lyon fascinates, and the detailed evocation of 19th century rural politics is through Eliot's narrative magic made riveting.

But things do go awry in the second half. A big problem is Felix himself: an idealization of a political view rather than a detailed character, the reader loves him rather less than Eliot seems to intend. The legal schenanigans are intriguing, but the tortuous plot machinations through which Felix comes to be imprisoned are near ridiculous. And finally, Esther experiences her moral conversion rather too quickly and tidily, coming to seem just a sketch for Gwendolyn Harleth in the later Daniel Deronda. Indeed, by book's end the most compelling plot thread standing is that of the unfortunate Mrs. Transome.

But to say a book isn't as good as Daniel Deronda isn't much of a criticism. For all its faults, Felix Holt is filled with excellent characters, a strong story, and unparalled insight into both 19th century England and the more universal collisions of morality and politics.

Plumb tells the tale of the four Hanoverian 'Georges' who seem to progress generation to generation in the direction of complete nuttiness. The climax however is in George III , the old villain of American schoolbooks. Plumb says he was extremely slow of mind, and the first twenty years of his reign a complete disaster. Thanks to the foolish advice of Lord North who is portrayed as a somewhat sloth rolypoly George III managed to antagonize and lose his American colonies. The last twenty years of his reign were however much more successful. Plumb artfully describes how the brilliant Lord Pitt at twenty- four became the King's First Minister and brought about peace with both America and France. This despite the fact that George III one day began to speak to a tree , spoke to it twenty- four hours without stop and after this was pretty much not 'in the loop of decision- making'.
The relations between the various Georges and the various Princes of Wales were most often horrible. George III could not stand his father, and his son. What is somehow surprising is that despite the eccentricities of the monarchs Great Britain continued to grow and develop its Empire.
Plumb has a clear vision of the story as a whole, writes with interest about the various figures, Robert Walpole, Lord Chatham, Lord North, Pitt et al. who served the various kings. A highly enjoyable piece of historical writing.

This classic of historical writing and interpretation was first published in 1956, and it's still the best single volume on the Hanoverian dynasty. Taylor trained under G. M. Trevelyan, another noteworthy narrator of history, and became an illustrious Fellow of King's College, Cambridge. While he produced many important works in modern English history, he still is best known for his examination of the dynasty that began with the arrival in London 1714 of George, Duke of Brunswick, successor to Queen Anne, the last Stewart monarch. He didn't speak English and his son and successor, George II, barely could. The family has gotten bad press for generations, their reputation for loutishness and general lack of intellect perhaps being colored by American attitudes, but Plumb portrays them convincingly as ordinary human beings caught up in a series of exceptional circumstances: The rise of parliamentary power, the loss of the American colonies below Canada, the Industrial Revolution, the effects everywhere of the French Revolution, and the struggle against Napoleon. Like many others, I first read this book as an undergraduate, but I now much prefer the 1974 lavishly illustrated Hamlyn edition [which Amazon doesn't list]; the numerous political cartoons are especially useful in providing the flavor of the times.

This is by far the best book that i have read in a long time. Most history books are boring but this one is anything but. Plumb goes to great details explaining the relationship that each King shared with his son. He does a wonderful job of giving his readers a rare insight to the royal family.

Fluent, lucid and written with Plumb's characteristic brevity, this is among the best introductions you will find to the high politics of the Hanoverian period. Sir John Plumb (d.2001) was one of the finest historical writers ever published in English. He is in the tradition of Macaulay and Trevelyan. His prose is polished and perfectly cadenced, and his light style masks a profound analytical grasp of the political forces that shaped this century of Whig ascendancy. Some may accuse him of adhering to the 'Great Men' school of history. If so, he highlights all their vices as well as their virtues.

Plumb was criticised for more often making the grand sweep of historical analysis as opposed to dredging through the minutiae of historical documentation. This analysis, I believe, is flawed and inimical to the notion that for history to be worthy of the name it should be readable for a wider audience, not solely confined to the institutions where it is nurtured.

Plumb's scholarship has inspired generations of laymen; his intellectual generosity and didactic rigour has also reaped its rewards within historical departments on both sides of the Atlantic. Those inspired by the Plumb school of history, who mastered their craft under his watchful eye at Christ's College, Cambridge, include such well known names as Simon Schama, David Cannadine, Niall Ferguson and Neil Mc Kendrick.

Published in 1956, this work by Sir John Plumb has remained a classic. Plumb focuses his attention on personalities and politics of the first four members of the Hanoverian dynasty. He paints a balanced portrait of his subjects, bringing them to life, warts and all. These monarchs are fallible human beings, placed on their thrones by accident of birth. Plumb is especially judicious in his handling of George IV, who as Regent and King was viciously derided in his own time.
Plumb's treatment of the monarchs is supplemented with deft character sketches of many of the significant figures of the Georgian century; Walpole, Pitt, Wilkes, Fox, and North are among the figures included.
In his introduction, Plumb takes the reader on a survey of the world over which these sovereigns presided. This is history practiced in the manner perfected by G.M. Trevelyan; continuity co-exists with change, and the dynasty survives despite mistakes and scandals. Published when the influence of Sir Lewis Namier was at its height, The First Four Georges provided a refreshing antidote to the atomizing analysis of the Namier school. A fascinating and hugely enjoyable read.

This is one of the only long stories I've ever read that didn't become boring in even one spot! I enjoyed every page & word in this book. If you have any historical inclinations at all, you'll love it.

Flambard's Confession is great book for history buffs. It gives a detailed picture of the feudalization of Anglo-Saxon England by William the Conquorer.
It is fictionalised telling of the life of Ranulph Flambard, chief tax collector of William Rufus(William II) of England. Ranulph was born before the Norman Conquest to a priest and girlfriend and dies in the early 1100's during the reign of Henry I. Ranulph's was valued royal servant because he was educated and more importantly he was one of the few Normans at the time of the Conquest who spoke Anglo-Saxon.
This is not a historical romance novel, but a good solid depiction of medieval life in Normandy and Anglo-Saxon England in the late 11th century and early 12th century.

I picked up a copy of this book many years ago. It is one of my enduring favorites! Durham brings her character to life, at a time in British history where the world seems to turn upside-down. Flambard, counselor and scribe to King William II, writes his memoirs while in prison, following King William's death. He has been tried for his crimes, committed in the name of the king and for his own enrichment. He is candid about his life and times, and asks for no apologies. The reader is given a wonderful glimpse at the history of England at this time, along with the changes the Church undergoes. While the book is extraordinarily long, the book flows well, and the reader is unaware of the passage of time, both figuratively and literally. I spent many nights up late, turning pages, enthralled by the skill of writing of this book.

I recommend it highly, and any student of history will love it. Those who are not thrilled by history, will also like it and their knowledge of the times will be expanded.

Flambard's Confession is an absolutely superb book. It is the story of Ranulf Flambard, an important government official under William II (Rufus). Flambard has been identified by Thomas Costain as one of the greatest villains of English history, an assessment which, while not necessarily accurate, is not far from the truth. Flambard's Confession takes the form of a first-person account of Flambard's life, and is abslutely masterful at handling the contradictions and challenges posed by writing the autobiography of someone who is at least villainous, if not a thorough-going villain.

I stumbled on this book, and loved it. I read an enormous amount of historical fiction about the Middle Ages, and did not know whether my feelings about the book were, at least in part, attributable to the fact that few novels have been written about William II and his period. To test this, I passed the book on to several other people, none of whom is a medievalist, and all of whom thought it was one of the greatest historical fiction novels ever written.

I have no idea why this book did not receive more attention when it was written. SOMEONE NEEDS TO REPUBLISH IT. It is a marvelous book, and would sell well with the audiences who read Sharon Kay Penman, Dorothy Dunnett, and all similar authors.

Flambard's Confession is a historical novel of the autobiographical sort, a description of post-conquest England seen through the narrative persona of Ranulph Flambard, a historical figure about whom very little is known except that he (1) collected taxes, and (2) annoyed St. Anselm of Canterbury. The moral of this book: Never annoy a saint.

Despite the considerable heft, this book is thoroughly engrossing, best I've read of the sort since Robert Graves. Part is due to the historical period -- a Chinese observer would call them "interesting times," chronicling the reign of William II. Part is the wealth of characters -- William himself, a flawed and headlong knight of the old school, who loves Cormac, an Irish relapsed monk and sodomite, who maintains an uneasy truce with Ranulph, who worshipped Cormac as a boy in the cloister and starts his secular career as a spy for William's Uncle Odo, a brawling and treacherous Bishop, who wants to place William's besotted brother Robert on the throne, but fails only to see the third brother, slimy Henry Beauclerk (Henry I) succeed instead. Ranulph -- "frail to women from his first day out of the cloister" -- must deal with knight's widow Isabel de Trie, the ditzy love of Ranulph's youth and mother of his arrogant bastard son Martin as well as the love of his life, the Saxon girl Elfgiva. The story is enlivened with cameos by Malcolm MacDuncan Canmore, MacBeth's bane, and his virtuous sister; various brutal and unscrupulous knights, treacherous lords, worldly churchmen, cynical commoners, and the infuriating Anselm, a saintly man somewhat too taken with his own saintliness -- prototype for either Mohandas K. Gandhi or Jimmy Carter, depending on your politics. Ranulph lives and dies as a robust, cynical, almost Rabelaisian cleric (the type was common then) and marvellous storyteller. I read it every few years, and find something new every time.

David Zeni has done a superb job in telling the sad story of the Empress of Ireland. His rich styleof writing kept me wanting to read the entire book with out stopping. He has dug out facts that earlier works on this forgotten steamer never touched, and he did it with extreme detail. If you like stories about the other lost liners of the turn of the century, this book should be on your list.

I've read this book many times and each time, I discover more things that I didn't realize the first time around. The book is both incredible and beautiful. It is a wonderful tribute to a terrible tragedy that never should have happened. Unfortunately, it did happen.

Each chapter is unique and different from the one before it. Yet, they all tie in together to make a story of such intrigue that I have found it hard to put down each time I've read it!

I'm certainly glad that Mr. Zeni wrote this gripping story. It is obvious that a lot of research and detail went into its preparation. I would like to thank Mr. Zeni for writing this magnificent book.

This fascinating book tells the true and virtually unknown story of the sinking of a trans-Atlantic passenger ship in the St. Lawrence River in 1914, killing 1012 people. The Empress of Ireland had a higher fatality of passengers (840) than either Titanic (832) in 1912 or Lusitania (791) in 1915. For some reason, this tragedy is almost unknown. Now, David Zeni brings it back to life in this absorbing, well-written book. Zeni covers the controversy surrounding the cause of the sinking in great detail. He also provides interesting word portraits of many of the passengers, and discusses the aftermath, including the investigation into the tragedy. The book includes numerous photographs, charts, and maps. Hard to put down and well worth the read. Plus you will be able to impress your friends with your knowledge should they ever bring up the Titanic or Lusitania.

The book is captivating. David Zeni doesn't miss a beat and tells the reader the story of Empress of Ireland as it happened in a way that paints a vivid picture of the true horror. May 29th, 1914 should live as much in our memory as that April night in 1912. David Zeni's "Forgotten Empress" is a fitting tribute to the Empress.

David Zeni has written a comprehensive novel on the sinking of the Empress Of Ireland. He weaves the cast of characters through the tragic sinking. He left no stone unturned in his research. There are the wealthy: Sir Henry Seton Karr, Grace Dunlevy, and Sabina Grundy. The famous: The Irvings'. And the tragic: Fanny Mounsey among 1000 others who perished. If you collect ocean liner books- this one belongs on your shelf.

This is the third book of Parkman's that I've read. Previously, I read Pioneers of France in the New World and The Jesuits in North America. About all three I would say a) they are absolutely amazing works of brilliant, inspired scholarship, b) Parkman's measured, objective, caring approach to the topics -- and the beauty and tone of his writing -- is extremely compelling, and c) my grade school, high school, and college education did not provide me with the gritty, fascinating facts about what REALLY happened back in the 17th Century in North America.

This is not James Michener (as much as I have enjoyed his works) packaging and making sense of history -- or the dry, intellectualized expert texts I had to read in school -- or the politically correct wholesome simplified upbeat teachings of my youth, with for example the perfect Puritans and the friendly Indians sharing Thanksgiving.

This is what really happened, detail by detail, based on exhaustive research of original texts -- letters, reports, maps, government documents, earlier histories, etc. Fortunately for Parkman, the early adventurers did a lot of writing, including many of the members of religious orders who accompanied or in some cases led the explorations.

My main takeaway from these true histories is how incredibly dangerous, unsuccessful, and unpredictable the courses of events were in these times (and probably in our time as well). In a way they are like anti-stories, or anti-history. Good often does not prevail over evil; heroes do scandalous things; scoundrels act heroic; no one is assuredly, consistently good or evil; when you least expect it there is a generous caring act; and when you least expect it, when all is going well, there is a foolish, unfortunate, destructive act that ruins all that has been accomplished, etc.

That is, while there may be certain patterns in events, these patterns themselves are constantly shifting, and the most logical and predictable outcomes almost never happen. In other words, Parkman has truly captured life in all its shades of grey and inconsistencies.

His treatment of the Indians is a perfect example. By modern day standards, it is egregiously politically incorrect. But he reveals them in all of their savagery, helpfulness, childish immaturity, wisdom, thievery, generosity, deceit, and unpredictable kindness. The commonplace cannibalism and similarly common extreme forms of repulsive torture done by Indians are carefully documented and reported throughout his texts, as well as the way their easily given friendship essentially saved the lives of most of the key European adventurers at one time or another.

These books are definitely not for the faint of heart or people who want a simplistic "Dummies Guide" to history!

While there is a new Introduction, this is the historic account of Robert LaSalle's exploration of the Louisiana territory in the 1680s. Parkman first published this treatise in 1869; it has since been reprinted numerous times. An excellent, thoroughly engrossing recounting of the exploration of the territory which LaSalle claimed for France in 1682, through which the reader not only learns of the daily travails of the little band of explorers, but also, the human frailties of the man, Robert Cavelier, known as LaSalle. This book gives life to a name from history, and exemplifies the methodical research done by Parkman in the days before telephones, faxes, and copiers. I was thoroughly impressed by the subject and the writer. Excellent; informative, totally enthralling reading-writers of today should take note! Kudos to the publishers (and Krakauer) for bringing this series (back) to life!

For those who liked Ambrose's "Undaunted Courage" or Lansing's "Endurance", make room on your bookshelf for another favorite. Parkman tells the story of LaSalle's journeys in North America with a novelist's style and a historian's attention to detail.

Of particular interest were Parkman's references to things which exist "today" referring to his time, the mid to late 1800's. As such, the reader is treated to a double dose of history by viewing past events through the eyes of someone who wrote over 100 years ago. The book was an exciting and enjoyable read.

My only criticisms of the book were that the volume of the footnotes was somewhat distracting, and that a few key phrases were not translated from French. Otherwise, excellent.

Parkman is that unusual combination of great scholar and wonderful writer. His books depicting the history of French exploration of North America and the conflict between the French and the British for control of North America remain the basic narratives of these events. Parkman's writing, combining narrative, psychological insight into major historical actors, and use of rhetoric that seamlessly reflects his narrative, is often superb. This particular book is almost entirely devoted to the career of the Sieur De La Salle, the French explorer obsessed with establishing French control over the Mississippi valley. Parkman provides vivid portraits of the almost incredible hardships of travel in North America, the character of politics in the French colonies, and an insightful treatment of La Salle and his associates. Parkman's powerful but restrained language often recalls the style of Tacitus.

I picked this up on a lark and found I couldn't put it down. A fascinating story, extremely well written and a pure pleasure to read. I travel extensively and found it amazing how many places I go to regularly have a direct link to La Salle. Couldn't recommend it more.