Un Si grand amour

by Danielle Steel

Ce devait être un beau voyage, à bord du plus grand paquebot du monde, le "Titanic", un immense palace flottant, pourvu de tous les fastes, qu'on disait insubmersible. Mais ce 14 avril 1912, la jeune Edwina Winfield allait voir, en une seule nuit, s'effondrer toute sa vie, tous ses rêves de bonheur. Parmi ceux qui n'ont pu embarquer à bord des canots de sauvetage, ses parents, et Charles, son fiancé. À vingt ans, la jeune fille, à qui tous les bonheurs semblaient promis, se retrouve unique soutien de ses cinq jeunes frères et soeurs...Edwina fera front avec le courage du désespoir, sacrifiant sa propre vie pour celle des siens, oubliant qu'elle est une belle et désirable jeune femme. Qui réussira à lui faire oublier les fantômes du passé ?

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Historical, Chick Lit, Contemporary

372 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world's bestselling authors, with almost a billion copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include All That Glitters, Royal, Daddy's Girls, The Wedding Dress, The Numbers Game, Moral Compass, Spy, and other highly acclaimed novels. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina's life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; Expect a Miracle, a book of her favorite quotations for inspiration and comfort; Pure Joy, about the dogs she and her family have loved; and the children's books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood.

Facebook.com/DanielleSteelOfficial
Instagram: @officialdaniellesteel

Reviews

[Diane Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely and believable story...also about the courage of human endurance through everything:family growth,terrible heart-wrenching tragedy,mystery,then healing...well written and highly recommend to everyone (paperback!)

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oddly enough, I actually felt like reading Danielle Steel last night! Although I own at least ten of her books, she is not an author I read often, and in this case, actually reread. I enjoy her books, but it's a kind of guilty pleasure, like watching days of our lives or something. But still, I read it in one sitting, so it's all good.

Firstly, the Titanic disaster has always been something I read about with deep sadness, and this book is no exception. The first time I read this book I was in tears for most of it, although the second time round I remember the sad parts and kept myself together. It is a really great story, of romance and loss and especially of sacrifice.

Years ago, when I was 11, I first picked up a Danielle Steel novel. It was 'Accident'. It just proves that these books have broad appeal, and now years later I can still read them

[LUNA · Rating 1 out of 5]

https://youtu.be/mlUkwnYoI3k
El fallo fue que pensé que seria una historia de romances y no, es la historia de unos hermanos. Y mas que historia son sus desgracias.
Este libro es el segundo que leo de la autora y ya me ha confirmado que no es para mi, leí que este libro era muy querido y valorado y por eso me anime, pero esta señora le gusta demasiado los dramas y en cada pagina había una nueva desgracia a punto de aparecer, cosa que a mi ni me parecía creíble ni entretenida, es verdad que la vida es una mierda pero esa parte no me entretiene.
Es verdad que esta muy bien escrita y se lee solo, y puede llegar a enganchar, aunque en mi caso para ver hasta donde puede llegar, ya os aviso que no termina con una bomba nuclear.
Y eso que estaba preparada para drama.

[Marsha A. Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

No greater book

I have read many books by Danielle Steel but none have ever moved me the way this has. No greater love is a story about courage human endurance and most of all love. The book is based around the Winfield family and there tragic trip aboard the fated Titanic. The Winfield's have travelled to England in order to celebrate there eldest daughter's engagement to a young gentleman who is now accompanying them home to America onboard the Titanic for her maiden voyage. The tragedy unfolds as Titanic sinks and the family loose both parents and the daughter her fiance in the sinking. Upon being rescued Edwina takes on the huge task at just 19 years old of raising her 3 brothers and 2 sisters the youngest of which is just 2. Devoting her life to the children and mourning the Fiance and parents she lost her life is no longer her own. No greater love is a sad yet bittersweet look at what life was like for so many that lost loved ones the night Titanic went down. It is testimony to the strength people find out of tragedy and the way people adapt and grow despite suffering great loss. I give the book 5 stars because it is so.well written there are many books pertaining to Titanic and many love stories have been written surrounding her but very few touch the heart or speak to the soul the way this one does. This book brings tears to your eyes as you read it tears for all the lives that were lost and tears for Edwina and her family as they struggle to cope with the loss of their parents in very different ways. I strongly recommend that anyone who has an interest in Titanic reads this book or even just anyone who wants to read something that gives them hope as this book does exactly that.

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried through this entire book but it was really good!

[Leigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Once upon a time many years ago a teenaged me loved this book. That girl loved the history and romance of ocean liners and everything Edwardian. That girl also didn't know how many other well written fiction books were written about Titanic. Teenaged me grew up and some twenty (give or take a year or two) years later picked this book up again to see if the magic was there. It wasn't. I barely made it past the Titanic chapters I was so angry. The history was not only off, but she basically made it seem that real passenger Bess Allison knowingly saw her infant son into a lifeboat with a nanny while she and two year old daughter Lorraine decided to die together with her husband. Anyone with remote knowledge of the story knows that this was not true. The Allison baby was kidnapped by his nanny, they got into a boat while Mrs. Allison searched frantically for them refusing to leave without her boy. By the time she realized that he was in a boat, it was too late, and she and her toddler daughter went down with the ship, Lorraine Allison being the only first class child to die that night. That alone ticked me off rather irrationally I know and I was so angry I couldn't even finish the book again. Sadly the magic has gone for me. Was it maturity, the fact that I've found better written Titanic novels or maybe the book was never that great in the first place. Who knows. All I know is if this book angered me I'm staying well away from Zoya, which is set in Russia in 1917. That one might make my head explode with rage.

[Piyangie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is yet another beautiful book written by Danielle Steel. Being inspired by the tragedy of Titanic, Danielle Steel weaves a story about a family who survived the tragedy. Having lost both parents and finance, Edwina struggles to bring up her siblings and run the family business. Although suffering from her own grief, she nevertheless put her feelings secondary to play both the mother and father role to her younger siblings. In Edwina, Ms. Steel has created a strong, courageous woman whom readers can take instantly to their hearts. I believe every reader of this story felt admiration towards this character, for I certainly did. Although there wasn't anything remarkable in the subsequent story line in the aftermath of the tragedy, the emotional journey of Edwina kept me engaged with the reading. The end was somehow predictable, for that is how the romances end. But in this case, I was happy that Ms. Steel didn't neglect Edwina at the end and allowed her to have a happy ending which she thoroughly deserved.

[Kavya Janani U. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a soulful book this is! I loved each and every part of this tantalizing tale. I have never read any character as charming as Edwina. This is one such book that can move you to tears. The kind where you get emotionally connected to the story. Danielle Steel's magical words will stay in my heart forever. Looking forward to read more of her works.

[Sarah Koehler · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very typical Danielle Steele, but it was fine for a brainless springtime read. The beginning is pretty heartbreaking as Kate and Bert Winfield are victims to the sinking of the Titanic, leaving their six children to fend for themselves under the watchful eye of their eldest daughter, 20-year old Edwina. As she and the remaining 5 children go back to San Francisco, they must learn to survive together and grieve their parents (as well as Edwina's fiancee, Charles). Edwina finds that she really doesn't have time for anything except caring for the children, and she does a beautiful job. The novel spans a number of years. By the end, Edwina is 32, and ready to marry Sam. What's weird is all the stuff in between. Phillip Winfield enlists in WWI and is killed in the war; George drops out of Harvard and moves to Hollywood to pursue a producing job; 17-year old Alexis runs off with a super creepy pervert who is in his 50s who is using her to get to George and the Hollywood empire he is building. The two youngest children, Fanny and Teddy are still only like 15 and 13 respectively at the end of the book, so they're not doing much. But George marries a beautiful Hollywood Starlet named Helen, and SAM IS HELEN'S FATHER. So Edwina is basically marrying her brother's father in law simply because she's 32 and out of options. But here's the thing -- she TOTALLY HAD AN OPTION. When Edwina has no choice to but to after Alexis and her rapist/kidnapper, she meets Patrick on the ship. He sweeps her off her feet, even though he's already married (I'm 99% sure to a lesbian -- the book just says she "prefers the company of women" and "likes horses") and has three sons. They have this whirlwind romance, and she finally forgets about Charles. She allows Patrick to ummm... deflower her... in Ireland while they try to find Alexis and her nasty "husband" (turns out they were never married -- the pervert lied and told Alexis they were married, but they weren't). I really liked the beginning of this story -- the descriptions of the Titanic are beautiful and it was easy to get sucked into the glamour of the first class passengers and their experience on the unsinkable ship. And then the sinking is just heartwrenching. But that's only about the first 100 pages of the book. After that, it's all just Edwina trying to keep the family together and prevent the younger children from becoming idiots. (She's mostly successful, though she isn't able to keep Alexis from constantly seeking her "daddy figure" -- gross.) This book was perfect for what it was -- a distraction from real life. But I'm weirded out by Alexis running away with her pervert man, and Edwina agreeing to marry old man Sam just because she lost both Charles and Patrick... and honestly, Patrick should have just come to California with her and they could have made it work. It was fine though. Whatevs.

[Deity World · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it based on a real tragedy a must read

[Miranda Spear · Rating 3 out of 5]

**SPOILERS AHEAD** Actual rating of 2.5

I love anything to do with the Titanic, and to be honest the first third of the book had me hooked. It was a bit cheesy, but I don't mind cheesy. What kept my interest was the writing. I'm not sure if I enjoy Danielle Steel's writing style, but I could feel the emotion strongly. I even took a break after the sinking, just because her writing conveyed sorrow well. I cannot imagine loosing my parents and fiance.

Now, many people had issues with Edwina stopping her life to raise her siblings and particularly choosing not to marry or court or even allow herself to be interested in any other man other than Charles (fiance). I didn't have a problem with that - in fact, I often thought that is exactly what I would have done in that situation (I realize I am in the minority, but it is the way I felt). What bothered me was the sudden romantic interest of the family friend, Ben. He was Edwina's father's best friend and 20 years her senior and suddenly after the sinking he sees Edwina as this marvelous creature and proposes to her, after seeing how beautiful and strong and resilient she is. The only reason I didn't put this book down is because of Edwina's mindset mentioned above. That whole thing make me feel gross. Who does that?

I enjoyed the rest of the story, only stopping to feel mildly irritated that the focus was on how strong and wonderful and beautiful Edwina was (all good things) but she seemed to only attract old, 50 year olds? I get she was "past her prime" in her thirties but there wasn't a single bachelor that was not 10+ years older than her?

My rating plummeted at the last 5-6 chapters. It felt like a whole different book had it not been for the characters. Suddenly, Edwina gets back on a ship to rescue her sister and meets Patrick, whom she "falls in love with" literally after accidentally running into him two times in like a four day timeframe. Suddenly, they are star-crosses lovers and after some cheesy dialouge and a "blissful two weeks" Edwina has forgotten Charles and has just become madingly in love with this Patrick, who told her from the start, that he was married (loveless marriage) but he would not leave his wife. Did I mention this is also Charle's cousin? All of this made me roll my eyes more than reach for tissues. I feel like Steel dropped the ball including all of that in the last five chapters, but if she had included it earlier I would have probably not finished the book. I understand that mourning and trauma can manifest in many ways, but I just feel they undid Edwina's character in three chapters, and then she didn't even get to keep the guy.

She returns home and decides to be with Sam, who happens to be her brother's father-in-law and who is also 25 years older than she is and just - Why? Why does it have to be so weird? I want her to have a happy ending but really? That was the best she gets, after everything she's been through and all her praises. I just am confused. I dropped a whole two ratings after that. I'm just irritated that that is the best Edwina gets. I think not.

Basically, one star for the Titanic material, one star for the emotion and half a star because I did like the storyline when Steel was not trying to pair off Edwina with men who were almost twice Edwina's age. Was not the worst thing I read, but I won't need to read it again. Not sure if I would recommend it either.

Thank you for coming to my rant. :)

[Célia Loureiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Achei este romance incrivelmente pobre, comparativamente ao potencial do enredo. O tema "Titanic" parece afundar-se no dia-a-dia aborrecido desta família. A Edwina (irmã que emerge da desgraça com a responsabilidade de cuidar dos irmãos órfãos) pareceu-me sempre estúpida em vez de "bondosa", como a autora queria transparecia. É esse o problema das personagens da Steel - são sempre mártires. Aborrece-me seriamente. Ora vejam: têm sempre infâncias infelizes, pais ausentes - ou muito bonzinhos, mas que morrem - e são sempre esbofeteados cinquenta vezes pela vida antes de aprenderem a aguentarem-se de pé. São também contemplados com todo o tipo de elogios por toda a gente, sendo os únicos que têm má ideia de si próprios. Parece-me uma pretensão desnecessária que desfeia um pouco o romance. A personagem (feminina) principal tem mesmo de ser sempre uma criatura santa?
______________________________
I thought this novel was incredibly poor, concerning the potential of the plot. The Titanic theme seems to sink into a family's boring routine. Edwina made me want to call her stupid insted of "kind", as the author tries to push on us. That's the problem with Steel's characters - they are always martyrs. It really bothers me. So: they always have difficult childhoods, cold parents - or good parents who die too soon - and they are always slapped and kicked by life pretty hard before they learn how to stand up. They are also contemplated by infinite compliments by everyone else on the novel, which seems like a unecessary pretension that stains the main character a little bit. Does the main (female) character always have to be a heavenly creature?

[A Red Headed Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy fiction reads based around The Titanic, then you NEED to read this book. So heartbreaking and emotional, looking at that fatal night and beyond and how survivors had to learn to cope. A must read!

[Mohammed omran · Rating 2 out of 5]

فن إغتصاب العقول :
سفينة التيتانيك كان عليها تقريبا 2230 شخصا تم إنقاذ 706 شخص فقط، هذا يعني ان1524 شخصا لقوا حتفهم .
في أحداث الفيلم مات تقريبا أغلب الناس بسبب الغرق، بينما مات بطل الفيلم بعد ساعات، بسبب برودة الماء وليس الغرق .
أغلب من شاهد هذا الفيلم لم يشعر بأي نوع من التعاطف تجاه المئات الذين ظهروا في الفيلم يغرقون، بالرغم من أن أغلبهم نساء وأطفال، وكانت أمنية كل شخص شاهد هذا الفيلم، هو أن يعيش البطل والبطلة وأن ينجوا من الغرق !
لكن هل سألت نفسك لماذا شعرت بالتعاطف مع البطل (لص ومدمن خمر ولاعب قمار) ولم تتعاطف مع المئات من النساء والأطفال وكبار السن الذين ظهروا وهم يغرقون في الفيلم ؟
_الجواب_
استطاع المخرج أن يسلط الضوء على البطل والبطلة فقط، وكأنهما الوحيدان على متن السفينة، وجعلك تحبهما وتتعاطف معهما بالرغم من كل عيوبهما، وتتناسى في نفس الوقت الأطفال والنساء الذين غرقوا من حوله وكأن لا وجود لهم !
_ الخلاصة :
هكذا يتلاعب بنا الإعلام كل يوم، يسلط الضوء على مايريد وفق رؤيته السياسية أو المذهبية أو الجهوية أو المنفعة المادية، وليس من زاوية الحق، سواء كان له أم عليه، الإعلام بكل وسائله يمارس هذا العبث القذر على مدار 24 ساعة، وكل الأطراف المتصارعة والمتنازعة في عالمنا اليوم في مشارق الأرض ومغاربها، ترينا المشهد من زاويتها هي فقط، لكن الحقيقة شيء آخر.

هذا هو فن اغتصاب العقول
منقول..

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because I’m a sucker for all things Titanic, I grabbed this book from the library booksale shelf several years ago. This is the first Danielle Steel novel I’ve read. I liked it a lot because of the subject material, because it falls into my favorite genre (historical fiction), but mostly because it was a really good story. Edwina’s unselfish care of her siblings after the deaths of her parents and fiancé is heartbreakingly beautiful. She never thinks of all that she is missing in life except in quiet, dark moments. Her whole life is devoted to her brothers and sisters and she loves them absolutely. As they begin to grow older and move away, she learns how to live and love again.

Favorite quotes: “You’ll never be quite the same. The world will grow, and you’ll see us differently when you come home. We’ll seem very small to you, and very provincial.” – Edwina to Phillip

“Thoughts of the Titanic kept drifting into her head… the night of the ship going down… the screech of the lifeboats being lowered… the wails of the people in the water as they drowned. How did one forget memories like that? When did it ever go away?”

“Big challenges aren’t for everyone. Just a rare few. And the people outside those magic circles never really understand it.” – Edwina Winfield

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my second Danielle Steele book and I was a bit torn by it. I too am taken in by tales of the Titanic. However, Being a mother I can not even begin to imagine leaving my 5 children orphaned and fending for themselves. Her children were so young and still dependent on their mother. She didn’t want to leave her husband?? So she chose to die with him rather than face life without him. She then burdens her 20 year old daughter to abandon her fiancé and now mother and father her 5 siblings and take care of the family business. Unbelievably selfish! Edwina the 20 year old is a well written character and she saves the book. Strong, devoted and loving she is an amazing woman and, as we are often reminded frequently, a striking beauty. Her struggles raising the children seem real enough. Her handling of them is courageous and kind. I enjoyed the book despite the plot and it’s later attempts to whitewash the mother’s choice by saying maybe she thought she could have gotten on a later lifeboat. It was a bit repetitive at times especially describing the children’s characters. We are reminded again and again of George’s boyish qualities, Alexis’s striking blond beauty and Phillip’s serious nature. Like I said I still liked it enough but I can only give it 3 stars.

[miram Trigui · Rating 1 out of 5]

un livre "waste of time"
oui c'est ça
un livre classique mais c'est pas le genre de livre classique qui vous attire a le terminer
malheureusement il etait ma premiere lecture de danielle steel

[Mirazzles · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is quite possibly the worst book I’ve ever read.

[Dal Winston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always loved the story of the Titanic and learning about its history. It was a very tragic event that altered many people's lives. This book expresses that wonderfully. This book did take me a week to get through but it has such a gorgeous story. Sadly, my favorite character did die and out of edwina's four love interests,she ended up with the one I liked the least. I'm okay with that though, if I had to say one thing about this book I would say, remember, there's no greater Love than the love you have for the ones you keep close to you.

[Antonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know there will be a happy ending, but there will be tears along the way. On of Danielle Steel's better books, I think becasue of the Titanic and Hollywood details that make it so realistic. And her happy ending seems more approptiate to the 1920's than some of her books set in more modern times.

[Deanne MacFarlane Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this easy read. Yes it was a story themed around the Titanic to which I have read a few, but this was a different take on it, about a family and how their lives moved forward after surviving. Danielle Steele always writes books that are just enjoyable to read.

[Jose Manuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it, a lot of unexpected turns and really charming characters. Usually, when I read Danielle steel, the beginning start off less interesting and by the time I get to the end I’m totally hooked. This time the ending felt very rushed and disappointing. However, the overall read was good

[Sharknado Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 3rd Danielle Steel book I read and I was amazed by this historical romance. Edwina is such an amazing character.

[Marie Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the last 1/4 of this book,but I thought it would have a different ending

[swimmingkimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sehr gutes Buch, aber auch sehr traurig. Musste ein paar Mal Tränen vergießen.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great saga.

[Marina Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good story. It pulled my heartstrings with all the tragedies that happened but still love will prevail.

[Sandra Noon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in my younger years and I love it. I found it again 30+ years later and I loved it again. Timeless and beautifully written

[Sue Andreas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this was one of Danielle Steele’s best novels but it is also one of her oldest ones. Started out on the Titanic and we all know how that turned out. Rest of the story was about the children who survived. Very strange ending that was kind of unbelievable. But definitely held my interest none the less.

[Beatriz Rosales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sorprendida de lo que bajo líneas se puede encontrar en esta novela trágica- romántica, una historia alterna a la tragedia del "Titanic", Edwina pierde en este trágico suceso a sus padres y a su prometido, y además se queda con la responsabilidad de cuidar a sus cinco pequeños hermanos. Ella llevará una vida dedicada a educar, cuidar y dirigir a sus hermanos, olvidando su propia vida acorde a una joven de 21 años de edad. Lo verdaderamente perturbador es como las dos hermanas buscan encontrar un padre en hombres mucho mayores que ellas, eso deja a un lado el romance, y me deja un ligero sabor amargo en este final feliz.