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El secreto del ruiseñor
La célebre Victoria Holt -quien también fue Jean Plaidy y Philippa Carr, en su vertiente de novelista histórica- describe en este relato romántico las vicisitudes de una valiente mujer. Susana ve cómo su vida, signada por la tragedia, cambia radicalmente en la guerra de Corea, adonde se desempeñará como enfermera junto a la
459 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
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About the author
Victoria Holt
371 books1,375 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Eleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subject matter between her books; the best-known, apart from Plaidy, are Victoria Holt (56 million) and Philippa Carr (3 million). Lesser known were the novels Hibbert published under her maiden name Eleanor Burford, or the pseudonyms of Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow and Ellalice Tate. Many of her readers under one penname never suspected her other identities.
-Wikipedia
Eleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subject matter between her books; the best-known, apart from Plaidy, are Victoria Holt (56 million) and Philippa Carr (3 million). Lesser known were the novels Hibbert published under her maiden name Eleanor Burford, or the pseudonyms of Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow and Ellalice Tate. Many of her readers under one penname never suspected her other identities.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
October 26, 2012
I think I’m going to make it a goal to read at least one Victoria Holt book a year. While I don’t like to read her books one right after another because they all have that similar feel, every once in a while they really hit the spot. I’m always surprised how she just sucks me right in to her story, usually starting off with the heroine’s childhood, following into the protagonist’s mysterious and romantic adventures. Holt (the amazing Eleanor Alice Burford) always manages to capture the perfect feel of the proper Victorian woman.
Secret for a Nightingale sort of surprised me. It’s quite different from Holt’s usual story. Yes, it’s a mystery romance, but the mystery happens first, and then the romance happens later at the end of the book. I think this gave the book an awkward pace.
The beginning surrounds the mystery of Susanna’s first husband, and I’ll be honest, mysteries aren’t really my favorite thing, so I’m not sure I was as caught up as I wanted to be. The mystery takes awhile to completely unfold too, so by the time everything was laid out, I’m not sure I cared anymore.
What saved this book for me though was the wonderfully intriguing and sexy Damien Adair. Wow! What a character! I don’t think Holt has ever written a male character that resonated so much with me. I was swooning, eating up the dialogue between him and Susanna. And talk about sexual tension and conflict, they have it in spades. This book made me gush! Damien is going to be added to my top ten male character list, and believe me, I don’t just add anybody. I will be savoring this book for a long time to come. LOL
So where does that leave me in the review? Well....while I wasn’t too interested in the first part of the book, the second part I couldn’t put down. Damien won me over I suppose. It’s rare for me to find I character I adore.
All in all, I enjoyed this book!
Secret for a Nightingale sort of surprised me. It’s quite different from Holt’s usual story. Yes, it’s a mystery romance, but the mystery happens first, and then the romance happens later at the end of the book. I think this gave the book an awkward pace.
The beginning surrounds the mystery of Susanna’s first husband, and I’ll be honest, mysteries aren’t really my favorite thing, so I’m not sure I was as caught up as I wanted to be. The mystery takes awhile to completely unfold too, so by the time everything was laid out, I’m not sure I cared anymore.
What saved this book for me though was the wonderfully intriguing and sexy Damien Adair. Wow! What a character! I don’t think Holt has ever written a male character that resonated so much with me. I was swooning, eating up the dialogue between him and Susanna. And talk about sexual tension and conflict, they have it in spades. This book made me gush! Damien is going to be added to my top ten male character list, and believe me, I don’t just add anybody. I will be savoring this book for a long time to come. LOL
So where does that leave me in the review? Well....while I wasn’t too interested in the first part of the book, the second part I couldn’t put down. Damien won me over I suppose. It’s rare for me to find I character I adore.
All in all, I enjoyed this book!
November 2, 2012
Like everything in Victoria Holt's massive backlist, this was a quick & enjoyable book. (Don't let my slow reading time fool you; I spent two days in a fog of Insomniac Stupidz with zero attention span.) That said, this particular novel doesn't follow her usual formulas.
The story opens with Susanna's childhood recap (a familiar institution in anything Holt :P) as she explains her unconventional upbringing in India. Upon her return to the edge of the British empire, she meets & lusts for a young man named Aubrey St Clare. Meanwhile, their surroundings are greatly unsettled as the natives prepare for uprising, so Susanna & her father return to England with Aubrey. The young couple decides to marry, & soon they're moving to the St Clare estate.
Life seems rosy...except Susanna can't forget that awful honeymoon night when Aubrey turned into Rapey McRapist. He'd always been a gentle lover, so what could inspire such hideous sexual activity? (The exact nature of Aubrey's rape isn't described, but Susanna references his desires as "painful," "beastial," & "humiliating.") Eventually she chalks it up to a head injury & tries to forget it happened. For nearly two years she lives a moderately content existence, throwing herself into raising her young son (a dedication which labels her odd in the eyes of her neighbors). She's comforted that Aubrey doesn't repeat the depravity of that single evening, but he does invite odd people to the family estate for so-called weekend parties...
...Which Susanna discovers are Satanic mass rituals, complete with orgies & drugs. She threatens to leave; Aubrey threatens to take their son; etc. But while Susanna is visiting her sickly father in London, their son catches a virus & dies before she can return. Susanna is horrified to learn her son's deathbed was attended by the evil Doctor Damien -- aka The Demon Doctor, a mysterious dark-haired fellow who's written several books about traveling amonst exotic natives & experimenting with drugs for medicinal purposes. She becomes obsessed with Damien & is convinced he somehow murdered her son whilst encouraging her husband's debased habits.
It isn't long before Aubrey's excess kills him -- and the widow Susanna is reborn as unmarried Anna, referring to herself as single & determined to stay that way. Through a series of accidental good deeds, she gathers a small household of equally unconventional women to fill her emotional holes, but she can't forget that horrible Dr Damien. Her obsession grows & grows, darkening the fringes of her life. In hopes of balancing Damien's misdeeds & subverting her own depression, she devotes herself to the medical profession, attending a newfangled nursing school in Germany & following Florence Nightingale to the Crimean War, where she (finally) comes face-to-face with the ghastly Dr Damien, her object of obsession, who is exactly what she suspected & yet nothing like she imagined.
Unlike most Holt stories, this one spends little time with the classic tropes. The section at Aubrey's home is highly gothic, but the remainder reads more like a Victorian sensation novel. There's an interesting duality to the story as it opens with Susanna's interpretation of her dreadful marriage & ends with Damien's entirely different POV re: her behavior at the time. An interesting twist is the theme of obsession, primarily Susanna's perception of Damien -- running from fascination to disgust to love. Reading between the lines of Damien's explanation, one imagines him sharing the same sort of obsession with Susanna as they travel parallel character arcs.
Another thing that stands out is this novel's treatment of so-called Unconventional Women, those pesky females that defy Victorian social standards of marriage (or lack thereof). It's a topic often featured in sensation novels & was a particular concern in the Victorian era, but I didn't expect to find it so prominently displayed in a Holt novel. Susanna encounters many different women throughout her story, & each one is unconventional in some fashion: the perfect wife who can't carry children to term, the beautiful rich girl who holds out for a love match, the sisters who stay together no matter where they're employed, the seamstress who refuses to settle for so little money, the gruff prostitute who takes weaker girls under her wing, the elderly nurse in charge of her training school...even Florence Nightingale herself, who discarded society for the sake of her calling.
All these unconventional women are positive figures in the long-term, & they all have their own obsessions that tie into Susanna's obsession with Damien. Some of them end up marrying, but some don't -- which struck me as oddly realistic in a novel with several far-fetched plot threads. (I especially liked Eliza, the gruff prostitute -- even in Holt's conventional tone, her behavior hints ever-so-slightly at repressed lesbianism.) But despite so many grounded scenes of war & tragedy, this novel feels like a fairy tale. Susanna's running around the world & influencing so many other women -- or being influenced by them -- mirrors a fairy tale's spiritual journey, & that spiritual journey makes her obsession with Damien all the more fatalistic. As he mentions so wryly at the end of the novel, their romance is inevitable.
Secret for a Nightingale isn't without flaws. Susanna's obsession stretches belief at some points, & there was a bit too much jaunting around for my taste -- but overall I enjoyed it. I wouldn't recommend this one for Holt newbies, though. Her usual style is less covertly esoteric & more focused on the gothic tropes for which she's appreciated.
The story opens with Susanna's childhood recap (a familiar institution in anything Holt :P) as she explains her unconventional upbringing in India. Upon her return to the edge of the British empire, she meets & lusts for a young man named Aubrey St Clare. Meanwhile, their surroundings are greatly unsettled as the natives prepare for uprising, so Susanna & her father return to England with Aubrey. The young couple decides to marry, & soon they're moving to the St Clare estate.
Life seems rosy...except Susanna can't forget that awful honeymoon night when Aubrey turned into Rapey McRapist. He'd always been a gentle lover, so what could inspire such hideous sexual activity? (The exact nature of Aubrey's rape isn't described, but Susanna references his desires as "painful," "beastial," & "humiliating.") Eventually she chalks it up to a head injury & tries to forget it happened. For nearly two years she lives a moderately content existence, throwing herself into raising her young son (a dedication which labels her odd in the eyes of her neighbors). She's comforted that Aubrey doesn't repeat the depravity of that single evening, but he does invite odd people to the family estate for so-called weekend parties...
...Which Susanna discovers are Satanic mass rituals, complete with orgies & drugs. She threatens to leave; Aubrey threatens to take their son; etc. But while Susanna is visiting her sickly father in London, their son catches a virus & dies before she can return. Susanna is horrified to learn her son's deathbed was attended by the evil Doctor Damien -- aka The Demon Doctor, a mysterious dark-haired fellow who's written several books about traveling amonst exotic natives & experimenting with drugs for medicinal purposes. She becomes obsessed with Damien & is convinced he somehow murdered her son whilst encouraging her husband's debased habits.
It isn't long before Aubrey's excess kills him -- and the widow Susanna is reborn as unmarried Anna, referring to herself as single & determined to stay that way. Through a series of accidental good deeds, she gathers a small household of equally unconventional women to fill her emotional holes, but she can't forget that horrible Dr Damien. Her obsession grows & grows, darkening the fringes of her life. In hopes of balancing Damien's misdeeds & subverting her own depression, she devotes herself to the medical profession, attending a newfangled nursing school in Germany & following Florence Nightingale to the Crimean War, where she (finally) comes face-to-face with the ghastly Dr Damien, her object of obsession, who is exactly what she suspected & yet nothing like she imagined.
Unlike most Holt stories, this one spends little time with the classic tropes. The section at Aubrey's home is highly gothic, but the remainder reads more like a Victorian sensation novel. There's an interesting duality to the story as it opens with Susanna's interpretation of her dreadful marriage & ends with Damien's entirely different POV re: her behavior at the time. An interesting twist is the theme of obsession, primarily Susanna's perception of Damien -- running from fascination to disgust to love. Reading between the lines of Damien's explanation, one imagines him sharing the same sort of obsession with Susanna as they travel parallel character arcs.
Another thing that stands out is this novel's treatment of so-called Unconventional Women, those pesky females that defy Victorian social standards of marriage (or lack thereof). It's a topic often featured in sensation novels & was a particular concern in the Victorian era, but I didn't expect to find it so prominently displayed in a Holt novel. Susanna encounters many different women throughout her story, & each one is unconventional in some fashion: the perfect wife who can't carry children to term, the beautiful rich girl who holds out for a love match, the sisters who stay together no matter where they're employed, the seamstress who refuses to settle for so little money, the gruff prostitute who takes weaker girls under her wing, the elderly nurse in charge of her training school...even Florence Nightingale herself, who discarded society for the sake of her calling.
All these unconventional women are positive figures in the long-term, & they all have their own obsessions that tie into Susanna's obsession with Damien. Some of them end up marrying, but some don't -- which struck me as oddly realistic in a novel with several far-fetched plot threads. (I especially liked Eliza, the gruff prostitute -- even in Holt's conventional tone, her behavior hints ever-so-slightly at repressed lesbianism.) But despite so many grounded scenes of war & tragedy, this novel feels like a fairy tale. Susanna's running around the world & influencing so many other women -- or being influenced by them -- mirrors a fairy tale's spiritual journey, & that spiritual journey makes her obsession with Damien all the more fatalistic. As he mentions so wryly at the end of the novel, their romance is inevitable.
Secret for a Nightingale isn't without flaws. Susanna's obsession stretches belief at some points, & there was a bit too much jaunting around for my taste -- but overall I enjoyed it. I wouldn't recommend this one for Holt newbies, though. Her usual style is less covertly esoteric & more focused on the gothic tropes for which she's appreciated.
March 13, 2013
One of the longest VH's I've read. It's too long, meandering in fact, with too many locales and no big mystery to tie it all together. At least it doesn't dwell on the heroine's childhood. She's a young adult and soon married. (Clearly she didn't get my memo from an earlier VH review that when the heroine marries before page 50, hubby has the average life expectancy of a fruit fly).
Sure enough, the marriage goes sour. At first all is magical in romantic Venice during their honeymoon. But one night hubby comes home and rips her bodice. The heroine is horrified by rough sex and falls out of love with hubby. Kind of. Seriously, VH's no-graphic-details writing style and first-person POV was a real disadvantage here. Without knowing what happened, we're left to scratch our heads as to what hubby actually did. With no info, the heroine comes across as an overwrought Victorian prude who's horrified at the notion of taking off her flannel nightie for sex.
Hubby turns out be an opium addict and fulfills his destiny of an early death. I was surprisingly sad, at the waste I guess. Not as sad though as at the death of their child. Warning here if you're sensitive to reading about that! The stricken heroine develops a bizarre fixation with the doctor who she feels led her husband into drugs and neglected her child. She dwells and dwells on his guilt without the slightest proof, and calls him the Demon Doctor, endowing him in her mind with devil horns and cloven feet yet.
Naturally he turns out to be the hero. Sans cloven feet (I assume). But before we get to that, there's a long section of the heroine training to be a nurse, interacting with way too many supporting characters that I couldn't care about, and finally traveling to the Crimea. All the while brooding on the Demon Doctor and her revenge. There are some nice historical touches about the Crimean war and the poor state of medical care, but this section just goes on way too long.
Finally around the 250 page mark, the hero shows up. And I was ... underwhelmed. Seriously, he would have to have superman ability (or cloven feet) to live up to all the build up. But he just turns out to be a gruff but dedicated doctor, who happens to be interested in Eastern drugs and hypnotic techniques that might help the suffering men in his care. Of course heroine continues to rage against him in her fevered brain, while her body is mysteriously falling for him, natch. Of course the fool heroine is nearly caught by white slavers in the Mysterious Orient, and has to be rescued by the hero's sidekick. Giving her an opportunity to berate the hero for lounging around in Eastern clothes like some pasha with a harem (At this point I got the feeling the heroine needed to get laid. Fast.)
So the Demon Doctor turned out to be rather a disappointment. I expected more charisma, more saturnalia (is that a word?), more something. But what really ticked me off was when (apparently not knowing the heroine's identity), he blames the wife of his young friend (hubby #1) for leaving him after their child's death and letting him fall prey to drugs, instead of staying and saving him. WTF? As if anyone can save a druggie from his drug! And he never apologizes for this gross accusation later. And the heroine never calls him on it later. Blargle!
I was left with the feeling that all along this story was headed for an explosive confrontation between a revenge-seeking heroine and a possibly-evil hero. But sadly that never materialized after all the build up, leaving us the readers with a damp squib. And no climax. Blargle again.
Sure enough, the marriage goes sour. At first all is magical in romantic Venice during their honeymoon. But one night hubby comes home and rips her bodice. The heroine is horrified by rough sex and falls out of love with hubby. Kind of. Seriously, VH's no-graphic-details writing style and first-person POV was a real disadvantage here. Without knowing what happened, we're left to scratch our heads as to what hubby actually did. With no info, the heroine comes across as an overwrought Victorian prude who's horrified at the notion of taking off her flannel nightie for sex.
Hubby turns out be an opium addict and fulfills his destiny of an early death. I was surprisingly sad, at the waste I guess. Not as sad though as at the death of their child. Warning here if you're sensitive to reading about that! The stricken heroine develops a bizarre fixation with the doctor who she feels led her husband into drugs and neglected her child. She dwells and dwells on his guilt without the slightest proof, and calls him the Demon Doctor, endowing him in her mind with devil horns and cloven feet yet.
Naturally he turns out to be the hero. Sans cloven feet (I assume). But before we get to that, there's a long section of the heroine training to be a nurse, interacting with way too many supporting characters that I couldn't care about, and finally traveling to the Crimea. All the while brooding on the Demon Doctor and her revenge. There are some nice historical touches about the Crimean war and the poor state of medical care, but this section just goes on way too long.
Finally around the 250 page mark, the hero shows up. And I was ... underwhelmed. Seriously, he would have to have superman ability (or cloven feet) to live up to all the build up. But he just turns out to be a gruff but dedicated doctor, who happens to be interested in Eastern drugs and hypnotic techniques that might help the suffering men in his care. Of course heroine continues to rage against him in her fevered brain, while her body is mysteriously falling for him, natch. Of course the fool heroine is nearly caught by white slavers in the Mysterious Orient, and has to be rescued by the hero's sidekick. Giving her an opportunity to berate the hero for lounging around in Eastern clothes like some pasha with a harem (At this point I got the feeling the heroine needed to get laid. Fast.)
So the Demon Doctor turned out to be rather a disappointment. I expected more charisma, more saturnalia (is that a word?), more something. But what really ticked me off was when (apparently not knowing the heroine's identity), he blames the wife of his young friend (hubby #1) for leaving him after their child's death and letting him fall prey to drugs, instead of staying and saving him. WTF? As if anyone can save a druggie from his drug! And he never apologizes for this gross accusation later. And the heroine never calls him on it later. Blargle!
I was left with the feeling that all along this story was headed for an explosive confrontation between a revenge-seeking heroine and a possibly-evil hero. But sadly that never materialized after all the build up, leaving us the readers with a damp squib. And no climax. Blargle again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2016
Susanna Pleydell is a beautiful, high-spirited young woman. As a young child living in India, she first became aware of her gift for healing the sick. It was truly a special gift that allowed her to soothe those in need. Yet Susanna willingly sacrifices her dream of helping others when she meets and marries the dashing and sophisticated Aubrey St. Clare.
It is only after the couple's marriage that Susanna learns something of Aubrey's true nature. When they return home to London, Susanna notices that her husband has suddenly and inexplicably changed: he reveals a darkly brooding and dangerous side; a disturbing infatuation with the occult and a penchant for opium. But most fearsome of all, is Aubrey's strange association with Dr. Damian Adair, a mysterious figure who exerts a sinister influence over her husband.
Susanna is terrified for both herself and her husband, and when Aubrey's frightening behavior eventually leads to tragedy, Susanna flees. In her mind, there is only one person to blame for all this horror - Damian Adair. She is determined to have her own vengeance against the man who effectively ruined her life.
Carefully guarding her past - keeping her dark secrets to herself - Susanna travels to the Middle East and lends her assistance during the Crimean War. She begins a completely new life as a nurse, working beside the legendary Florence Nightingale. It is in the Middle East where fate eventually brings the mysterious Dr. Adair back into her life.
And it is during her time spent in the Middle East that Susanna discovers a surprising truth about herself: her blazing desire for revenge has waned, becoming tempered with a baffling new emotion. Is it possible that her once unforgiving heart has seemingly changed; suddenly crossing the boundary between hate...and love?
First of all, let me say that while I have read a number of books written by this same author under two of her pseudonyms - Jean Plaidy and Phillppa Carr - I don't think I've read anything written under the pseudonym Victoria Holt. In my opinion, this story was unexpectedly complex and I enjoyed it very much. I give this book an A+!
It is only after the couple's marriage that Susanna learns something of Aubrey's true nature. When they return home to London, Susanna notices that her husband has suddenly and inexplicably changed: he reveals a darkly brooding and dangerous side; a disturbing infatuation with the occult and a penchant for opium. But most fearsome of all, is Aubrey's strange association with Dr. Damian Adair, a mysterious figure who exerts a sinister influence over her husband.
Susanna is terrified for both herself and her husband, and when Aubrey's frightening behavior eventually leads to tragedy, Susanna flees. In her mind, there is only one person to blame for all this horror - Damian Adair. She is determined to have her own vengeance against the man who effectively ruined her life.
Carefully guarding her past - keeping her dark secrets to herself - Susanna travels to the Middle East and lends her assistance during the Crimean War. She begins a completely new life as a nurse, working beside the legendary Florence Nightingale. It is in the Middle East where fate eventually brings the mysterious Dr. Adair back into her life.
And it is during her time spent in the Middle East that Susanna discovers a surprising truth about herself: her blazing desire for revenge has waned, becoming tempered with a baffling new emotion. Is it possible that her once unforgiving heart has seemingly changed; suddenly crossing the boundary between hate...and love?
First of all, let me say that while I have read a number of books written by this same author under two of her pseudonyms - Jean Plaidy and Phillppa Carr - I don't think I've read anything written under the pseudonym Victoria Holt. In my opinion, this story was unexpectedly complex and I enjoyed it very much. I give this book an A+!
August 17, 2010
The beginning was a bit unconventional for Victoria Holt. I don't remember any other of her stories where the heroine is treated by or treats her husband so cruelly. However, as the plot thickens, the second half of the novel more than makes up for the first, as the heroine Miss Pleydell travels to different parts of the world to nurse soldiers during war time and in the process finds the man she's been looking for, Dr. Adair, who is quite a fascinating character. Her intents is revenge, but inevitably she falls in love with him.
January 10, 2010
Took forever to get into the book.
September 20, 2018
El secreto para un ruiseñor es un libro bastante diferente a las historias habituales que he leído de Victora Holt. Tiene un romance semi misterioso, pero este ocurre casi en los últimos capítulos. Si bien, Susanna conoce a Damien Adair “físicamente” en los últimos capítulos, el personaje es omnipresente en casi toda la historia.
Susanna o Anna, lo culpa de su desdicha y planea vengarse de él, por lo que está frecuentemente en sus pensamientos y conversaciones.
Esta novela me pareció menos gótica que otras y si muy parecida a las actuales novelas denominadas Landscape, la protagonista va y viene de la India a Inglaterra, Venecia, Alemania y Constantinopla..
La primera parte de la novela tiene tintes góticos: Susanna se cría en la India y descubre que sus manos tienen el poder de aliviar el dolor, luego se va a estudiar en Inglaterra, vuelve a la India, conoce a su futuro marido Aubrey St.Clare, en su luna de miel descubre el lado oscuro de él, se va a vivir a un castillo con un cuñado enfermo, pero su marido guarda un secreto que cuando lo descubre mata el amor que sentía por él, nace su hijo en quien deposita todo su cariño y tiempo. El doctor Damien “aparece” en escena desde antes de casarse -se le menciona en las conversaciones y ella lee unos libros de su autoría - y finalmente es a quien Susanna culpa de toda la tragedia que le ocurre en esta primera parte de la historia.
Posteriormente se convierte en Anna utilizando su apellido de soltera, ocurren algunos hechos que la llevan a desear convertirse en enfermera. Luego cuando oye hablar de Florence Nigthingale y va a Alemania a prepararse como enfermera con una nueva amiga llamada Henrietta, quien además conoce su secreto y la va a ayudar cuando llegue el momento a vengarse del Dr. Demonio como le llaman ambas. Finalmente ambas terminan en Crimea donde hacen dos nuevas amigas y conoce finalmente al Dr. Damien Adair. Si bien hay misterio y encuentros y desencuentros con el Doctor, la novela en esta parte no tiene tintes demasiados dramáticos ni góticos, sino más bien históricos (lo que me ha llevado a revisar artículos sobre la vida de la gran Florence Nightingale).
Otro detalle que no es tan habitual en las novelas de VH (me refiero a que casi todas son de la época victoriana con el puritanismo propio de aquella época en Inglaterra) y es el tratamiento que le da en esta historia a las llamadas mujeres “no convencionales” (algo que no es recurrente en sus novelas ni es un tópico en sus plots), pues nos habla de aquellas mujeres que desafían las normas sociales de la época victoriana.
Anna abandona a su marido y se va a vivir sola usando su apellido de soltera y se muda a un nuevo hogar (que era la casa de su padre) y se encuentra a lo largo de la historia con un mujeres atípicas: la cuñada perfecta que no puede tener hijos, la niña rica y hermosa -Henrietta- que rechaza un matrimonio por conveniencia, las hermanas que trabajan para ella en su casa quienes permanecen juntas y han desistido de casarse, la costurera Lily que sale a trabajar para ayudar a sus padres y hermanos, las prostitutas que encuentra camino a Crimea Ethel y Eliza, la primera ha perdido a su hijo y se vio obligada a prostituirse y Eliza la fuerte y masculina prostituta que tiene un amable corazón y quizás hay un reprimido lesbianismo según la época, quienes van a trabajar como enfermeras y por último la misma Florence Nightingale, quien descartó casarse y tener hijos para formar su escuela de enfermeras y dignificar el oficio y la estancia de los enfermos de los hospitales.
Anna se encuentra con todas ellas, se encariña con ellas encontrando en todas unas amigas leales y las acoge en su hogar, todas las acompañan en diferentes tiempos y circunstancias durante varios de sus viajes. Algunas logran encontrar el amor y casarse y otras siguen su vida como enfermeras. Todas mujeres que no calzan con el canon victoriano.
De romance hay poco y en mi caso Damien no terminó de enamorarme, lo encontré frío y científico, no me pareció que fuera tan sexy, la interacción entre ambos no me pareció tan romántica y no vi señales de atracción de él para con Anna para entender como nace su amor por Anna, es mas me pareció bastante arrogante en su forma de abordarla. Anna está demasiado obsesionada con él y con su demoníaca maldad (que ella imagina pues le atribuye muchas maldades sin haberlo conocido lo que intensifica su odio). Finalmente Damien no me resultó el típico chico malo carismático con una vida misteriosa y oscura, sino más bien demasiado seguro de sí mismo y de su capacidad como médico, tanto que resulta ser a veces muy pedante y autoritario sobre todo en sus interacciones con ella, y Anna en su obsesión por odiarlo no se da cuenta que se siente atraída hacia él, y cuando se da cuenta que le gusta, nuestra intrépida y vengativa protagonista desaparece y se vuelve triste, celosa e insegura.
Quizás llegando al desenlace cuando todo de alguna manera se aclara, es que Anna vuelve a ser una mujer decidida en lograr lo que quiere. Anna tiene una evolución y es lo que hace interesante y entretenida la historia, a pesar que a veces su sed de venganza hacia el dr. Demonio resultaba demasiado obsesiva, no tanto por el hecho porque en su vida ocurrieron hechos trágicos, sino porque su imaginación corría locamente para inventar hechos (que yo suponía que no eran reales). El romance no tuvo ese clímax explosivo que una espera ni duelos verbales porque Anna ante él parece desinflarse un poco, me refiero a que no atina a enfrentarlo, por lo que finalmente el romance resulta ser algo muy secundario y quizás algo tibio…
Aun así me gustó esta novela, primer porque Victoria Holt es mi escritora favorita en este género y porque el plot principal no es totalmente romántico ni gótico, sino que abarca mucho un poco mas: es la vida de Susanna y de cómo va evolucionando como persona a lo largo de la historia, en como las circunstancias la hacen más fuerte y decidida. En como rompe algunos esquemas victorianos y se convierte en una mujer que quiere algo más en su vida que casarse y tener hijos, y me gustó la forma en que va ocurriendo la historia. Como siempre la trama no decae nunca, se cuenta con una prosa sencilla, bien documentada históricamente, con buenas descripciones, en lenguaje simple y sobrio. La novela tiene 429 páginas las que leí rápida y fácilmente.
http://perezosa69.blogspot.com/2018/0...
Susanna o Anna, lo culpa de su desdicha y planea vengarse de él, por lo que está frecuentemente en sus pensamientos y conversaciones.
Esta novela me pareció menos gótica que otras y si muy parecida a las actuales novelas denominadas Landscape, la protagonista va y viene de la India a Inglaterra, Venecia, Alemania y Constantinopla..
La primera parte de la novela tiene tintes góticos: Susanna se cría en la India y descubre que sus manos tienen el poder de aliviar el dolor, luego se va a estudiar en Inglaterra, vuelve a la India, conoce a su futuro marido Aubrey St.Clare, en su luna de miel descubre el lado oscuro de él, se va a vivir a un castillo con un cuñado enfermo, pero su marido guarda un secreto que cuando lo descubre mata el amor que sentía por él, nace su hijo en quien deposita todo su cariño y tiempo. El doctor Damien “aparece” en escena desde antes de casarse -se le menciona en las conversaciones y ella lee unos libros de su autoría - y finalmente es a quien Susanna culpa de toda la tragedia que le ocurre en esta primera parte de la historia.
Posteriormente se convierte en Anna utilizando su apellido de soltera, ocurren algunos hechos que la llevan a desear convertirse en enfermera. Luego cuando oye hablar de Florence Nigthingale y va a Alemania a prepararse como enfermera con una nueva amiga llamada Henrietta, quien además conoce su secreto y la va a ayudar cuando llegue el momento a vengarse del Dr. Demonio como le llaman ambas. Finalmente ambas terminan en Crimea donde hacen dos nuevas amigas y conoce finalmente al Dr. Damien Adair. Si bien hay misterio y encuentros y desencuentros con el Doctor, la novela en esta parte no tiene tintes demasiados dramáticos ni góticos, sino más bien históricos (lo que me ha llevado a revisar artículos sobre la vida de la gran Florence Nightingale).
Otro detalle que no es tan habitual en las novelas de VH (me refiero a que casi todas son de la época victoriana con el puritanismo propio de aquella época en Inglaterra) y es el tratamiento que le da en esta historia a las llamadas mujeres “no convencionales” (algo que no es recurrente en sus novelas ni es un tópico en sus plots), pues nos habla de aquellas mujeres que desafían las normas sociales de la época victoriana.
Anna abandona a su marido y se va a vivir sola usando su apellido de soltera y se muda a un nuevo hogar (que era la casa de su padre) y se encuentra a lo largo de la historia con un mujeres atípicas: la cuñada perfecta que no puede tener hijos, la niña rica y hermosa -Henrietta- que rechaza un matrimonio por conveniencia, las hermanas que trabajan para ella en su casa quienes permanecen juntas y han desistido de casarse, la costurera Lily que sale a trabajar para ayudar a sus padres y hermanos, las prostitutas que encuentra camino a Crimea Ethel y Eliza, la primera ha perdido a su hijo y se vio obligada a prostituirse y Eliza la fuerte y masculina prostituta que tiene un amable corazón y quizás hay un reprimido lesbianismo según la época, quienes van a trabajar como enfermeras y por último la misma Florence Nightingale, quien descartó casarse y tener hijos para formar su escuela de enfermeras y dignificar el oficio y la estancia de los enfermos de los hospitales.
Anna se encuentra con todas ellas, se encariña con ellas encontrando en todas unas amigas leales y las acoge en su hogar, todas las acompañan en diferentes tiempos y circunstancias durante varios de sus viajes. Algunas logran encontrar el amor y casarse y otras siguen su vida como enfermeras. Todas mujeres que no calzan con el canon victoriano.
De romance hay poco y en mi caso Damien no terminó de enamorarme, lo encontré frío y científico, no me pareció que fuera tan sexy, la interacción entre ambos no me pareció tan romántica y no vi señales de atracción de él para con Anna para entender como nace su amor por Anna, es mas me pareció bastante arrogante en su forma de abordarla. Anna está demasiado obsesionada con él y con su demoníaca maldad (que ella imagina pues le atribuye muchas maldades sin haberlo conocido lo que intensifica su odio). Finalmente Damien no me resultó el típico chico malo carismático con una vida misteriosa y oscura, sino más bien demasiado seguro de sí mismo y de su capacidad como médico, tanto que resulta ser a veces muy pedante y autoritario sobre todo en sus interacciones con ella, y Anna en su obsesión por odiarlo no se da cuenta que se siente atraída hacia él, y cuando se da cuenta que le gusta, nuestra intrépida y vengativa protagonista desaparece y se vuelve triste, celosa e insegura.
Quizás llegando al desenlace cuando todo de alguna manera se aclara, es que Anna vuelve a ser una mujer decidida en lograr lo que quiere. Anna tiene una evolución y es lo que hace interesante y entretenida la historia, a pesar que a veces su sed de venganza hacia el dr. Demonio resultaba demasiado obsesiva, no tanto por el hecho porque en su vida ocurrieron hechos trágicos, sino porque su imaginación corría locamente para inventar hechos (que yo suponía que no eran reales). El romance no tuvo ese clímax explosivo que una espera ni duelos verbales porque Anna ante él parece desinflarse un poco, me refiero a que no atina a enfrentarlo, por lo que finalmente el romance resulta ser algo muy secundario y quizás algo tibio…
Aun así me gustó esta novela, primer porque Victoria Holt es mi escritora favorita en este género y porque el plot principal no es totalmente romántico ni gótico, sino que abarca mucho un poco mas: es la vida de Susanna y de cómo va evolucionando como persona a lo largo de la historia, en como las circunstancias la hacen más fuerte y decidida. En como rompe algunos esquemas victorianos y se convierte en una mujer que quiere algo más en su vida que casarse y tener hijos, y me gustó la forma en que va ocurriendo la historia. Como siempre la trama no decae nunca, se cuenta con una prosa sencilla, bien documentada históricamente, con buenas descripciones, en lenguaje simple y sobrio. La novela tiene 429 páginas las que leí rápida y fácilmente.
http://perezosa69.blogspot.com/2018/0...
June 15, 2014
This is one of the (unintentionally) silliest novels I've read in awhile. And the melodrama! Let's not forget the melodrama.
Susanna, the main character, has a healing gift (as her ayah in India noticed right off the bat...being a "rational" Englishwoman, it took her a while to catch on), but instead of putting it to good use, she marries the opium-addicted ne'er-do-well Aubrey St Clare (details, such as they are, to be found in the chapter entitled "Satan's Temple." I was hoping for some hair-raising, juicy stuff...but fear not, all ye prudish and retiring folk out there. This book is very tame!).
Just in case anyone actually feels tempted to read this, I won't toss out any spoilers, but let's just say, her marriage crashes and burns, and she joins up with Florence Nightingale's nurses to tend the sick and wounded of the Crimean War. All the while plotting revenge on the man she thinks led her husband to ruin, the "Demon Doctor," Damien Adair. But what's going on? Damien is not only arrogant and rude, he's also totally hot! Sparks fly whenever they quarrel! Will they get together in the end? Sheesh. I really didn't care.
Still, this one wasn't a total wash, as I did enjoy the scenes with Susanna being a nurse during the war, and the book inspired me to learn more about the real person, Florence Nightingale, and how she revolutionized nursing back in the day.
Susanna, the main character, has a healing gift (as her ayah in India noticed right off the bat...being a "rational" Englishwoman, it took her a while to catch on), but instead of putting it to good use, she marries the opium-addicted ne'er-do-well Aubrey St Clare (details, such as they are, to be found in the chapter entitled "Satan's Temple." I was hoping for some hair-raising, juicy stuff...but fear not, all ye prudish and retiring folk out there. This book is very tame!).
Just in case anyone actually feels tempted to read this, I won't toss out any spoilers, but let's just say, her marriage crashes and burns, and she joins up with Florence Nightingale's nurses to tend the sick and wounded of the Crimean War. All the while plotting revenge on the man she thinks led her husband to ruin, the "Demon Doctor," Damien Adair. But what's going on? Damien is not only arrogant and rude, he's also totally hot! Sparks fly whenever they quarrel! Will they get together in the end? Sheesh. I really didn't care.
Still, this one wasn't a total wash, as I did enjoy the scenes with Susanna being a nurse during the war, and the book inspired me to learn more about the real person, Florence Nightingale, and how she revolutionized nursing back in the day.
March 11, 2017
This book is dopey. If you’ve read Victoria Holt before, you’ll recognize certain repetitive themes. These echoes of other books is not necessarily bad, it’s just that they are put to such poor use in Secret for a Nightingale. I was looking for a pleasant, quick historical romance and unfortunately this book is unsatisfying. Warning: I discuss certain aspects of the book that may give away the inevitable happy ending.
Susanna Plydell spent her childhood in India due to her father’s position military position. When she reached adolescence, he sent her back to England to get a proper English young lady’s education. At the tender age of seventeen, her education completed, Susanna returned to India to be with her father and assist him in his affairs. Not long after arriving, she is thrown into the company of Aubrey St. Clare, a dashing and sophisticated young man. Despite troubled signs that Aubrey isn’t quite what he seems—and outright verbal warnings from those who know—Susanna follows her heart, like the obliging idiotic heroine she is, and marries Aubrey after a quick courtship. Aubrey and Susanna’s marriage falters barely a year in, and tragedy follows tragedy for her. Susanna blames these tragedies on the evil workings of Dr. Damien Adair—the Demon Doctor. When she decides to start her life anew and train as a nurse, her obsession with Dr. Adair propels her life into unexpected paths.
If you’re familiar with these kinds of books (romances), you should know exactly how the story is going to play out after reading the back cover description: “Even as she fulfills her ambition of becoming a nurse…it is Damien who haunts her dreams and fills her mind, who holds the key to the most sinister secret of all….” So, yeah, of course she’s going to end up with the Demon Doctor. That means Aubrey is not the man she thought he was and is disposed of fairly early on, but not without scarring her emotionally and leaving her traumatized, closed-off, and quite the challenge for the Demon Doctor. In these types of books—and really, in just about every romance I’ve ever read—the heroine’s True Love is usually the Bad Boy. The author does much to make him seem bad, and in Victoria Holt novels the True Love is often Very Bad and either skirts the line of unforgivable behavior or goes beyond it (see The Demon Lover). But eventually he is reformed by the heroine and it’s revealed that he’s not so bad after all; he’s a mischievous child with a heart of gold in the body of a (sexy, dangerously charming, powerful, authoritative, often wealthy) man just waiting for the right woman to come around and tame him. Secret for a Nightingale follows that formula perfectly, with heavy reliance on the plot requiring Susanna to be both brave, insightful and intelligent yet also idiotic, impetuous and unreasonable. Yes, a woman can be all those things, but it’s not organic. That is, Susanna exhibits whatever personality trait is necessary for the plot to move forward, which is irritating. It’d be more irritating if these characters actually had personalities, but they do not. They are merely a collection of physical descriptions and personality traits. The dialogue is hilariously stilted and unrealistic. At some point I gave up trying to enjoy the novel and like the characters; I read (and skimmed) just to see the plot unfold.
There’s not much romance to this novel, nor is there much mystery. Or even history. The story takes place during the mid 1800s with much of the action (ha) centering on the Crimean War and Susanna’s work as a “Nightingale”—a woman following in the footsteps of the famed Florence Nightingale. But really, it could be any war, any hospital. Aside from vague descriptions of the poor conditions of war hospitals (and hospitals in general) of this time, and learning that Susanna and her fellow nurses worked so hard they dropped immediately into dreamless sleep when off duty, there’s very little actual history. The plot is terribly predictable, even the last-minute, “who shot Damien?!” mini-adventure at the very end of the novel. I knew who did it and I knew this person would eventually confess and be forgiven because the reasons behind the shooting were noble and loving. Gah.
Because of Susanna’s extreme prejudice towards Dr. Adair, this novel very much reminds me of a piss poor attempt to emulate Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Damien has the pride, she has the prejudice. Of course, Elizabeth’s prejudice was founded on her own experiences with Mr. Darcy and stories told to her by (she thought) a trusted friend. As a reader you were sympathetic and understood her reasons for disliking him and spurning his love. Susanna’s dislike and prejudices of Damien are built on (mostly) wild beliefs and impressions of a man she’s never met. The more tragedies she blames him for (even those not related to her personally), the more ridiculous I thought her and figured that of course he is innocent of all these horrible things; he has to be if he is Susanna’s ultimate True Love. Of course, Elizabeth bravely confronts Mr. Darcy about her dislike. Susanna does not. When presented with the perfect opportunity, when it is clear he is trying to seduce her, she merely sits in her chair, denies that she is pissed off and thinks to herself: “Oh, how I want to yell at him that he is wrong!” Well, why the hell don’t you? The why of course is perfectly understandable—I knew why the author had her MC sit on her lovely, healing hands and say nothing—the plot demanded it. Plus he already knew who she was and her “secret.” Duh. Of course he did. He was friends with Aubrey and his older brother Stephen. How would he not know the name of the woman Aubrey married? Double duh, Susanna. In the end, her prejudice is overcome (more by her lust for him than any refutation he offers), he is still prideful (but to misquote Elizabeth, it is not undue pride) and it’s LOVE.
Towards the very, very end of this tediously overlong book, there is the Hunting Lodge Adventure. I grinned in recognition: the hunting lodge/schloss/chateau adventure is an important romantic encounter in Victoria Holt books. Oh, Damien you Demon Doctor. I know what you’re up to! It seems even the most recalcitrant women cannot resist Bad Boys once they’re inside one of those romantic buildings (usually in a secluded forest). That whole trip proceeded exactly as I expected, and the book ends rather abruptly about 20 pages later.
This is a silly book. I didn’t expect much, truthfully, but I thought it would be better than this. I suggest Victoria Holt’s The Demon Lover over this. Sure, the dialogue is stilted and the verbal clashes between Kate and the Baron are somewhat silly, but their adventure is a lot more fun and engrossing than this one. I’d also suggest the Jane Austen classic Pride & Prejudice over this kind of half-assed imitation. Maybe Holt didn’t deliberately set out to write her version of P&P, maybe that’s just my perception, but I still don’t recommend this book. It’s too damn dopey to waste your time on.
Susanna Plydell spent her childhood in India due to her father’s position military position. When she reached adolescence, he sent her back to England to get a proper English young lady’s education. At the tender age of seventeen, her education completed, Susanna returned to India to be with her father and assist him in his affairs. Not long after arriving, she is thrown into the company of Aubrey St. Clare, a dashing and sophisticated young man. Despite troubled signs that Aubrey isn’t quite what he seems—and outright verbal warnings from those who know—Susanna follows her heart, like the obliging idiotic heroine she is, and marries Aubrey after a quick courtship. Aubrey and Susanna’s marriage falters barely a year in, and tragedy follows tragedy for her. Susanna blames these tragedies on the evil workings of Dr. Damien Adair—the Demon Doctor. When she decides to start her life anew and train as a nurse, her obsession with Dr. Adair propels her life into unexpected paths.
If you’re familiar with these kinds of books (romances), you should know exactly how the story is going to play out after reading the back cover description: “Even as she fulfills her ambition of becoming a nurse…it is Damien who haunts her dreams and fills her mind, who holds the key to the most sinister secret of all….” So, yeah, of course she’s going to end up with the Demon Doctor. That means Aubrey is not the man she thought he was and is disposed of fairly early on, but not without scarring her emotionally and leaving her traumatized, closed-off, and quite the challenge for the Demon Doctor. In these types of books—and really, in just about every romance I’ve ever read—the heroine’s True Love is usually the Bad Boy. The author does much to make him seem bad, and in Victoria Holt novels the True Love is often Very Bad and either skirts the line of unforgivable behavior or goes beyond it (see The Demon Lover). But eventually he is reformed by the heroine and it’s revealed that he’s not so bad after all; he’s a mischievous child with a heart of gold in the body of a (sexy, dangerously charming, powerful, authoritative, often wealthy) man just waiting for the right woman to come around and tame him. Secret for a Nightingale follows that formula perfectly, with heavy reliance on the plot requiring Susanna to be both brave, insightful and intelligent yet also idiotic, impetuous and unreasonable. Yes, a woman can be all those things, but it’s not organic. That is, Susanna exhibits whatever personality trait is necessary for the plot to move forward, which is irritating. It’d be more irritating if these characters actually had personalities, but they do not. They are merely a collection of physical descriptions and personality traits. The dialogue is hilariously stilted and unrealistic. At some point I gave up trying to enjoy the novel and like the characters; I read (and skimmed) just to see the plot unfold.
There’s not much romance to this novel, nor is there much mystery. Or even history. The story takes place during the mid 1800s with much of the action (ha) centering on the Crimean War and Susanna’s work as a “Nightingale”—a woman following in the footsteps of the famed Florence Nightingale. But really, it could be any war, any hospital. Aside from vague descriptions of the poor conditions of war hospitals (and hospitals in general) of this time, and learning that Susanna and her fellow nurses worked so hard they dropped immediately into dreamless sleep when off duty, there’s very little actual history. The plot is terribly predictable, even the last-minute, “who shot Damien?!” mini-adventure at the very end of the novel. I knew who did it and I knew this person would eventually confess and be forgiven because the reasons behind the shooting were noble and loving. Gah.
Because of Susanna’s extreme prejudice towards Dr. Adair, this novel very much reminds me of a piss poor attempt to emulate Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Damien has the pride, she has the prejudice. Of course, Elizabeth’s prejudice was founded on her own experiences with Mr. Darcy and stories told to her by (she thought) a trusted friend. As a reader you were sympathetic and understood her reasons for disliking him and spurning his love. Susanna’s dislike and prejudices of Damien are built on (mostly) wild beliefs and impressions of a man she’s never met. The more tragedies she blames him for (even those not related to her personally), the more ridiculous I thought her and figured that of course he is innocent of all these horrible things; he has to be if he is Susanna’s ultimate True Love. Of course, Elizabeth bravely confronts Mr. Darcy about her dislike. Susanna does not. When presented with the perfect opportunity, when it is clear he is trying to seduce her, she merely sits in her chair, denies that she is pissed off and thinks to herself: “Oh, how I want to yell at him that he is wrong!” Well, why the hell don’t you? The why of course is perfectly understandable—I knew why the author had her MC sit on her lovely, healing hands and say nothing—the plot demanded it. Plus he already knew who she was and her “secret.” Duh. Of course he did. He was friends with Aubrey and his older brother Stephen. How would he not know the name of the woman Aubrey married? Double duh, Susanna. In the end, her prejudice is overcome (more by her lust for him than any refutation he offers), he is still prideful (but to misquote Elizabeth, it is not undue pride) and it’s LOVE.
Towards the very, very end of this tediously overlong book, there is the Hunting Lodge Adventure. I grinned in recognition: the hunting lodge/schloss/chateau adventure is an important romantic encounter in Victoria Holt books. Oh, Damien you Demon Doctor. I know what you’re up to! It seems even the most recalcitrant women cannot resist Bad Boys once they’re inside one of those romantic buildings (usually in a secluded forest). That whole trip proceeded exactly as I expected, and the book ends rather abruptly about 20 pages later.
This is a silly book. I didn’t expect much, truthfully, but I thought it would be better than this. I suggest Victoria Holt’s The Demon Lover over this. Sure, the dialogue is stilted and the verbal clashes between Kate and the Baron are somewhat silly, but their adventure is a lot more fun and engrossing than this one. I’d also suggest the Jane Austen classic Pride & Prejudice over this kind of half-assed imitation. Maybe Holt didn’t deliberately set out to write her version of P&P, maybe that’s just my perception, but I still don’t recommend this book. It’s too damn dopey to waste your time on.
December 16, 2022
I've never read a Victoria Holt book that was bad, but one part of this was a miss for me. I still had to give it four stars because of the excellent writing. But why didn't she resolve the conflict between herself and the doctor? I can't understand why an editor didn't catch that. I suppose I shouldn't say "she didn't resolve it" because she did, but in a very bland way. You can't make the premise of the whole book her anger and rage over this doctor, who she blamed for the death of her son, and her intent to track him down and confront him, and then… Not do it.
Let's face it, if you think someone was responsible for the death of your child, you're not going to suddenly change your mind and fall in love with him instead of confronting him. I understand what she was going for here, but there needed to be a climax. As it was, when she finally found herself in striking distance of this doctor, it was like all the life went out of her, and she suddenly lost the urge to confront him about what happened to the child.
We do at least learn that he was in no way at all responsible for the death of her boy, but where's the conversation about it? The whole book, and it's a long book, leads up to this and then it doesn't happen. She starts to find herself a little mesmerized with this man and then they go on to fall blandly in love and have about a three second dialogue about what happened to the boy.
That's one of the most simple things they teach you in writing is that you have to fulfill the implied promise and just didn't happen in this book. However, the story was absolutely genius and for that I have to give it four stars. I just wish that an editor would've encouraged her to rewrite the climax so it didn't just fall flat, which unfortunately, it did. However, that's very unusual for this author, and nobody can be perfect all the time, so I would still tell someone definitely give it a read. Who knows, you might like what I didn't!
Let's face it, if you think someone was responsible for the death of your child, you're not going to suddenly change your mind and fall in love with him instead of confronting him. I understand what she was going for here, but there needed to be a climax. As it was, when she finally found herself in striking distance of this doctor, it was like all the life went out of her, and she suddenly lost the urge to confront him about what happened to the child.
We do at least learn that he was in no way at all responsible for the death of her boy, but where's the conversation about it? The whole book, and it's a long book, leads up to this and then it doesn't happen. She starts to find herself a little mesmerized with this man and then they go on to fall blandly in love and have about a three second dialogue about what happened to the boy.
That's one of the most simple things they teach you in writing is that you have to fulfill the implied promise and just didn't happen in this book. However, the story was absolutely genius and for that I have to give it four stars. I just wish that an editor would've encouraged her to rewrite the climax so it didn't just fall flat, which unfortunately, it did. However, that's very unusual for this author, and nobody can be perfect all the time, so I would still tell someone definitely give it a read. Who knows, you might like what I didn't!
Read
August 26, 2019Writing-wise, this is actually one of Holt's more engaging books. I ended up DNF-ing, but it was truly a case of "It's not you, it's me."
Had I read this book as a teenager, I suspect I would have lapped it up and some of the more grim themes in the storyline would have zoomed right past my blissfully unaware young mind. However, as a full-grown adult, I just couldn't take all the grimness in this book and I stopped reading because I couldn't take how this story was making me feel. I'll put my specific reasons under a spoiler tag for those who want to read them.
CW - domestic violence, bad things happen to kids/animals, rape I didn't make it much past all of this, so I can't really opine on the man who looks poised to be the hero.
Had I read this book as a teenager, I suspect I would have lapped it up and some of the more grim themes in the storyline would have zoomed right past my blissfully unaware young mind. However, as a full-grown adult, I just couldn't take all the grimness in this book and I stopped reading because I couldn't take how this story was making me feel. I'll put my specific reasons under a spoiler tag for those who want to read them.
CW - domestic violence, bad things happen to kids/animals, rape I didn't make it much past all of this, so I can't really opine on the man who looks poised to be the hero.
February 13, 2022
This was a good story of suspense and romance on the battlefields of Crimea and the time of Florence Nightingale. Victoria Holt was a good writer.
July 18, 2024
Rari la historia. No me gustó el rumbo que fue tomando al final. No es de los mejores de la autora, a quien banco siempre por haberme hecho adorar la ficción histórica de época 🫂
December 4, 2016
I like to use the month of December to expand my reading choices to books I wouldn’t normally consider. While I’ve read a couple of “romances” before I wished to avoid the clichéd “bodice-ripper” style and so I turned to this author whom my mother thoroughly enjoyed and from whom I inherited this novel.
Happily, it turned out to be quite an enjoyable story. Essentially it is a historical novel about young Susanna Pleydell, born in India to English parents in the early 1840s, schooled in London, and happily married at a young age to what seemed to be the perfect husband. Several events demonstrate her uncanny healing touch that soothes the injured and ill but it is her devotion to her new born son that drives her life. But alas, all was not as it seemed and after several heart-wrenching tragedies that left her alone and without hope, she embarks on a noble journey to join the cause of the young Florence Nightingale. Much of the book is taken up with Susanna's adventures during the Crimean War as she struggles mightily to counter the horrific conditions of the hospital at Scutari, just outside of Constantinople.
Victoria Holt is the pseudonym of Eleanor Hibbert, a prolific author of more than 200 books, both fiction and non-fiction. In fact, her first book as “Victoria Holt”, Mistress of Mellyn, is often credited as having revived the gothic romantic suspense form from much earlier classics such as Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. While Victoria Holt is the name used for many of her best sellers, I was happy to learn of her other pseudonyms which she used for historical fiction, crime, and mystery novels. Indeed, in this book I discovered that while there is certainly a romance plot line or two, there is also interesting and accurate history and some intriguing mystery as well, making it an unexpectedly (at least for me) well-rounded read.
This book is a perfect example of why I choose to venture out from my reading comfort zone during December each year. It would not surprise me to see another novel by this author in my hands in the not-too-distant future.
Happily, it turned out to be quite an enjoyable story. Essentially it is a historical novel about young Susanna Pleydell, born in India to English parents in the early 1840s, schooled in London, and happily married at a young age to what seemed to be the perfect husband. Several events demonstrate her uncanny healing touch that soothes the injured and ill but it is her devotion to her new born son that drives her life. But alas, all was not as it seemed and after several heart-wrenching tragedies that left her alone and without hope, she embarks on a noble journey to join the cause of the young Florence Nightingale. Much of the book is taken up with Susanna's adventures during the Crimean War as she struggles mightily to counter the horrific conditions of the hospital at Scutari, just outside of Constantinople.
Victoria Holt is the pseudonym of Eleanor Hibbert, a prolific author of more than 200 books, both fiction and non-fiction. In fact, her first book as “Victoria Holt”, Mistress of Mellyn, is often credited as having revived the gothic romantic suspense form from much earlier classics such as Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. While Victoria Holt is the name used for many of her best sellers, I was happy to learn of her other pseudonyms which she used for historical fiction, crime, and mystery novels. Indeed, in this book I discovered that while there is certainly a romance plot line or two, there is also interesting and accurate history and some intriguing mystery as well, making it an unexpectedly (at least for me) well-rounded read.
This book is a perfect example of why I choose to venture out from my reading comfort zone during December each year. It would not surprise me to see another novel by this author in my hands in the not-too-distant future.
October 9, 2008
I really loved Susanna, how she used her pain for others and became a Nightingale. She may be my favorite Holt heroine so far and I loved huge chunks of the story because of her.
In the ending scenes I had the same problem I have with most of Holt's novels - I dislike her leading men. This is the umpteenth time one of her heroes is referred to as a "sinner" with a shady past of seduction (and orgies, OKAY), and the heroine fights him while finding herself drawn to his wicked ways - it's the classic hot bad guy scenario, but the fact that none of these guys is really a good person takes something away from the romance for me. What's wrong with the good guys?
In the ending scenes I had the same problem I have with most of Holt's novels - I dislike her leading men. This is the umpteenth time one of her heroes is referred to as a "sinner" with a shady past of seduction (and orgies, OKAY), and the heroine fights him while finding herself drawn to his wicked ways - it's the classic hot bad guy scenario, but the fact that none of these guys is really a good person takes something away from the romance for me. What's wrong with the good guys?
November 21, 2013
Susanna's life is full of adventure. She grows up in India, returns to England for school, and then rejoins her father in India after she finishes her education. Then she returns to England and marries a man she met in India. Then her problems begin.
This book is filled with adventure as Susanna tries to find fulfillment in life. There is romance and suspense to go along with all the action. Add in the exotic settings and you've got everything you could want in a book!
This book is filled with adventure as Susanna tries to find fulfillment in life. There is romance and suspense to go along with all the action. Add in the exotic settings and you've got everything you could want in a book!
May 28, 2008
I always pick a Victoria Holt novel when I just need something that is easy and intriguing. I also like the romance that Victoria Holt throws in. A little mystery, a little romance and no smut, make for a relaxing read. I love to get a drink and sit outside in the shade and read Victoria Holt - this book was no different.
December 19, 2015
The first half of this book took me right back to the 70s when I was an avid Victoria Holt fan. She really knows how to draw the reader in and make her a part of the story. The second half wasn't quite as good, but all in all, this was a wonderful novel, a definite breath of fresh air after the disappointing books I've been stuck with lately. I still love Victoria Holt!
March 17, 2008
I read all of Victoria Holt mystery/romance books in my 30s. Holt books are a higher caliber of romance fiction than something like Harlequins. Historically accurate. Good recreational reading with something to keep you turning pages.
May 6, 2011
There is a lot of good story telling in this book, loved all the scenes when Susanna was nursing and how she learned what she needed to know. Thought the ending wasn't quite right, but I can see how Susanna would fall for him. to my mind not a usual Victoria Holt
April 3, 2016
Books written by Victoria Holt are so cheesy, but sometimes that's exactly what you need. I've read a loooot of her books when I was 14/15 years old..that was the last time I've read them. I absolutely loved them at the time. I'm thinking of reading one of her books just for the old times sake! =)
September 24, 2014
This is now one of my most favorite books I have ever read! A beautiful story and well written. Your heart breaks for the characters and you cry for joy when the finally find happiness. I'm a little sad now that I've finished reading it and I miss each and every one of the characters already!
February 8, 2016
I didn't finish the book, because I did not like it at all. The story began really slowly, then became a book about opium addicted satanic cultists, which I had no desire to read about. Disturbing and heavy.
April 19, 2009
This book was really good and it keeps you interested the whole time. There are a lot of twists and turns...very unpredictable, which I loved!
March 19, 2011
One of my faves..
July 11, 2015
I absolutely love gothic romances with all of the mystery and the strong female characters. Victoria Holt is an amazing author incorporating an unforgettable story with amazing characters.
March 22, 2013
Loved this book! A must read!
April 15, 2013
The heroine leaves a bad marriage and goes to be a nurse with Florence Nightingale. I loved these books in the 1970-80s and am re-reading them. I like the style Victoria Holt writes in.
October 15, 2014
Victoria Holt has always been a guilty pleasure...brings me back to my childhood. Hers were the first "adult" books I read, starting with "Mistress of Mellyn" in the 5th grade.
July 3, 2021
I definitely really liked this book, but it just wasn't quite up to par with this author's other novels. It started out very strong, and to be honest I thought it was going to be one of my favorites of hers of all times just because it was so different. The basic story is that Susanna marries who she thinks is the man of her dreams, Aubrey St. Clair, and it turns out that he is experimenting in opium dens and with illicit sex; kind of something that's off the beaten path for Victoria Holt. That part was great, because every writer likes to break out of their usual pattern every now and then. As the marriage falls apart, Susanna faces an even bigger crisis when her child dies and she believes that it's her husband's fault because he was bombed on opium instead of taking care of the child (she was away at the time and the child's trusted nurse fell ill.)
That was a great twist too, and her husband definitely was partially to blame, but she also blames a doctor who was at her home at the time, Damien Adair. So she goes off as one of Florence Nightingale's nurses to search for this Doctor to call him to task for being negligent in the death of her son and they end up falling in love. THAT part is okay, because in the end it wasn't the doctor's fault at all. He was there to try to observe why the people were obsessed with opium and if there was any way to use it properly to help people in pain. He was NOT there to participate in all the illicit stuff. So I don't have a problem with them falling in love, but there were just parts that didn't work for me.
For one, if a woman really thought that a doctor had something to do with her child's death, that wouldn't be all swept away because she finds herself attracted to him. In my humble opinion she would still hate his guts. And the way it was written, it was almost like the dead child was forgotten in her infatuation with this Doctor that she spent all these long months hating because she thought he was responsible. That just didn't make sense to me.
Also, during the conversations, the death of the child came up and Damien Adair did not realize he was talking to the mother and he referred to the mother of the dead child as "frivolous," and "the wrong wife for Aubrey St. Clair." He even hinted that it was due to HER negligence that the child died. Well, I can't imagine most women taking that lying down. There should have been some outrage there or something, and he should have later apologized for even slightly inferring that it was Susanna's fault that the boy died, because she wasn't even home at the time. She had left town because her father passed away suddenly and her husband would not come with her.
So it seemed like there were a lot of unresolved issues between her and the doctor that needed to be hashed out rather than just almost forgotten about by the author. Also, the middle when she went off in her quest to find the doctor, it kind of dragged a bit for me. It could have been cut way down and it would've still been novel length, but without so much lag time in the middle, which is odd for Victoria Holt. She is a great writer, so somehow the magic was still there, which is why I'm giving it four stars. But I just felt like with such a great plot and story line it shouldn't have ended up anti-climatic, but it did.
That was a great twist too, and her husband definitely was partially to blame, but she also blames a doctor who was at her home at the time, Damien Adair. So she goes off as one of Florence Nightingale's nurses to search for this Doctor to call him to task for being negligent in the death of her son and they end up falling in love. THAT part is okay, because in the end it wasn't the doctor's fault at all. He was there to try to observe why the people were obsessed with opium and if there was any way to use it properly to help people in pain. He was NOT there to participate in all the illicit stuff. So I don't have a problem with them falling in love, but there were just parts that didn't work for me.
For one, if a woman really thought that a doctor had something to do with her child's death, that wouldn't be all swept away because she finds herself attracted to him. In my humble opinion she would still hate his guts. And the way it was written, it was almost like the dead child was forgotten in her infatuation with this Doctor that she spent all these long months hating because she thought he was responsible. That just didn't make sense to me.
Also, during the conversations, the death of the child came up and Damien Adair did not realize he was talking to the mother and he referred to the mother of the dead child as "frivolous," and "the wrong wife for Aubrey St. Clair." He even hinted that it was due to HER negligence that the child died. Well, I can't imagine most women taking that lying down. There should have been some outrage there or something, and he should have later apologized for even slightly inferring that it was Susanna's fault that the boy died, because she wasn't even home at the time. She had left town because her father passed away suddenly and her husband would not come with her.
So it seemed like there were a lot of unresolved issues between her and the doctor that needed to be hashed out rather than just almost forgotten about by the author. Also, the middle when she went off in her quest to find the doctor, it kind of dragged a bit for me. It could have been cut way down and it would've still been novel length, but without so much lag time in the middle, which is odd for Victoria Holt. She is a great writer, so somehow the magic was still there, which is why I'm giving it four stars. But I just felt like with such a great plot and story line it shouldn't have ended up anti-climatic, but it did.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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