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The Liar's Daughter
From a “delightfully smart” historical novelist, a woman raised to believe she is the daughter of a British war hero searches for her true parentage (The Sunday Times).
Nan Prunty’s mother is the rare woman to have served aboard navy vessels, an eyewitness to British sea battles aboard the HMS Victory. Now a notorious drunk, Nan’s mother shares outlandish anecdotes of bygone adventures, most of which Nan believes to be tall tales. The only story her mother tells the same way twice is that of Nan’s father, with whom she had an affair just before his tragic death during the Battle of Trafalgar. Is it possible the story is actually true—and that Nan is the daughter of naval hero Lord Horatio Nelson?
The search for answers is a mystery that will carry Nan through her life, her marriage, and the birth of her own daughter, Pru. Growing up, Pru listens with skepticism to her mother’s narrative of her legendary genealogy. But when Pru marches off to her own intrepid life as a nurse during the Crimean War, she wonders how much of her mother’s legacy lives within her.
With her characteristic warmth and wit, author Laurie Graham explores what our families stories truly tell us about ourselves.
Praise for Laurie Graham
“Laurie Graham has a wonderfully light, deft touch.” —Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Empire Falls
“Why is Laurie Graham not carried on people’s shoulders through cheering crowds? Her books are brilliant!” —Marian Keyes, international bestselling author of Again, Rachel and Grown Ups
Nan Prunty’s mother is the rare woman to have served aboard navy vessels, an eyewitness to British sea battles aboard the HMS Victory. Now a notorious drunk, Nan’s mother shares outlandish anecdotes of bygone adventures, most of which Nan believes to be tall tales. The only story her mother tells the same way twice is that of Nan’s father, with whom she had an affair just before his tragic death during the Battle of Trafalgar. Is it possible the story is actually true—and that Nan is the daughter of naval hero Lord Horatio Nelson?
The search for answers is a mystery that will carry Nan through her life, her marriage, and the birth of her own daughter, Pru. Growing up, Pru listens with skepticism to her mother’s narrative of her legendary genealogy. But when Pru marches off to her own intrepid life as a nurse during the Crimean War, she wonders how much of her mother’s legacy lives within her.
With her characteristic warmth and wit, author Laurie Graham explores what our families stories truly tell us about ourselves.
Praise for Laurie Graham
“Laurie Graham has a wonderfully light, deft touch.” —Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Empire Falls
“Why is Laurie Graham not carried on people’s shoulders through cheering crowds? Her books are brilliant!” —Marian Keyes, international bestselling author of Again, Rachel and Grown Ups
Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2013
78 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Laurie Graham
41 books139 followersLaurie Graham was first published at the advanced age of 40. Gentle comedy is her style. She is the author of seventeen novels, including the best-selling The Future Homemakers of America and its sequel, The Early Birds
Mother of four, grandmother of many, Laurie is married to a New Yorker and lives in County Dublin, Ireland.
You can visit her website, read what she's up to and say hello at http://lauriegraham.com
Mother of four, grandmother of many, Laurie is married to a New Yorker and lives in County Dublin, Ireland.
You can visit her website, read what she's up to and say hello at http://lauriegraham.com
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 18, 2017
I always enjoy Laurie Graham's characters. From the first page, you feel the protagonist is a real person and you can hear their voice clearly. This one was no exception and I was immediately caught up in Nan's story, which is about her quest to prove she is Nelson's daughter, as her mother claims.
The reason this book gets three stars instead of four is because that story fizzled out two-thirds of the way through the novel. Once Nan runs out of clues to follow, the mystery is left unresolved, and the novel continues on with the story of her and her daughter's experiences in the Crimean War. While I did have an interest in their characters by then, I felt like the purpose of the novel had been lost. Nan has a revelation towards the end which sort-of links it in, but it's a bit weak IMO.
The reason this book gets three stars instead of four is because that story fizzled out two-thirds of the way through the novel. Once Nan runs out of clues to follow, the mystery is left unresolved, and the novel continues on with the story of her and her daughter's experiences in the Crimean War. While I did have an interest in their characters by then, I felt like the purpose of the novel had been lost. Nan has a revelation towards the end which sort-of links it in, but it's a bit weak IMO.
April 2, 2018
I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook and was really sorry when the story finished.
The narration was really good and kept me listening till the end. I will be looking for more books from this author.
The narration was really good and kept me listening till the end. I will be looking for more books from this author.
December 6, 2014
I think this book would fall strictly into the "not for me" category. Historical fiction about a woman, and eventually her daughter as well, living in the 1800s working and travelling through various parts of Europe. The main lead is a woman named Nan who spends most of her life believing she's the illegitimate daughter of Viscount Horatio Nelson, a famous strategist and war hero from Battle of Trafalgar. She spends painfully large parts of the book going here and there trying to figure out if what her always drunk, chronically lying mother told her about her birth was actually true, and which ended up concluding in a way that completely and utterly didn't surprise me in the least. I also wasn't a huge fan of the way the story was written. A lot of I did this, then that, then so-and-so died and I was sad, and then I married this guy because why not.
I think if you were interested in the history of the era this book takes place in, (The never-ending descriptions about the life of Lord Nelson, a historical figure I've never really cared about ever, almost had me falling asleep) as well as if you're into stories about the every-person in a rough era, (Seriously, every other page had some deadly sickness rushing through the country wiping out half the people) then this book will definitely appeal to that demographic, which I am unfortunately not part of.
I think if you were interested in the history of the era this book takes place in, (The never-ending descriptions about the life of Lord Nelson, a historical figure I've never really cared about ever, almost had me falling asleep) as well as if you're into stories about the every-person in a rough era, (Seriously, every other page had some deadly sickness rushing through the country wiping out half the people) then this book will definitely appeal to that demographic, which I am unfortunately not part of.
August 11, 2014
An excellent listen, beautifully told story of the women in the time of Trafalgar and the Crimea (and not Florence Nightingale based!). As a Portsmouth person, and someone who lives just round the corner from John Pounds workshop, the historical detail is superb. I learned a grata deal from this story.
Other reviewers have given a far more articulate synopsis and analysis than I can, I would just like to exhort GR members to read this exceptionally good and little known author.
Other reviewers have given a far more articulate synopsis and analysis than I can, I would just like to exhort GR members to read this exceptionally good and little known author.
December 8, 2014
Too long
May 25, 2020
Light read, of interest because of the history and the health bits :)
April 7, 2018
Nan Prunty's mother has always claimed to have been Lord Nelson's lover. She saw him die at Trafalgar, or so she says. Nan makes her own determined way in life, but is always haunted by the wish to know the truth about her father.
No major dramas in this one, just a simple fictitious memoir of a woman’s search for answers to her questionable parentage. The narrator did a wonderful job. The characters were endearing, even though not very exciting. I was entertained at recognizing some of the medical treatments and diagnosis of the time period. Thank you to Diana Gabaldon and our beloved Claire Beauchamp Randall Frazer for the education I didn’t even realize I was getting through my Outlander obsession!
No major dramas in this one, just a simple fictitious memoir of a woman’s search for answers to her questionable parentage. The narrator did a wonderful job. The characters were endearing, even though not very exciting. I was entertained at recognizing some of the medical treatments and diagnosis of the time period. Thank you to Diana Gabaldon and our beloved Claire Beauchamp Randall Frazer for the education I didn’t even realize I was getting through my Outlander obsession!
October 24, 2017
A fictitious memoir covering the period from the Battle of Trafalgar to the Crimean War and beyond, The Liar's Daughter offers lots of fascinating historical detail, and major events seen through the eyes of three remarkable 'ordinary' women. It is an easy read with likeable characters, which keeps the pages turning.
If I have a criticism, it is that it is all told on a level–there are no great dramas or worrying cliffhangers. Instead of being on the edge of my seat, I felt tucked up in a cosy armchair, but sometimes that is exactly what you want.
There was never any temptation to skip a page; my attention was held throughout.
If I have a criticism, it is that it is all told on a level–there are no great dramas or worrying cliffhangers. Instead of being on the edge of my seat, I felt tucked up in a cosy armchair, but sometimes that is exactly what you want.
There was never any temptation to skip a page; my attention was held throughout.
July 15, 2019
A lovely story of hardship growing into a love story (not a slushy one and it's not at the forefront) and a reversal of fortune. It's not a miserable book, it is about relationships and the choices we make not to follow our parents but take our own path instead.
Ann (or Nan as she is sometimes called) is the title character. She grows up in Portsmouth with a drunkard for a mother who tells her she is Nelson's daughter. Nan decides to investigate later in her life when circumstances allow, but how much of what her mother has told her is truth and how much is befuddled memory?
Ann (or Nan as she is sometimes called) is the title character. She grows up in Portsmouth with a drunkard for a mother who tells her she is Nelson's daughter. Nan decides to investigate later in her life when circumstances allow, but how much of what her mother has told her is truth and how much is befuddled memory?
January 21, 2018
3 1/2 stars for me - never read any Laurie Graham before but will do again. Found it hard to get into the style at first but soon settled comfortably into it.
Well written, amusing, interesting detail about the historical details.
Well written, amusing, interesting detail about the historical details.
May 10, 2020
This isn’t my sort of book so I found I had to restart it a few times before I got going. Once I had settled in, I enjoyed it and found moments , wanting to continue the story. So, hang on and you may be surprised 😊
January 11, 2025
I felt the book was drawn out and didn’t think the need for the daughter’s point of view,which in part III, was very long and drawn out. It was a lackluster story, with the main character obsessed with the story her mother told her of who her father was.
July 25, 2018
I have loved all of Laurie Graham’s books, but this was hard going at times. Often far too many characters and jumping all over the place.
February 11, 2019
Could have been much shorter, but I did enjoy it.
December 7, 2024
If you’re neurodivergent and/or have a neurodivergent child you might find the author’s choices with respect to the neurodivergent character upsetting.
June 23, 2014
I love Laurie Graham - Gone with the Windsors is one of my all-time favourite books and I always look forward to something new from her. I tried to make this book last - as I know I'm likely to have a year to wait for the next one - but I still gobbled up the sections that I'd rationed myself to.
This book is a little different - once again it's based around historical events as they affect a fictional characcter caught up in them, but this time it has a split narrative.
Firstly there's Nan Prunty, whose mother tell her that her father is Lord Nelson - but is she really Nelson's daughter - and how will her quest to find out the truth affect her? Then there's Nan's daughter Pru - who I can't say much about without ruining the plot, but suffice it to say that it's an engaging and enthralling portrait of part of part of Britain's history. And the taster chapter at the end makes me even more uncertain that I'll be able to ignore the siren call of her new book "The Grand Duchess of Nowhere" when it comes out in hardback!
This book is a little different - once again it's based around historical events as they affect a fictional characcter caught up in them, but this time it has a split narrative.
Firstly there's Nan Prunty, whose mother tell her that her father is Lord Nelson - but is she really Nelson's daughter - and how will her quest to find out the truth affect her? Then there's Nan's daughter Pru - who I can't say much about without ruining the plot, but suffice it to say that it's an engaging and enthralling portrait of part of part of Britain's history. And the taster chapter at the end makes me even more uncertain that I'll be able to ignore the siren call of her new book "The Grand Duchess of Nowhere" when it comes out in hardback!
February 23, 2022
I have never before not loved a Laurie Graham but this was definitely the exception. In fact, I skipped to the end as I had had enough of all the fighting, initially at Trafalgar and then in the Crimea. I enjoyed the chase of finding out about Nelson and Nan’s link to him, but then the book wandered off-piste with the part about the Crimea. What was the point of this?
I would highly recommend any other of Laurie’s books though. A vastly underrated author, I feel.
I would highly recommend any other of Laurie’s books though. A vastly underrated author, I feel.
July 18, 2025
Not my favorite book. It became a bit predictable and dragged in the middle.
February 27, 2016
I love Laurie Graham and have read all of her books. For similar fans wondering if this is one of her better ones - I'm glad to say that yes it is. The usual down to earth humour, attention to historical detail, and a great story.
October 13, 2014
Really easy reading from Laurie Graham. Enchanting protagonists and historically interesting.
April 30, 2015
quite good.
September 28, 2016
First laurie graham that I have read. Looking forward to reading some more.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews