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A Prologue to Love
in good condition. no dustjacket
575 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1961
229 people are currently reading
573 people want to read
About the author
Taylor Caldwell
152 books556 followers Also known by the pen names Marcus Holland and Max Reiner.
Taylor Caldwell was born in Manchester, England. In 1907 she emigrated to the United States with her parents and younger brother. Her father died shortly after the move, and the family struggled. At the age of eight she started to write stories, and in fact wrote her first novel, The Romance of Atlantis, at the age of twelve (although it remained unpublished until 1975). Her father did not approve such activity for women, and sent her to work in a bindery. She continued to write prolifically, however, despite ill health. (In 1947, according to TIME magazine, she discarded and burned the manuscripts of 140 unpublished novels.)
In 1918-1919, she served in the United States Navy Reserve. In 1919 she married William F. Combs. In 1920, they had a daughter, Mary (known as "Peggy"). From 1923 to 1924 she was a court reporter in New York State Department of Labor in Buffalo, New York. In 1924, she went to work for the United States Department of Justice, as a member of the Board of Special Inquiry (an immigration tribunal) in Buffalo. In 1931 she graduated from SUNY Buffalo, and also was divorced from William Combs.
Caldwell then married her second husband, Marcus Reback, a fellow Justice employee. She had a second child with Reback, a daughter Judith, in 1932. They were married for 40 years, until his death in 1971.
In 1934, she began to work on the novel Dynasty of Death, which she and Reback completed in collaboration. It was published in 1938 and became a best-seller. "Taylor Caldwell" was presumed to be a man, and there was some public stir when the author was revealed to be a woman. Over the next 43 years, she published 42 more novels, many of them best-sellers. For instance, This Side of Innocence was the biggest fiction seller of 1946. Her works sold an estimated 30 million copies. She became wealthy, traveling to Europe and elsewhere, though she still lived near Buffalo.
Her books were big sellers right up to the end of her career. During her career as a writer, she received several awards.
She was an outspoken conservative and for a time wrote for the John Birch Society's monthly journal American Opinion and even associated with the anti-Semitic Liberty Lobby. Her memoir, On Growing Up Tough, appeared in 1971, consisting of many edited-down articles from American Opinion.
Around 1970, she became interested in reincarnation. She had become friends with well-known occultist author Jess Stearn, who suggested that the vivid detail in her many historical novels was actually subconscious recollection of previous lives. Supposedly, she agreed to be hypnotized and undergo "past-life regression" to disprove reincarnation. According to Stearn's book, The Search of a Soul - Taylor Caldwell's Psychic Lives, Caldwell instead began to recall her own past lives - eleven in all, including one on the "lost continent" of Lemuria.
In 1972, she married William Everett Stancell, a retired real estate developer, but divorced him in 1973. In 1978, she married William Robert Prestie, an eccentric Canadian 17 years her junior. This led to difficulties with her children. She had a long dispute with her daughter Judith over the estate of Judith's father Marcus; in 1979 Judith committed suicide.
Also in 1979, Caldwell suffered a stroke, which left her unable to speak, though she could still write. (She had been deaf since about 1965.) Her daughter Peggy accused Prestie of abusing and exploiting Caldwell, and there was a legal battle over her substantial assets.
She died of heart failure in Greenwich, Conn
Taylor Caldwell was born in Manchester, England. In 1907 she emigrated to the United States with her parents and younger brother. Her father died shortly after the move, and the family struggled. At the age of eight she started to write stories, and in fact wrote her first novel, The Romance of Atlantis, at the age of twelve (although it remained unpublished until 1975). Her father did not approve such activity for women, and sent her to work in a bindery. She continued to write prolifically, however, despite ill health. (In 1947, according to TIME magazine, she discarded and burned the manuscripts of 140 unpublished novels.)
In 1918-1919, she served in the United States Navy Reserve. In 1919 she married William F. Combs. In 1920, they had a daughter, Mary (known as "Peggy"). From 1923 to 1924 she was a court reporter in New York State Department of Labor in Buffalo, New York. In 1924, she went to work for the United States Department of Justice, as a member of the Board of Special Inquiry (an immigration tribunal) in Buffalo. In 1931 she graduated from SUNY Buffalo, and also was divorced from William Combs.
Caldwell then married her second husband, Marcus Reback, a fellow Justice employee. She had a second child with Reback, a daughter Judith, in 1932. They were married for 40 years, until his death in 1971.
In 1934, she began to work on the novel Dynasty of Death, which she and Reback completed in collaboration. It was published in 1938 and became a best-seller. "Taylor Caldwell" was presumed to be a man, and there was some public stir when the author was revealed to be a woman. Over the next 43 years, she published 42 more novels, many of them best-sellers. For instance, This Side of Innocence was the biggest fiction seller of 1946. Her works sold an estimated 30 million copies. She became wealthy, traveling to Europe and elsewhere, though she still lived near Buffalo.
Her books were big sellers right up to the end of her career. During her career as a writer, she received several awards.
She was an outspoken conservative and for a time wrote for the John Birch Society's monthly journal American Opinion and even associated with the anti-Semitic Liberty Lobby. Her memoir, On Growing Up Tough, appeared in 1971, consisting of many edited-down articles from American Opinion.
Around 1970, she became interested in reincarnation. She had become friends with well-known occultist author Jess Stearn, who suggested that the vivid detail in her many historical novels was actually subconscious recollection of previous lives. Supposedly, she agreed to be hypnotized and undergo "past-life regression" to disprove reincarnation. According to Stearn's book, The Search of a Soul - Taylor Caldwell's Psychic Lives, Caldwell instead began to recall her own past lives - eleven in all, including one on the "lost continent" of Lemuria.
In 1972, she married William Everett Stancell, a retired real estate developer, but divorced him in 1973. In 1978, she married William Robert Prestie, an eccentric Canadian 17 years her junior. This led to difficulties with her children. She had a long dispute with her daughter Judith over the estate of Judith's father Marcus; in 1979 Judith committed suicide.
Also in 1979, Caldwell suffered a stroke, which left her unable to speak, though she could still write. (She had been deaf since about 1965.) Her daughter Peggy accused Prestie of abusing and exploiting Caldwell, and there was a legal battle over her substantial assets.
She died of heart failure in Greenwich, Conn
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
February 23, 2011
I read this book many years ago and was struck not only by its haunting message but also the exquisite language throughout the conflicting yet powerful messages of greed and love. When I ran across it on my bookshelves in 2010, I selected it for my Christmas week reading. I wasn't disappointed. The book was as splendid a read as it was originally.
August 20, 2009
Taylor Caldwell remains one of my all-time favorite authors and I find her books relevant and wonderful today. A Prologue to Love -- "her father led her to glittering success but no one taught her how to love" -- is a novel about a wealthy woman in the first half of the 20th century. While the book is sweeping, it is, in the end, a simple parable about how we can be blind to what is truly important and enduring because of deprivation of love, fears born of ignorance, and abused innocence.
I love Caldwell's vigorous intelligence, crisp avoidance of sentimentality for pure and honest emotion, and the sheer force of her language. She doesn't write about money for it's glamour as does Danielle Steel, but for it's importance to people -- how it drives them and shapes them.
I love Caldwell's vigorous intelligence, crisp avoidance of sentimentality for pure and honest emotion, and the sheer force of her language. She doesn't write about money for it's glamour as does Danielle Steel, but for it's importance to people -- how it drives them and shapes them.
November 2, 2010
A fantastic look back at a wealthy woman in the early 1900's...
This book was recommended to me by my dear friend, Harriet Cutler (who passed away a few years ago). When I asked her for a book recommendation she thought I'd like this for it's flashbacks into the Investment Banking business as it related to a young woman who inherited her father's wealth. Not only did I LOVE the book but I got so much more out of it. There were lines in the book that really made me step back and think. For instance:
'It's a funny thing about love: you don't need to have it returned to love somebody. Loving's enough.'
or
'You can be happy without money and you can be wretched with it. It depends on what kind of person you are.'
or
'I'm not the scoundrel you think I am; if you had ever taken the time to learn about me you'd even have liked me.'
or
'If people are lucky enough to have family they should cultivate it.'
or
'We all choose how to look at life.'
or
'How can you keep resentment alive so long?'
or
'Really, half the trouble and misery and pain people have is brought on by themselves. They either talk too much or not enough.'
or
'He had his preconceived frame of reference, and he thought everyone should fit into it. Why does everyone believe his own particular reality is the only reality?'
or
'Every day is different, and in some way we change every day.'
...need I say more? Well, believe it or not, there is more.
This book was recommended to me by my dear friend, Harriet Cutler (who passed away a few years ago). When I asked her for a book recommendation she thought I'd like this for it's flashbacks into the Investment Banking business as it related to a young woman who inherited her father's wealth. Not only did I LOVE the book but I got so much more out of it. There were lines in the book that really made me step back and think. For instance:
'It's a funny thing about love: you don't need to have it returned to love somebody. Loving's enough.'
or
'You can be happy without money and you can be wretched with it. It depends on what kind of person you are.'
or
'I'm not the scoundrel you think I am; if you had ever taken the time to learn about me you'd even have liked me.'
or
'If people are lucky enough to have family they should cultivate it.'
or
'We all choose how to look at life.'
or
'How can you keep resentment alive so long?'
or
'Really, half the trouble and misery and pain people have is brought on by themselves. They either talk too much or not enough.'
or
'He had his preconceived frame of reference, and he thought everyone should fit into it. Why does everyone believe his own particular reality is the only reality?'
or
'Every day is different, and in some way we change every day.'
...need I say more? Well, believe it or not, there is more.
October 2, 2013
During one summer in the mid-1960s, while I was busy riding my bike to the pool, I remember my mother reading this book. I think I read it when I was in my 20s, but I'm not sure I actually finished it. It was recently made available for Kindle, so I grabbed it, since it appears to be out of print. At nearly 800 pages, this book is a commitment. I found parts of it absolutely riveting, while others were just plain boring. Pieces of the plot are quite contrived, and I found most of the characters one-dimensional. On the other hand, the plot is well-developed and enhanced with heavy themes of religion, ethics and the power and destruction caused by money and excessive greed.
January 21, 2008
One of the best books I've ever read. Grammatically superb, a touching story, exquisitely written.
October 30, 2008
An amazingly sad narrative about some of the richest people ever and how they lived -- it was a trip to try to figure out the "why" behind the actions of the main characters (especially why Caroline Ames would live as if in poverty). I enjoy reading Taylor Caldwell's works. She begins this book with these words from Seneca: "We do not even know ourselves; therefore, why should we judge a neighbor? No one knows what makes a man, on only God knows his thoughts, his joys, his bitterness, his agony, the injustices committed against him and the injustices he commits. All lives, whether good or in erroe, painful or happy, are only a prologue to love beyond the grave, where all is understood and almost all forgiven."
November 24, 2013
Published in the early Sixties, this novel of love, society, class struggles, and burgeoning America is maybe more pertinent today than when it came out. A highly recommended read for all. Look deeper inside family relationships, parenting, and America's politics. Wonderful juxtaposition of politics and family, tied together, both of which are often misunderstood and often neglected for the quest of "other" things that have far less meaning. A beautiful read, not in its language use but in its truth and thought.
If I ran a high school literature class, this would be the one book I'd have my students read before they went out in the world.
If I ran a high school literature class, this would be the one book I'd have my students read before they went out in the world.
March 7, 2013
Over the last few months I have been reading some of Taylor Caldwell's fiction, much of it centered in the time period of American history from the late 1880s through the start of World War I. She sees America at that time as being akin to Rome before the fall. This is the background against which Captains and Kings, A Prologue to Love, and The Testimony of Two Men is set. I particularly like the way she weaves the impact of historical events on the day-to-day life of her characters, and also the way her characters look at history. Her political themes (if you can call them that) are basically the corrupting influence of money and power on American politics, culminating in America's involvement in World War I. This is an interesting neglected portion of American history, surprisingly relevant for today. (See Wikipedia entry on the Nye Committee).
That said, thematically Prologue to Love explores what love is and what love isn't through the eyes of an emotionally abused child, who becomes a miser/millionairess. The main character, Caroline Ames is incapable of loving anyone (not even herself) until very late in life. Hence, the book is called A Prologue to Love.
It's also about how the truth "will set you free" if you are willing to face it. It is only towards the end of the novel that Caroline is able to break free of a lie she has believe since childhood. Caroline's father told her that the only thing that will protect her against devastation is money, large amounts of money. Because of her need to believe her father's words and his love, Caroline makes it her goal to accrue as much money as humanly possible whatever the cost. She uses money to protect herself from the world and to shut everyone out. Money is her fortress but it is also her prison. It imprisons her because she uses money to take the place of love. This isolates her and brings her to near despair, but the novel does not end there.
Some of this is beautifully written, poetic, and engaging. I highly recommend it.
That said, thematically Prologue to Love explores what love is and what love isn't through the eyes of an emotionally abused child, who becomes a miser/millionairess. The main character, Caroline Ames is incapable of loving anyone (not even herself) until very late in life. Hence, the book is called A Prologue to Love.
It's also about how the truth "will set you free" if you are willing to face it. It is only towards the end of the novel that Caroline is able to break free of a lie she has believe since childhood. Caroline's father told her that the only thing that will protect her against devastation is money, large amounts of money. Because of her need to believe her father's words and his love, Caroline makes it her goal to accrue as much money as humanly possible whatever the cost. She uses money to protect herself from the world and to shut everyone out. Money is her fortress but it is also her prison. It imprisons her because she uses money to take the place of love. This isolates her and brings her to near despair, but the novel does not end there.
Some of this is beautifully written, poetic, and engaging. I highly recommend it.
February 22, 2014
Ok, having read The Captains and the Kings when I was a teenager, I never read another Taylor Caldwell book (even though I enjoyed The Captains and the Kinds). Saw this book in a giveaway bin and just picked it up for the hell of it. Man, am I glad I did. This book was nothing what I expected it to be. Yes, it is a family sage, but it is so dark. Out of 600 pages absolutely nothing GOOD happens to these people. They are all dark and looking out for themselves, while worshiping the mighty dollar. I think what kept me reading this 1960 novel was wondering when something good would happen to them... I won't spoil anything, but if you want to read a well written family saga that touches on psychological abuse in almost every form, this is the book to read. Well written, plotted, and just amazing in every aspect. I will definitely read more of Taylor Caldwell now without hesitation.
September 30, 2012
I read this book years ago, but, it's such a wonderfully written account of the life of a ninteenth century woman who is cloistered away from the privileged life she (unknowingly)was born into, and her struggles to acheive self-fulfillment. From an artistic viewpoint, the very beginning and very ending I still find haunting.
February 23, 2009
I have about 8 other Cladwell books now. I got them off of ebay. There old and worn hardcovers and I love them. I'll save them for you.
March 15, 2012
This one of those never to be forgotten stories. Taylor Caldwell demonstarates a great knowledge of how the events in our lives play a major role in making us what we are.
September 22, 2012
Taylor Caldwell books never disappoint.
April 20, 2013
I first read this book as a teen and it had a big impact on me. I read it again in my early 40s.
October 8, 2019
Taylor Caldwell se ha convertido, a cada libro, en la autora más interesante que he tenido la oportunidad de leer.
Es evidente que para ella escribir era tan natural como vivir, pero de la misma manera, tan imprescindible como cualquier otra necesidad básica.
Prueba de esto se encuentra en su poderosa narrativa, en los monólogos de sus personajes y en los profundos diálogos que era capaz de desarrollar dentro de sus novelas. Los puntos clímax de cada obra son incomparables. Aterrizan en el momento exacto y hacen comprender al lector que ningún detalle abordado fue superfluo.
Dicho todo esto, es cierto que "A Prologue To Love", fácilmente puede ser ubicada como una novela rosa.
No obstante, tal clasificación no debe confundirse con alguna simpleza en la trama.
Por el contrario, si "A Prologue To Love" realmente es una novela rosa, entonces es el referente obligado de todos los interesados en conocer el género. "A Prologue To Love" ES la novela rosa. Desarrolla intriga, pasión, amor, odio, desencuentro, tenacidad, pero sobretodo, auto conocimiento y el modo más sublime en que un ser humano es capaz de redimirse ante el reconocimiento de la existencia de Dios.
Es verdad que "A Prologue To Love" es una oda al sentimentalismo.
Pero luego de leer esta historia, solo puedo pensar que sería bueno que más autores se encargaran de rendir tributo al sentimentalismo. Sobre todo si es con la misma fuerza, poder, honestidad y soltura con que lo hizo Taylor Caldwell.
El carácter, autenticidad, forma práctica de ver la vida y el profundo amor que Caroline Ames era capaz de sentir, irá conmigo por mucho tiempo.
Personajes como la aristocrática Tía Cinthia, el portentoso señor Ames, el malvado Timothy y el paciente Tom Sheldon, enmarcan esta gran obra que, en unas cuantas palabras, puede resumirse en aprender el arte de vivir a pesar de las circunstancias.
Es evidente que para ella escribir era tan natural como vivir, pero de la misma manera, tan imprescindible como cualquier otra necesidad básica.
Prueba de esto se encuentra en su poderosa narrativa, en los monólogos de sus personajes y en los profundos diálogos que era capaz de desarrollar dentro de sus novelas. Los puntos clímax de cada obra son incomparables. Aterrizan en el momento exacto y hacen comprender al lector que ningún detalle abordado fue superfluo.
Dicho todo esto, es cierto que "A Prologue To Love", fácilmente puede ser ubicada como una novela rosa.
No obstante, tal clasificación no debe confundirse con alguna simpleza en la trama.
Por el contrario, si "A Prologue To Love" realmente es una novela rosa, entonces es el referente obligado de todos los interesados en conocer el género. "A Prologue To Love" ES la novela rosa. Desarrolla intriga, pasión, amor, odio, desencuentro, tenacidad, pero sobretodo, auto conocimiento y el modo más sublime en que un ser humano es capaz de redimirse ante el reconocimiento de la existencia de Dios.
Es verdad que "A Prologue To Love" es una oda al sentimentalismo.
Pero luego de leer esta historia, solo puedo pensar que sería bueno que más autores se encargaran de rendir tributo al sentimentalismo. Sobre todo si es con la misma fuerza, poder, honestidad y soltura con que lo hizo Taylor Caldwell.
El carácter, autenticidad, forma práctica de ver la vida y el profundo amor que Caroline Ames era capaz de sentir, irá conmigo por mucho tiempo.
Personajes como la aristocrática Tía Cinthia, el portentoso señor Ames, el malvado Timothy y el paciente Tom Sheldon, enmarcan esta gran obra que, en unas cuantas palabras, puede resumirse en aprender el arte de vivir a pesar de las circunstancias.
May 3, 2009
An amazing journey of a woman who was raised in penury by her father who could not love anything but his millions. She of course, learns to trust only money herself, until life teaches her what is truly important.
July 30, 2011
This is a book that I read and fell in love with, so much so that i sourced it and bought my own copy.
December 6, 2012
I read this book when I was a teenager, and I loved it! A neighbor lady who I babysat for gave it to me. That was back in 1967 ~ and I still have the book! I think it is time for a re-read!!
February 26, 2013
Excellent Book... Strange how something written so long ago can be so relevant to current events! One of my favorites.
March 11, 2018
Taylor Caldwell's books have not stood the test of time. They are cheesy soap operas like Dallas, Falcon Crest, etc.
BUT, A Prologue to Love is actually a tearjerker because you get attached to the main character, Caroline - hence the 2 stars.
But know that all of Caldwell's books are moralistic, priggish, (misogyny goes without saying) mid-century historical melodramas.
Fate is fate, a physically ugly girl named Carrie becomes a physically ugly woman named Caroline, and this ugliness determines her entire life. Naturally, Caroline accepts that she is objectively ugly. Ours is not to question. But just in case we're thinking "How ugly can she possibly be?" Caldwell devotes many pages throughout the book to the specifics of her physical appearance: her too-broad mouth and her too-heavy brow. (Caldwell's idea of a circus freak, apparently. Isn't it yours?) Now here comes the drama: a few people love her despite her ugliness.
All of these people, even Caroline, are from old money, and they live in the 1800s. They and their ancestors and their offspring find themselves in the middle of All Of The Historical Political Events of Western History before our story ends. (Is that a spoiler?) There are some serious gowns. Sitting rooms. Visits. Holidays. Society Pages. Tea. We feel sorry for the ugly girl but there's nothing anyone can do about it, as her ugliness itself is never up for debate. (Nor is the contrasting beauty of another female character which Caldwell describes in even greater detail than Caroline's ugliness.) Anyway, no spoilers intended, but let's just say that Capitalism turns out to be the good guy.
BUT, A Prologue to Love is actually a tearjerker because you get attached to the main character, Caroline - hence the 2 stars.
But know that all of Caldwell's books are moralistic, priggish, (misogyny goes without saying) mid-century historical melodramas.
Fate is fate, a physically ugly girl named Carrie becomes a physically ugly woman named Caroline, and this ugliness determines her entire life. Naturally, Caroline accepts that she is objectively ugly. Ours is not to question. But just in case we're thinking "How ugly can she possibly be?" Caldwell devotes many pages throughout the book to the specifics of her physical appearance: her too-broad mouth and her too-heavy brow. (Caldwell's idea of a circus freak, apparently. Isn't it yours?) Now here comes the drama: a few people love her despite her ugliness.
All of these people, even Caroline, are from old money, and they live in the 1800s. They and their ancestors and their offspring find themselves in the middle of All Of The Historical Political Events of Western History before our story ends. (Is that a spoiler?) There are some serious gowns. Sitting rooms. Visits. Holidays. Society Pages. Tea. We feel sorry for the ugly girl but there's nothing anyone can do about it, as her ugliness itself is never up for debate. (Nor is the contrasting beauty of another female character which Caldwell describes in even greater detail than Caroline's ugliness.) Anyway, no spoilers intended, but let's just say that Capitalism turns out to be the good guy.
July 28, 2018
Esta es una novela algo difícil de explicar o por lo menos yo lo veo así, no puedo hacerme una idea concreta de como narrarla... Una hija única que su padre mete en el cuerpo el miedo por no tener dinero pero queda huérfana pronto y su miedo la hace una víctima y a la vez verdugo... Se casa y tiene 3 hijos su miedo a la ruina no la deja ser buena esposa y madre... Su hijos se vuelven síndicos y egoísta su miedo la lleva a perder a su esposo al que realmente amo y la amo pero no supieron demostrarse... Sus hermastros también tuvieron dependencia y solo una sobrina pudo llegar a quererla hasta traspasar todas la barreras que ella misma puso a su alrededor... Su hija término loca y muerta por un amor no correspondido su hijo casi muere y maltrataba a su esposa, pero al final supera su miedos y de una forma o otra recupera algo de la relación con los hijos...
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July 26, 2020Another very powerful generational family saga by this prolific author.An unattractive woman has a defective upbringing which emotionally stunts her. She finds love with a tender, well intentioned husband. Although she loves him dearly she is unable to express her love . She takes him for granted. Her obsession is to constantly generate wealth for wealth's sake. She has a pathological terror of poverty. She does this at the expense of everything else. She neglects the family and cuts herself off from society with eventual dire consequences for anyone who comes into contact with her. She was the consumate career woman.She only realised the human treasure she had when she lost it. This is a cautionary tale, the likes of which this prescient author was renowned for.
May 24, 2021
A dramatic but hopeful novel.
I liked the characters' construction and the intertwining of stories.
It is rather exaggerated, but then, real life is often as dramatic or more.
I think books like this help empathize with anyone that comes in the way.
I feel like the author greatly enjoyed writing this.
I appreciate the way Taylor Caldwell writes and shows her heart in her novels.
I liked the characters' construction and the intertwining of stories.
It is rather exaggerated, but then, real life is often as dramatic or more.
I think books like this help empathize with anyone that comes in the way.
I feel like the author greatly enjoyed writing this.
I appreciate the way Taylor Caldwell writes and shows her heart in her novels.
February 5, 2023
What an amazing book! It is such a great story of what is to be human with virtues and vices, with great intentions and yet great failures.
The author description of things made me imagine everything so clearly, made me care so deeply for all characters, good or bad, villains or heroes.
And that opening quote from Séneca... man, what a great book.
The author description of things made me imagine everything so clearly, made me care so deeply for all characters, good or bad, villains or heroes.
And that opening quote from Séneca... man, what a great book.
August 7, 2019
One of my favorite authors and a favorite book of mine.
Read this many years ago..loved the strong character of Caroline Ames. A brilliant author and keen spiritual observations of life.
Read this many years ago..loved the strong character of Caroline Ames. A brilliant author and keen spiritual observations of life.
May 31, 2022
Narra la trágica vida de Carolina Ames, cuyo padre se venga en ella de la tiranía que él sufrió y la convierte en una mujer dura, ambiciosa y odiada hasta por sus hijos. Para mí una de sus novelas no históricas donde explora perfectamente el alma humana
October 5, 2022
Definitivamente Taylor Caldwell es única. Para mi el libro es una maravilla, aunque a veces odié a la protagonista siempre acababa sintiendo pena por ella.
La historia es toda una travesía familiar, histórica, reflexiva e intrigante.
Acabó por ser el mejor libro que he leído este año!
La historia es toda una travesía familiar, histórica, reflexiva e intrigante.
Acabó por ser el mejor libro que he leído este año!
January 24, 2023
prologue to love
Taylor Caldwell is an amazing. Every one of her books that I've read is a n amazing experience. Her patriotism and love of what is right shines in every novel that she's written.
Taylor Caldwell is an amazing. Every one of her books that I've read is a n amazing experience. Her patriotism and love of what is right shines in every novel that she's written.
September 26, 2024
I enjoy stories of families across the generations, especially when they're long and meaty like this one. I enjoyed this and was in no hurry for it to end, but unfortunately, I didn't care for the ending.
March 25, 2025
An excellent read by Caldwell again
A fascinating choice of words, so descriptive and at times exotic.
The story is gripping as a novel should be, but it has wide implications about government and politics, as well as human emotions.
A must read.
A fascinating choice of words, so descriptive and at times exotic.
The story is gripping as a novel should be, but it has wide implications about government and politics, as well as human emotions.
A must read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews