The House at Riverton
3 journalers for this copy...
First published 2006 by Allen & Unwin in Australia as The Shifting Fog. First published in Great Britain in paperback 2007 by Pan Books an imprint of Pan Macmillan Ltd.
Grace Bradley went to work at Riverton House as a servant when she was just a girl, before the First World War. For years her life was inextricably tied up with the Hartford family, most particularly the two daughters, Hannah and Emmeline.
In the summer of 1924, at a glittering society party held at the house, a young poet shot himself. The only witnesses were Hannah and Emmeline and only they -- and Grace -- know the truth.
In 1999, when Grace is ninety-eight years old and living out her last days in a nursing home, she is visited by a young director who is making a film about the events of that summer. She takes Grace back to Riverton House and reawakens her memories. Told in flashback, this is the story of Grace's youth during the last days of Edwardian aristocratic privilege shattered by war, of the vibrant twenties and the changes she witnessed as an entire way of life vanished forever.
The novel is full of secrets -- some revealed, others hidden forever, reminiscent of the romantic suspense of Daphne du Maurier. It is also a meditation on memory, the devastation of war and a beautifully rendered window into a fascinating time in history.
Originally published to critical acclaim in Australia, already sold in ten countries and a #1 bestseller in England, The House at Riverton is a vivid, page-turning novel of suspense and passion, with characters -- and an ending -- the reader won't soon forget.
First published in Australia as The Shifting Fog.
Grace Bradley went to work at Riverton House as a servant when she was just a girl, before the First World War. For years her life was inextricably tied up with the Hartford family, most particularly the two daughters, Hannah and Emmeline.
In the summer of 1924, at a glittering society party held at the house, a young poet shot himself. The only witnesses were Hannah and Emmeline and only they -- and Grace -- know the truth.
In 1999, when Grace is ninety-eight years old and living out her last days in a nursing home, she is visited by a young director who is making a film about the events of that summer. She takes Grace back to Riverton House and reawakens her memories. Told in flashback, this is the story of Grace's youth during the last days of Edwardian aristocratic privilege shattered by war, of the vibrant twenties and the changes she witnessed as an entire way of life vanished forever.
The novel is full of secrets -- some revealed, others hidden forever, reminiscent of the romantic suspense of Daphne du Maurier. It is also a meditation on memory, the devastation of war and a beautifully rendered window into a fascinating time in history.
Originally published to critical acclaim in Australia, already sold in ten countries and a #1 bestseller in England, The House at Riverton is a vivid, page-turning novel of suspense and passion, with characters -- and an ending -- the reader won't soon forget.
First published in Australia as The Shifting Fog.
I did like the way Kate Morton writes, but yet I found the story a bit clumsy and boring. Maybe I hoped too much because I usually like historical fiction and family mysteries.
The book is on it's way to Bookgeo.
Journal Entry 4 by Bookgeo at Tampere, Pirkanmaa / Birkaland Finland on Thursday, September 15, 2011
Thank you very much, myrtillus! This book from the Finnish wishlist-tag game is now with me. I had House of Riverton on my wishlist for a long time so I am truly glad to be able to read it now. I really liked Morton's another novel The Forgotten Garden and I hope to like this one as much.
Myrtillus, I am sorry it took such a long time until I read this. I had very high hopes for this book as I adored Morton's second, The Forgotten Garden. There was so much good in this book too, wonderful emotional storytelling, vivid characters and great twenties atmosphere and historical references and so on. Just too bad that the story was perhaps a tad too long, it lost part of its speed in the middle part of the book. The latter part was then on the spot again.
Many thanks to myrtillus for the opportunity to read this whole-hearted novel! I will definitely read more from Morton and keep an eye out for her two newer novels.
I'll perhaps bring this our BC meeting tomorrow to see if this finds its way to someone's bag.
Toivelistakirjojen lukuhaaste
2014 Keep Them Moving # 25
Many thanks to myrtillus for the opportunity to read this whole-hearted novel! I will definitely read more from Morton and keep an eye out for her two newer novels.
I'll perhaps bring this our BC meeting tomorrow to see if this finds its way to someone's bag.
Toivelistakirjojen lukuhaaste
2014 Keep Them Moving # 25
I just remembered that this is on my Goodreads-wishlist!
Thanks, Bookgeo! :D
Thanks, Bookgeo! :D