The Day of the Butterfly

by Norah Lofts

Without becoming a prostitute herself, lovely but impoverished Daisy Holt dances for the patrons of a brothel, and, when her Monet radiance attracts the eye of a painter, she experiences her first love and her first sorrow

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Historical, British Literature, Historical Romance

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Norah Ethel Robinson Lofts Jorisch (27 August 1904–10 September 1983) was a 20th century best-selling British author. She wrote over fifty books specialising in historical fiction, but she also wrote non-fiction and short stories. Many of her novels, including her Suffolk Trilogy, follow the history of a specific house and the residents that lived in it.

Lofts was born in Shipdham, Norfolk in England. She also published using the pseudonyms Juliet Astley and Peter Curtis. Norah Lofts chose to release her murder-mystery novels under the pen name Peter Curtis because she did not want the readers of her historic fiction to pick up a murder-mystery novel and expect classic Norah Lofts historical fiction. However, the murders still show characteristic Norah Lofts elements. Most of her historical novels fall into two general categories: biographical novels about queens, among them Anne Boleyn, Isabella of Castile, and Catherine of Aragon; and novels set in East Anglia centered around the fictitious town of Baildon (patterned largely on Bury St. Edmunds). Her creation of this fictitious area of England is reminiscent of Thomas Hardy's creation of "Wessex"; and her use of recurring characters such that the protagonist of one novel appears as a secondary character in others is even more reminiscent of William Faulkner's work set in "Yoknapatawpha County," Mississippi. Norah Lofts' work set in East Anglia in the 1930s and 1940s shows great concern with the very poor in society and their inability to change their conditions. Her approach suggests an interest in the social reformism that became a feature of British post-war society.

Several of her novels were turned into films. Jassy was filmed as Jassy (1947) starring Margaret Lockwood and Dennis Price. You're Best Alone was filmed as Guilt is My Shadow (1950). The Devil's Own (also known as The Little Wax Doll and Catch As Catch Can) was filmed as The Witches (1966). The film 7 Women was directed by John Ford and based on the story Chinese Finale by Norah Lofts.

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is well named as it follows the changes in the being of a young, feckless country girl as she wends her way through life in various parts of England during the 1850's. She is Daisy Holt, who through a series of circumstances, becomes Hebe Waywood, Lady Overton and Mrs. Johnson; each persona standing for another "pose or attitude" such as were popular during that era and in which she performed first at an upscale brothel, then as mistress of a respectable Country House. These "poses" which came to define her, helped her keep at bay the grimmer realities of the world until she finds herself at rock-bottom with no apparent way out. But hope springs eternal for this girl with the impractical attitude combined with faith in "something special, just around the corner!" The reader is happy to root for her as the universe does, indeed, come through for her...in a well-earned way!

[Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an enjoyable read. It was given to me by a friend, otherwise I probably wouldn't have gotten it. I'm not generally an historical romance reader, but this was fun.Rather typical story of heroine's in the 18th century.........a woman wasn't anything without a man and it took real engenuity to get along without one. Norah Lofts little heroine Daisy is feisty, beautiful, innocent and falls in love with the wrong man....twice....with the predictable result, babies born out of wedlock.

She pulls herself up by her garter straps though and it's a lively romp through the pages.

[Maryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great novel. 5 Stars for keeping me hooked to the pages but none of the characters appealed much to me.

[Susie James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I plucked one of the tomes still on the shelf at the Carrollton, Miss., library earlier this week by an old favorite, Norah Lofts, bearing a 1979 copyright. A bit too long, I'd say, but her heroine is still slogging onward and upward at the end -- a tribute to the adventures of a country girl's times in England in the early 1800s...

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love these historic novels. The characters were quite amusing and it was an all around good read.

[Wynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

What does beauty matter? How are we shaped by events? I like this book.

[Carolyn Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

plight of women and children in early 19th century England

[Spitz]

The plot seemed to develop as the author wrote--it would be worse to think she planned it! Without the frequent theme of her other books, of a place over generations, the characters come and go without consequence.

[Kathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. For a woman who wasn’t very smart she seems to be able to figure out how to take care of herself

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a book given to me years ago, but with work and raising children and etc., it stayed on the shelves unread. I had always heard good things about Norah Lofts, so when at last I had the time to read The Day of the Butterfly, I was ready to enjoy myself. Instead I ended up very disappointed.

I started out liking the book. Daisy Holt with her optimism and exuberance was quite sympathetic, and even if the early plot line seemed a little contrived, it was still enjoyable. By the middle of the book, the plot was getting stranger, with characters coming and going with little reason for their presence other to create a problem that Daisy needed to confront (or not). Daisy began to wear because she did not grow or mature. She could be excused for her naivete in the early chapters because she was 15 and raised in the country. However, later in the book she was clearly an adult operating in a sophisticated atmosphere, but apparently had gained no wisdom or worldliness.

The last 100 pages jumped the rails. The plot took a bizarre twist, and characters acted totally out of character. Daisy still had no clue, made horrible choices, and even more characters were abandoned or introduced for no real purpose.

I expect at this point this book is not readily available, but if you see it at library book sale, pick up something else to read.

[Alexandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars. I am not sure why it took me so long to get through but I am thinking the writing style just wasn't for me. I am glad I finished just so I know what happens at the end but man it was a challenge to get through for me. It did catch my attention enough to finish it though so I couldn't just give it a 1 star

[Ashely · Rating 5 out of 5]

You like this book!!! Meghan in mrs.brooks class