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Passing Rites #1
The Imperative of Desire
In the waning years of Queen Victoria’s reign, a brilliant daughter is born to an aristocratic, military family in Prussia. A quirk of inheritance law allows Margarethe von Stahle to inherit both her grandmother’s and father’s noble titles. Her elders collaborate to educate her to take on her future duties, which include administering her family estates and supporting an order of nuns.
Margarethe’s curiosity and precocity delight and perplex her teachers as they try to mold her. Her father trains her with his military cadets. A retired opera singer, now the choir mistress of the convent, teaches her how to sing. Her grandaunt, headmistress of the convent school, educates her in philosophy and classics. At an early age, Margarethe heads to Oxford to follow in her father’s footsteps. Gifted with both musical and intellectual talents, she must choose between singing and service. Raised to take her duty and noblesse oblige seriously, she decides to study medicine and becomes one of a handful of female surgeons in 1920s Germany.
Being the heir means she needs children to inherit her titles. She reluctantly marries, despite preferring her own sex, but that doesn’t stop her from finding solace in the arms of women. She trains under the best surgeons in Germany and England and rises to prominence as London’s infamous “Lady Doctor.” But duty finally demands that she return to her homeland and take the reins of the family fortunes.
The Imperative of Desire, the first volume in The Passing Rites Series, takes Margarethe from La Belle Époque, through a world war, a revolution that outlawed the German nobility, the roaring twenties, to the decadent demimonde of Weimar Berlin. This coming-of-age story spans one of the most tumultuous periods of history, a time that changed women’s lives forever.
Margarethe’s curiosity and precocity delight and perplex her teachers as they try to mold her. Her father trains her with his military cadets. A retired opera singer, now the choir mistress of the convent, teaches her how to sing. Her grandaunt, headmistress of the convent school, educates her in philosophy and classics. At an early age, Margarethe heads to Oxford to follow in her father’s footsteps. Gifted with both musical and intellectual talents, she must choose between singing and service. Raised to take her duty and noblesse oblige seriously, she decides to study medicine and becomes one of a handful of female surgeons in 1920s Germany.
Being the heir means she needs children to inherit her titles. She reluctantly marries, despite preferring her own sex, but that doesn’t stop her from finding solace in the arms of women. She trains under the best surgeons in Germany and England and rises to prominence as London’s infamous “Lady Doctor.” But duty finally demands that she return to her homeland and take the reins of the family fortunes.
The Imperative of Desire, the first volume in The Passing Rites Series, takes Margarethe from La Belle Époque, through a world war, a revolution that outlawed the German nobility, the roaring twenties, to the decadent demimonde of Weimar Berlin. This coming-of-age story spans one of the most tumultuous periods of history, a time that changed women’s lives forever.
492 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 2, 2021
16 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Elena Graf
19 books97 followersAward-winning novelist Elena Graf has been scribbling stories since high school. Her first novel, Occasions of Sin was published in 2012. She considers herself primarily a historical novelist, but she is probably best known for the contemporary Hobbs series, featuring a group of middle-aged women living in a small town in Maine.
The novels in the Passing Rites series are set in Europe in the early 20th century and show how a noble family dealt with the momentous changes of the period. Two volumes in the series won both Golden Crown Literary Society and Rainbow Awards for historical fiction.
Elena Graf pursued a Ph.D. in philosophy and often explores difficult moral situations in her fiction. She ended up in the “accidental profession” of publishing, where she worked for almost four decades. She lives in coastal Maine.
The novels in the Passing Rites series are set in Europe in the early 20th century and show how a noble family dealt with the momentous changes of the period. Two volumes in the series won both Golden Crown Literary Society and Rainbow Awards for historical fiction.
Elena Graf pursued a Ph.D. in philosophy and often explores difficult moral situations in her fiction. She ended up in the “accidental profession” of publishing, where she worked for almost four decades. She lives in coastal Maine.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 17, 2021
After only one chapter I was back to Margarethe invading my dreams, just as she did during the first three books in the Passing Rites series. She was riding a 1940s motorcycle while clutching my very modern humidifier, so do your best to interpret THAT, dream gurus.
This was a beast of a book in all the best ways, and I can happily say this history lover was completely wrapped up in every single page of it. As anyone who has read Ms. Graf's Passing Rites series, you will already be familiar with the insurmountable Margarethe von Stahle in her adult years. The Imperative of Desire goes back to her childhood to 33 years old, highlighting her upbringing, her family, her great responsibilities and obligations, her education, her friendships, her music, and her relationships. This is not a romance, even though Margarethe has dalliances with both men and women, preferring women. This is a gritty read steeped in history, with the events of the past like WWI and revolutions rearing their ugly heads up, and the remarkable woman who navigates this world with strength and intelligence and a sensitive soul underneath that she shows very few.
I was immediately drawn to young Margarethe's story, the only child of the von Stahle family who has incredible intellect. This young girl appeared to be able to do simply everything before she was 10 years old, which at first seemed quite unrealistic. I think I remember calling Margarethe a "superhero" in one of my other reviews, well, this kind of took it to another level. However, I shoved that skepticism to the side and just rolled with it. Young Margarethe did manage to screw up royally quite a few times, reminding me that she IS a child and human. We learn of the responsibilities heaped on her basically from the womb, raised hearing about titles and heirs and and duty and land ownership, all while seeing 4 of her baby brothers die right after birth.
As she grows and her intellect shines, we readers go on a journey with her through Germany and England and Italy. Historical figures delightfully pop up, such as Freud and Virginia Woolf, among others. Margarethe is not a warm character, she frustrated me many times with her questionable decisions, and her lack of understanding of her own emotions much of the time, never mind others. However, she meets her match in her friend Elise. She is straight, so no romance there, though Margarethe certainly tried, but at this point I finally got a balance to the rigid, militaristic version of Margarethe. Elise was fascinated by human psyche, and would call Margarethe out on her rigid ways. "You hate being a woman, don't you" said Elise. This was the moment the scales balanced, I needed more of this discerning voice, and Margarethe did too for her own growth. She was arrogant and rightly so, but this friend kept her in check. Quote:
Elise gave me a hard look: "There's no shame in how you feel, Grethe. And it doesn't matter what you admit to me, but you must always tell yourself the truth." Her unique ability to read my emotions and explain exactly why I was thinking or feeling something was unnerving but invaluable. Like my grandaunt, Elise understood me in ways that escaped me. When I was perplexed, she could explain why. When I tied myself up into emotional knots, she could unravel them. Her ability to understand my personality felt more intimate than sex.
The showdown with Freud! Oh god, the showdown. Worth mentioning! When you get there, I hope you are as tickled as I was.
These books are clearly Ms. Graf's strengths. Don't let the number of pages daunt you, as the author's attention to detail, and her mind-blowing research highlights her passion to the story and characters. The pace is good, keeping the reader moving forward with much interest, and I didn't find any parts lagging. This book made me think, and it challenged me (a phrase I use a lot in these reviews!) as only Margarethe can, but also deepened my respect and appreciation for the series as a whole.
*Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a beast of a book in all the best ways, and I can happily say this history lover was completely wrapped up in every single page of it. As anyone who has read Ms. Graf's Passing Rites series, you will already be familiar with the insurmountable Margarethe von Stahle in her adult years. The Imperative of Desire goes back to her childhood to 33 years old, highlighting her upbringing, her family, her great responsibilities and obligations, her education, her friendships, her music, and her relationships. This is not a romance, even though Margarethe has dalliances with both men and women, preferring women. This is a gritty read steeped in history, with the events of the past like WWI and revolutions rearing their ugly heads up, and the remarkable woman who navigates this world with strength and intelligence and a sensitive soul underneath that she shows very few.
I was immediately drawn to young Margarethe's story, the only child of the von Stahle family who has incredible intellect. This young girl appeared to be able to do simply everything before she was 10 years old, which at first seemed quite unrealistic. I think I remember calling Margarethe a "superhero" in one of my other reviews, well, this kind of took it to another level. However, I shoved that skepticism to the side and just rolled with it. Young Margarethe did manage to screw up royally quite a few times, reminding me that she IS a child and human. We learn of the responsibilities heaped on her basically from the womb, raised hearing about titles and heirs and and duty and land ownership, all while seeing 4 of her baby brothers die right after birth.
As she grows and her intellect shines, we readers go on a journey with her through Germany and England and Italy. Historical figures delightfully pop up, such as Freud and Virginia Woolf, among others. Margarethe is not a warm character, she frustrated me many times with her questionable decisions, and her lack of understanding of her own emotions much of the time, never mind others. However, she meets her match in her friend Elise. She is straight, so no romance there, though Margarethe certainly tried, but at this point I finally got a balance to the rigid, militaristic version of Margarethe. Elise was fascinated by human psyche, and would call Margarethe out on her rigid ways. "You hate being a woman, don't you" said Elise. This was the moment the scales balanced, I needed more of this discerning voice, and Margarethe did too for her own growth. She was arrogant and rightly so, but this friend kept her in check. Quote:
Elise gave me a hard look: "There's no shame in how you feel, Grethe. And it doesn't matter what you admit to me, but you must always tell yourself the truth." Her unique ability to read my emotions and explain exactly why I was thinking or feeling something was unnerving but invaluable. Like my grandaunt, Elise understood me in ways that escaped me. When I was perplexed, she could explain why. When I tied myself up into emotional knots, she could unravel them. Her ability to understand my personality felt more intimate than sex.
The showdown with Freud! Oh god, the showdown. Worth mentioning! When you get there, I hope you are as tickled as I was.
These books are clearly Ms. Graf's strengths. Don't let the number of pages daunt you, as the author's attention to detail, and her mind-blowing research highlights her passion to the story and characters. The pace is good, keeping the reader moving forward with much interest, and I didn't find any parts lagging. This book made me think, and it challenged me (a phrase I use a lot in these reviews!) as only Margarethe can, but also deepened my respect and appreciation for the series as a whole.
*Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 9, 2021
This fourth book in the Passing Rites series takes readers back to the formative years in Margarethe von Stahle’s life, making it a perfect place to start this epic historical journey. We are introduced to Grethe’s unique educational experience through childhood, an education meant to equip this precocious young woman to deal with her future duties as head of her aristocratic Prussian family. A prodigy in languages, maths, music and science, Margarethe excels at every educational opportunity, mastering multiple languages with ease, deciding to become a surgeon and then focusing on the medical needs of the underserved female population. She knows she must provide heirs despite her attraction to women and takes a business-like approach to fulfilling this need.
Graf impresses with her ability to bring this period in history to life through the eyes of an aristocrat with ties to both England and Germany. She gives the reader a new angle to study the political climate leading up to the first World War, through the Russian Revolution, the Stock Market collapse and into the early years of the Great Depression. Following the life and times of the fierce and fearless Countess von Stahle makes this historical novel a pleasure to read. Margarethe’s imperative of desire is reflected in her need to make the world a safer place for women knowing she is in a position to serve and effect change. Quite brilliant.
I’m looking forward to reading the rest of this series starting with Occasions of Sin.
Many thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this novel.
Graf impresses with her ability to bring this period in history to life through the eyes of an aristocrat with ties to both England and Germany. She gives the reader a new angle to study the political climate leading up to the first World War, through the Russian Revolution, the Stock Market collapse and into the early years of the Great Depression. Following the life and times of the fierce and fearless Countess von Stahle makes this historical novel a pleasure to read. Margarethe’s imperative of desire is reflected in her need to make the world a safer place for women knowing she is in a position to serve and effect change. Quite brilliant.
I’m looking forward to reading the rest of this series starting with Occasions of Sin.
Many thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this novel.
August 3, 2021
So good! This is not a romance, but a coming of age book. The plot revolves around a child growing up in the aristocracy just after the turn of the century. The book spans around 20 years, and demonstrates the struggles of society at the time, women's independence and her own sexuality. The main character is a brilliant being with a very open and liberating attitude. She deals with some of the very lowest points a human has to deal with in the most graceful way possible.
Fair warning, it is not an easy book to read, as there are some incredibly sad situations, however it was still somehow heartening.
Fair warning, it is not an easy book to read, as there are some incredibly sad situations, however it was still somehow heartening.
March 31, 2021
"The Imperative of Desire" by Elena Graf
Released March 30, 2021
Subject: My imperative desire was for the book not to end.
"The Imperative of Desire" is the prequel novel to "Occasions of Sin" in the Passing Rites Series. The story begins with Margarethe von Stahle as a precocious child growing up in Germany and is told through her eyes. Indeed, she is brilliant with a passion for learning and is a child prodigy. Even at a young age, she seemed older than her chronological years. Perhaps it was the mix of her intelligence and the burden of being raised to take on the responsibility and the reigns of her family's estate as the future Countess Raithschau. As the title implies, the main character is driven by "the imperative of desire." Becoming a surgeon in a barely post-Victorian world is her greatest desire.
Even with the realization of her attraction to women, her position and family's duty came first. Like many historically context plots of nobility, producing an heir is a driving force. The twist is her familial line is matriarchal. At seventeen, she is already in medical school. Her status, wealth, and connections allowed her access to medical school as a woman rather than her abilities and intelligence.
Even with her drive to become a "Frau Doktor," she is determined to hurry up and marry to provide an heir for her line. As if being the only woman in medical school wasn't enough stress, she decides there was no better time to hurry up and get the heir business out of the way. In an orderly fashion, as she is Prussian after all, she sets up to find a perfect match, a man who is gay but bisexual enough to get the job done. I realize that having the main character marry a man may turn off some readers. Her marital relationship did not detract from her true nature of loving women and was based upon her duty. Technically she was bisexual, but in the end, she really preferred women. Her life, like the era, was complicated.
While Margarethe finds love, she also suffers many losses. I admit that I teared up a few times. I found it hard to believe all she had accomplished and lost before reaching her mid-thirties. I also wished the book hadn't ended when it did. On the last page and last sentence, I felt like there should have been more pages to turn before the actual ending. Fortunately, the series has three more books following the prequel.
What I liked: History and travel! The book spans from just before 1900 through World War I and ends just past the financial market crash of the late 1920s. Most of the story takes place in Northeastern Germany, with time spent in England and side trips to Italy and Russia. The author does a great job of highlighting the cultural differences of Germany, England, and a little of Russia. She also sprinkles German words throughout the book like tasty bits of spice to give her story an authentic German flavor.
I can't say enough great things about the amount of history she wove into her story, like meeting Vita Sackville-West or traveling to Russia on a secret mission to help avert the impending war over the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. There are many historical tidbits to be found masterfully nestled as easter eggs in the story.
As with her other books, the author has a love for music reflected in her characters' musical talents. She even includes links for readers to hear the musical performances she mentions. Did I already reveal that Margarethe could have been an opera singer if she hadn't been nobility?
What I didn't like: I thought the book could have gone on longer and felt that it ended abruptly. The next book in the series seems to pick up where this one left off. I know it seems weird to write that the book ended too soon as it is 477 pages long. It just didn't seem like it. The more I read, the more I wanted to read.
Overall View: I really enjoyed the book's historical nature and locales set against the historical backdrop. The book reminded me of the Century series by Ken Follett. The main character has the money and the influence to break the typical mold of the women of her time, which afforded her more opportunities like becoming one of only a handful of women surgeons. If you love historical fiction with a strong-willed main character, you will love this book.
Released March 30, 2021
Subject: My imperative desire was for the book not to end.
"The Imperative of Desire" is the prequel novel to "Occasions of Sin" in the Passing Rites Series. The story begins with Margarethe von Stahle as a precocious child growing up in Germany and is told through her eyes. Indeed, she is brilliant with a passion for learning and is a child prodigy. Even at a young age, she seemed older than her chronological years. Perhaps it was the mix of her intelligence and the burden of being raised to take on the responsibility and the reigns of her family's estate as the future Countess Raithschau. As the title implies, the main character is driven by "the imperative of desire." Becoming a surgeon in a barely post-Victorian world is her greatest desire.
Even with the realization of her attraction to women, her position and family's duty came first. Like many historically context plots of nobility, producing an heir is a driving force. The twist is her familial line is matriarchal. At seventeen, she is already in medical school. Her status, wealth, and connections allowed her access to medical school as a woman rather than her abilities and intelligence.
Even with her drive to become a "Frau Doktor," she is determined to hurry up and marry to provide an heir for her line. As if being the only woman in medical school wasn't enough stress, she decides there was no better time to hurry up and get the heir business out of the way. In an orderly fashion, as she is Prussian after all, she sets up to find a perfect match, a man who is gay but bisexual enough to get the job done. I realize that having the main character marry a man may turn off some readers. Her marital relationship did not detract from her true nature of loving women and was based upon her duty. Technically she was bisexual, but in the end, she really preferred women. Her life, like the era, was complicated.
While Margarethe finds love, she also suffers many losses. I admit that I teared up a few times. I found it hard to believe all she had accomplished and lost before reaching her mid-thirties. I also wished the book hadn't ended when it did. On the last page and last sentence, I felt like there should have been more pages to turn before the actual ending. Fortunately, the series has three more books following the prequel.
What I liked: History and travel! The book spans from just before 1900 through World War I and ends just past the financial market crash of the late 1920s. Most of the story takes place in Northeastern Germany, with time spent in England and side trips to Italy and Russia. The author does a great job of highlighting the cultural differences of Germany, England, and a little of Russia. She also sprinkles German words throughout the book like tasty bits of spice to give her story an authentic German flavor.
I can't say enough great things about the amount of history she wove into her story, like meeting Vita Sackville-West or traveling to Russia on a secret mission to help avert the impending war over the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. There are many historical tidbits to be found masterfully nestled as easter eggs in the story.
As with her other books, the author has a love for music reflected in her characters' musical talents. She even includes links for readers to hear the musical performances she mentions. Did I already reveal that Margarethe could have been an opera singer if she hadn't been nobility?
What I didn't like: I thought the book could have gone on longer and felt that it ended abruptly. The next book in the series seems to pick up where this one left off. I know it seems weird to write that the book ended too soon as it is 477 pages long. It just didn't seem like it. The more I read, the more I wanted to read.
Overall View: I really enjoyed the book's historical nature and locales set against the historical backdrop. The book reminded me of the Century series by Ken Follett. The main character has the money and the influence to break the typical mold of the women of her time, which afforded her more opportunities like becoming one of only a handful of women surgeons. If you love historical fiction with a strong-willed main character, you will love this book.
May 13, 2022
Like a movie
Or memoir. I liked it. The flow was so well put. So many diverse characters. I am definitely checking out the entire series.
Though historical books can be hard to binge. They need patience. This one was very enthralling because it was raw yet simple.
Or memoir. I liked it. The flow was so well put. So many diverse characters. I am definitely checking out the entire series.
Though historical books can be hard to binge. They need patience. This one was very enthralling because it was raw yet simple.
April 9, 2021
When Elena Graf writes an historical romance, a reader invariably gets more of each than anyone has a right to expect!
The Imperative of Desire is an epic addition to the Passing Rites series and the satisfying raison d’être for the books that came after, which were published first. Graf’s brilliant approach to her series, saving the first book in the series for last published, achieves a masterful stroke of authorial intervention.
“The Imperative of Desire” is, as others have mentioned, the first book in the already existing Passing Rites Series. The series began with Book 2, the elaborate and extraordinary Occasions of Sin, which I have reviewed previously. “The Imperative of Desire” provides us with in-depth answers to questions we readers only fleetingly wondered about in Books 2, 3 and 4. These answers imbue this Book 1 and the entire series with a depth of insight and a tapestry of rich beginnings. We are so fully invested in the life of our protagonist, Margarethe von Stahle, that she seems real, not fictional.
Although each book in the series can be read on its own, the beauty of this series is that every book is a life lived to the fullest, with all the attendant triumphs and tragedies that pull us into the matrix of who Margarethe von Stahle is. Others have adequately and accurately discussed the plotline of this book, to which I can only add that this protagonist is a single-minded force in a multi-dimensional woman, not typical of “her time,” and not typical in her interests, her love affairs, her passions—not even from Day One!
Graf leads us effortlessly to the crux of the matter in the title of The Imperative of Desire. Margarethe is not only a woman with real-world responsibilities to her family history, and tradition, she is an inventive hero who approaches each challenge, personal or historical, with the singular, cool determination of a woman for whom desire is an imperative, a calling, a pastime, a duty and a part of her inherent makeup.
In addition, this is where I would like to comment on the plotlines of the entire series. While each story is unique and different, Margarethe as the common denominator of the series is what gives it the cohesion of a great big page-turning series. Graf is among the best at weaving character throughout the backdrop of historical events, giving each book a blockbuster life of its own as part of a wider story. The Imperative of Desire sets the stage for us, pulls us in like a super magnet and doesn’t let go of us until we’ve been flung to the far corners of a remarkably coherent psyche in a turbulent, complicated, divisive world. Margarethe von Stahl is one of the most memorable, classically appealing protagonists to come along in quite a while.
Margarethe’s “desire” is more than romantic and physical passion, though there is plenty of that. More than anything, her “desire” is her sense of life, a way to view the world, a way to move through the world, the thing that sets her apart from other women. And yet…and yet, this “desire” is the very thing that brings mnumerous women to a point of happy incredulity that they should find themselves consumed with and attracted to Margarethe on so many levels.
For this heroine, intimacy is another aspect of desire, and she considers her lovers her ultimate reward, even when she cannot save herself from the hungry, restive and compelling imperative that sometimes, more is more—and she wants more. You’ll see!
People in Margarethe’s world are compelled to love her, despite her several deficiencies, because everyone seems to know that if Margarethe loves you back, you will be extremely well loved and extremely befuddled at how she does it. Who doesn’t want to know how THAT happens!
Margarethe is authentic, flawed, brilliant, impatient, generous, given to having her desires fulfilled, sometimes at great personal cost, and most of all, Margarethe is the action heroine her world needs and the world demands that she be.
There are only imperatives born of the need to survive and thrive in a world gone mad before and during World War II. However, this entire series is no typical historical tome—no, this is a travelogue of the soul, an odyssey of the heart and a Baedeker of the mind. This first book, then, is the birth and early life of a rare spirit who becomes a full woman under circumstances that would bring most of us to our knees.
Very Highly recommend The Imperative of Desire as well as Occasions of Sin (Book 2), Lies of Omission (Book 3) and Acts of Contrition, (Book 4). in the Passing Rites series.
October 29, 2021
Excellent storytelling and writing that made me want to re-read 2nd book in the series, Occasions of Sins.
May 13, 2021
I'm a huge fan of Elena Graf's novels, and especially her historical fiction. This prequel to her trilogy The Passing Rites did not disappoint, offering a window on the past of a compelling and original main character, Margarethe von Stahle . Historical fiction at its best, as in enough research and detail to make it interesting, but not too much to make it a dry read. And with some passionate scenes too... The period isn't one often found in wlw fiction either, which makes it even more of a must-read.
I'm now going to re-read the rest of the trilogy for the third time
I'm now going to re-read the rest of the trilogy for the third time
March 31, 2021
This latest book in the Passing Rites historical fiction series is actually Book 1. The first book in the series published was Book 2. In some ways this book is more of a prequel.
Margarethe von Stahl was born into the German aristocracy at the turn of the 20th century, destined to eventually control a large estate, inclusive of a convent, tenant farms and many large and high-end dwellings. As the daughter of a Prussian military officer, she is schooled by an early age in a sense of duty and a need to be of service. This book covers Margarethe's young life up to age 33 or so, focusing on her education (she is an intellectual and musical child protégé), her decision to become a surgeon, her relationships with women, her marriage to a man so that she may provide heirs, and her professional life both in England and back in Germany.
This is a very long book and, in my view, if you haven't read the later books in the series you may be wondering why you're spending so much time getting acquainted with Margarethe and what led her to become the woman we read about in the other 3 books. That is why I feel the book is more of a prequel best read after you are invested in her life by reading the other 3 books. It also ends rather abruptly just before book 2 begins.
This book is like the others in terms of the high level of research it reflects and the good quality of the writing. I highly recommend the entire series.
Margarethe von Stahl was born into the German aristocracy at the turn of the 20th century, destined to eventually control a large estate, inclusive of a convent, tenant farms and many large and high-end dwellings. As the daughter of a Prussian military officer, she is schooled by an early age in a sense of duty and a need to be of service. This book covers Margarethe's young life up to age 33 or so, focusing on her education (she is an intellectual and musical child protégé), her decision to become a surgeon, her relationships with women, her marriage to a man so that she may provide heirs, and her professional life both in England and back in Germany.
This is a very long book and, in my view, if you haven't read the later books in the series you may be wondering why you're spending so much time getting acquainted with Margarethe and what led her to become the woman we read about in the other 3 books. That is why I feel the book is more of a prequel best read after you are invested in her life by reading the other 3 books. It also ends rather abruptly just before book 2 begins.
This book is like the others in terms of the high level of research it reflects and the good quality of the writing. I highly recommend the entire series.
June 27, 2021
The wait was worth.
This book is great just like the others. I loved to read more about my favorite character, follow her life from childhood to adulthood.
Now I have to re-read the others volumes.
This book is great just like the others. I loved to read more about my favorite character, follow her life from childhood to adulthood.
Now I have to re-read the others volumes.
January 30, 2024
Beautifully written
May 6, 2021
The Imperative of Desire, quite frankly, is an incredible story. It is impressively written and thoughtfully told. Historical fiction fans will no doubt delight in its rich history and captivating characters. Elena Graf’s ability to weave a fictional, yet compelling story between the major historical events of pre and post World War I Germany and England is quite remarkable.
Graf uses the main character Margarethe von Stahle to guide readers through this spectacular tale. Margarethe’s perspective and experience is what makes this story so unique. Graft depicts her as a brilliant young woman that’s nearly unstoppable in her pursuits. Her drive and determination is awe-inspiring and unmatched, enabling her to achieve things unimaginable for most, especially for those of the female persuasion in the early 1920’s. Margarethe is clearly a woman ahead of her time, making her one complex and intriguing character.
Margarethe’s narrative takes readers through the first thirty three years of her life. Since Margarethe is born into wealth and power, her position affords her much privilege and opportunity. Because of this, her life is filled with substantial academic and professional success. However, she often becomes restless and searches for something more concrete and certain. Be that as it may, it seems what she really yearns and desires is a faithful companion that offers real friendship and love.
Margarethe’s life is complicated and she is frequently dealt heart stopping blows of loss. These devastating losses take the wind out of her sails, but never leave her completely defeated. She always manages to recover. Fortunately, she possesses the unique ability to reassess and redirect her talents, ultimately ensuring a better life for herself and those she is duty-bound to serve. Her never ending sense of responsibility and obligation is where the real story lies, though. When the curtain is pulled back, so much is revealed about Margarethe. Readers will most certainly be enthralled with her riveting drama.
My final remarks…
This is a generous and grand novel. At 462 pages, it is far from light reading. Nonetheless, it is well worth the read. It is a well-plotted and soundly structured with intriguing characters and compelling story arcs. Its captivating narrative is enhanced with fascinating history that will most certainly delight any history buff. I throughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any one who enjoys this genre. Be forewarned though, as you will want to pick up the next book in the series, Occasions of Sin, Passing Rites Book 2.
Strengths…
Well-written
Original
Intriguing characters
Enthralling drama
Fantastic history
Graf uses the main character Margarethe von Stahle to guide readers through this spectacular tale. Margarethe’s perspective and experience is what makes this story so unique. Graft depicts her as a brilliant young woman that’s nearly unstoppable in her pursuits. Her drive and determination is awe-inspiring and unmatched, enabling her to achieve things unimaginable for most, especially for those of the female persuasion in the early 1920’s. Margarethe is clearly a woman ahead of her time, making her one complex and intriguing character.
Margarethe’s narrative takes readers through the first thirty three years of her life. Since Margarethe is born into wealth and power, her position affords her much privilege and opportunity. Because of this, her life is filled with substantial academic and professional success. However, she often becomes restless and searches for something more concrete and certain. Be that as it may, it seems what she really yearns and desires is a faithful companion that offers real friendship and love.
Margarethe’s life is complicated and she is frequently dealt heart stopping blows of loss. These devastating losses take the wind out of her sails, but never leave her completely defeated. She always manages to recover. Fortunately, she possesses the unique ability to reassess and redirect her talents, ultimately ensuring a better life for herself and those she is duty-bound to serve. Her never ending sense of responsibility and obligation is where the real story lies, though. When the curtain is pulled back, so much is revealed about Margarethe. Readers will most certainly be enthralled with her riveting drama.
My final remarks…
This is a generous and grand novel. At 462 pages, it is far from light reading. Nonetheless, it is well worth the read. It is a well-plotted and soundly structured with intriguing characters and compelling story arcs. Its captivating narrative is enhanced with fascinating history that will most certainly delight any history buff. I throughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any one who enjoys this genre. Be forewarned though, as you will want to pick up the next book in the series, Occasions of Sin, Passing Rites Book 2.
Strengths…
Well-written
Original
Intriguing characters
Enthralling drama
Fantastic history
April 1, 2021
Journey to an age long gone of duty, honor, and aristocratic life that is only a memory.
This epic storytelling of a Margarethe von Stahle- though her title is much longer. The future of this young woman unfolds with all the obligation no child should carry. Her whit and sheer genius mean she is ment for so much more. A woman who loves medicine in a time when they are not allowed education let alone Doctorates. A rich woman who could have done very little in this world uses her gifts to heal, teach and give back to her world. We see her grow up pre-WW1 Germany with a mind that is a sponge. Her mother can't, won't, does not know how to love her. Her father, grandmother and grandfather see to her education with a strong love. Often isolated, tutored at an early age her thirst for knowledge seems unending. After training with the Nuns at Obberoth & her Grandaunt she heads to Oxford at a very young age. Her schooling takes her to the pinnacle of learning in medicine. Her love of music is a gift that she enjoys that lets her share her emotions. Her excellent voice gets her noticed but she may not share because her station in life forbids it.
There is so much in this story about a life we know so very little about. It gives a view of Germany during the war we seldom take about. It also gives a view of Germany during the war we did not see. These women were forced to live during and after the war rarely shared.. The way in which the characters had to endure these times of cruelty and devastation is brilliantly told.. The characters are flawed and real. They lived the lives of their station and wealth. To judge them by the expectation of today destroys the historical essence of the time. Margarethe goes through more in her young life than average woman do in an entire lifetime. The time dictates much of the expectations but her love for learning, languages, medical knowledge, shoulder life far exceeding her youth. I am so blessed to have received this book before I read the rest of the series. So if you have not read the Passing Rites books by Elena Graf you are in for an enjoyable read that will introduce you to characters who are real, flawed and just so human with intrigue everywhere. The historical aspect can teach us much if we only see how these women lived, loved and shared their lives. I loved this book and was so glad for this amazing author who brilliantly shared this series.
This epic storytelling of a Margarethe von Stahle- though her title is much longer. The future of this young woman unfolds with all the obligation no child should carry. Her whit and sheer genius mean she is ment for so much more. A woman who loves medicine in a time when they are not allowed education let alone Doctorates. A rich woman who could have done very little in this world uses her gifts to heal, teach and give back to her world. We see her grow up pre-WW1 Germany with a mind that is a sponge. Her mother can't, won't, does not know how to love her. Her father, grandmother and grandfather see to her education with a strong love. Often isolated, tutored at an early age her thirst for knowledge seems unending. After training with the Nuns at Obberoth & her Grandaunt she heads to Oxford at a very young age. Her schooling takes her to the pinnacle of learning in medicine. Her love of music is a gift that she enjoys that lets her share her emotions. Her excellent voice gets her noticed but she may not share because her station in life forbids it.
There is so much in this story about a life we know so very little about. It gives a view of Germany during the war we seldom take about. It also gives a view of Germany during the war we did not see. These women were forced to live during and after the war rarely shared.. The way in which the characters had to endure these times of cruelty and devastation is brilliantly told.. The characters are flawed and real. They lived the lives of their station and wealth. To judge them by the expectation of today destroys the historical essence of the time. Margarethe goes through more in her young life than average woman do in an entire lifetime. The time dictates much of the expectations but her love for learning, languages, medical knowledge, shoulder life far exceeding her youth. I am so blessed to have received this book before I read the rest of the series. So if you have not read the Passing Rites books by Elena Graf you are in for an enjoyable read that will introduce you to characters who are real, flawed and just so human with intrigue everywhere. The historical aspect can teach us much if we only see how these women lived, loved and shared their lives. I loved this book and was so glad for this amazing author who brilliantly shared this series.
August 28, 2021
Formative years of a remarkable character
Rezension aus Deutschland vom 1. April 2021
In this new #1 of the epic saga of the Passing Rites series, the reader is introduced to the main character, Margarethe von Stahle, a highly gifted descendant of ancient German nobility, following her through the first 33 years of her life, beginning in her early childhood, through her years of schooling, education and training, and the beginning of her professional career.
Meticulously researched and excellently written, the author takes her readers on a journey through German history, from the Wilhelmine Empire through World War I, the November Revolution of 1918/19, and the subsequent emergence and fall of the Weimar Republic.
At the same time, analogous to Margarethe's professional training as a doctor, we gain illuminating insights into the history of medicine.
Against this historical backdrop, the author skillfully narrates the personal fortunes of Margarethe, her family and friends, and takes her readership to the masterfully sketched scenes of action, a Prussian country estate, a Franconian convent, London and Oxford, Garmisch and the Bavarian Alps, Russia and St. Petersburg, Munich and Berlin.
In addition, music enthusiasts will enjoy the included links to the arias sung by the protagonist, who is also a talented musician.
Since Margarethe spends so many of her formative years, her university studies and early professional years in England, and is as familiar with the English language as she is with her native German, it feels perfectly natural that this book about a German noblewoman was written in English.
Although this novel covers such a large period of time, it never gets tedious, but moves steadily forward in its plot, so that, by its end, one is curious to see the story continue in the next volume, Occasions of Sin.
I have read an ARC provided by the author's publishing company, and I can highly recommend The Imperative of Desire without any reservation whatsoever.
Rezension aus Deutschland vom 1. April 2021
In this new #1 of the epic saga of the Passing Rites series, the reader is introduced to the main character, Margarethe von Stahle, a highly gifted descendant of ancient German nobility, following her through the first 33 years of her life, beginning in her early childhood, through her years of schooling, education and training, and the beginning of her professional career.
Meticulously researched and excellently written, the author takes her readers on a journey through German history, from the Wilhelmine Empire through World War I, the November Revolution of 1918/19, and the subsequent emergence and fall of the Weimar Republic.
At the same time, analogous to Margarethe's professional training as a doctor, we gain illuminating insights into the history of medicine.
Against this historical backdrop, the author skillfully narrates the personal fortunes of Margarethe, her family and friends, and takes her readership to the masterfully sketched scenes of action, a Prussian country estate, a Franconian convent, London and Oxford, Garmisch and the Bavarian Alps, Russia and St. Petersburg, Munich and Berlin.
In addition, music enthusiasts will enjoy the included links to the arias sung by the protagonist, who is also a talented musician.
Since Margarethe spends so many of her formative years, her university studies and early professional years in England, and is as familiar with the English language as she is with her native German, it feels perfectly natural that this book about a German noblewoman was written in English.
Although this novel covers such a large period of time, it never gets tedious, but moves steadily forward in its plot, so that, by its end, one is curious to see the story continue in the next volume, Occasions of Sin.
I have read an ARC provided by the author's publishing company, and I can highly recommend The Imperative of Desire without any reservation whatsoever.
May 10, 2022
“The Imperative of Desire” is book no.1 in Elena Graf’s Passing Rites historical fiction series.
The cover shows a young woman dressed in a belle époque dress reading on a rocking chair. It impersonates the main character’s biggest desire: to learn, to get educated, to have the career she loves and to become the woman she was supposed to be.
The title shows not the most important imperative in Margarethe’s life, but the one she can’t live without. She has so many unavoidable duties in her life:
• she needs to assure the inheritance of the von Stahle family, so she needs to have a husband and children
• she needs to follow her father’s and her aunt’s guidance to become an educated woman to be worth the von Stahle name
• if she wants to be successful in her career, she needs to break all the patriarchy set by most doctors being male
“DEFINITION OF IMPERATIVE
1: not to be avoided or evaded: necessary
• an imperative duty
2a: of, relating to, or constituting the grammatical mood that expresses the will to influence the behavior of another
b: expressive of a command, entreaty, or exhortation
c: having power to restrain, control, and direct”
Source : merriam-webster
“In this case, the imperative of desire can be considered similar to philosopher Immanuel Kant’s hypothetical imperative, which in 18th century’s ethics was a rule of conduct that is understood to apply to an individual only if he or she desires a certain end and has chosen (willed) to act on that desire. Although hypothetical imperatives may be expressed in various ways, their basic logical form is: “If you desire X (or not X), you should (or should not) do Y.” The conduct urged in a hypothetical imperative may be the same as or different from that commanded by a conventional moral law. For example: “If you want to be trusted, you should always tell the truth”; “If you want to become rich, you should steal whenever you can get away with it”; and “If you want to avoid heartburn, you should not eat capsaicin.” Hypothetical imperatives are contrasted with “categorical” imperatives, which are rules of conduct that, by their form— “Do (or do not do) Y”—are understood to apply to all individuals, no matter what their desires. Examples corresponding to those above are: “Always tell the truth”; “Steal whenever you can get away with it”; and “Do not eat capsaicin.” For Kant there is only one categorical imperative in the moral realm. Nevertheless, he formulated it in two ways: “Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law” and “So act as to treat humanity…always as an end, and never as only a means.””
Source: britannica
The book is written at first person, from Margarethe’s point of view, which is quite good, making her more imposing.
The world spins around Margarethe von Stahle.
The main character is Margarethe von Stahle an aristocrat from an old Prussian family, an Oxford educated young female doctor with a bright future and a wonderful family, yet there’s a certain imperative of desire, which in her case would be her attraction for women.
The plot follows her life during the belle époque, through the World War 1 and during a decadent demimonde of the Weimar Republic
She is such a complex and unique character, to whom you are first intellectually attracted and rather afterwards physically.
This is an elaborated coming of age story of such an unusual girl and woman to be, a genius of her times, where she could be favored by her noble title, but flawed by her gender when she became one of the few young female surgeons in Weimar Republic Germany.
Even from a small age, Margarethe is brilliant and precocious, as her tutors and her military father and her grandaunt observe. Her grandaunt, the headmistress of a convent school (Obberoth) which the family sustains, also, helps in educating the young woman and leads her to the developing path even deeper, as encouraging her to read Ancient Greek and Latin. And then, there is also a former opera singer who became a nun which enriches Margarethe’s musical talent. Not yet knowing which career path to choose (music or medical school), she heads to Oxford following in her father’s footsteps.
Margarethe’s relationship with her mother is cold and it has some influence in her life, she is choosing the opposite of whatever her mother wanted her to be, follow her father’s advices, her grandaunt’s teachings and her own mind and partially her heart. Her mother never had any real burden on her shoulders, she was just upset she couldn’t have a son. Margarethe was the only child and the only heir and she wasn’t the typical the young aristocrat female who’s only goal in life was to produce offspring, she wanted more, she craved to be a scientist, to live an interesting life, to love women, but she has always done her duty towards her family.
England becomes her second home and the place where she evolves most. She is called Meg, an easier name to remember or “the Lady Doctor” and she makes there a lots of friends, fellow physicians (Charles Calder), role models (dr. Sauerbruch, Abrams or Abbott), her future husband Lytton and special, intelligent women in her life(Alexandra Calder, Elise Seidl, Daphne Richardson).
Also, I enjoyed Virginia Wollf’s, Vita Sackville-West’s and Mary Campbell’s involvement in the development of the story.
I liked the complexity of the plot a lot. I can’t reveal much of it because it can only be revealed all at once, poured as a waterfall. I imagined Margarethe’s character as a shining diamond with it’s rough edges, complex and imperfect, yet so pure.
This is not an easy read, nor a romance, it’s historical fiction mixed with coming of age nuances and many current and past themes touched. A wonderful read.
I recommend the whole "Passing Rites" series, especially if you don’t want an easy read, or just a romantic lesfic, but a thick plot with versatile details and exciting surprises and complex flawed characters.
The cover shows a young woman dressed in a belle époque dress reading on a rocking chair. It impersonates the main character’s biggest desire: to learn, to get educated, to have the career she loves and to become the woman she was supposed to be.
The title shows not the most important imperative in Margarethe’s life, but the one she can’t live without. She has so many unavoidable duties in her life:
• she needs to assure the inheritance of the von Stahle family, so she needs to have a husband and children
• she needs to follow her father’s and her aunt’s guidance to become an educated woman to be worth the von Stahle name
• if she wants to be successful in her career, she needs to break all the patriarchy set by most doctors being male
“DEFINITION OF IMPERATIVE
1: not to be avoided or evaded: necessary
• an imperative duty
2a: of, relating to, or constituting the grammatical mood that expresses the will to influence the behavior of another
b: expressive of a command, entreaty, or exhortation
c: having power to restrain, control, and direct”
Source : merriam-webster
“In this case, the imperative of desire can be considered similar to philosopher Immanuel Kant’s hypothetical imperative, which in 18th century’s ethics was a rule of conduct that is understood to apply to an individual only if he or she desires a certain end and has chosen (willed) to act on that desire. Although hypothetical imperatives may be expressed in various ways, their basic logical form is: “If you desire X (or not X), you should (or should not) do Y.” The conduct urged in a hypothetical imperative may be the same as or different from that commanded by a conventional moral law. For example: “If you want to be trusted, you should always tell the truth”; “If you want to become rich, you should steal whenever you can get away with it”; and “If you want to avoid heartburn, you should not eat capsaicin.” Hypothetical imperatives are contrasted with “categorical” imperatives, which are rules of conduct that, by their form— “Do (or do not do) Y”—are understood to apply to all individuals, no matter what their desires. Examples corresponding to those above are: “Always tell the truth”; “Steal whenever you can get away with it”; and “Do not eat capsaicin.” For Kant there is only one categorical imperative in the moral realm. Nevertheless, he formulated it in two ways: “Act only according to that maxim by which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law” and “So act as to treat humanity…always as an end, and never as only a means.””
Source: britannica
The book is written at first person, from Margarethe’s point of view, which is quite good, making her more imposing.
The world spins around Margarethe von Stahle.
The main character is Margarethe von Stahle an aristocrat from an old Prussian family, an Oxford educated young female doctor with a bright future and a wonderful family, yet there’s a certain imperative of desire, which in her case would be her attraction for women.
The plot follows her life during the belle époque, through the World War 1 and during a decadent demimonde of the Weimar Republic
She is such a complex and unique character, to whom you are first intellectually attracted and rather afterwards physically.
This is an elaborated coming of age story of such an unusual girl and woman to be, a genius of her times, where she could be favored by her noble title, but flawed by her gender when she became one of the few young female surgeons in Weimar Republic Germany.
Even from a small age, Margarethe is brilliant and precocious, as her tutors and her military father and her grandaunt observe. Her grandaunt, the headmistress of a convent school (Obberoth) which the family sustains, also, helps in educating the young woman and leads her to the developing path even deeper, as encouraging her to read Ancient Greek and Latin. And then, there is also a former opera singer who became a nun which enriches Margarethe’s musical talent. Not yet knowing which career path to choose (music or medical school), she heads to Oxford following in her father’s footsteps.
Margarethe’s relationship with her mother is cold and it has some influence in her life, she is choosing the opposite of whatever her mother wanted her to be, follow her father’s advices, her grandaunt’s teachings and her own mind and partially her heart. Her mother never had any real burden on her shoulders, she was just upset she couldn’t have a son. Margarethe was the only child and the only heir and she wasn’t the typical the young aristocrat female who’s only goal in life was to produce offspring, she wanted more, she craved to be a scientist, to live an interesting life, to love women, but she has always done her duty towards her family.
England becomes her second home and the place where she evolves most. She is called Meg, an easier name to remember or “the Lady Doctor” and she makes there a lots of friends, fellow physicians (Charles Calder), role models (dr. Sauerbruch, Abrams or Abbott), her future husband Lytton and special, intelligent women in her life(Alexandra Calder, Elise Seidl, Daphne Richardson).
Also, I enjoyed Virginia Wollf’s, Vita Sackville-West’s and Mary Campbell’s involvement in the development of the story.
I liked the complexity of the plot a lot. I can’t reveal much of it because it can only be revealed all at once, poured as a waterfall. I imagined Margarethe’s character as a shining diamond with it’s rough edges, complex and imperfect, yet so pure.
This is not an easy read, nor a romance, it’s historical fiction mixed with coming of age nuances and many current and past themes touched. A wonderful read.
I recommend the whole "Passing Rites" series, especially if you don’t want an easy read, or just a romantic lesfic, but a thick plot with versatile details and exciting surprises and complex flawed characters.
April 6, 2021
I received an ARC of The Imperative of Desire in exchange for an honest review.
This book is amazingly detailed and well-written enough to make me go out and buy the entire series after finishing the first book because I have to know what happens.
Written in the first person, the reader is given an intimate view into the world of Margarethe von Stahle, part of the Prussian aristocracy. She is born into nobility and titles that pass down through the female line, meaning that she will take over all of her family's holdings and accounts eventually, as well as responsibility for all those under her care, including an entire convent and village. She is instilled with a sense of duty and noblesse oblige early on that will strongly shape her life. But that doesn't stop Margarethe from living her best life and blazing new trails.
This book follows Margarethe through her first 30-odd years and the highs and lows of life
Not only are we treated to a richly detailed view into the protagonist's life, this book does it all against the incredibly elaborate backdrop of Germany and England in the early 20th century, providing a glimpse back in time "from La Belle Époque, through a world war, a revolution that outlawed the German nobility, the roaring twenties, to the decadent demimonde of Weimar Berlin".
Graf does a wonderful job of endearing Margarethe to the reader and putting you right there in the middle of the story, almost as if you ARE Margarethe. I had a hard time putting The Imperative of Desire down and can't wait to see where Margarethe will take me in the next books!
This book is amazingly detailed and well-written enough to make me go out and buy the entire series after finishing the first book because I have to know what happens.
Written in the first person, the reader is given an intimate view into the world of Margarethe von Stahle, part of the Prussian aristocracy. She is born into nobility and titles that pass down through the female line, meaning that she will take over all of her family's holdings and accounts eventually, as well as responsibility for all those under her care, including an entire convent and village. She is instilled with a sense of duty and noblesse oblige early on that will strongly shape her life. But that doesn't stop Margarethe from living her best life and blazing new trails.
This book follows Margarethe through her first 30-odd years and the highs and lows of life
Not only are we treated to a richly detailed view into the protagonist's life, this book does it all against the incredibly elaborate backdrop of Germany and England in the early 20th century, providing a glimpse back in time "from La Belle Époque, through a world war, a revolution that outlawed the German nobility, the roaring twenties, to the decadent demimonde of Weimar Berlin".
Graf does a wonderful job of endearing Margarethe to the reader and putting you right there in the middle of the story, almost as if you ARE Margarethe. I had a hard time putting The Imperative of Desire down and can't wait to see where Margarethe will take me in the next books!
April 12, 2021
This is the kind of book that, once you start to read it, you know the author spent about 100 times more time researching than actually writing. This is a meticulously written book, the first of a series, but a prequel really, to this author's other three books in the series. All of these books are excellent, but I believe this is the best in the series and the author's best work, period.
Margarethe von Stahle is a young girl, gifted and intelligent beyond her years. She finished college while still in her teens, and is focused on becoming a doctor, a profession unheard of for a woman in the early 1900s. She fought against the flow and became a sought-after doctor, regardless of how most of the medical community resented her presence in their world.
Marriage and the production of a heir was expected of Margarethe, even though these two requirements were not what she saw in her future.
This is a fascinating look at a powerful and passionate woman, determined to live life on her own terms, and all the people in her life who tried to stop her.
Every single character is well-rounded and necessary. They add layers and colors to what could sometimes be a colorless world during World War I and beyond. This could be a stand alone novel, but the best thing to do is read the other books in this series: Occasions of Sin, Lies of Omission and Acts of Contrition. You will love learning about the world Margarethe von Stahle inhabits, about how she insists on marching to the beat of her own drum and how those around respect her, sometimes grudgingly, but always completely.
Be warned though, you will need to search high and low to find another book to read after this one, another book that is as intelligent and compelling!
Margarethe von Stahle is a young girl, gifted and intelligent beyond her years. She finished college while still in her teens, and is focused on becoming a doctor, a profession unheard of for a woman in the early 1900s. She fought against the flow and became a sought-after doctor, regardless of how most of the medical community resented her presence in their world.
Marriage and the production of a heir was expected of Margarethe, even though these two requirements were not what she saw in her future.
This is a fascinating look at a powerful and passionate woman, determined to live life on her own terms, and all the people in her life who tried to stop her.
Every single character is well-rounded and necessary. They add layers and colors to what could sometimes be a colorless world during World War I and beyond. This could be a stand alone novel, but the best thing to do is read the other books in this series: Occasions of Sin, Lies of Omission and Acts of Contrition. You will love learning about the world Margarethe von Stahle inhabits, about how she insists on marching to the beat of her own drum and how those around respect her, sometimes grudgingly, but always completely.
Be warned though, you will need to search high and low to find another book to read after this one, another book that is as intelligent and compelling!
September 13, 2025
I liked this pretty well. The protagonist is almost preposterously perfect, being noble, beautiful, rich, brilliant, and a talented singer, but she's also a spoiled brat who keeps throwing temper tantrums well into adulthood, so at least she has one redeeming quality. It's always funny to read about European nobility in the early 20th Century. You want to reach into the page to let them know that none of their concerns for bloodlines, inheritance, or their land will matter for much longer. The medical stuff was much more detailed than I expected, and pretty interesting. I also appreciated the inclusion of links in the ebook to so many of the songs. I knew some of the pieces, but most were new to me, a good variety from Mozart to Kurt Weill.
March 30, 2021
This book was absolute satisfaction. Anything I wanted to know about young Margerette was there. Her pranks, boredom, marriage and everything else you hear her talk about in previous books. I wholeheartldy agree with Graf's decision to make this the first book and not a prequel type thing. I am not going to talk about the plot but I love the ending it is a great ending and segue to book 2.
*Received an ARC for an honest review
*Received an ARC for an honest review
April 3, 2021
As a reader of the other books in the Passing Rites series I wasn’t disappointed in this new book by the author. I had never before thought that I would enjoy the historical novel genre until I read the first book in the series and hadn’t stopped. The characters are interesting and I felt as if I was part of the story rather than just an observer. Although the book is long it is never tedious or boring. I anxiously await the next book by this author.
April 16, 2021
Compelling
Engaging, entertaining, a book I just couldn’t put down till the end. I love the plot development in the context of its history! And the characters are so well-developed and three dimensional, I felt myself empathizing, laughing, and mourning with them. If my eyes weren’t so tired from reading all day, I would immediately begin the next book in the series, Occasions of Sin! How delicious!
Engaging, entertaining, a book I just couldn’t put down till the end. I love the plot development in the context of its history! And the characters are so well-developed and three dimensional, I felt myself empathizing, laughing, and mourning with them. If my eyes weren’t so tired from reading all day, I would immediately begin the next book in the series, Occasions of Sin! How delicious!
September 1, 2024
A great start to the series. I loved following Margarethe's growth and change throughout the years. There were many deaths,affairs, and experiences that really developed her character well. It's an excellent prequel, 5 stars 🌟
April 3, 2021
This was an excellent last volume in a bold and beautiful story. It was wonderful to revisit Margarethe and learn about her formative younger years.
Even though this book takes place before the others I still suggest keeping for last.
Even though this book takes place before the others I still suggest keeping for last.
May 17, 2024
Fascinating History with a Sapphic Protagonist!
Who knew history could be so fascinating while also being Sapphic?
As you read The Imperative of Desire, it is as though you are there, walking with the inhabitants through history that comes to life as we live it through Margarethe’s eyes and experiences. And the diverse, well-developed, three-dimensional cast of characters who populate her world and inhabit this beautifully written story are realistic and intriguing.
And the storyline itself is rich with colorful descriptions mainly of the life and times in Germany and England from before The Great War through the Depression of the late 1920's, including a violent revolution in Germany immediately after WW1.
There is also a secret mission to Russia that our main character, Margarethe von Stahle, and her father take in hopes of avoiding a full-out war after a Serbian radical shot and killed the Grand Duke of Austria, and there are short trips to Italy that include excavating treasures.
The historical facts flow smoothly within the story as it moves forward, filled with complicated love interests, duties, and the challenges of being a woman and a lesbian. Though our heroine is of nobility, she takes her duty of care for others quite seriously, even giving up her dream of a career in music to fight hard to become an outstanding lady doctor in a time when that is frowned upon.
The Imperative of Desire is captivating and will hold your interest from the first paragraph all the way to the last page. I'm thrilled that I won this eBook in a contest because it was so enjoyable that I never wanted it to end. Now I'm looking forward to reading more of Margarethe von Stahle while continuing this amazing journey of love, family, friendship, and duty through history in The Passing Rite series.
Elena Graf wrote a phenomenal, exceptionally enthralling historical lesbian romance that I highly recommend.
Who knew history could be so fascinating while also being Sapphic?
As you read The Imperative of Desire, it is as though you are there, walking with the inhabitants through history that comes to life as we live it through Margarethe’s eyes and experiences. And the diverse, well-developed, three-dimensional cast of characters who populate her world and inhabit this beautifully written story are realistic and intriguing.
And the storyline itself is rich with colorful descriptions mainly of the life and times in Germany and England from before The Great War through the Depression of the late 1920's, including a violent revolution in Germany immediately after WW1.
There is also a secret mission to Russia that our main character, Margarethe von Stahle, and her father take in hopes of avoiding a full-out war after a Serbian radical shot and killed the Grand Duke of Austria, and there are short trips to Italy that include excavating treasures.
The historical facts flow smoothly within the story as it moves forward, filled with complicated love interests, duties, and the challenges of being a woman and a lesbian. Though our heroine is of nobility, she takes her duty of care for others quite seriously, even giving up her dream of a career in music to fight hard to become an outstanding lady doctor in a time when that is frowned upon.
The Imperative of Desire is captivating and will hold your interest from the first paragraph all the way to the last page. I'm thrilled that I won this eBook in a contest because it was so enjoyable that I never wanted it to end. Now I'm looking forward to reading more of Margarethe von Stahle while continuing this amazing journey of love, family, friendship, and duty through history in The Passing Rite series.
Elena Graf wrote a phenomenal, exceptionally enthralling historical lesbian romance that I highly recommend.
August 2, 2021
This is the beginning of an excellent series. Margarethe is simple, yet complicated, in all aspects of her life. I both rooted for and against her at various points. I also felt a range of emotions. Pride at her accomplishments and strength of personality. Anger at some of her choices. Occasional humor. Finally sorrow at all her losses throughout the series.
I’ve not read any of Graf’s other books, but this series will definitely guide you through a range of emotions while you’re unable to put the book down.
I’ve not read any of Graf’s other books, but this series will definitely guide you through a range of emotions while you’re unable to put the book down.
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