History in Vogue discussion

Orphaned at an early age, Philip Ashley is raised by his benevolent older cousin, Ambrose. Resolutely single, Ambrose delights in Philip as his heir, a man who will love his grand home as much as he does himself. But the cosy world the two construct is shattered when Ambrose sets off on a trip to Florence. There he falls in love and marries - and there he dies suddenly.

Jealous of his marriage, racked by suspicion at the hints in Ambrose's letters, and grief-stricken by his death, Philip prepares to meet his cousin's widow with hatred in his heart.Despite himself, Philip is drawn to this beautiful, sophisticated, mysterious Rachel like a moth to the flame. And yet... might she have had a hand in Ambrose's death

from the virago modern classic edition

Reading Schedule for April

Week 1 : Chapters 1 - 6
Week 2 : Chapters 7 - 11
Week 3 : Chapters 12 - 16
Week 4 : Chapters 17 - 21
Week 5 : Chapters 22 - 26

Marie wrote: "Orphaned at an early age, Philip Ashley is raised by his benevolent older cousin, Ambrose. Resolutely single, Ambrose delights in Philip as his heir, a man who will love his grand home as much as h..."

Thanks for this - I own a copy & am hoping to be ready on the first. :)

Carol ♔Type, Oh Queen!♕ wrote: "Marie wrote..."

You're welcome :) My copy just arrived last night, I'm looking forward to it.

Lol between this book club and my f2f, it's the third time in 2 weeks that I've checked out a book from our library that's older than I! This one's in good shape, though (the others have next to no binding; there's a hidden thread, one tiny one certainly, holding these things together).

I read a few DuMauriers and Brontes when I was younger, but don't remember having read this one. If I did, it's a case of your perspective changing as you get older. I really enjoyed her observations on noise in other countries (part of which is a city vs country issue) when the narrator first arrives in Florence...it's something that I've noticed over the years in my travels-"What's the first sound you hear in the morning?" And the creepiness begins with the description of the villa's patio.

I also like the honesty of the perspective--the narrator admitting that some of his fears arise out of self-centredness.
And I'm sure that much has been said over the centuries of this woman capturing a male voice, so I won't bother, but interesting so far.