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The Innocent Imposter
Ursa Hollington and her elder sister Penelope were as different as night and day, or--more precisely--country and city. The innocent Ursa, is asked by her married sister to impersonate her and stay with Lady Brackley, Penelope's mother-in-law. Lady Brackley is blind, so Ursa reluctantly agrees. During the guest at the splendid estate, she met the tall and irresistible Marquis of Charnwood, in need of a temporary finaceé. If Ursa could pay one role, she could play two, especially when the second was... herself! But the price was high, for in the Marquis Ursa had found her dream of love... a dream that honor forbade. Then the time for pretense was past, and Ursa and her Marquis reached for a rapture beyond measure, destined beyond the stars....
156 pages, Paperback
Published August 14, 1995
5 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Cartland
1,084 books835 followersBorn in 1901, Barbara Cartland started her writing career in journalism and completed her first book, Jigsaw, when she was just 24. An immediate success, it was the start of her journey to becoming the world’s most famous and most read romantic novelist of all time. Inspiring a whole generation of readers around the globe with her exciting tales of adventure, love and intrigue, she became synonymous with the Romance genre. And she still is to this day, having written over 644 romantic fiction books.
As well as romantic novels, she wrote historical biographies, 6 autobiographies, plays, music, poetry and several advice books on life, love, health and cookery – totalling an incredible 723 books in all, with over 1 billion in sales.
Awarded the DBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 in honour of her literary, political and social contributions, she was President of the Hertfordshire branch of the Royal College of Midwives as well as a Dame of Grace of the Order of St John of Jerusalem and Deputy President of the St John Ambulance Brigade.
Always a passionate advocate of woman’s health and beauty, she was dubbed ‘the true Queen of Romance’ by Vogue magazine in her lifetime. Her legend continues today through her wonderfully vivid romantic tales, stories that help you escape from the day to day into the dramatic adventures of strong, beautiful women who battle, often against the odds, eventually to find that love conquers all.
Find out more about the incredible life and works of Dame Barbara Cartland at www.barbaracartland.com
As well as romantic novels, she wrote historical biographies, 6 autobiographies, plays, music, poetry and several advice books on life, love, health and cookery – totalling an incredible 723 books in all, with over 1 billion in sales.
Awarded the DBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 in honour of her literary, political and social contributions, she was President of the Hertfordshire branch of the Royal College of Midwives as well as a Dame of Grace of the Order of St John of Jerusalem and Deputy President of the St John Ambulance Brigade.
Always a passionate advocate of woman’s health and beauty, she was dubbed ‘the true Queen of Romance’ by Vogue magazine in her lifetime. Her legend continues today through her wonderfully vivid romantic tales, stories that help you escape from the day to day into the dramatic adventures of strong, beautiful women who battle, often against the odds, eventually to find that love conquers all.
Find out more about the incredible life and works of Dame Barbara Cartland at www.barbaracartland.com
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 14, 2014
It was nice. Differed from most romances by taking so many pages to show happy ending. Most of the time we just get HEA sealed by the kiss and that's all.
Ursa is too much of a Mary Sue, but aren't they practically all in Cartland's novels?
I get how hero couldn't stay away from Ursa's bedroom (even if he knew her only for two days, but that's standart problem with timelines and logic in romances), but how could he behave like that with his uncle? I know they not really relatives, but still. I thought gentlemen took that serious. :)
Ursa is too much of a Mary Sue, but aren't they practically all in Cartland's novels?
I get how hero couldn't stay away from Ursa's bedroom (even if he knew her only for two days, but that's standart problem with timelines and logic in romances), but how could he behave like that with his uncle? I know they not really relatives, but still. I thought gentlemen took that serious. :)
November 22, 2012
Love It - Love It - Love It! Got completely hooked and mesmerized while reading it. The book made me want to just live the story myself. I'm weak for love stories and this was definitely a great one! It was my first story for Barbara Cartland and I'm looking forward to reading more of her work!
Now, I'm the kind that expects to live a love story such as the ones found in Barbara's books. So be ware men of the world! ;)
Now, I'm the kind that expects to live a love story such as the ones found in Barbara's books. So be ware men of the world! ;)
June 22, 2011
I liked it
May 22, 2016
رواية المحتالة البريئة
April 9, 2025
Book Review
المحتالة البريئة - باربرا كارتلاند.
عدد الصفحات: 156
باربرا كارتلاند، روائية بريطانية شهيرة، كتبت "المحتالة البريئة" (The Innocent Impostor) كجزء من أعمالها الرومانسية. الرواية تتناول قصة فتاة بريئة تتورط في خدعة وانتحال شخصية أختها الأكبر، مع لمسة من الغموض والعاطفة، وهي نمطية لأسلوب باربرا في سرد القصص العاطفية التاريخية.
يضطر والد أورسا السيد ماثيو هولينغتون للسفر مؤقتًا، ومعنى ذلك أنه سيترك رفيقته الأولى ابنته الصغرة أورسا - إذ إن وفاة والدتها جعلت من والدها الصديق الأقرب لها بدلًا من زوجته المتوفاة - لفترة ليست بهينة.
وفي غياب أبيهما، تُقنع بينيلوب المتزوجة من آرثر - وهو رجل بليد يكبرها بسنوات عديدة - أختها الصغيرة أورسا بالتنكر وانتحال شخصيتها للبقاء عند حماتها العمياء (الليدي براكلي). وأثناء عملية الانتحال الأولى، تلتقي أورسا بالماركيز حفيد الليدي براكلي، وشاءت الصدفة أن الماركيز اللطيف كان في مأزقٍ هو الآخر، إذ إن السيد أوريستس، وهو أحد الضيوف اليونانيين في قصر تشارنوود، يريد أن تتزوج ابنته بالماركيز، إلا أن ابنة الضيف اليوناني في القصر لا تروق للماركيز، فعزم الماركيز على إقناع أورسا البريئة بتمثيلية أخرى داخل التمثيلية الأولى، وقد تحولت من أورسا إلى بينيلوب إلى أورسا مرةً أخرى، منتحلةً شخصيتها هي ذاتها أمام اليوناني لمساعدة الماركيز ولكن بصفتها خطيبته هذه المرة.
إن التناقض بين الأختين لا يضاهى، فعلى عكس بينيلوب الأنيقة والفاتنة والتي تعتني بمظهرها كثيرًا، أورسا بسيطة ومتواضعة ولديها شخصيتها البريئة، ولكن أساس إيمان بينيلوب بفكرة انتحال أورسا شخصيتها هو تشابههما بالصوت كثيرًا وبالملامح إلى حدٍ ما، الفكرة التي أدت إلى متاهة من الحيَل والمواقف الغريبة والتضاربات.
إن فكرة الرواية عبقرية جدًا، وقد تناولت جوانب عديدة من المجتمع الانجليزي الذي عاصرته الكاتبة آنذاك، من الشخصيات المعقدة وتناقضها ومعتقداتها وعواطفها والفروقات الطبقية بينها، وتمكنت الكاتبة من خلق جو دافئ ومريح للقارئ يسهل فيه التفاعل مع الشخصيات والاندماج بالحبكة والتفكير في الحلول الممكنة لها، فقد كانت قراءة مليئة بالحماس والتخمينات لما سيحدث طيلة الصفحات. ورغم طغيان الطابع الأنثوي من المبالغة المبتذلة في وصف المشاعر بعد إظهار الحل وفك عقدة الرواية، إلا أن المتعة والإثراء السايكولوجي اللذان نجحت بتقديمهما كانا مرضيَين.
#المحتالة_البريئة #باربرا_كارتلاند
المحتالة البريئة - باربرا كارتلاند.
عدد الصفحات: 156
باربرا كارتلاند، روائية بريطانية شهيرة، كتبت "المحتالة البريئة" (The Innocent Impostor) كجزء من أعمالها الرومانسية. الرواية تتناول قصة فتاة بريئة تتورط في خدعة وانتحال شخصية أختها الأكبر، مع لمسة من الغموض والعاطفة، وهي نمطية لأسلوب باربرا في سرد القصص العاطفية التاريخية.
يضطر والد أورسا السيد ماثيو هولينغتون للسفر مؤقتًا، ومعنى ذلك أنه سيترك رفيقته الأولى ابنته الصغرة أورسا - إذ إن وفاة والدتها جعلت من والدها الصديق الأقرب لها بدلًا من زوجته المتوفاة - لفترة ليست بهينة.
وفي غياب أبيهما، تُقنع بينيلوب المتزوجة من آرثر - وهو رجل بليد يكبرها بسنوات عديدة - أختها الصغيرة أورسا بالتنكر وانتحال شخصيتها للبقاء عند حماتها العمياء (الليدي براكلي). وأثناء عملية الانتحال الأولى، تلتقي أورسا بالماركيز حفيد الليدي براكلي، وشاءت الصدفة أن الماركيز اللطيف كان في مأزقٍ هو الآخر، إذ إن السيد أوريستس، وهو أحد الضيوف اليونانيين في قصر تشارنوود، يريد أن تتزوج ابنته بالماركيز، إلا أن ابنة الضيف اليوناني في القصر لا تروق للماركيز، فعزم الماركيز على إقناع أورسا البريئة بتمثيلية أخرى داخل التمثيلية الأولى، وقد تحولت من أورسا إلى بينيلوب إلى أورسا مرةً أخرى، منتحلةً شخصيتها هي ذاتها أمام اليوناني لمساعدة الماركيز ولكن بصفتها خطيبته هذه المرة.
إن التناقض بين الأختين لا يضاهى، فعلى عكس بينيلوب الأنيقة والفاتنة والتي تعتني بمظهرها كثيرًا، أورسا بسيطة ومتواضعة ولديها شخصيتها البريئة، ولكن أساس إيمان بينيلوب بفكرة انتحال أورسا شخصيتها هو تشابههما بالصوت كثيرًا وبالملامح إلى حدٍ ما، الفكرة التي أدت إلى متاهة من الحيَل والمواقف الغريبة والتضاربات.
إن فكرة الرواية عبقرية جدًا، وقد تناولت جوانب عديدة من المجتمع الانجليزي الذي عاصرته الكاتبة آنذاك، من الشخصيات المعقدة وتناقضها ومعتقداتها وعواطفها والفروقات الطبقية بينها، وتمكنت الكاتبة من خلق جو دافئ ومريح للقارئ يسهل فيه التفاعل مع الشخصيات والاندماج بالحبكة والتفكير في الحلول الممكنة لها، فقد كانت قراءة مليئة بالحماس والتخمينات لما سيحدث طيلة الصفحات. ورغم طغيان الطابع الأنثوي من المبالغة المبتذلة في وصف المشاعر بعد إظهار الحل وفك عقدة الرواية، إلا أن المتعة والإثراء السايكولوجي اللذان نجحت بتقديمهما كانا مرضيَين.
#المحتالة_البريئة #باربرا_كارتلاند
November 8, 2023
This is one of her later novels written in 1995. I quite liked it, a deception trope that worked out for them in the end.
Also, different from her other novels, that end abruptly, this one has a mini epilogue, where they are on their honeymoon and the heroine asks to go home because she is pregnant. To the delight of the Hero!
This is the fist epilogue, I have ever encountered in the dozens of Barbara Cartland novels I have read.
Also, different from her other novels, that end abruptly, this one has a mini epilogue, where they are on their honeymoon and the heroine asks to go home because she is pregnant. To the delight of the Hero!
This is the fist epilogue, I have ever encountered in the dozens of Barbara Cartland novels I have read.
February 4, 2020
It was an okay short story. I would definitely recommend it to someone who is young and just starting to read romance novels. It is quite mellow and the last 20 pages are not needed. You get your happy ending so why write 20 pages of not needed content. If you like more passionate stories then move along because this will bore you.
May 4, 2023
While her father is away from home, the beautiful but lonely Ursa Hollington is surprised to receive a visit from Penelope, her sister, who has been such a stranger since she married a rich Nobleman and moved to London.
Ursa is even more surprised when she hears Penelope’s request!
So Penelope can meet her lover in a secret tryst while her husband, Lord Brackley is abroad, Ursa reluctantly agrees to pretend to be Penelope and stay with Lord Brackley’s blind mother, the Dowager Lady Brackley.
Powdered and rouged just like her coquettish sister, Ursa is accepted at the imposing Brackley Park.
But then the dashing Marquis of Charnwood embroils her in yet another deception, posing as his fiancée to save him from a loveless marriage to the daughter of a Greek he is doing business with.
When the amorous Marquis appears at her bedside one night, Ursa is horrified, but soon finds the fluttering in her heart is not fear but love –
Tangled in not one but two falsehoods, she can see no way out, until it comes to light that the Dowager Lady Brackley is far more perceptive that she thought!
Ursa and her elder sister were as different as night and day, or—more precisely—country and city. Yet here was Ursa, guest at a splendid estate, impersonating the worldly, married Penelope. Enter Prince Charming—the tall, irresistible Marquis of Charnwood, in need of a temporary finacee. If Ursa could pay one role, she could play two, especially when the second was... herself! But the price was high, for in the Marquis Ursa had found her dream of Love... a dream that Honor forbade. Then the time for pretense was past, and Ursa and her Marquis reached for a rapture beyond measure, destined beyond the stars...
Ursa is even more surprised when she hears Penelope’s request!
So Penelope can meet her lover in a secret tryst while her husband, Lord Brackley is abroad, Ursa reluctantly agrees to pretend to be Penelope and stay with Lord Brackley’s blind mother, the Dowager Lady Brackley.
Powdered and rouged just like her coquettish sister, Ursa is accepted at the imposing Brackley Park.
But then the dashing Marquis of Charnwood embroils her in yet another deception, posing as his fiancée to save him from a loveless marriage to the daughter of a Greek he is doing business with.
When the amorous Marquis appears at her bedside one night, Ursa is horrified, but soon finds the fluttering in her heart is not fear but love –
Tangled in not one but two falsehoods, she can see no way out, until it comes to light that the Dowager Lady Brackley is far more perceptive that she thought!
Ursa and her elder sister were as different as night and day, or—more precisely—country and city. Yet here was Ursa, guest at a splendid estate, impersonating the worldly, married Penelope. Enter Prince Charming—the tall, irresistible Marquis of Charnwood, in need of a temporary finacee. If Ursa could pay one role, she could play two, especially when the second was... herself! But the price was high, for in the Marquis Ursa had found her dream of Love... a dream that Honor forbade. Then the time for pretense was past, and Ursa and her Marquis reached for a rapture beyond measure, destined beyond the stars...
May 13, 2018
4 stars
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews