The Distant Kingdom

by Daphne Wright

For twenty-six-year-old Perdita Whitney, life in India with a father she hardly remembers seems just like a fairy tale. His generosity and affection gradually heal the wounds in her soul. And her new-found happiness is crowned when she marries the man of her dreams - Lord Beaminster, the dashing hero of his regiment. But dream turns to nightmare when her husband becomes a stranger. And as the army struggles its way through the treacherous passes of Afghanistan, Perdita must fight her own painful battle . . . An historical romance set in the time of the first Afghan War.

Genres: India

339 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Daphne Wright is a historical novelist with a special interest in the way wars have liberated women. Born in London, she worked in publishing for ten years before becoming a writer. After six historical novels, she turned to crime under the pseudonym of Natasha Cooper. She now divides her time between the city and the Somerset Levels.

Reviews

[Misfit · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Left penniless upon the death of her mother, Perdita Whitney's future takes an unexpected turn for the better when she joins her father Edward in India. Edward's business is based on the opium trade, and while it is a distasteful business it is also quite lucrative. At twenty-six Perdita is pretty much on the shelf marriage wise, but she receives a very unexpected proposal from Marcus Blagdon, the new Earl of Beaminster. Marcus is a considerate husband, but not a passionate one. They get along well enough and Perdita begins to come out of her shell and shine on her own merit, and now that she's shining a lot more she's also attracting the attentions of American Charles Byrd who has quite a reputation as a ladies man.

The story moves to Afghanistan after the British occupation, and once things are *secure* the military wives, including Perdita join their husbands - although the political situation isn't quite as stable as everyone thought...

I won't go further so as not to spoil for those not familiar with this bit of history but those who are know there is quite a nail biter when the British withdraw from the occupied territory. I did enjoy this, but it doesn't quite come up to Emma Drummond's Beyond all Frontiers, nor MM Kaye's fabulous The Far Pavilions, but does fairly well as a fix for the British Raj addicts like myself. I didn't warm up to Perdita, nor buy into the big love story, and those geared more towards romance will be a bit disappointed in the ending. I do give kudos to the author for running a merry chase on the big betrayal promised on the book jacket - I did not see that coming at all.

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure how long ago I picked this up but it must have been before I started keeping a list of every book I read because once I began, I remembered having read it before.

Perdita has lived a life of repressed but gentile poverty in England with an invalid mother and an uncle who molests her. As a result, although pretty and intelligent, she is awkward and has no self-confidence. Her life changes when her mother dies (thank goodness) and Perdita is sent to her father, a merchant in India. Eventually, she marries a titled army officer who sees this as a marriage of convenience and has no interest in Perdita's affection. He is insensitive rather than cruel, and luckily her father is kind and helpful, so Perdita learns to cope with her inadequate marriage. As is turns out, when danger strikes her family, it is Perdita's compassion and determination that saves the day.

[Andrea Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable historical book. The role of women in the history of the development of overseas trade and the fight to retain territories is told from the viewpoint of one women. The true history of this period of turmoil is told well giving a sense is astonishment at some of the decisions made that had gave rise to the background of this story.

[Luminita Szen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently found about Daphne Wright and this is a good read,as was "The longest winter".
The plot is engaging and the description of the first british afgan war horrifying.It is not the first novel I read about this event,but it is yet again chilling how much misery and destruction the human race is capable of.It seems to me as if we do not learn from the past and commit the same mistakes again and again.
The main three characters,Perdita ,Marcus and Charles are well sketched and all perspectives are in detail described,so I found understanding and could sympatise wilth all of them.

If I were to choose,I liked the love story in "The longest winter" better.
Recommed this one also!

[Lena · Rating 3 out of 5]

good genre read; but not worth buying in print