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Another View
A brilliant, timeless novel by the much-loved Rosamunde Pilcher.Emma Litton can't get on with her life until she finds out just what place she has in her father's heart. She'd been at school in Europe since she was fourteen, then found a job in Paris, always wondering what her famous artist father was doing in Japan or America or at their cottage in Cornwall. Even after she meets Robert Morrow, the handsome gallery owner, and rediscovers her step-brother, Christo, she still feels compelled to probe into the truth about her past. But Emma might learn too late that it is the truth about herself she has to find and that letting go is the first step to keeping love.
273 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1968
673 people are currently reading
1492 people want to read
About the author
Rosamunde Pilcher
176 books3,147 followersRosamunde Scott was born on 22 September 1924 in Lelant, Cornwall, England, UK, daughter of Helen and Charles Scott, a British commander. Just before her birth her father was posted in Burma, her mother remained in England. She attended St. Clare's Polwithen and Howell's School Llandaff before going on to Miss Kerr-Sanders' Secretarial College. She began writing when she was seven and published her first short story when she was 18. From 1943 through 1946, Pilcher served with the Women's Naval Service. On 7 December 1946, she married Graham Hope Pilcher, a war hero and jute industry executive who died in March 2009. They moved to Dundee, Scotland, where she remained until her death in 2019. They had two daughters and two sons, and fourteen grandchildren. Her son, Robin Pilcher, is also a novelist.
In 1949, her first book, a romance novel, was published by Mills & Boon, under the pseudonym Jane Fraser. She published a further ten novels under that name. In 1955, she also began writing under her married name Rosamunde Pilcher, by 1965 she her own name to all of her novels. In 1996, her novel Coming Home won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by Romantic Novelists' Association. She retired from writing in 2000 following publication of Winter Solstice. Two years later, she was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
In 1949, her first book, a romance novel, was published by Mills & Boon, under the pseudonym Jane Fraser. She published a further ten novels under that name. In 1955, she also began writing under her married name Rosamunde Pilcher, by 1965 she her own name to all of her novels. In 1996, her novel Coming Home won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by Romantic Novelists' Association. She retired from writing in 2000 following publication of Winter Solstice. Two years later, she was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 260 reviews
May 8, 2018
Porthkerris seems to be the nicest little place to go, or second best, to read about as told by Rosamunde Pilcher! This the second novel of hers that I have read in as many days. So that is very telling. These stories are so rewarding; the seaside seems to compliment the simple family oriented stories. Emma is a strong willed young woman who has a famous and successful artist as a father. Ben is a difficult man whom Emma was separated from during her teens, she misses her dad more than she’d like to say and is finally reacquainted with him; only for him to take off again to America to fulfil some work obligations. He’s nowhere near conventional. Emma is searching for something within herself if not her family, and after supporting herself from a young age, she has also reconnected with her step brother whom she missed very much. The scenery comes to life again and again, this author has a knack for an interesting storyline and lovely surrounds. You want to step into the scenes she builds, to want to know the characters. You really like them and feel immersed into the story. Bohemian and arty, friends and family come together for a coming of age of sorts. This is another winner for me! This writer is divine.
November 20, 2010
My wife bought this book because of the author, but set it aside when she saw the 1968 copyright. She had read Winter Soltice and is now reading Shell Seekers, and loves them both. This is my first Rosamunde Pilcher. We're in Germany on an extended visit, and I finished reading (my more manly) Grisham's The Broker, and had nothing else to read. For some reason I expected Another View to be a romance novel, but it was much more. And, the fact that it was written so long ago didn't lessen it at all. The only time-sensitive part was the excessive (in my view) amount of smoking. Everyone smokes in the book. But, of course, many did back in 1968.
As a father of two grown girls, I especially enjoyed the father-daughter struggles. Of course I'm not a famous artist like Ben is in the story, but still, fathers are often taken away from their children by their work. And, often, we have regrets for that lost time.
I thought the plot was well structured for the most part and I wondered if this might have been her first novel. If so, what an exceptional job for a first book.
As a father of two grown girls, I especially enjoyed the father-daughter struggles. Of course I'm not a famous artist like Ben is in the story, but still, fathers are often taken away from their children by their work. And, often, we have regrets for that lost time.
I thought the plot was well structured for the most part and I wondered if this might have been her first novel. If so, what an exceptional job for a first book.
April 9, 2014
Welllll it was interesting to read this early work of Pilcher's from 1968 but it was not up to par with most of her other novels for me. I did not find the characters as endearing or interesting as I have with her other books. The plot is not as clever either. Her usual themes are all there - seaside England, quirky artists, a young woman struggling toward independence, strained family dynamics, cousins and relatives becoming romantically involved - (yea that's a bit odd), great imagery as always but not as good as subsequent books etc. These characters smoke and drink like fiends too! At least this one was short otherwise I might be a bit annoyed at wasting time reading it.
March 12, 2016
I started keeping a record of my reading on Goodreads in 2008 so I can hardly believe I've never reviewed this book. I definitely love Rosamunde Pilcher. Her short stories are my favorite and her short novels are next in my love list. On my last birthday my husband and daughter took me to Mt. Home, Arkansas to spend the weekend in a little cabin on the lake. I had been feeling very stressed and exhausted from about 6 weeks of back to school craziness. I took a few shelter magazines, a book of poetry, and this story. I just grabbed a Rosamunde because I wanted to revisit her simple, sweet domestic stories; I didn't even pay much attention to which one I grabbed. Turns out, though it had been years since I read it, I chose one of my most favorite of her little books. I love Ben Litton, even if his parenting makes me cringe a bit. I love watching Emma Litton grow up and seeing the way she finally learns to accept her father (and brother) for the flawed, selfish men that they are. I love that she finally learns to love without wanting to change someone. And how, with that ability, she finds the man she doesn't want to change. Sigh Just a simple, sweet story.
March 12, 2016
Oh dear! Even with the best will in the world, and taking into account that Rosamunde Pilcher has given me many, many hours of pleasant reading-time, I cannot reasonably give "Another View" more than 2 stars.
The usual blurb says "When you read a novel by Rosamunde Pilcher you enter a special world where emotions sing from the heart." Well, I was left out in the cold this time! I couldn't relate to any of the characters, nor find any of them particularly endearing. The plot was extremely predictable, and the theatrical and artistic themes were poorly developed. I can only presume that this novel was published when Ms Pilcher was either strapped for cash or still searching for her writing style after a period with Mills & Boon. Thank heavens she found it in her later novels! I'll just forget about this one...
The usual blurb says "When you read a novel by Rosamunde Pilcher you enter a special world where emotions sing from the heart." Well, I was left out in the cold this time! I couldn't relate to any of the characters, nor find any of them particularly endearing. The plot was extremely predictable, and the theatrical and artistic themes were poorly developed. I can only presume that this novel was published when Ms Pilcher was either strapped for cash or still searching for her writing style after a period with Mills & Boon. Thank heavens she found it in her later novels! I'll just forget about this one...
August 22, 2010
I really like Rosamunde Pilcher's books. In a way, they are comfort reading. I love her descriptions. Her descriptions are not just a description of the way a landscape or house looks. She writes "..a cheeky young man wearing a red checked shirt," which tells so much more about the background of the story than 'a man with a red shirt'. What she creates with her descriptions are fabulous images in my head.
The way she writes her stories is wonderful. There is a story, some drama and a resolution, but reading the book seems to make the actual story secondary.
This is one of her older stories - copyright 1968. Still, it does not seem overtly dated; the story is a classic. However, they smoke like chimneys and the offering of cigarettes at social events are as normal as offering someone a drink to be hospitable.
One thing I like is the continuity in her books. Artists often show up in Pilcher's stories. Ben spends a lot of time in the Sliding Tackle, a very wonky pub in Porthkerris in Cornwall. This pub also shows up in her other books, such as The Shell Seekers (I think!). Ben's studio is very similar to the studios of other artists in other books. Her continuity does not seem repetitive, as it does with other authors. I think it makes the books seem like a variety of characters reside in the same location. The continuity is like meeting old and well liked friends.
Many of her characters have money. The money isn't flaunted, but it allows them flexibility in their lives.
This is an easy, comforting book to read.
The way she writes her stories is wonderful. There is a story, some drama and a resolution, but reading the book seems to make the actual story secondary.
This is one of her older stories - copyright 1968. Still, it does not seem overtly dated; the story is a classic. However, they smoke like chimneys and the offering of cigarettes at social events are as normal as offering someone a drink to be hospitable.
One thing I like is the continuity in her books. Artists often show up in Pilcher's stories. Ben spends a lot of time in the Sliding Tackle, a very wonky pub in Porthkerris in Cornwall. This pub also shows up in her other books, such as The Shell Seekers (I think!). Ben's studio is very similar to the studios of other artists in other books. Her continuity does not seem repetitive, as it does with other authors. I think it makes the books seem like a variety of characters reside in the same location. The continuity is like meeting old and well liked friends.
Many of her characters have money. The money isn't flaunted, but it allows them flexibility in their lives.
This is an easy, comforting book to read.
January 14, 2021
This is another one of RP's idle uneducated girl entangled with a selfish cad who finds love with a decent gainfully employed man almost double her age. Oh, and it's in Porthkerrris and her father is an artist. Her formula is tried and true, to say the least. I don't mean to sound mean, her books are always charming and I love her. I almost took off a star though, because the young girl is petulant and self-pitying throughout.
August 31, 2023
Don't get me wrong, I adore Rosamunde Pilcher's writing style and this was a pleasant enough read. But with so few pages in this novel there just wasn't enough meat on the bones in terms of characterization and plot to really satisfy me. Pilcher is simply one of those authors who was meant to write long, chunky novels you can sink into for days and days, enjoying the rich description, emotion, and character development. Her short books are tiny amuse-bouches - delicious, but not enough to fill you up when you're hungry for a hearty meal.
June 8, 2021
The Gist
Back in the mid-90’s the German public television broadcasting channel ZDF began producing movies based on Pilcher’s stories, novels and short stories. Even before these began to air I was aware of Pilcher’s works, since my mom loved them.
So, in a sense I sort of grew up with Pilcher, yet I never read a book of hers until now. I remember a few years ago I attempted The Shell Seekers, I believe, but I had a lot on my plate back then and the sheer size of the book had me intimidated.
To ease myself into Pilcher’s writing I thought I might start small and maybe try and read something of her earlier publications.
The Details
Another View is shorter and rather descriptive and narrative oriented and does not have a lot of dialogue.
It takes the story quite a bit before it switches from describing the scenery, the characters and the situations before allowing the reader to get closer to the heart of the story, so to speak.
It very carefully kept the reader at arm’s length, yet never strung them along for too long to lose interest in the story.
I think that is part of Pilcher’s charm, plus her ability to describe the beautiful scenery that could make anyone long for a summer holiday in Cornwall.
The Verdict
Overall, I enjoyed this story quite a bit. It had an addictive quality to it that made me want to know what happens even after the last page.
It is too early for me to say, if Another View is a “typical” Pilcher story when it comes to characters and plot. Nonetheless I thought it was a refreshing little story that allowed me to do some armchair travelling.
I would recommend it.
October 23, 2025
Not as good as her later writings but still as cozy as a rainy afternoon in a soft recliner.
May 28, 2022
The problem with reading a vintage novel like this one (1968) is that the main female is often so passive that you want to shake her. Pilcher’s heroines are generally young and naive, yearning so badly to belong somewhere that they project their feelings onto the wrong people. In this case Emma is desperate to connect with her selfish, distant father. Also typical in an older novel, people are constantly pouring drinks (were they half-cut all the time?) and lighting cigarettes. However, if you read it in a 1968 frame of mind, it was still an entertaining light read.
November 12, 2013
It is amazing that this book was written in 1968! It's also amazing how quickly we become acquainted with the characters. That's one of the reasons I love Rosamunde Pilcher's books. The other is her locations, especially her novels set in Cornwall. In Another View we meet the first invocation of the distant artist father who features so prominently in The Shellseekers.
At the age of 19 Emma has decided to finally settle down in Cornwall and spend some time with her artist father Ben in his studio in Porthkerris, Cornwall. But of course all doesn't go as planned. To confuse her plans is her childhood step brother Christopher and her father's manager Robert Morrow. A delightful read!
At the age of 19 Emma has decided to finally settle down in Cornwall and spend some time with her artist father Ben in his studio in Porthkerris, Cornwall. But of course all doesn't go as planned. To confuse her plans is her childhood step brother Christopher and her father's manager Robert Morrow. A delightful read!
June 19, 2019
Another romance by Rosamunde Pilcher. It is easy to see she liked to write about artists (especially painters). And, again, it wasn't as marvelous as her some other novels but still really charming and one of the kind (in the genre of romances). For example, instead of big melodrama we had harmonious storytelling where a love story didn't seem to be in the foreground (the main topic always seemed to be family issues) but bonded the whole plot.
Most of all, I can see, even in Pilcher's lighter novels, the potential that boomed in her best books.
Most of all, I can see, even in Pilcher's lighter novels, the potential that boomed in her best books.
January 20, 2016
The author is really good, I liked her other book, but this story was just too slow. It´s an okay book cause the only really good part is the end. There are 150 pages of God knows what, almost a babbling about trivial stuff. In the last 50 pages something finally happends and then the story becomes interesting.
February 16, 2010
Pilcher is always good, but this is not her best. Audio book was well done.
April 7, 2014
This book tied in with "Shell Seekers". How wonderful! Ben Litton is a senior artist in this novel.
May 12, 2024
This is one of those delightful Rosamunde Pilcher books—part romance, part social analysis, part character study. It's short and sweet and just lovely.
Emma Litton, age 20, is returning to England after being sent abroad by her artist-genius father, Ben Litton, at the tender age of 14 with instructions to manage life herself. She loves and adores her elusive father, but he is so preoccupied with his work that he barely notices her. But after six years apart, Emma forces her way into his life. Meanwhile, on one of her last days in Paris before returning home, she accidentally runs into her stepbrother, Christopher. Well, they were stepsiblings for 18 months when Emma was six and Christopher was 10. Still, Emma has always loved Christopher. He, too, is on his way back to England to perform in a community stage production.
The other part of this story is about Robert Morrow. He and his brother-in-law, Marcus, operate a high-end art dealership/gallery in London, and Ben Litton is one of their prized clients. It falls to Marcus and Robert to take care of Ben and Emma, since they seem incapable of doing it themselves. While Ben is brilliant and charming, he is also unpredictable, refusing to behave according to societal standards. While life seems good for Emma when she returns to live with her father, something happens that destroys this familial peace, and sends Emma into a sudden and hurtful departure. The years-long estrangement from her father and Christopher has dealt a mighty blow to her confidence and esteem. Now she must rectify that and figure out who she is and whom she loves.
Reading a Rosamunde Pilcher book is the literary equivalent of comfort food with satisfying endings that make everything right with the world.
Emma Litton, age 20, is returning to England after being sent abroad by her artist-genius father, Ben Litton, at the tender age of 14 with instructions to manage life herself. She loves and adores her elusive father, but he is so preoccupied with his work that he barely notices her. But after six years apart, Emma forces her way into his life. Meanwhile, on one of her last days in Paris before returning home, she accidentally runs into her stepbrother, Christopher. Well, they were stepsiblings for 18 months when Emma was six and Christopher was 10. Still, Emma has always loved Christopher. He, too, is on his way back to England to perform in a community stage production.
The other part of this story is about Robert Morrow. He and his brother-in-law, Marcus, operate a high-end art dealership/gallery in London, and Ben Litton is one of their prized clients. It falls to Marcus and Robert to take care of Ben and Emma, since they seem incapable of doing it themselves. While Ben is brilliant and charming, he is also unpredictable, refusing to behave according to societal standards. While life seems good for Emma when she returns to live with her father, something happens that destroys this familial peace, and sends Emma into a sudden and hurtful departure. The years-long estrangement from her father and Christopher has dealt a mighty blow to her confidence and esteem. Now she must rectify that and figure out who she is and whom she loves.
Reading a Rosamunde Pilcher book is the literary equivalent of comfort food with satisfying endings that make everything right with the world.
April 27, 2024
I prefer Rosamunde Pilcher's full length novels, but this was an entertaining novella. A simple love story.
Read
April 24, 2022Pretty terrible stuff. Exactly what I like to listen to while digging in the garden.
March 4, 2013
A young woman, after years of abandonment by her selfish idiot artist father, goes to a small village to “look after” him. He abandons her again and she struggles on. Will her father come back at the end of the story and save her?
Some of the characters are believable, but the story is wafer thin and the dialogue in places is woeful.The cliché that all artists are selfish / smelly / dis-organised gets trotted out again.
Is the ending supposed to show that father’s knows best or that a woman can’t survive without the “love of a good man”? Either way it felt incredibly dated.
In the copy I read page 129 was in italics for no reason – which was annoying.
Some of the characters are believable, but the story is wafer thin and the dialogue in places is woeful.The cliché that all artists are selfish / smelly / dis-organised gets trotted out again.
Is the ending supposed to show that father’s knows best or that a woman can’t survive without the “love of a good man”? Either way it felt incredibly dated.
In the copy I read page 129 was in italics for no reason – which was annoying.
March 9, 2022
3.5 stars
November 11, 2020
Dated but delicious - exactly the distraction I needed.
February 22, 2025
I haven't enjoyed this as much as I hoped. 'Another View' had passed me by and I snapped it up, thinking it would stand with Rosamunde Pilcher's other novels. It doesn't. This is definitely one of her 'also rans'.
First published in 1968 it felt dated. Other reviewers have mentioned the cigarette-smoking, but of course back then smoking was as habitual as checking mobile phones is now. Today it jars, as does the selfishness of some of the characters. I found most of them unengaging, but I remember that people's lives were very different at that time, and some of them were extremely self-absorbed. Perhaps 'Another View' does just that, takes a shrewd and stark view of the late 1960s.
Three and a half stars, rounded up - I'm being generous! I won't read it again.
First published in 1968 it felt dated. Other reviewers have mentioned the cigarette-smoking, but of course back then smoking was as habitual as checking mobile phones is now. Today it jars, as does the selfishness of some of the characters. I found most of them unengaging, but I remember that people's lives were very different at that time, and some of them were extremely self-absorbed. Perhaps 'Another View' does just that, takes a shrewd and stark view of the late 1960s.
Three and a half stars, rounded up - I'm being generous! I won't read it again.
August 29, 2018
This novel was written in 1968 and whilst that is only 50 years ago, the world has obviously moved on so much. Rosamund Pilcher wrote a number of short novels in her early career and this is the 2nd in a bind up of 3 that I have.
It has the descriptive qualities of her best novels, without more than a fluffy plot line. It is still an engaging read and takes me back to my childhood of pre decimalised sterling and a more simple way of life.
I wouldn’t rush to read this if you are new to the author, but it is still an easy summer read for those days when you don’t want to have to think too much about what you are reading.
It has the descriptive qualities of her best novels, without more than a fluffy plot line. It is still an engaging read and takes me back to my childhood of pre decimalised sterling and a more simple way of life.
I wouldn’t rush to read this if you are new to the author, but it is still an easy summer read for those days when you don’t want to have to think too much about what you are reading.
August 31, 2021
I am quite fond of some of Pilcher's books while only lukewarm about others. This title was one of the lukewarm books.
Was there really such a time when women were so aimless and vague, and men were strong, and knew when a woman needed an embrace? Oddly, there was an enormous amount of cocktail drinking and smoking going on! Oh my!
Was there really such a time when women were so aimless and vague, and men were strong, and knew when a woman needed an embrace? Oddly, there was an enormous amount of cocktail drinking and smoking going on! Oh my!
May 16, 2024
Entretenido y agradable
No buscaba otra cosa más q eso entretenerme y terminar con una sonrisa en la boca
Así ha sido
No es el mejor de la autora y termina de una forma un tanto precipitada pero tb hay q tener en cuenta q es de sus primeras obras
No buscaba otra cosa más q eso entretenerme y terminar con una sonrisa en la boca
Así ha sido
No es el mejor de la autora y termina de una forma un tanto precipitada pero tb hay q tener en cuenta q es de sus primeras obras
June 6, 2025
I enjoyed the story very much, it was different than I expected. That said, it took me half the book to "get into" the story. I would read again.
December 15, 2018
Anything by Rosamunde Pilcher is fun to read. However, in this book I was a little put off by all the references to smoking cigarettes. Almost every encounter seemed to involve a description of ash trays and cigarettes. There was a fair amount of drinking and driving. Have we really changed that much since the 70's?
July 27, 2022
I was expecting one of Pilcher’s long books when I reserved this at the library and was disappointed because I looked forward to becoming immersed in another time and place. Nevertheless, I found this one also did a good job of taking me away, just for a shorter time. Great descriptive passages and an ending that satisfied the romantic in me.
November 23, 2019
I thought the other day that Rosamund's Pilcher's books had become my guilty pleasures... I look for them when I'm in charity shops (although it looks like people don't like donating them to charity), when I feel down I often think that I could do with reading one of them. What I like about them is the escapism they offer, even if they are not literary masterpieces ;)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 260 reviews