The Lovers

by Morris L. West

The Lovers-- Bryan Cavanagh joins the crew of a wealthy American's yacht on, ostensibly, a pleasure cruise for the American and his young bride, a Principessa from a pre-Renaissance family.

Genres: Romance, Fiction

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Morris Langlo West was born in St Kilda, Melbourne in 1916. At the age of fourteen, he entered the Christian Brothers seminary ‘as a kind of refuge’ from a difficult childhood. He attended the University of Melbourne and worked as a teacher. In 1941 he left the Christian Brothers without taking final vows. In World War II he worked as a code-breaker, and for a time he was private secretary to former prime minister Billy Hughes.

After the war, West became a successful writer and producer of radio serials. In 1955 he left Australia to build an international career as a writer. With his family, he lived in Austria, Italy, England and the USA, including a stint as the Vatican correspondent for the British newspaper, the Daily Mail. He returned to Australia in 1982.

Morris West wrote 30 books and many plays, and several of his novels were adapted for film. His books were published in 28 languages and sold more than 60 million copies worldwide. Each new book he wrote after he became an established writer sold more than one million copies.

West received many awards and accolades over his long writing career, including the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and the W.H. Heinemann Award of the Royal Society of Literature for The Devil's Advocate. In 1978 he was elected a fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1985, and was made an Officer of the Order (AO) in 1997.

Morris West died at his desk in 1999.

Reviews

[Isabel Luna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Él, un joven abogado australiano que decide viajar por Europa antes de comenzar el ejercicio de su profesión. Ella, una hermosa y rica heredera italiana comprometida en matrimonio con un magnate norteamericano. Ambos se encuentran a bordo del yate “La salamanca de oro”, propiedad del magnate, donde se enamoran y viven un apasionado romance que los podría llevar a su perdición, pero la tradición familiar, el dinero y la posición social son mas importantes que el amor y finalmente se separan con el corazón destrozado. Cuarenta años mas tarde ella arregla un nuevo encuentro para confiarle el gran secreto que había mantenido intacto el amor aún a pesar del tiempo y la distancia.
Es una historia de amor muy bonita pero muy triste. Si están de ánimo nostálgico pero fuerte, se lee sin problemas. Si están meláncolicos, tirando a trágicos, mejor abstenerse.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommended by a friend, this was my first Morris West book. The protagonist, Cavanagh, is a little too-flawless and skilled (ex-Navy, skilled seaman, talented sketch artist, reads and speaks three languages fluently, solicitor, discrete and loyal employee, ladies man) for my liking. West even manages to explain away the affair that is at the heart of the novel so we never question the hero's morality. Not sure I'll venture into the Morris West back catalogue much further but it was a good, if predictable, story.

[Lisa Gunders · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not among his best.

[Bindee · Rating 3 out of 5]

starts great, slows down a bit but relativelt satisfying ending

[Rodrigo G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me entretiene el suspenso sexual que ejercen los protagonistas...

[Abril Cresseri · Rating 4 out of 5]

me dejo un sabor amargo en la boca

[Pia Maria Maccario · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best Morris West's book

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't often read books like this but a friend offered it and I had a great time reading it, it was like taking a vacation, plus it's my favorite story line - forbidden love. The romance of Italy, yachting, youth, it was all there. My only complaint was I didn't quite get the instant love between the principle characters, especially since the girl was such a spoiled bitch. I think in the end he must have wondered about that too.

[Jean]

Cold war love story

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read that keeps the reader interested right to the end. West writes entertaining novels, even if not great literature.The Lovers is well worth the read.

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Morris likes these themes of love children...for some reason. Usually with the back drop of Catholicism. That being said, he does write a good book.

[Patrícia Pacheco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance bem escrito, história de amor impossível... Muito bom, bem realista!

[Margaret Stickland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Morris West writes convincingly of the affairs of the Roman Catholic Church. Always has an intriguing tale to tell and this book had a lot to learn in diplomatic affairs staged just after ww2 .

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

A highly regarded author but this book was very light weight and it's not surprising that it was his last book; did Mr West realise his writing days were over?

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entretenido

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, Morris West brings the human to the spiritual in a truly engaging story!