The Golden Cup

by Marcia Willett

Paradise has been home to generations of Trevannions: Paradise, the house at the head of a sheltered Cornish valley where Mrs Trevannion lives, surrounded by her family. Frail and elderly Honor Trevannion, bedridden following a nasty fall, is inexplicably anxious and distressed by the arrival of a young American bearing an old black and white photograph of a double wedding and looking for a long-lost relation.

Her children Bruno and Emma, granddaughter Joss and faithful cousin Mousie try to nurse Honor back to health, unaware of the secrets which she keeps from those closest to her. Increasingly troubled and confused, she begs Joss to find a cache of letters which have been hidden for fifty years.

Too late to hear the story from Honor herself, the family are faced with revelations which could destroy the tranquillity of life in their beloved valley. Will they be torn apart or can they unite in admiration for one woman's courage in standing by the life-changing decision she made so many years ago?

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Novels, Audiobook

Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Marcia Willett began her career as a novelist when she was fifty years old. Since that first novel Marcia has written twenty more under her own name as well as a number of short stories. She has also written four books under the pseudonym "Willa Marsh", and is published in more than sixteen countries.
Marcia Willett's early life was devoted to the ballet, but her dreams of becoming a ballerina ended when she grew out of the classical proportions required. She had always loved books, and a family crisis made her take up a new career as a novelist - a decision she had never regretted.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this novel refreshing and very enjoyable. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that I listened to the audiobook (extremely well narrated) and had difficulty working out the family relationships of all the characters.

The plot and the style reminded me very much of some Rosamund Pilcher novels, which is a great compliment. Very recommendable.

[Carolynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marcia Willett gets it right again. Just the right balance of warm-hearted characters and losers, sentiment and practicality, mysteriousness and sharing. A young American unexpectedly shows up at the Cornish house known as Paradise looking for any information about his Great Aunt Madeleine, lost long ago at the end of WWII. Mutt, failing fast after a long life at Paradise as the widow of its heir, is clearly upset by his visit--but what is the connection? As in _Memories of the Storm_, Willett moves seamlessly from present to past, the time when Mutt arrived at Paradise with children Bruno and Emma, by using the same technique of differing tenses that Rumer Godden uses so effectively in _Take Three Tenses_. Gradually, one by one, the family learns Mutt's heartbreaking secret, when she is no longer able to prevent the secret from changing the lives of everyone she loves. A perfect book for a cold winter evening with a cup of tea and a cozy quilt.

[Mo · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not really my cup of tea. I thought the story was very predictable, which made it drag on and on for me. I couldn't wait for it to end.

It did not help that I irrationally loathed the two nicknames, "Mutt" and "Mousie"... I flinched every time I read them.

[LindyLouMac · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/6...

I have been reading novels written by Marcia Willett since 1995 and this is the eleventh title, so I think it is safe to say I enjoy her stories. They are always an engrossing read and this one is no exception.
Set in Cornwall it is a gentle family saga which starts slowly introducing us gradually to the characters and the surroundings that the estate of ‘Paradise’ is set in. ‘Paradise’ is the family home of the Trevannion family and the current head of the family is Honor Tevannion. At the start of the novel she is already elderly frail and bedridden, the arrival of a young American researching his family history causes her to become very distressed. It is as a result of this visitor that long kept family secrets surface. The family are faced with revelations that change their lives.
The story unfolds as Honor entrusts her granddaughter Joss with the task of revealing her long kept secrets by directing her to a hidden cache of letters written long ago when Honor first arrived back in Cornwall as a young widow. It is through these letters that we are told Honor’s story and become involved in the lives of the Trevannion family.
If you a fan of Marcia Willet this is another one worth reading and if this is your first chance to read her work you will find it a compassionate family saga.

[Lydia Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This such a great book. Unexpectedly great! Another 'find' from our loft clear out. It starts slowly, very slowly, I was enjoying the relaxing Cornish family tale but it was a fine line between being peaceful or slightly boring. Suddenly, however, in Part 2 the plot explodes and it suddenly becomes totally riveting. The slow start gains intense meaning & I was irritable whenever I had to put it down; Loved it.

[Julie Durnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has to be one of my favorite books by Marcia Willett-not as formulaic as some of her others. Great descriptions of the Cornish coast and an unusual plot.

[Vivienne J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story but horribly confusing at first as to who was who.

[Wendy Percival · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t remember how I came across this book but when I read the blurb and realised family secrets were at the heart of the story (always a pull for me) I was hooked. And it turned out to be a brilliant secret and very plausible!

The setting (a large family home in Cornwall) and the characters (warm-hearted and in whose company it was a pleasure to be) reminded me of Rosamunde Pilcher’s books, which I’ve always enjoyed.

The story is intriguing and the anguish created by the secret (revealed in a series of letters halfway though the book) which Joss is instructed by her dying grandmother to find) is well conveyed.

I couldn’t see a way out for the characters as they grappled with their dilemma, so I read on, eager to find out how they dealt with their problem. While I wondered whether in real life the scenario might have a different outcome (involving hard-nosed lawyers, probably!), I was happy to accept the story’s conclusion as credible, especially based on the motives of the characters as they’d been portrayed.

This was an enjoyable read and I’ll definitely search out other titles by the author, who I understand lives in the same county as I do! (Good choice, Marcia!)

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Why?’ she’d asked him once – just as she’d asked her mother. ‘Why did she marry him, Bruno? He’s just … so not Mum. She’s so warm and kind and loving, and he calculates everything. What did she see in him?...
"You could say that he rather swept her off her feet but the fact is, Joss, that nobody can judge a marriage. However close you are to it, you’ll never understand what makes it work or see the million tiny invisible strands that hold a couple together. Emma is very loving and very loyal – to both of you – and it’s not for either of us to judge her.

It's hard to explain the magic that Marcia Willett weaves. Her books are not funny, witty, or comical. The romance is a slow progression and realization, not a whirlwind of drama, conflict, and sex. There are no life-changing character arcs: People pretty much stay the same decent likable folks they started out as. Or the same weak morally challenged ones. The antagonists aren’t evil villains, and though they threaten the happiness of those we come to love and care about, they are given some nuance and we can at least understand why the good guys put up with them. We want them to be thwarted, but not consigned to hell. Of course, The Golden Cup is only the second book I’ve read by her, so I’m no expert. Her characters are each painted with detail and care. The relationships are complex and not always predictable. She has frequently been compared to Rosamunde Pilcher and the comparison is apt. As has been stated, she creates her world in the same way Rosamunde Pilcher does, with the same lovely-type people where the setting and place are as important as a human character.

This book begins with a beloved and respected elderly woman, the head of her family, on her deathbed. She gets a letter that threatens to expose a life-long secret she has been harboring, along with another family member, for almost three generations. The reader learns the secret through a cache of letters that are read by her likable young granddaughter and main protagonist. And it’s a doozy. I should have guessed it, but didn’t. Maybe because I wasn’t expecting something so big in what started out as a gentle bucolic story about a nice family. Some of the family members we think are kind of just "there" turn out to be key forces and towers of strength.

There is nail-biting suspense and tension, anticipation, wonder, fear, romance, thought proving passages, and surprises. Yes, disaster is averted, and everything works out fine. But there is also melancholy, lost opportunities, and lost love. It’s a deep world of character-building and character reveals and it was a world I was happy to live in with them.

So why not 5 stars? Well, the reading of the letters got a little tedious and repetitive. We know what happened in the end so rehashing the past with so much detail seemed a bit needless. The “villains” were dispatched too easily and handily. I would have enjoyed a bit more drama and some confrontation. And maybe even some hope for reclamation wouldn't have come amiss, There were a lot of characters. We are given a lot of names and a brief description, but they don't ever appear in the story. But you don't know that so I felt I had to pay attention. I almost started a family tree and a flow chart, but got it straight enough to avoid this. It was a bit exhausting.

This type of book is not for everyone. Some will be bored, or complain that nothing happens. But if you love what Rosamunde Pilcher offers, you will love Marcia Willett. Guaranteed.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this author’s books, mostly written in the wind and sea swept English countryside. And the plot was interesting with the matriarch of a family, on her deathbed, with a long held secret to share. I enjoyed the book and the characters but didn’t think it was the author’s best work. Still, in the day and age of a pandemic, this was a good escape.

[dennis.biggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intertwined Family Saga

You will enjoy this book, if you can follow the multiple family characters & all their individuals roles in this complex family of secrets. Often I found I would not remember what role some of the family members played or even who they were related to.That's why I would recommend taking notes on each character. As the book evolves,every character will become intertwined. I really enjoyed the challenge to just keep up with each person,as there are multiple characters in this book.Great job on the author's part to create so many diverse family members. I would say, we all have diverse families!

[Sangeetha Vikranth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Golden cup by Marcia Willett
Intensely emotional and slow narration....
Honor Trevannion is in her death bed and a stranger comes up in her front door, enquiring about an old aunt who had been Honor's friend long back during the turbulent war times..
He comes with an old photograph which depicts a double wedding..
The kith and kin of Honor turn down the man and carry on their daily life..
But what happens when Honor comes to know about this stranger?
Why does she ask her granddaughter, whom she very much confides in, to search and find her old hand written, unposted letters to her sister?
Did she find the letters?...
Did she read them, out of sheer curiosity?..
And what unravels is a sad yet resolute history of Honor...
What she had been hiding/withholding comes to light....
Would we hold her guilty or not, for her actions, lies in the minds of the reader..
In spite of knowing or guessing how the story might go forward, I was tempted to read till the end...
I attribute it to the beautiful characterisation...
The wonderful story of love and determination...

So near yet so far...

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marcia Willett revels in novels with multiple generations dealing with love and life, usually set in rural West Country England. The comparison with Pilcher and at times with with Binchy is accurate in some respects. Willett is good at describing the connections within several generations, but beyond that, she has a nice touch with older characters, whose friendships/loves I want to see progress.

The Golden Cup, set in a corner of north Cornwall, has almost more characters than I could keep track of, but oh, how I wanted to. The added tension concerning what might happen to their world should death come to the matriarch, and the slightly untrustworthy son-in-law plus the missing will/documents, made this a page-turner. The usual inclusion of a feckless, self-absorbed and volatile female or two also kept me reading. One of her better efforts.

[Lynda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Paradise is a huge house, which is part of an estate on the cliff top near Port Isaac (Doc Martin country). Towards the end of the 1940's Honor arrives back at Paradise with her son and daughter, following the death of her Husband Hubert. However she hides a terrible secret which threatens to tear the family apart.
The book starts in the present and part two goes back to the 1940's where all the secrets enfold in letters written by Honor to her sister Viv that were never sent, but remained hidden in her desk drawer.
I thought it was a good story but I also felt that it dragged on a bit. However i'm glad that I read it. Watch out for Ray (Honor's daughter Emma's husband) he is a really aggravating character!

[Paul Morro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very nicely written novel, the first one I have read by this author. I will certainly want to try another. It's a clever idea that forms the basis of the plot. The characters were interesting and well developed, and the dialogue was well crafted. My only quibble is that the one American character, admittedly a minor character, did not speak American English. On at least 2 occasions, he used phrases or constructions that are common in British English but almost never heard from Americans. But this in no way detracted from my enjoyment of the book. I only mention it because I'm an editor and I can't help myself!

[Nona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who out there likes an interesting story? Well this is one if you can get around the complexity of names and who is who. Rather confusing throughout; BUT nevertheless a sound and interesting story.
It has many complexities of large extended families - who married who and those that prospered and those that didn't, and many interesting tales of the past.
It is one of those that you have to listen to or read very carefully mainly because the author Marcia WILLETT is rather an exponent of the descriptive English language, and being set in Cornwall loves to enhance the surroundings.
A good one to read over a long wintery week in front of a fire.
Recommended

[Kristina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the kind of book one might want to read while on a journey, taking a very long train ride or having a layover at some airport. It's not bad, the outcome very obvious, there are lovers who cannot openly admit their feelings, a big family secret, and an inheritance to worry about. This book is for people who like reading the kind of mainstream genre fiction that is set in some cottage or house on a cliff Cornwall.

[Shana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story! At the beginning of the story, you're actually in the middle of the story. It is written from the current time, and looking back on a family and how they've gotten to where they are now.

I am going to have all my friends and family read this story. I had never heard of this author, and picked this book up at a book sale. I'm now going to go read all of her other books! Fantastic!

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warm Story

There is a big surprise hidden in this delightful family saga. It starts slowly by introducing all the characters. I had to make an effort to get to know all of them, but once I was immersed in the story it was hard to put down. I’ve read many of her novels and enjoyed them all.

[sharon check · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things are not always as they seem.

A book for those who value relationships and family. I loved the characters and my only difficulty was following how they were all related. And that was before the secrets began to be revealed. The author weaves the poignant story together as fine as Honor's tapestries.

[Valerie]

This is the first of Willett's novels that I've read that was something of a disappointment. It was hard to keep track of all the characters at times, and what should have been a fascinating story got bogged down in places when the story should have been advanced. Very well written, as always, but not unputdownable, as the others have been.

[Andrew Hockaday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paradise is like Margaritaville/a state of mind!

I liked this book, it was well written, and constructed in a sort of mysterious enigmatic way that kept this reader a little on tenterhooks, but in a pleasing way. I highly recommend it so; take a leap into this smorgasbord of emotions.

Andrew

[Lorna Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came across this book by chance. Not sure why it is called The Golden Cup.

I am glad I did, it was a story of a family with a secret that had been kept for years until an American stranger knocks with a photo of his great aunt on her wedding day.

This was well written and I will have a look at other titles form this author.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh what a lovely story. Perfectly written, very descriptive, wonderful characters (although it took some time to work out where everyone fitted in) and a wonderful example of love and friendship, and the keeping of promises made in tragic circumstances. I loved the way this author writes. It’s from another time and era and paints the picture beautifully.

[Allison Ryder]

Too many characters too soon, and the nicknames made this hard to follow. A family tree might have been nice , however that would probably have given some spoilers. I thought I’d guessed the twist by p28, but we shall never know!

[Trine K. Christensen · Rating 1 out of 5]

a sleeping pill in book disguise...

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book and most of the people, but found it very stressful to read.

[Barbara Beach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memorirs

I found this a very compelling read. As the story unfolded I became intrigued with the complex family and I loved the way the truth was eventually revealled.

[Kerryn Forsyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love family mysteries and this was a ripper

[Katie Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed rereading this. A great sense of place and tranquility through troubling times.