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The Brass Dolphin
An initial offering in a new historical series journeys to Malta during World War II, where a young British woman, living with her father in a beautiful but decaying mansion, learns important lessons about war, fear, and love. 22,500 first printing.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1997
5 people are currently reading
228 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Trollope
134 books608 followersJoanna Trollope Potter Curteis (aka Caroline Harvey)
Joanna Trollope was born on 9 December 1943 in her grandfather's rectory in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, England, daughter of Rosemary Hodson and Arthur George Cecil Trollope. She is the eldest of three siblings. She is a fifth-generation niece of the Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope and is a cousin of the writer and broadcaster James Trollope. She was educated at Reigate County School for Girls followed by St Hugh's College, Oxford. On 14 May 1966, she married the banker David Roger William Potter, they had two daughters, Antonia and Louise, and on 1983 they divorced. In 1985, she remarried to the television dramatist Ian Curteis, and became the stepmother of two stepsons; they divorced in 2001.
From 1965 to 1967, she worked at the Foreign Office. From 1967 to 1979, she was employed in a number of teaching posts before she became a writer full-time in 1980. Her novel Parson Harding's Daughter won in 1980 the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Joanna Trollope was born on 9 December 1943 in her grandfather's rectory in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, England, daughter of Rosemary Hodson and Arthur George Cecil Trollope. She is the eldest of three siblings. She is a fifth-generation niece of the Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope and is a cousin of the writer and broadcaster James Trollope. She was educated at Reigate County School for Girls followed by St Hugh's College, Oxford. On 14 May 1966, she married the banker David Roger William Potter, they had two daughters, Antonia and Louise, and on 1983 they divorced. In 1985, she remarried to the television dramatist Ian Curteis, and became the stepmother of two stepsons; they divorced in 2001.
From 1965 to 1967, she worked at the Foreign Office. From 1967 to 1979, she was employed in a number of teaching posts before she became a writer full-time in 1980. Her novel Parson Harding's Daughter won in 1980 the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
February 22, 2018
An awesome book. I'm familiar with Trollope's contemporary books, but not her historical fiction written as Harvey. If you like The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, you'll love this book. You might even like it more, as it's not written in the epistolary style. Rich characters you really care about, and a view of World War Two new to me and probably most people, as the novel is mostly set in war time Malta. This is one I'll read again. I will also look for more of Trollope's Caroline Harvey novels.
June 26, 2011
This book was by Joanna Trollope written under the name of Caroline Harvey. I usually like anything Joanna Trollope writes but this book was less than stellar. I could never warm up to any of the characters and the storyline seemed bland.
December 12, 2015
personally i didn't enjoy reading the book. it lacked intensity and drama. it gives a fair idead of what life was like in Malta during WW2, but the storyline just wasn't interesting to read. i read the whole book just so i can say i read it
January 10, 2016
Loved this book set during WWII in Malta. Joanna Trollope (writing under the pen name of Caroline Harvey) has such a way with words. Terrific historical fiction.
January 4, 2023
This story has a great aftertaste.
On the surface, this looks like just such a novel. It even has the standard formula of princes and castles and whatnot. Why would I have even attempted this novel? My wife insisted that Caroline Harvey; Joanna Trollope were not mindless. O.K. so I was challenged to read this one.
Ha! I spotted the formula and as soon as Lila Cunningham hit Malta I figured out pretty much how it was going to end. A curious thing happened. By then I was hooked and had to go on. There were many details that I did not guess. Unlike most formula books that try to hook you on romance or those that have endless nonsensical descriptions, this book had the feeling that it was going somewhere and only described what was necessary to tell the story.
After I finished the book, I said, "See it was a formula book." Why would someone want to read about some girl in Malta? It was pointed out that the setting is to depict a different lifestyle. This is not so much of an escape from reality, but a diversion from a different reality. Later you see that the castle and prince and even the Perrimans are the backdrops of real people that we run across every day. Lila's situations and decisions are ones we may have to make. The real story is about Lila, her choices, and the consequences. The story implies that she grows up. I think she changed but that does not constitute growing up.
Ayn Rand says that love is a reflection of your values as seen in the other person. You can see this as Lila's values changed, and so has the target of her love. Ayn Rand also says that you should not just live for love. You should have a career and or a purpose beyond love. Lila and others discover this throughout the novel. Therefore, this novel leaves you with many afterthoughts.
Well done Caroline Harvey.
On the surface, this looks like just such a novel. It even has the standard formula of princes and castles and whatnot. Why would I have even attempted this novel? My wife insisted that Caroline Harvey; Joanna Trollope were not mindless. O.K. so I was challenged to read this one.
Ha! I spotted the formula and as soon as Lila Cunningham hit Malta I figured out pretty much how it was going to end. A curious thing happened. By then I was hooked and had to go on. There were many details that I did not guess. Unlike most formula books that try to hook you on romance or those that have endless nonsensical descriptions, this book had the feeling that it was going somewhere and only described what was necessary to tell the story.
After I finished the book, I said, "See it was a formula book." Why would someone want to read about some girl in Malta? It was pointed out that the setting is to depict a different lifestyle. This is not so much of an escape from reality, but a diversion from a different reality. Later you see that the castle and prince and even the Perrimans are the backdrops of real people that we run across every day. Lila's situations and decisions are ones we may have to make. The real story is about Lila, her choices, and the consequences. The story implies that she grows up. I think she changed but that does not constitute growing up.
Ayn Rand says that love is a reflection of your values as seen in the other person. You can see this as Lila's values changed, and so has the target of her love. Ayn Rand also says that you should not just live for love. You should have a career and or a purpose beyond love. Lila and others discover this throughout the novel. Therefore, this novel leaves you with many afterthoughts.
Well done Caroline Harvey.
February 11, 2019
A book club read. A young English woman and her father end up living in Malta just prior to the beginning of World War II (we seem to read a lot of WWII books in this book club) and have to try to survive German attacks.
The only good part about this book was the different perspective. I've never thought of Malta in connection with WWII and German invasion, but it stands to reason that the war would have happened there, given the strategic location. The book made me curious about the island and I ended up looking at several pictures and reading some of the history.
But the rest of the book fell flat for me. This was my first Joanna Trollope book and it's clear that she's not my type of author. The characters lacked personality and, although I was told several times how much the main character, Lila, had grown emotionally, I couldn't see it. She reluctantly did what she had to do to survive, but she didn't connect with anyone else. Lila had three significant love interests in 400 pages and they were all bewildering: there was no chemistry and our heroine barely seemed to know the men before professing her undying love to them. And I couldn't understand why the men were falling all over themselves to get her attention--she certainly wasn't displaying any charm or beauty or charisma.
Not my thing. I'll be interested to see what my book club thinks of it.
The only good part about this book was the different perspective. I've never thought of Malta in connection with WWII and German invasion, but it stands to reason that the war would have happened there, given the strategic location. The book made me curious about the island and I ended up looking at several pictures and reading some of the history.
But the rest of the book fell flat for me. This was my first Joanna Trollope book and it's clear that she's not my type of author. The characters lacked personality and, although I was told several times how much the main character, Lila, had grown emotionally, I couldn't see it. She reluctantly did what she had to do to survive, but she didn't connect with anyone else. Lila had three significant love interests in 400 pages and they were all bewildering: there was no chemistry and our heroine barely seemed to know the men before professing her undying love to them. And I couldn't understand why the men were falling all over themselves to get her attention--she certainly wasn't displaying any charm or beauty or charisma.
Not my thing. I'll be interested to see what my book club thinks of it.
January 30, 2018
WHY??? Why??? Seriously, why??? Why did any of the three men have ANY interest in Lila? She was a snob, with NO cause to be a snob...she had no ''breeding'', no money, little education, she was, by her own admission, not even attractive, her father was literally a grubby, unemployed, peg legged booze hound...she was a bitch, she treated people badly. Yet somehow, she had 3 men interested in her, two of whom were Princes or something. Was there such a scarcity of women in Malta between the ages of 16 and 30 that their only option was LILA?? In addition to all that, this book was boring and slow and the only really likable character was Count Julius.....I have read many books by Joanna Trollope and really really liked them all but this mess.....what happened???
September 14, 2017
A pretty lightweight holiday read but entertaining enough.
Lila isnt a particularly likeable lead character with her pretentions of being better than those around her but then she hasnt had an easy life and who wouldnt want to claw their way out of her situation at the start of the book.
In fact there is a distinct lack of likeable characters in this story - many seem to be flawed in one way or another though, with war being the great leveller, some of them mellow with time and get to show their better natures.
Lila isnt a particularly likeable lead character with her pretentions of being better than those around her but then she hasnt had an easy life and who wouldnt want to claw their way out of her situation at the start of the book.
In fact there is a distinct lack of likeable characters in this story - many seem to be flawed in one way or another though, with war being the great leveller, some of them mellow with time and get to show their better natures.
December 17, 2019
I enjoyed this book. Story of Lila Cunningham, poor English girl, who travelled to Malta with her handicapped father in 1938. Purpose to 'look' after property of a English couple in Malta. The story is about herself, the Maltese family who had been 'living' at this property, and others she encountered. It takes her through the World War II. I learned much more of what the Maltese people went through during the war. For me - this is what interested me.
February 19, 2022
It is difficult to create a unique setting for WWII literature, so I was drawn to this novel set on Malta. It is a story not often told. At first I thought the book was going to dissolve into a romance, but though there are men in the protagonist's life, this is not a "bodice ripper". I thought the characters were well developed and enjoyed the narrative thoroughly. Recommend. Kristi & Abby Tabby
February 20, 2020
A very laboured love story with an extremely irritating heroine. No wonder Joanna Trollope has written in under a pseudonym. Only readable as it is based in Malta where I am currently on holiday and it does do justice to the country and its history. Fascinating place. Hence the two stars. Apart from that, definitely not recommended!
May 8, 2020
This was a tender story about a young woman who dreamed about the perfect life as Europe was on the brink of WWII. Most of the story was set in Malta which suffered greatly in the war. It was an interesting setting as I knew nothing about Malta, except that it is in the Mediterranean Sea, but now I appreciate the culture of the island, and think it would be a lovely place to visit,
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April 5, 2022A charming war time romance with a bitter sweet edge. Not really quite my usual material, and I found it rather plot driven than deeply characterful- hence I skim read the latter half probably too quickly to do it real Justice! The pen portraits of the main characters made them accessible and easy to follow, but I didn’t find myself particularly’invested’ in their dilemmas.
February 19, 2018
Full of cliches and rather simplistic, but very easy to read and a nice little story. Would make a good holiday read. In fact, I might read more of this author when I want some easy escapism on my travels.
January 5, 2019
I enjoyed this 'aga saga' which is set in Malta of the Second World War but found the ending very disappointing! The description of the Maltese people was very interesting as was the experiences of the deprivations during the modern siege of Malta. Would I recommend it? Not sure thus the mark!
December 11, 2024
Interesting picture of Malta during and after WWII. Lila grows and cares for Carmela - she makes all the mistakes in love, especially for loser Anton, but we know she will be eventually be happy with Antonio. Pa, her father also grows as a human.
April 14, 2018
I enjoyed reading this *so* much. Caroline Harvey is a pseudonym of Joanna Trollope, and being a huge fan, fell right into the story. So much to like about it. Very rich.
May 28, 2019
Enjoyed the storyline...good beach read. The description of Malta made me want to visit again.
June 15, 2019
Single thread story that failed to generate much interest, but I slogged my way through to a nice ending.
January 31, 2020
Interesting information about Malta during WWII. Not sure why Joanna Trollope chose to write this under a pen name.
January 21, 2021
It's chick lit, and not that well written. But it was OK
February 13, 2021
3.5 stars
This is my first historical fiction book that I have read from Joanna Trollope. I will definitely read more of them.
This is my first historical fiction book that I have read from Joanna Trollope. I will definitely read more of them.
February 17, 2022
Not bad but I've read better
September 12, 2022
I thought this was a lovely book that taught me a lot about Malta during the war, and had a sweet storyline.
August 6, 2023
Beautiful story!
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October 2, 2024interesting to learn what happened On Malta Island during the Second World War. Also
interesting because of the main character, a young lady becoming an adult during a quite difficult period.
interesting because of the main character, a young lady becoming an adult during a quite difficult period.
November 18, 2025
boring
March 8, 2017
I have to commend Joanna Trollope yet again on writing the real life situation without making it boring. Loved the WWII history, a favorite of mine. And not since the character of Dale in Other People's Children have I come across a character I hated as much as the peripheral character Rosanna. Trollope writes a bad character that really gets under your skin. And now I've said the word character once too often!
February 5, 2021
Loved the book - particularly like the Caroline Harvey Series
February 18, 2017
I have been gifted two books by this author, and having had two penfriends from Malta in my teens, I was very interested in reading this account about life during WWII on the island. Unfortunately, I was extremely disappointed in the story line. Although the book discusses the extreme measures the people of Malta were under, the story is about, (in my opinion) a very shallow women. Story, English girl raised by a artistic father (who's paintings are not that great) en-devours to keep the household going with little money. She is very fortunate that she has obtained work by caring people, who when their father has ruined them, they lose their house, her employers suggest they live at their holiday home in Malta. Off they go with no money, not speaking the local language to an Island where they are suppose to be met. They are not, a nice school teacher tries to help, and this girl of lower working class decides she is better than a school teacher!!!! For some reason, he still tries to befriend this undeserving girl! The war comes, she redeems herself by working tirelessly at a hospital, still believing she is a princess and will marry a Baron. The baron she is in love with is suppose to be fighting the war, but is he? She then falls for his brother, who is actually a war hero, who dumps her for the schoolteachers sister. Lots more to it, however, three men befriend her, and she obviously is still full of herself right to the end. Did I like this person, not a bit. Did I like this book. Not much.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews