The Ugly Sister

by Winston Graham

In The Ugly Sister, Winston Graham returns to Cornwall, home to his classic Poldark series. The Napoleonic Wars have ended, the age of steam has dawned. he introduces us to a wealth of memorable characters as Emma Spry tells her fascinating story.

One side of her face marred at birth, Emma grows up without affection, her elegant mother on the stage, her father killed in a duel before she was born. Her beautiful sister, Tamsin, is four years the elder and her mother's ambitions lie in Tamsin's future and in her own success, both on the stage and off.

A shadow over their childhood at Place House, the family home of their uncle, is the bulky presence of Slade, the butler, an ominous man who has access to cellars not accessible to all.

Then there is Bram Fox, a predatory male, with his mischievous eyes and dazzling smile, who is a dangerous free-spirit and an ongoing distraction; Charles Lane, a skilled and visionary young engineer; Canon Robartes, in his draughty moorland rectory, relishing rebellion in the young Emma, her wit, her vulnerability, encouraging her natural gift for song.

Emma tells her story with a blunt and beguiling honesty, and no novelist has written more lyrically of Cornwall. The Ugly Sister is a joy to read.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

343 pages, Hardcover

First published September 4, 1998

About the author

Winston Graham was an English novelist best known for the Poldark series of historical novels set in Cornwall, though he also wrote contemporary thrillers, period novels, short stories, non-fiction, and plays. Born in Victoria Park, Manchester, he moved to Perranporth, Cornwall in 1925 and lived there for 34 years. Graham published his first novel, The House with the Stained Glass Windows, in 1934 and married Jean Williamson in 1939, who inspired the character Demelza in Poldark. During World War II, he joined the Auxiliary Coastguard Service. Graham became a member of the Society of Authors in 1945, serving as chairman from 1967 to 1969, and was a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, receiving an OBE in 1983. His Poldark series began with Ross Poldark in 1945 and concluded with Bella Poldark in 2002. He wrote 30 additional novels, short stories, and non-fiction works, including the acclaimed thriller Marnie, adapted by Alfred Hitchcock in 1964. Several other novels, including The Walking Stick and Fortune Is a Woman, were adapted for film. Graham also wrote plays, some adapted from his novels. His works have been translated into 31 languages, and his autobiography, Memoirs of a Private Man, was published posthumously in 2003.

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad Emma didn't make the WRONG choice, but I like that WG doesn't need to make every ending storybook perfect.

[Windy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Cornwall in the early 19thC, the story of Emma Spry. Lots of events happen in her young life and in quite a short novel. Some parts slightly predictable and not entirely historically accurate. Nevertheless an enjoyable story with a satisfactory ending (and a guest appearance by Isambard Kingdom Brunel).

[Dea꧂ · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I found so many unlikeable characters in one book.

[Susanne Doremus · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting drama/thriller by the author of Poldark. Like, Poldark, this takes place in Cornwall, though a bit later, in the 1820s-1840. (Interesting that they mention the family of Warleggan in passing.) This was a very unique storyline and didn't follow a predictable path. I did feel that something was missing near the end and wasn't entirely satisfied. The writing was excellent and kept me invested in the main character who is the narrator. This reminded me a little of the Du Maurier novel, Jamaica Inn. This reads like an old movie even though it was written in '98. I kept picturing Bettie Davis in the lead. I definitely recommend it.

[Eithne Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really 3 and a half. A very enjoyable page turner. Took a while to get going. Draws very good female characters.

[Birgit · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book. A holiday read, it kept my interest and kept me enthralled with where the story was going to go. Romance and historical fiction. I really enjoyed it and will read more by this author.