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Daughter of the House
A stunning novel from the SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author of THE KASHMIR SHAWL
London 1919Born into a down-at-heel family, Nancy Wix is more than her past dictates – more ambitious than the daughter of a faded showman, more original than a woman who will be confined by polite conventions. The end of the Great War has left a stricken London on the brink of an uncertain future, and with their hard-won freedoms now in doubt Nancy and her fellow suffragettes must strive all over again for the right to control their own destinies.
At a time when shattered families are struggling to let go of their dead, Nancy discovers she has a gift that offers hope to the loved ones of the lost generation, and a chance encounter reveals a way in which she might use it for her own ends.
As Nancy struggles to break free from the rigid bonds of society and find her place in the world, the only thing that could hold her back is her love for an unattainable man…
London 1919Born into a down-at-heel family, Nancy Wix is more than her past dictates – more ambitious than the daughter of a faded showman, more original than a woman who will be confined by polite conventions. The end of the Great War has left a stricken London on the brink of an uncertain future, and with their hard-won freedoms now in doubt Nancy and her fellow suffragettes must strive all over again for the right to control their own destinies.
At a time when shattered families are struggling to let go of their dead, Nancy discovers she has a gift that offers hope to the loved ones of the lost generation, and a chance encounter reveals a way in which she might use it for her own ends.
As Nancy struggles to break free from the rigid bonds of society and find her place in the world, the only thing that could hold her back is her love for an unattainable man…
513 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2015
65 people are currently reading
897 people want to read
About the author
Rosie Thomas
72 books317 followersJaney King, née Morris was born on 1947 in Denbigh, Wales, and also grew up in North Wales. She read English at Oxford, and after a spell in journalism and publishing began writing fiction after the birth of her first child. Published since 1982 as Rosie Thomas, she has written fourteen best-selling novels, deal with the common themes of love and loss. She is one of only a few authors to have won twice the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association, in 1985 with Sunrise, and in 2007 with Iris and Ruby.
Janey is an adventurer and once she was established as a writer and her children were grown, she discovered a love of travelling and mountaineering. She has climbed in the Alps and the Himalayas, competed in the Peking to Paris car rally, spent time on a tiny Bulgarian research station in Antarctica and travelled the silk road through Asia. She currently lives in London.
Janey is an adventurer and once she was established as a writer and her children were grown, she discovered a love of travelling and mountaineering. She has climbed in the Alps and the Himalayas, competed in the Peking to Paris car rally, spent time on a tiny Bulgarian research station in Antarctica and travelled the silk road through Asia. She currently lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
October 31, 2015
This book was just OK for me. The jacket description kind of made it sound as if it were going to be much more exciting than it was. It just meandered along for me, falling off toward the end. Good character development, but it just didn't seem to go anywhere.
February 1, 2017
Really enjoyed this. It appears to be a sequel but it read perfectly fine as a stand alone and I wouldn't mind knowing what happens next either :-)
May 9, 2015
Pre-publication copy to review for lovereading.co.uk. Here is my review:
In Rosie Thomas' previous book "The Illusionists" we met the bold and beautiful Eliza and the mysterious Devil; together they formed a theatre troupe along with a cast of oddball characters. In "Daughter of the House", their story is continued through their daughter Nancy, who has to grow up haunted by strange visions (or "The Uncanny" as she calls it) that manifest themselves more strongly after her family is involved in a terrible tragedy involving a river trip when she is 13. What does the strange Mr Feather want? And why sometimes are the visions truly horrifying?
I really enjoyed this book, it is a sequel, but can easily be read as a standalone novel. It is full of interesting characters and the story moves along at a satisfying pace and never flags. Rosie Thomas' writing style is easy to read but also very descriptive - the scenes where Nancy experiences her strange visions really gave me the shivers. To sum up, this is one of my favourite books so far this year. Highly recommended!
In Rosie Thomas' previous book "The Illusionists" we met the bold and beautiful Eliza and the mysterious Devil; together they formed a theatre troupe along with a cast of oddball characters. In "Daughter of the House", their story is continued through their daughter Nancy, who has to grow up haunted by strange visions (or "The Uncanny" as she calls it) that manifest themselves more strongly after her family is involved in a terrible tragedy involving a river trip when she is 13. What does the strange Mr Feather want? And why sometimes are the visions truly horrifying?
I really enjoyed this book, it is a sequel, but can easily be read as a standalone novel. It is full of interesting characters and the story moves along at a satisfying pace and never flags. Rosie Thomas' writing style is easy to read but also very descriptive - the scenes where Nancy experiences her strange visions really gave me the shivers. To sum up, this is one of my favourite books so far this year. Highly recommended!
July 1, 2019
A great second book to The Illusionists. I enjoyed it even better than the first book. The story flows better and Nancy Wix is warm, colourful and a very likable main character. She is gifted with the ability to see visions. As she learns how to use her gift her story and that of her family and friends takes you on a journey from childhood, through a war and the aftermath. Following them as they rebuild their lives and move forward facing whatever comes.
June 22, 2015
Was confused from the get go... Too many names in the beginning once I got my head round those the story began but but at half way thru I'm afraid I fell asleep never to wake again to finish the Daughter of the House
June 27, 2018
Devil and Eliza Wix are boarding a Steamer with their 3 children. It is 1910. Devil is somewhat removed from his little family although he crafts an air of paternalism through a game of catch that draws all children to him and in some ways this is an analogy for how he performs parenting.
Nancy their 13 year old daughter has discovered she has a connection to the supernatural world, what she calls the Uncanny. And when the Steamer is sunk and this little family survives, a gentleman called Mr Lawrence Feather tells Nancy that he recognises her as a seer. Life will never be the same.
"Black petals further unfurled in her chest ..."
I recognised the ethereal qualities of Eliza and the magic of Devil immediately and it is their relationship that is the foundation of this book which I believe is a sequel to The Illusionists. The children are fairly typical except as they grow up, they endure The Great War which changes Cornelius irrevocably. Arthur once saved by his sister is determined to be a hero and becomes the man (at a tender age) that he has strived to be that perhaps his family didn't think he was capable of being. However it is Nancy that this story focuses on and her endeavours to stay removed from Lawrence Feather and live a "normal" life.
There is an underlying current of the Suffragist movement, of sexuality, PTSD, of drug mis-use, of the 'Roaring twenties' and Spiritualism.
"There were infinite shades beyond the solid hues of normality, so diaphanous that she could not define them even for her father."
When Miss Zenobia Wix or Nancy as everyone calls her fulfills her destiny and becomes an Medium or Spiritualist, the Uncanny weighs heavy on her often leaving her exhausted and listless. Then she has her second chance meeting with Gil Maitland and ultimately her life changes forever.
The writing is elegant, often the phrasing is pure sparkle and speaks to the reader's soul. I liked the way the book is sectioned into parts - the corners of Nancy's life; the sinking of the Steamer The Queen Mab and the war years, the post-war era and the women's movement, the 'Roaring twenties and the bohemian modernism, and the pre-war era of the early thirties. Each part has the Palmyra theatre woven through it as it stands as the very crux of her fathers world.
This tale is of the supernatural, the theatre and its melodrama and a spellbinding web of woven magic.
Themes: war, supernatural, sexuality, betrayal, spirituality, adultery, marriage, sex, PTSD
Read for @ReadingBtwWInes #bookclub
"Black petals further unfurled in her chest ..."
I recognised the ethereal qualities of Eliza and the magic of Devil immediately and it is their relationship that is the foundation of this book which I believe is a sequel to The Illusionists. The children are fairly typical except as they grow up, they endure The Great War which changes Cornelius irrevocably. Arthur once saved by his sister is determined to be a hero and becomes the man (at a tender age) that he has strived to be that perhaps his family didn't think he was capable of being. However it is Nancy that this story focuses on and her endeavours to stay removed from Lawrence Feather and live a "normal" life.
There is an underlying current of the Suffragist movement, of sexuality, PTSD, of drug mis-use, of the 'Roaring twenties' and Spiritualism.
"There were infinite shades beyond the solid hues of normality, so diaphanous that she could not define them even for her father."
When Miss Zenobia Wix or Nancy as everyone calls her fulfills her destiny and becomes an Medium or Spiritualist, the Uncanny weighs heavy on her often leaving her exhausted and listless. Then she has her second chance meeting with Gil Maitland and ultimately her life changes forever.
The writing is elegant, often the phrasing is pure sparkle and speaks to the reader's soul. I liked the way the book is sectioned into parts - the corners of Nancy's life; the sinking of the Steamer The Queen Mab and the war years, the post-war era and the women's movement, the 'Roaring twenties and the bohemian modernism, and the pre-war era of the early thirties. Each part has the Palmyra theatre woven through it as it stands as the very crux of her fathers world.
This tale is of the supernatural, the theatre and its melodrama and a spellbinding web of woven magic.
Themes: war, supernatural, sexuality, betrayal, spirituality, adultery, marriage, sex, PTSD
Read for @ReadingBtwWInes #bookclub
Read
March 22, 2022DNF. Got 150 pages in and gave up. I usually enjoy Rosie Thomas but this one dragged.
August 15, 2015
I have been wanting to read this book since reading The Illusionist, for me however it was just okay. I loved The Illusionist, this book was set in an interesting time in history but I did not connect in the same way. Overall it was still an enjoyable read and I look forward to what Rosie Thomas writes next.
August 17, 2015
I haven't read The Illusionists, indeed didn't even know about it, but I thoroughly enjoyed this historical saga of family, love, fear and betrayal. Loved the characters, loved the story and loved the feel of the book.
March 25, 2016
Almost gave up on the book because it was too hard to get into. Too much extraneous description. It got interesting for a while, but in the end proved to have a wandering plot and an unsatisfying ending.
February 20, 2019
Excellent follow up to the Illusionists 😊
August 10, 2017
De dochter uit de titel is Nancy, dochter van Devil Wix, eigenaar en manager van het noodlijdende Palmyra theater. Devil speelt toneel, voert acts op, ook als hij niet in het theater staat. De moeder van Nancy, Elvira, is na de moeilijke geboortes van haar kinderen zo goed als invalide. Ze was ooit mooi en werkte als model. Nu kan ze vrijwel niets meer. De zoons zijn belangrijk voor Elvira en Devil. Ze zien een toekomst als Wix & Zonen al voor zich. Hoewel dit snel veranderd wordt in Wix & Family is dit typerend: Nancy is slechts de dochter van het gezin. Zij moet haar moeder helpen bij het huishouden en braaf thuisblijven, terwijl de anderen, Cornelius en Arthur met hun vader spannende dingen zullen gaan doen In het eerste deel van het boek, waarin zoveel namen werden opgevoerd, dat het bijna onmogelijk was iedereen uit elkaar te houden en dat zich afspeelt in 1910, gaat het gezin op vakantie. Ze maken een boottochtje, dat slecht afloopt als het vaartuig in slecht weer terechtkomt, tegen een steiger aan slaat en zinkt. Nancy weet haar kleine broertje Arthur te redden, Devil heeft alleen oog voor Elvira en kan samen met haar het schip verlaten en ook Cornelius redt zichzelf. Niet iedereen is zo gelukkig: een aantal mensen komt om, waaronder het kindermeisje van de familie, Phyllis.
Nancy krijgt een visioen. Al eerder heeft ze iets gemerkt van haar helderziendheid. Het maakt haar bang. Maar als een medereiziger haar aanspreekt en vraagt, wat er met zijn zuster is gebruikt, begrijpt ze, dat hij weet, dat ze helderziende gaven heeft. Ze probeert de man, Lawrence Feather te ontlopen, maar dat is nauwelijks mogelijk: hij wil haar inwijden in de mogelijkheden die ze heeft. Zelf is de man zich ook helderziende en medium. Spiritisme is in die dagen zeer populair
Het tweede hoofdstuk gaat verder na de eerste wereldoorlog. De neven van Nancy, zonen van haar oom en tante Matthew en Faith Shaw, zijn omgekomen, maar haar broers hebben de oorlog wel overleefd. Cornelius heeft een trauma opgelopen, en is nauwelijks aanspreekbaar, Arthur is officier geworden en blijft ook na de oorlog op het continent. Niemand weet precies wat hij doet.
Het theater krijgt steeds minder publiek. Nancy moet een baan zoeken om wat geld in te brengen. Ze gaat werken als manusje van alles in een drukkerij en sluit vriendschap met Jinny, die in de zetterij werkt. Samen met Jinny sluit ze zich aan bij de suffragettes, de vrouwen die opkomen voor vrouwenkiesrecht. Ook bezoekt ze bijeenkomsten van socialistische vrouwenorganisaties. Op de dag dat Nancy ontslagen wordt - veel mannen keren terug uit de oorlog en nemen hun banen terug. De vrouwen zijn niet meer nodig - gaat ze naar haar vader in het Palmyra. Dat blijkt al een tijdlang gesloten. De schuldeisers stonden voor de deur te dringen. Devil blijft zich gedragen, alsof het theater nog gewoon open is en hij er alle dagen optreedt.
Nancy zoekt Lawrence Feather op en vraagt hem haar te helpen om medium te worden. Ze wil haar gave nu gebruiken om aan de kost te komen. Als waarzegster treedt ze op in kleine zaaltjes, vertelt mensen, die iemand hebben verloren in de oorlog wat er met hen is gebeurd. Soms is wat ze doet theater, soms ook ziet ze werkelijk wat zich heeft afgespeeld.
Ze heeft succes, maakt zich los van Feather, die ze nog steeds vreselijk vindt, en die deze scheiding niet kan waarderen. Ze gaat het Palmyra in en houdt daar haar seances.
Ze ontmoet opnieuw Gil Maitland, die ze jaren eerder op straat ontmoette, met wie ze toen iets gedronken heeft en een gesprek heeft gevoerd, dat haar altijd is bijgebleven. Hij is een rijke man, zijn vrouw is verslaafd aan verdovende middelen na het overlijden van haar broer. Nancy en Gil krijgen een verhouding.
Nancy sluit ook vriendschap met Jake Jones, acteur, die ooit begon in het Palmyra, maar nu beroemd is als filmacteur en in grote theaters speelt.
Met het Palmyra gaat het steeds verder bergafwaarts. Devil, oud en versleten, wil niet horen van verkoop. Het wordt een schip van bijleg, wat de kinderen Wix ernstig zorgen baart.
Nancy is dus niet alleen de dochter in het gezin, ze is ook heel erg de dochter van het huis Palmyra. Ze doet alles wat ze kan om het in stand te houden. Cornelius durft het huis niet uit en Arthur is niet meer in Engeland. Alles komt op haar schouders neer. Maar Nancy is een sterke vrouw.
Goed geschreven, mooi tijdsbeeld, duidelijke weergave van het standsverschil tussen rijk en arm, ook het verschil tussen mannen en vrouwen voor wat hun rechten betrof in het interbellum.
Nancy krijgt een visioen. Al eerder heeft ze iets gemerkt van haar helderziendheid. Het maakt haar bang. Maar als een medereiziger haar aanspreekt en vraagt, wat er met zijn zuster is gebruikt, begrijpt ze, dat hij weet, dat ze helderziende gaven heeft. Ze probeert de man, Lawrence Feather te ontlopen, maar dat is nauwelijks mogelijk: hij wil haar inwijden in de mogelijkheden die ze heeft. Zelf is de man zich ook helderziende en medium. Spiritisme is in die dagen zeer populair
Het tweede hoofdstuk gaat verder na de eerste wereldoorlog. De neven van Nancy, zonen van haar oom en tante Matthew en Faith Shaw, zijn omgekomen, maar haar broers hebben de oorlog wel overleefd. Cornelius heeft een trauma opgelopen, en is nauwelijks aanspreekbaar, Arthur is officier geworden en blijft ook na de oorlog op het continent. Niemand weet precies wat hij doet.
Het theater krijgt steeds minder publiek. Nancy moet een baan zoeken om wat geld in te brengen. Ze gaat werken als manusje van alles in een drukkerij en sluit vriendschap met Jinny, die in de zetterij werkt. Samen met Jinny sluit ze zich aan bij de suffragettes, de vrouwen die opkomen voor vrouwenkiesrecht. Ook bezoekt ze bijeenkomsten van socialistische vrouwenorganisaties. Op de dag dat Nancy ontslagen wordt - veel mannen keren terug uit de oorlog en nemen hun banen terug. De vrouwen zijn niet meer nodig - gaat ze naar haar vader in het Palmyra. Dat blijkt al een tijdlang gesloten. De schuldeisers stonden voor de deur te dringen. Devil blijft zich gedragen, alsof het theater nog gewoon open is en hij er alle dagen optreedt.
Nancy zoekt Lawrence Feather op en vraagt hem haar te helpen om medium te worden. Ze wil haar gave nu gebruiken om aan de kost te komen. Als waarzegster treedt ze op in kleine zaaltjes, vertelt mensen, die iemand hebben verloren in de oorlog wat er met hen is gebeurd. Soms is wat ze doet theater, soms ook ziet ze werkelijk wat zich heeft afgespeeld.
Ze heeft succes, maakt zich los van Feather, die ze nog steeds vreselijk vindt, en die deze scheiding niet kan waarderen. Ze gaat het Palmyra in en houdt daar haar seances.
Ze ontmoet opnieuw Gil Maitland, die ze jaren eerder op straat ontmoette, met wie ze toen iets gedronken heeft en een gesprek heeft gevoerd, dat haar altijd is bijgebleven. Hij is een rijke man, zijn vrouw is verslaafd aan verdovende middelen na het overlijden van haar broer. Nancy en Gil krijgen een verhouding.
Nancy sluit ook vriendschap met Jake Jones, acteur, die ooit begon in het Palmyra, maar nu beroemd is als filmacteur en in grote theaters speelt.
Met het Palmyra gaat het steeds verder bergafwaarts. Devil, oud en versleten, wil niet horen van verkoop. Het wordt een schip van bijleg, wat de kinderen Wix ernstig zorgen baart.
Nancy is dus niet alleen de dochter in het gezin, ze is ook heel erg de dochter van het huis Palmyra. Ze doet alles wat ze kan om het in stand te houden. Cornelius durft het huis niet uit en Arthur is niet meer in Engeland. Alles komt op haar schouders neer. Maar Nancy is een sterke vrouw.
Goed geschreven, mooi tijdsbeeld, duidelijke weergave van het standsverschil tussen rijk en arm, ook het verschil tussen mannen en vrouwen voor wat hun rechten betrof in het interbellum.
May 9, 2019
Daughter of the house is a delightful read by Rosie Thomas. Set in the 1920s, the story follows the Wix family. Devil and Eliza Wix own a theatre and it is their life. Nancy, Arthur and Cornelius are their children and one day take a trip on a pleasure boat. As the steamer leaves the water is too rough and has to turn back. An accident happens as the vessel crashes in to the pier. A lot of passengers are thrown in to the water. Nancy saves her brother Arthur and the rest of her family are safe. The family meets Mr Feather, a strange looking man who is staring at Nancy. Nancy feels quite uncomfortable as no one knows her secret. Nancy has an awareness, she calls it the uncanny and does not realise her gift.
Later Mr Feather comes to see Nancy’s mother and asks for her help to reach his dead sister. Nancy’s mother asks her and she says no.
Many years pass, Nancy finds a job and becomes a suffagette in her free time. She is an independent woman and enjoys her freedom.
However as time passes, Nancy feels Mr Feathers presence sometimes watching her. Nancy loses her job and decides to ask Mr Feather to tutor her. He agrees and Nancy is good. After her first seance her popularity increases until she decides to perform at her fathers theatre. Mr Feather is very hurt.
Nancy falls in love but life can be so difficult. She wants to fit in and find her way. A wonderful story of love, loyalty and trust.
Later Mr Feather comes to see Nancy’s mother and asks for her help to reach his dead sister. Nancy’s mother asks her and she says no.
Many years pass, Nancy finds a job and becomes a suffagette in her free time. She is an independent woman and enjoys her freedom.
However as time passes, Nancy feels Mr Feathers presence sometimes watching her. Nancy loses her job and decides to ask Mr Feather to tutor her. He agrees and Nancy is good. After her first seance her popularity increases until she decides to perform at her fathers theatre. Mr Feather is very hurt.
Nancy falls in love but life can be so difficult. She wants to fit in and find her way. A wonderful story of love, loyalty and trust.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2017
I did not read the previous book "The Illusionists", but this story can stand alone anyway. It centres around the life of Nancy, the Daughter of the House of the title, and her eccentric theatrical family and bohemian friends. Set in Britain, before the time of WWI until the advent of WWII, it captures the life of that era with all its snobbery and class distinctions.
It begins with potential; employing the idea of Nancy as an adolescent with the gift of foresight when she "sees" a boating accident and drowning passengers, before the accident actually occurs. She rejects the unwanted gift, but is later persuaded to nurture her latent talent by dark, mysterious Mr. Feather, when her family is faced with the loss of their theatre and thus their livelihood. Her appearances as a theatrical spiritual medium restores sold-out audiences and saves the Palmyra. Spiritualism was very popular in those days, so up to this point the story was credible and engaging.
However the second half of the book when Gil reappears, after a one-hour initial debut in which time Nancy falls madly in love, becomes less and less believable with one disaster following another. I found it hard to understand how Nancy; not a spoiled rich girl but a worldly working young woman; could not have foreseen the outcome of her romance with Gil. He comes across as a rich cardboard caricature, bloodless and insincere in the extreme. He showers her with gifts and sets her up in a London flat. Apparently, Nancy naively expects that once his wife is no longer on the scene Gil will sweep her away into marriage and motherhood. Finally, I also found it hard to believe Nancy's meek acceptance of her injury and personal circumstances, as she had been painted as a courageous, strong-willed, independent woman throughout most of the story. The conclusion was totally out of character.
A promising story but disappointing at the end.
It begins with potential; employing the idea of Nancy as an adolescent with the gift of foresight when she "sees" a boating accident and drowning passengers, before the accident actually occurs. She rejects the unwanted gift, but is later persuaded to nurture her latent talent by dark, mysterious Mr. Feather, when her family is faced with the loss of their theatre and thus their livelihood. Her appearances as a theatrical spiritual medium restores sold-out audiences and saves the Palmyra. Spiritualism was very popular in those days, so up to this point the story was credible and engaging.
However the second half of the book when Gil reappears, after a one-hour initial debut in which time Nancy falls madly in love, becomes less and less believable with one disaster following another. I found it hard to understand how Nancy; not a spoiled rich girl but a worldly working young woman; could not have foreseen the outcome of her romance with Gil. He comes across as a rich cardboard caricature, bloodless and insincere in the extreme. He showers her with gifts and sets her up in a London flat. Apparently, Nancy naively expects that once his wife is no longer on the scene Gil will sweep her away into marriage and motherhood. Finally, I also found it hard to believe Nancy's meek acceptance of her injury and personal circumstances, as she had been painted as a courageous, strong-willed, independent woman throughout most of the story. The conclusion was totally out of character.
A promising story but disappointing at the end.
August 5, 2017
3.5 stars.
I don't usually read "romantic" novels. This was better than I thought it was going to be. I found the characters fairly engaging.
There were quite a lot of characters in it. Several times I thought "who is that again?" but ultimately didn't bother to find out and kept on reading anyway. Maybe that's why it only feels like a 3 star book - in the end I didn't really care who they were enough to keep them in my head.
Also I wondered if all the historical facts were correct (I know little about this era in history). Is it likely that Nancy would know 2 people addicted to morphine? Was it so prevalent in those days?
I found her seeming lack of interest in her "Uncanny" a bit odd actually. Surely if you have second sight you would be more interested in it? She seemed a bit bored by it really.
Also to have a 10 year affair with a married man and to not think about her future? Really? She didn't come across as that feckless. Again, it seems to show an alarming disinterest/passivity in her own life.
All in the all the book was ok and I finished it. But I don't think I would be bothered to seek out and read another book by this author.
I don't usually read "romantic" novels. This was better than I thought it was going to be. I found the characters fairly engaging.
There were quite a lot of characters in it. Several times I thought "who is that again?" but ultimately didn't bother to find out and kept on reading anyway. Maybe that's why it only feels like a 3 star book - in the end I didn't really care who they were enough to keep them in my head.
Also I wondered if all the historical facts were correct (I know little about this era in history). Is it likely that Nancy would know 2 people addicted to morphine? Was it so prevalent in those days?
I found her seeming lack of interest in her "Uncanny" a bit odd actually. Surely if you have second sight you would be more interested in it? She seemed a bit bored by it really.
Also to have a 10 year affair with a married man and to not think about her future? Really? She didn't come across as that feckless. Again, it seems to show an alarming disinterest/passivity in her own life.
All in the all the book was ok and I finished it. But I don't think I would be bothered to seek out and read another book by this author.
July 10, 2019
This was the first Rosie Thomas book I have read and I was attracted to it because of the cover! I didn't know this was a sequel, but to be honest it didn't matter at all as the story stood alone and any information needed about the other characters that may have been covered in the previous novel was succinctly woven in without it feeling stuck there for information only.
This story covers many issues that would have affected many families after the WW1. The central character is very modern in that she is a mistress, a business woman, a believer in women's rights, and she has friends who are equally modern. Whilst probably not the norm in this time period, there is no doubt that these type of people existed.
I thought it was a slow burner, and the first few chapters didn't really grip me, but once I got further in I was hooked! It's not a romance, or a thriller or a historical novel. It's all and none of these at once and this makes it special.
A good read indeed!
This story covers many issues that would have affected many families after the WW1. The central character is very modern in that she is a mistress, a business woman, a believer in women's rights, and she has friends who are equally modern. Whilst probably not the norm in this time period, there is no doubt that these type of people existed.
I thought it was a slow burner, and the first few chapters didn't really grip me, but once I got further in I was hooked! It's not a romance, or a thriller or a historical novel. It's all and none of these at once and this makes it special.
A good read indeed!
January 21, 2021
I am a big fan of the author, Rosie Thomas and the Daughter of the House didn't disappoint me. It is an intricate story with many strongly developed characters, playing off in England around the early 1900s.
Nancy Wix was born as a seer, which she refers to it as the Uncanny. Initially, she fights this gift but later relies on it when the family runs out of money. The story is woven around that, as well as the the Palmyra Theater (which her magician dad loves with all his heart), the First World War, friendship, love, and loss. It is beautifully written. I haven't yet read the first book in this series (The Illusionist) and I believe the Daughter of the House can be seen as a stand-alone as I didn't struggle at all to get into the story.
Nancy Wix was born as a seer, which she refers to it as the Uncanny. Initially, she fights this gift but later relies on it when the family runs out of money. The story is woven around that, as well as the the Palmyra Theater (which her magician dad loves with all his heart), the First World War, friendship, love, and loss. It is beautifully written. I haven't yet read the first book in this series (The Illusionist) and I believe the Daughter of the House can be seen as a stand-alone as I didn't struggle at all to get into the story.
August 10, 2023
I found this a slow start and almost gave up but having persevered I did quite enjoy it.
I have read a few books by this author before and enjoyed them which is why I didn't give up.
It is set in the period just after WWI and before WWII.
It is a time of upheaval politically and financially as well as a struggle for men returning from the war damaged either physically or mentally.
Nancy's father owns a struggling theatre, he drinks and spends. Her mother is ill, her brother suffers from shell shock while another returns safe and moves in a different level of society .
Nancy finds out she can communicate with the dead and does seances to save the theatre.
It is a story with many characters and twists and turns which I enjoyed more as it went on.
I have read a few books by this author before and enjoyed them which is why I didn't give up.
It is set in the period just after WWI and before WWII.
It is a time of upheaval politically and financially as well as a struggle for men returning from the war damaged either physically or mentally.
Nancy's father owns a struggling theatre, he drinks and spends. Her mother is ill, her brother suffers from shell shock while another returns safe and moves in a different level of society .
Nancy finds out she can communicate with the dead and does seances to save the theatre.
It is a story with many characters and twists and turns which I enjoyed more as it went on.
June 16, 2023
Totally Transporting
Read this book to be transported back in every way possible - the words used, the descriptions of London from the early 1900’s, the Great War and the mores of the time - the rise of spiritualism told through the story of Zenovia Wix and her family, grappling with her gift of “the uncanny” - her clairvoyance. The description of how class structure changed yet somehow remained intact is remarkable. I could not put this book down for more than an hour. Now I am back in 2023 and feel quite bereft.
Read this book to be transported back in every way possible - the words used, the descriptions of London from the early 1900’s, the Great War and the mores of the time - the rise of spiritualism told through the story of Zenovia Wix and her family, grappling with her gift of “the uncanny” - her clairvoyance. The description of how class structure changed yet somehow remained intact is remarkable. I could not put this book down for more than an hour. Now I am back in 2023 and feel quite bereft.
October 21, 2016
I actually enjoyed this book quite a lot. Set way back in my grandparents era this story. although fictitious, dealt with events in lives that would have actually happened to at least someone, and in particular, the show people of that era.
The story is quite long but it does deal with so many aspects of things like the cruelty or war; yet the joys of some of the personal sides of things that happened during WW1, while following the life of Nancy, the daughter of the house through the various tragedies of her life and her family's life.
An excellent read and very well written.
The story is quite long but it does deal with so many aspects of things like the cruelty or war; yet the joys of some of the personal sides of things that happened during WW1, while following the life of Nancy, the daughter of the house through the various tragedies of her life and her family's life.
An excellent read and very well written.
March 12, 2017
How many themes and bits can fit into one story!! This ones got it all: poverty, wealth, war, victims of war, mental illness, drug abuse, adultery, homosexual relations, lesbianism, alcoholism, magicians, psychic mediums, incest, broken family units, arson, and oh my goodness, a bunch of other stuff too. Story too long, too many characters. Not badly written and it kept my interest to about 55%. You can get the run-down on the storyline elsewhere.
November 22, 2021
Daughter of the House ripped along nicely which was just what I wanted on a cold Sunday afternoon.
The central character, Nancy has the gift or burden of intuition which distinguishes the plot. I quite liked the world of the theatre.
For me the most interesting aspect is, given the theme of foreboding, the knowledge that the story ends on the cusp of World War Two and the characters all know it. What would the future hold for Cornelius and Jinny etc?
The central character, Nancy has the gift or burden of intuition which distinguishes the plot. I quite liked the world of the theatre.
For me the most interesting aspect is, given the theme of foreboding, the knowledge that the story ends on the cusp of World War Two and the characters all know it. What would the future hold for Cornelius and Jinny etc?
December 30, 2022
Born into a down-at-heel theatrical family, Nancy Wix is ambitious and unconventional. When she has to support the failing family business she harnesses her psychic talents and works as a medium.
I loved this book: the period feeling, it is set between the two world wars, the characters and the way in which Nancy always remains true to herself, even though it means defying the conventions of the time.
Thoroughly recommended.
I loved this book: the period feeling, it is set between the two world wars, the characters and the way in which Nancy always remains true to herself, even though it means defying the conventions of the time.
Thoroughly recommended.
October 26, 2017
I did not think that I would enjoy this book not having been enamoured by its prequel 'The illusionists' However the authors enjoyable style of writing won through and I reached the end wondering how it would all finish.
I still prefer the authors earlier books several of which were based in foreign locations-Iris and Ruby. The Kashmir shawl and the Potter's house to name but a few
I still prefer the authors earlier books several of which were based in foreign locations-Iris and Ruby. The Kashmir shawl and the Potter's house to name but a few
March 19, 2019
The book could have been more interesting, but it was kind of shocking to see how the main character of the book got into a relationship with a married man and the author made it sound so normal. No matter how strong the main character of any story is, being in relationship with a married man shouldn't be glorified
January 24, 2020
I look forward to reading Ms. Thomas' work and am intrigued by her eclectic choice of subject matter. However, I felt that the conflict was not fully developed in this novel and the ending somewhat rushed and unfulfilling.
Perhaps she had a hard deadline.
It won't put me off exploring more of her novels and characters, just somewhat disappointed.
Perhaps she had a hard deadline.
It won't put me off exploring more of her novels and characters, just somewhat disappointed.
November 26, 2019
This was quite a long book and I struggled a bit to get through it I must admit. It wasn't quite as good as some of the Rosie Thomas' books that I have read, and although the story was okay and the characters likeable, it just didn't keep my attention going terribly well.
December 29, 2022
Interesting to find out how Eliza and Devil change in their later years. Also to see how their daughter ends up caring for them as soon as she becomes an adult. However this book wasn't a patch on The Illusionists.
March 16, 2023
Wonderfully told story with Nancy an interesting and resourceful lead. She acts with courage and uses her ‘gift’ as ethically as possible for the good of her family, the centre of her life.
Highly recommended and engrossing. Period detail feels authentic throughout.
Highly recommended and engrossing. Period detail feels authentic throughout.
November 11, 2017
The story seemed very slow, not the authors normal style and the story was very lacking and it was hard to keep my attention on the story.
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