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The Silver Sty
Librarian's note: Alternate cover edition of ISBN 0-373-70637-5.
Sarah had all kinds of names for the guardian she hadn't seen for years--the G.I. (Guardian of Innocence), The Myth, Poor Fish -- just as she had all kinds of ingenious plans to get rid of him when he came. She wanted no interference in her young life.
Unfortunately, in a mistaken moment of confidence, she told James Fane all about them, before she knew who he was.
James was amused--but as her guardian, he was quite prepared to be firm!
Sarah had all kinds of names for the guardian she hadn't seen for years--the G.I. (Guardian of Innocence), The Myth, Poor Fish -- just as she had all kinds of ingenious plans to get rid of him when he came. She wanted no interference in her young life.
Unfortunately, in a mistaken moment of confidence, she told James Fane all about them, before she knew who he was.
James was amused--but as her guardian, he was quite prepared to be firm!
186 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1941
1 person is currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Sara Seale
71 books23 followersSara Seale was the pseudonym used by Mary Jane MacPherson (d. 11 March 1974) and/or A.D.L. MacPherson (d. 30 October 1978), a British writing team who published over 45 romance novels from 1932 to 1971. Seale was one of the first Mills & Boon's authors published in Germany and the Netherlands, and reached the pinnacle of her career in the 1940s and 1950s, when they earning over £3,000/year. Many of Seale's novels revisited a theme of an orphaned heroine who finds happiness, and also employed blind or disfigured (but still handsome) heroes as standard characters.
Mary Jane MacPherson began writing at an early age while still in her convent school. Besides being a writer, MacPherson was also a leading authority on Alsatian dogs, and was a judge at Crufts.
Mary Jane MacPherson began writing at an early age while still in her convent school. Besides being a writer, MacPherson was also a leading authority on Alsatian dogs, and was a judge at Crufts.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 28, 2016
This new-to-me author is a good story-teller and if it hadn't been for my utter frustration with the frivolous, shallow, and TSTL heroine, I might have enjoyed this rather old-fashioned guardian-ward romance, which felt at times like a Jane Austen or Georgette Heyer Regency romance catapulted into the twentieth century.
The heroine in The Silver Sty is a seventeen year old nincompoop who has refused any schooling, content instead to wear fashionable get-ups, give parties for a bunch of losers and hanger-ons, and recklessly gamble, completely oblivious to the price of any of the numerous baubles she generously gifts herself and her friends. We, as readers, are meant, like the hero of the piece, to look at this naivety and guilessness as charming, settling bills with a chuckle and a shake of the head. I found it nauseating.
I once witnessed the wealthy, pampered mother of one of my friends loudly exclaim her complete incredulity at there being such a thing as car insurance payments. She just had no idea of what it was, how much it costs, and why it should be paid. I thought of the heroine growing up like that, in the same cloud of infantile ignorance and bliss. I doubt that her besotted guardian would find this kind of attitude as attractive in a woman of 50 as he would in a nubile young thing of 17.
Recommended strictly for fans of Lydia Bennett who felt she got a raw deal in Pride and Prej.
The heroine in The Silver Sty is a seventeen year old nincompoop who has refused any schooling, content instead to wear fashionable get-ups, give parties for a bunch of losers and hanger-ons, and recklessly gamble, completely oblivious to the price of any of the numerous baubles she generously gifts herself and her friends. We, as readers, are meant, like the hero of the piece, to look at this naivety and guilessness as charming, settling bills with a chuckle and a shake of the head. I found it nauseating.
I once witnessed the wealthy, pampered mother of one of my friends loudly exclaim her complete incredulity at there being such a thing as car insurance payments. She just had no idea of what it was, how much it costs, and why it should be paid. I thought of the heroine growing up like that, in the same cloud of infantile ignorance and bliss. I doubt that her besotted guardian would find this kind of attitude as attractive in a woman of 50 as he would in a nubile young thing of 17.
Recommended strictly for fans of Lydia Bennett who felt she got a raw deal in Pride and Prej.
December 16, 2015
4 Stars ~ No one writes a poor orphan falling in love with her guardian story quite like Sara Seale. Every one that I've read, I've enjoyed immensely.
When Sarah was a toddler her father was jailed for fraud, ruining many people and pushing Sarah's mother into suicide. John Silver had survived the fraud and felt badly for the child, so he adopted her. Sarah's spirit and John Silver's unorthodox lifestyle suited each other, but ten years later he took ill and died. He left his immense wealth to James, a man whose family had been ruined financially by Sarah's father and who was still struggling. James was named Sarah's guardian, and through solicitors arranged for her life to remain much as it had been, with a woman in residence as her companion and fees paying for exclusive schools. Sarah had always been allowed to do as she pleased, and fancy schools were out. With James travelling the world and enjoying the freedom his new wealth provided, Sarah became known as the town's willful wild child.
After three years away, James realized he'd been away too long and that Sarah needed a hands on Guardian, not one who simply paid the bills. Though Sarah fights for the independence she's always known, she comes to realize she rather likes having James around. He's not at all the stuffy old man she'd once imagined, but someone she quickly learns to confide in. James is completely charmed by Sarah's honest and forthright manners and at first lets her have her freedom to do as she pleases. Dining in London with James, a couple approaches them, the woman is James' former fiancee who had rejected him when he was still poor for a rich man. Now a widow, Clare wonders how she can get back with James and tries to do it through Sarah. The man with Clare is one of dubious character, and he takes an instant shine to Sarah. Mick is intrigued by the girl and the next time she's in London but without James he seeks her out. At first Sarah finds Mick exciting and then later she comes to fear him, for he'd introduced her to gambling and is now indebted to him. He holds these debts over her head, as he wants her, and pressures her to go away with him. Clare's little hints that James' sense of responsibility to Sarah is keeping him from pursuing his own happiness, has Sarah all confused. She's fallen in love with James so when Mick tells her about her real father, the one who went to jail for ruining people, including James, she worries that Clare is right and she should free James from his responsibility.
I think this story is one of the last from Ms. Seale. Written in the late 60's early 70's, it focuses on the new freedoms young people, particularly women, have achieved. Sarah drinks alcohol, smokes, drives a sporty car, and is often out late dancing the night away. She's introduced to gambling and after an amazing winning streak she ends up in debt. And yet, she's still very much an innocent, naive to the darker sides of the people she's meet. James is a strong hero and he tries to be more of a guide to Sarah than a rod of iron setting down rules. He's successful most of the time, until Clare comes along and through Mick tears away all James has accomplished. Of course, he's fallen in love with his ward, but he's wants her to grow up and make her own choice, even though Sarah has already declared he owns her heart. I like that Ms. Seale gives us insights into James' feelings and doesn't make him a dark horse.
When Sarah was a toddler her father was jailed for fraud, ruining many people and pushing Sarah's mother into suicide. John Silver had survived the fraud and felt badly for the child, so he adopted her. Sarah's spirit and John Silver's unorthodox lifestyle suited each other, but ten years later he took ill and died. He left his immense wealth to James, a man whose family had been ruined financially by Sarah's father and who was still struggling. James was named Sarah's guardian, and through solicitors arranged for her life to remain much as it had been, with a woman in residence as her companion and fees paying for exclusive schools. Sarah had always been allowed to do as she pleased, and fancy schools were out. With James travelling the world and enjoying the freedom his new wealth provided, Sarah became known as the town's willful wild child.
After three years away, James realized he'd been away too long and that Sarah needed a hands on Guardian, not one who simply paid the bills. Though Sarah fights for the independence she's always known, she comes to realize she rather likes having James around. He's not at all the stuffy old man she'd once imagined, but someone she quickly learns to confide in. James is completely charmed by Sarah's honest and forthright manners and at first lets her have her freedom to do as she pleases. Dining in London with James, a couple approaches them, the woman is James' former fiancee who had rejected him when he was still poor for a rich man. Now a widow, Clare wonders how she can get back with James and tries to do it through Sarah. The man with Clare is one of dubious character, and he takes an instant shine to Sarah. Mick is intrigued by the girl and the next time she's in London but without James he seeks her out. At first Sarah finds Mick exciting and then later she comes to fear him, for he'd introduced her to gambling and is now indebted to him. He holds these debts over her head, as he wants her, and pressures her to go away with him. Clare's little hints that James' sense of responsibility to Sarah is keeping him from pursuing his own happiness, has Sarah all confused. She's fallen in love with James so when Mick tells her about her real father, the one who went to jail for ruining people, including James, she worries that Clare is right and she should free James from his responsibility.
I think this story is one of the last from Ms. Seale. Written in the late 60's early 70's, it focuses on the new freedoms young people, particularly women, have achieved. Sarah drinks alcohol, smokes, drives a sporty car, and is often out late dancing the night away. She's introduced to gambling and after an amazing winning streak she ends up in debt. And yet, she's still very much an innocent, naive to the darker sides of the people she's meet. James is a strong hero and he tries to be more of a guide to Sarah than a rod of iron setting down rules. He's successful most of the time, until Clare comes along and through Mick tears away all James has accomplished. Of course, he's fallen in love with his ward, but he's wants her to grow up and make her own choice, even though Sarah has already declared he owns her heart. I like that Ms. Seale gives us insights into James' feelings and doesn't make him a dark horse.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2018
Another jailbait h and thirtysomething H from Sara Seale. At least this h is feisty, for the most part. The H is OK, the OW and OM are not real threats.
July 6, 2020
Seventeen years old Sarah made a critical mistake. She was supposed to meet her famous guardian at last soon, but she wasn't at all thrilled to be following the orders of a complete old man who had little interest in her for many years. So, she threw a party and invited a couple of her friends. A stranger showed up, and since he was so nice and different, she opened up to him and revealed her plan to get rid of her guardian. She even flirted with him and let him kiss her! Then, the shocking truth came! He was none other than her guardian - or B.J as she calls him! She decided to defy him in every possible way and he was determined to straight her mixed believes and lead her and her life without emotional involvement!
It's a fine story, but the "silly" heroine gave it away. She reached a certain maturity at the end of the story. Yet, it is still cast a lot of doubt over her relationship with James, her guardian, due to the 19 years gap! I guess an 18 years old girl married to a 37 years old man was the norm in the 70's!!! There are a lot of guardian-ward love stories written by harlequin authors in that period. I like guardian-ward stories, but this one was not that convincing. It was fun, nevertheless. Not boring even though it was full of conversations.
It's a fine story, but the "silly" heroine gave it away. She reached a certain maturity at the end of the story. Yet, it is still cast a lot of doubt over her relationship with James, her guardian, due to the 19 years gap! I guess an 18 years old girl married to a 37 years old man was the norm in the 70's!!! There are a lot of guardian-ward love stories written by harlequin authors in that period. I like guardian-ward stories, but this one was not that convincing. It was fun, nevertheless. Not boring even though it was full of conversations.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2019
What a bore !
February 18, 2018
I don’t understand why this book is titled The Silver Sty. Where/what is the sty? According to the dictionary, a “sty” is a pen or enclosure for swine, or a messy, dirty or debauched place. Unless I skimmed over some reference, I don’t get the relevance here.
Anyway, onto our protagonists. Sarah Silver is seventeen and beautiful (or becoming so) and rather idle and spoilt, getting into parties and clothes, yet she bizarrely has no friends her own age.
James Fane is in his mid-thirties, worldly and very attractive and intelligent. He’s smart enough to know that he can’t just lay down the law in assuming guardianship of his “wayward ward” (is there any other kind of ward in romance fiction?!) so decides to let her make a few mistakes and learn from them.
Just to highlight the usual Sara Seale somewhat borderline age-gap theme:
What’s really superb about this book – and unusual for Seale – is that they kiss in the first chapter! Yes – there’s sexual attraction there from the start. Sarah, not realising James is her long-absent guardian, invites him outside in the moonlight to a swing seat. She lies and tells him she’s “nearly twenty-two” (he’s well aware of who she is).
Hooray! What a pity we have to wait – through a convoluted plot of teenage rebellion, gambling and even older men – until the last two pages to get a repeat performance:
We do get a good dose of dominance as well:
I enjoyed this one. Even though I find gambling plots a chore because they’re so predictable, and would have preferred a more realistic cast of London characters with a few more people Sarah’s age.
Anyway, onto our protagonists. Sarah Silver is seventeen and beautiful (or becoming so) and rather idle and spoilt, getting into parties and clothes, yet she bizarrely has no friends her own age.
James Fane is in his mid-thirties, worldly and very attractive and intelligent. He’s smart enough to know that he can’t just lay down the law in assuming guardianship of his “wayward ward” (is there any other kind of ward in romance fiction?!) so decides to let her make a few mistakes and learn from them.
Just to highlight the usual Sara Seale somewhat borderline age-gap theme:
In the brief white bathing suit, her slender body still had the immature angles of extreme youth. She looked about fifteen.
What’s really superb about this book – and unusual for Seale – is that they kiss in the first chapter! Yes – there’s sexual attraction there from the start. Sarah, not realising James is her long-absent guardian, invites him outside in the moonlight to a swing seat. She lies and tells him she’s “nearly twenty-two” (he’s well aware of who she is).
In the soft, light her rather high cheek-bones stood out in delicate relief. She blinked nervously once or twice, but her invitation was quite clear. He kissed her gently once, felt her stiffen, then yield with soft, inexperienced lips, and smiled as she moved hurriedly back to her own corner.
Hooray! What a pity we have to wait – through a convoluted plot of teenage rebellion, gambling and even older men – until the last two pages to get a repeat performance:
He looked at her long and steadily, then stooped to kiss her.
We do get a good dose of dominance as well:
“Remember, Sarah, I told you once if you married me, you stayed married. I meant it, and although I’m not going to make the mistake again of waiting to give you time to grow up, there won’t be any second chances once we’re married. It will be for keeps.”
I enjoyed this one. Even though I find gambling plots a chore because they’re so predictable, and would have preferred a more realistic cast of London characters with a few more people Sarah’s age.
May 25, 2020
Sarah Silver, with plenty of money and a companion whom she could twist round her little linger, was getting on very nicely in the absence of the guardian who had been abroad for so long and whose interest in her had been confined to the paying of school bills and the writing of a few impersonal business letters. She was determined that his visit to the pretentious Silver house should be a short one, and had thought of one or two ingenious plans for making it so. Unhappily she gave herself away in an unguarded moment — and after that, the battle was on!
October 9, 2015
I've read hundreds of M&B books over the years. But if I stop to recollect a few memorable ones, I'd surely find this one in such a list.
Whats so extra-ordinary in this story , you may ask ? Nothing.
Its just a sweet, lyrical, old world romance novel. Where the ward and guardian make a turbulent but totally-worth-it transition to husband and wife.
She is young, sprightly. He is suave, sophisticated. Their first encounter itself makes them sit up and take notice of each other.
He is attracted to her almost right at the beginning. But she takes her time to realize her feeling of awe and hero worship is actually something much deeper.
I like the way she struggles in the end to explain her feelings to him. And I love his restraint and his frustration while exercising that restraint. Oh, and its his life mission to rescue her from all sorts of teen trouble that she gets into. Poor guy, what patience !
And what does she think about him ? She says it in one sentence "I think JB is grand !!"
There is a sweet doctor who seems to see the undercurrent of emotions between the lead couple a lot more clearly than anybody else. His observations are amusing, heartening.
I am running out of specific reasons why I liked the book. It gave me an over all warm feeling. I loved it , and I hope to try and read it once again after a few years. Hoping the magic lasts.
Whats so extra-ordinary in this story , you may ask ? Nothing.
Its just a sweet, lyrical, old world romance novel. Where the ward and guardian make a turbulent but totally-worth-it transition to husband and wife.
She is young, sprightly. He is suave, sophisticated. Their first encounter itself makes them sit up and take notice of each other.
He is attracted to her almost right at the beginning. But she takes her time to realize her feeling of awe and hero worship is actually something much deeper.
I like the way she struggles in the end to explain her feelings to him. And I love his restraint and his frustration while exercising that restraint. Oh, and its his life mission to rescue her from all sorts of teen trouble that she gets into. Poor guy, what patience !
And what does she think about him ? She says it in one sentence "I think JB is grand !!"
There is a sweet doctor who seems to see the undercurrent of emotions between the lead couple a lot more clearly than anybody else. His observations are amusing, heartening.
I am running out of specific reasons why I liked the book. It gave me an over all warm feeling. I loved it , and I hope to try and read it once again after a few years. Hoping the magic lasts.
August 31, 2016
very absorbing n captivating read ! though it was more a saga than a romance story. sara had lots of interactions wid other characters, yet it was a wonderful read !! i did not miss 1 page ! james looked upon sara as a child at 1st. he was still affected by clare's betrayal n thought abt her. however, when he did meetup wid clare again, he knew dat dat part of his life was over. infact, he did not see what attracted him 2 her years ago, apart her beauty ofc. it's a very touching read, fun at times but painful as well. as most of sara's so-called friends were actually only after what they cud get from her; they took advantage of her generous n naive ways. it was james who saved her n eventually fell in love wid her!he avoided disaster by a thin thread at the end. she was really a very naughty n too impulsive child! she attracted trouble like a magnet !i can relate 2 her, i've been through so much teenage troubles, now i only want 2 lead a quiet life
November 14, 2013
It was slow and I found it to have very little passion. The heroine was hilarious though.
March 10, 2016
I've never hated a heroine as much as I did this one! What a stupid child, not one reason to fall in love with her.
May 4, 2020
Published 1941. This version is the later reissue.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews