A SPELL OF SWALLOWS [LARGE PRINT]

by Sarah Harrison

Would you risk a stable marriage for a dangerous affair? Vivien Mariner loves her husband, and is adored by him in return. So why does she find herself so strongly drawn to John Ashe, the enigmatic stranger who appears in Eadenford, as if from nowhere, the summer after the Great War ends? Helping around the house and garden, Ashe quickly makes himself indispensable at the vicarage, insinuating himself ever deeper into village life. As the vicar's wife, Vivien must be above suspicion, but will the dark, dangerous pull of passion prove too strong for her to resist? The character of John Ashe has been a powerful presence in Sarah Harrison's two most recent novels, SWAN MUSIC and THE NIGHTINGALE'S NEST. But only now do we learn the full story of the events that moulded the man. Interweaving a devastating account of the bloody chaos of war with the ruthless seduction of a principled woman, Sarah paints an absorbing picture of the vulnerability of love.

Genres: Historical

Hardcover

First published October 4, 2007

Reviews

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review taken from my Blog Post #115, in May 2011, after borrowing book from the local library:

After nearly a week thinking about this book, and discussing it with my Mother I still can't make up my mind if I actually liked or disliked it ----- ambivalent can be the only word I suppose. Don't get me wrong it was incredibly well written, and it didn't feel like I was taking a penance to read the thing. Ambivalent can be the only word to Ashe too, and we have had heated debates about whether he was always going to turn out this way because of character traits he was born with, or indeed it was his upbringing and subsequent events ---- still can't make up our minds about that one. So, I would recommend this thought provoking book and a 4 Star rating from me.

Vicar's wife, Vivien Mariner loves her husband (Saxon), who in turn adores her. When an enigmatic stranger appears in the quiet village, John Ashe, she is strangely drawn to him as he helps around the house and church, and teaches her how to drive.

As the Vicar's wife she has to remain above suspicion and therefore is she able to avoid the dangerous pull of the passion writhing around within?

[Bert · Rating 2 out of 5]

John Ashe, a heavily mutulated war veteran arrives shortly after the Great War from nowhere in Eadenford. From a somewhat mysterious man, he evolves to an undispensable help to the vicar Saxon (also an amateur poet) and his beautiful wife Vivien. The author gradually discloses what happend to Ashe during the war in the 'in between' chapters all titled 'Mesopanatia'. It becomes obvious that it is no coincidence that Ashe arrived in this little village. The author builds a growing tension and suspense as the story evolves. Nontheless, towards the end, when all the pieces of the puzzle fall together I was left a bit on my appetite. All of a sudden, I had the impression that I was finishing a somewhat cheap boulevard novel that lacked any inspiration. 'A Spell of Swallows' is a novel about love, betrayal, passion, revenche...All in all a fascinating story with a somehwat disappointing end.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah Harrison writes like a cross between Nancy Mitford and the psychologically scary Barbara Vine. Her book is cheerful, dark and convoluted. As the cover says, "a serpent in paradise..." This isn't quite up to the standards of the other two authors, but I will definitely look for more of her work.

[Arieke Oolders · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ik moest echt mijn best doen om er doorheen te komen. De verschillende invalshoeken beviel me wel, maar het verhaal kwam laat (na driekwart) echt op gang. Op de voorkant stond: Een goed huwelijk, een onstuimige affaire. Ik moest heel wat lezen voordat die affaire omhoog kwam. De stukken over het oorlogsverleden vond ik irritant. Een stuk egoïsme.