| Title | : | The Guardian of Secrets and Her Deathly Pact |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1491877928 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781491877920 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 714 |
| Publication | : | First published September 6, 2013 |
The Guardian of Secrets and Her Deathly Pact Reviews
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I realised today that I have a problem. I finished reading the Guardian of Secrets last night and now I find myself longing to learn more about what happened to the Martinez family. But alas, with the demise of Maria the book has come to an end.
And what a book it is. I can well believe it took this long to write it because there is clear evidence all the way through that a lot of research went into it. From early 20th century country life in Kent to life in Valencia before and during the war, it was all written in such a way that for me as the reader it was easy to understand what happened and what the consequences were of these events.
Whether it was about Spain or the characters in the story, I never got lost. What struck me as well was the way the author kept track of Pedro, Miguel and Maria who all three experienced the war from completely different angles. Added to that was Carlos and the ongoings of the Martinez-Merrill clan and as a final ingredient for this melange of varying personalities the miserable life of Joseph Dobbs. Brilliant plotting on Jana Petken’s part and a exhilarating read on mine.
One of the things I particularly like when reading accomplished writer's novels is their capacity in writing to finish every chapter in such a way that there is no chance you're going to put the book down when you finish it. In a review of a book a Philadelphia newspaper book reviewer classified the book therefore as "unputdownable", thus adding a new word to the language that has the most words since centuries anyway.
Personally I would have no hesitation qualifying "The Guardian" in the same way. I really did want to continue reading because I was interested in either learning more about the character, about what happened to him or her or how the events would develop.
The way people and situations are described deserves another mentioning as far as I am concerned. Jana has described countrysides in a way that brings the corresponding pictures straight to my mind's eye. You have described the political and military ongoings in a most understandable way and all of it of course verifiably correct. She described the most horrible scenes associated with warfare in a way that leaves little or nothing to anyones imagination without ever becoming offending. I enjoyed all of the characters in the book, the goodies and the baddies alike, because they were so well placed and fitted perfectly in with the rest of them. One of the characters that makes an appearance refers strongly to Jana’s personal background and turns out to be a wee bit of a surprise himself at the very end .A very nice one, Jana, it really did make me finish the book with a smile on my face.
Thank you very much for all the comfortable hours in our living room reading your debut novel.
I wish you and all of us that many more may follow. -
This story really blew me away. It's a great period piece that I found to be suspenseful and intriguing. It’s the kind of story that you can really get attached to. The writing was clear, crisp, and natural with a gripping story that kept me guessing all the way through. Before reading this book I had very little knowledge of the Spanish Civil war. This story was a real eye opener for me and I was absorbed in the history that was shared in an entertaining way.
This was the kind of book that was hard to walk away from. I ended up reading much longer than expected because I really wanted to know what was coming next. This emotional story touched me. The author has a real gift of telling a story that grabs you and pulls you in from start to finish.
I was emotionally absorbed into this saga that somehow felt real. It was easy to connect to the life-like characters, realistic dialog and ongoing drama. I would highly recommend “The Guardian of Secrets: And Her Deathly Pact." -
BlueInk Red Star review
Debut novelist Jana Petken delivers a powerful family epic that chronicles the travails of a British woman and her family during the Spanish Civil War. Recently wedded, Celia Merrill Dobbs' initial expectations of marital bliss quickly dissolve in 1912, when her husband Joseph reveals he has married her only to inherit her wealthy father's prosperous farm in the English countryside. After Celia discovers that Joseph is her father's killer, she and their newborn son Peter escape to Spain.
In Spain, she lives with the Martinéz family, aristocratic landholders in Valencia. Celia becomes enamoured with widower Ernesto Martinéz. They soon marry and raise their four children amid rising political tensions gripping the country.
Petken masterfully moves the gripping action along by creating credible characters and suspenseful plot twists. Writing in a straightforward manner and infusing scenes with details that inform but don't overwhelm, she portrays each of the characters' efforts to survive while coming to terms both with the horrors of wartime and personal bouts with excessive pride and passion.
Though the action is grounded in a particular time and place, the novel's concerns are universal, as typified when Celia's daughter ruminates on whether Spain would eventually "look back and feel proud of a war that had killed hundreds of thousands...or would it feel as she did now, betrayed by men with selfish political ambitions and lust for power." Despite its length, the captivating story succeeds brilliantly and becomes an unforgettable page-turner.
This is a must-read for historical fiction fans.(less)
KIRKUS
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REVIEWS
TITLE INFORMATION
THE GUARDIAN OF SECRETS
Petken, Jana
AuthorHouse (714 pp.)
ISBN: 978-1481775748; September 11, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
A suspenseful, compelling historical novel.
A dark debut novel about a woman’s escape from a life of abuse and her ensuing struggle
By all appearances, Celia Dobbs has everything a young Englishwoman in 1912 could want. She’s newly married to Joseph Dobbs, a handsome man with whom she’s besotted, and is the daughter of Peter Merrill, a wealthy man whose ownership of a vast farm ensures that Celia and Joseph will live well.
But all is not as it seems: Joseph soon shows his true colours as a violent drunk with gambling debts, and he proves to be a severely abusive husband, flinging expletives and punches as swiftly as he once cast promises of love. His dark side takes on added horror when Celia learns that he’s responsible for the murder of her father.
With the help of her aunt Marie, Celia and her new born son escape from Kent to Spain, and Marie promises that she will see justice served while Celia’s away. Once in Spain, Celia meets a man named Ernesto and begins the next chapter of her life.
After Joseph’s trial ends with a guilty verdict and order of execution, Marie decides to give Celia the dignity of being a widow instead of a divorcee, by destroying the divorce papers that would have freed Celia from her marriage.
Back in Spain, the novel details Celia’s recovery and her children’s developing lives, and they become key players in a tense, fast-paced story.
The writing is often captivating, with a consistently engaging tone throughout, although the violent scenes are somewhat graphic and disturbing. Celia’s growth as a character truly sets this novel apart as more than a simple drama: It’s also a commentary on how strong a woman can become when facing adversity.
Reader's Favorite 5 Stars
The rich, vivid descriptions of each scene and surroundings, from England to Spain, are excellently portrayed and easy to visualize. All in all, The Guardians of Secrets is a thrilling and engaging read. It will definitely please historical fiction fans.
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"The Guardian of Secrets and Her Deathly Pact" by Jana Petken is an excellent historical read.
It follows a woman and her misfortune in Kent in 1912 and her subsequent life in Spain that is brought into turmoil again through the civil war.
Celia is a powerful and impressive protagonist whose thoughtful and deeply feeling character instantly made me like and feel for her. Her dreadful marriage and the murder of her father would have been enough drama for one book, but Petken moves beyond the time in Englnad and brings Celia to beautiful Spain where she meets her husband Ernesto, a man with his own past.
It was fascinating to read about such an eventful life and heart breaking to see how a woman, who only tries to find some peace for herself, is drawn from one drama into the next.
The historical details and descriptions for both periods were clearly well researched and showed a warm love for both countries.
I knew little about the Spanish War and was very impressed how much I learned and how well Petken presented the complexities of this Civil War.
This is a powerful story told with great authority, warmth and reflection. -
The Guardian of Secrets sent me on a journey into the early 20th Century with characters I grew to love or hate. The descriptive, captive way, in which the author, Jana Petken wrote, left me feeling as though I were in the story.
The well researched and harrowing account of a civil war where family members fought against each other was brilliantly portrayed. Add that to the decisions these characters made, the way , in which they grew from these decisions, the evil of Joseph Dobbs, and the passion of Maria and Carlos, and you have a well rounded, excellent piece of historical fiction. If you love historical books, you won't find better than this. -
I don’t want to give away any part of this novel, but I will say I thought the character Celia Dobbs was superbly written. The author’s writing style is clear and uncluttered, yet conveys the feel of the settings and characters very well. You will find yourself caring about the various characters and wanting to know what happens to them. The storylines are very compelling.
I haven’t read historical fiction for a long time and find myself drawn once again to this genre because of this book. -
What a great book.
I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline, and the interacting of the characters is intriguing and enjoyable.
Not many books that I can't put down, but this was definitely one.
Well worth the read. -
The Guardian of Secrets is 600+ pages long but I managed to read it ll in just a couple of sittings. The story kept moving forward and didn't drag, and I found the period details (early 20th century) really brought the characters and their world to life. Enjoyable and easily recommended!
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Jana Petken’s ‘The Guardian of Secrets: And Her Deadly Pact’ is a massive sprawling piece of historical fiction that is a stunning and thoroughly epic achievement.
From the opening prologue where a laborious and painstaking final journal entry is scrawled in the present day by a character recounting a life of secrets, sorrows, trials and tribulations, we then launch back to where this gargantuan saga of a now vastly prosperous family begins, way back to 1912 in Kent, England.
Downtrodden heroine Celia Merrill Dobbs should be living her dream, she is born of privilege with fortune at her disposal and is only relatively recently married to the good-looking Joseph, but of course, scratch beneath the surface of this apparently perfect facade, and one will find that the boorish drunken Joseph is but a monster wearing a man’s face. The love that may have drawn them blissfully together and been apparent on their wedding day has long since shrivelled up and died, and Joseph reveals what lurks inside him instead.
Thus begins this gripping dramatic literary accomplishment, one that stretches from these beginnings in England in the early 1900’s all the way to Spain and the Civil war which occurs some twenty odd years later, carrying right through to the present day which both initiates and culminates the lengthy tale.
Petken writes with a fluid and captivating style, and intricately fills scenes with impeccable detail, so while ‘The Guardian of Secrets: And Her Deadly Pact’ is a remarkably long book it never feels like it, it is populated by a host of entirely involving characters, though the reasons for them being so engrossing are not always pleasant. A prime example of this is Joseph Dobbs himself, a man riddled with hatred and despicable habits, and his villainous attributes and actions set him apart from some of the more gentle souls of the piece.
Considering the enormous scope of the book and the protracted timeline of it, naturally there are a great rollercoaster ride of moments throughout, the soaring highs tempered by the devastating lows, and from tragedy to triumph, despair and desolation to touching romances set to a backdrop of war it sweeps, managing to retain interest throughout the duration. It is neither solely a drama, nor a straightforward historical saga, a romance story or a tragic tale, it is all of the above, in a successful melange combining elements from each component to create an opus that will remain with you long after you have finished reading. -
Historical fiction is my first love. I read widely and I'm always looking for new authors. I would like to say that The Guardian of Secrets has won me over, but I can't. My first problem with it was that it could have been set in the present day. To write historical fiction you have to evoke the past, but I got not one bit of that here. Even the war struck me as off key.
I don't know if this novel was self published, but I'm guessing it was. A good editor would have worked with Petken to carve this novel down to a reasonable size and that would have helped enormously with what I can only call a terribly plodding, overwrought plot.
It's really important in a novel of this length to generate some tension -- and repeatedly-- but here everything is laid out in painful detail when telling less would have engaged the reader more. The characterizations are shallow; the terrible abusive husband is all bad, black as sin, murderous. The wife is blindly in love, frustrating in her extreme naive view of the world, and truly -- the only word I can come up with -- boring.
Generally I just don't review novels that don't work for me, because often I recognize that a particular novel is well put together, but not my cup of tea. That's not the case here. I suppose I felt compelled to write a review because of the absolutely glowing reviews. I'm at a loss, I confess. I just don't get it. -
I so enjoyed this book I could not put it down. I remember when I finished reading "Gone with the Wind" many years ago, that I cried when I finished it, feeling that I would never find another book as good as that one. Of course I did, many times, but that feeling was with me as I tried to slow down on the last few pages of Jana Petken's book "The Guardian of Secrets and her Deathly Pact".
The history of the time is scrupulously researched. The Spanish Civil War has always been a bit of a mystery to me, although I have read many factual books and a couple of novels about it. This book really helped me to understand the upheaval there must have been for the families involved, sometimes brother against brother, etc.
Jana's characters are so finely drawn, I felt that I knew them and had met them. I judge books by "Is it worth a second read?" Definitely yes, after a few weeks or months I will read it again, as I devoured it voraciously the first time. Well done Jana Petken, you have fulfilled your duties as an author, to inform and thoroughly entertain! -
The Guardian of Secrets is a family saga set in the early 20th century. It is well written story about the life of Celia Dobbs.
Celia’s married life is not what she expected. Her husband Joseph turns out to be a violent drunk who treats her heavy-handedly. Celia escapes from her abusive husband and ends up in Spain. But life does not offer simple solutions to Celia. She finds love from the arms of Spanish man Ernesto but ends up in the middle of Spanish Civil war. Meanwhile a shadow from her past stands still, only waiting for the right moment to strike and destroy everything she loves and holds dear.
This book has very captivating storyline, with historical twists and turns. Interesting characters kept me glued on the book from the beginning, smoothly leading me deeper and deeper into the story, which is not only a story about Celia’s growing and surviving but also a story about love, family values and history. Something, which every reader who likes historical fiction will love! -
First off I was moved to tears in parts of this book as I had come to care for the characters that much. No, I will not say where, as that would be a spoiler. The families involved in this story were intricately drawn individual, drawing deep sympathy for the good ones, or plain hatred in the case of the bad people they had to encounter.
The time setting of the story was about a particularly disturbing section of history that is often overlooked, subdued as it were between two world wars in the most part. How the Spanish Nationals coped with what happened to their country is very well portrayed and I learned a whole lot about the various factions, loyalties and misconceptions leading to tragedy on a personal and national front. I also enjoyed the rich contrast between life on an English hop farm, also with animals, and a Spanish hacienda managing orange groves. I had no idea Spain supplied silk at one time and these little snippets of history were fascinating. Nicely done. -
A Beautiful Story, Masterfully Told!
Through her epic saga, novelist Jana Petken, transports the reader back in time. Her vivid imagery and impeccable language immerses you in the historical period leaving you breathless and wiser. The perspective of the characters is completely consistent with their situation and time period. I am very impressed with the reality of this story. It is a story of love, abuse, and passion, in which Ms. Petken touches on universal commonalities between all people. The characters a rich, the emotions are raw and heartfelt, at times you may cry. You definitely won’t put it down and you’ll be thankful it is so long. For the record: These have been my truthful opinions after thoroughly enjoying the book, but you should know that I did receive a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my fair and honest review. -
The Guardian of Secrets and Her Deathly pact is a very compelling historical read. This debut novel is about a woman’s escape from a life of abuse and the challenges life brings her.
Celia Dobbs has everything an Englishwoman in 1912 could want. She marries handsom Joseph Dobbs, a man she is deeply in love with. She is also the daughter of Peter Merrill, a wealthy man whose inheritance will enable Celia to live a comfortable life.
As the characters reveal themselves, all is not as it would seem in this dark novel.
This is a very long novel but it is easy to read due to the pace. There are some violent scenes, but overall I was enamored with Celia's growth and development into a strong female character. -
This has been one of the best books that I have read in a long time! I am not exaggerating when I say that my life came to a standstill till I finished the book. I can only marvel at the amount of research the author must have done. It is a long book, but so well written that I found myself racing through it to find out what would happen next.
Her characters are brilliant, each one so well thought out, and beautifully developed. The story itself is in turns romantic, horrific, enchanting and as a whole, sublime. It had me close to tears very often and don’t get me started on the goose bumps.
I have to say Jana Petken, you are truly a brilliant writer! Please write more! This was a marvelous experience! -
An amazingly interwoven tale of family, love, betrayal all among the backdrops of the First World War, and too soon after, the Spanish Civil War. I could scarce put it down as I red of young Celia Merrill and her early abuses at the hands of her sociopath husband Joseph Dobbs, of her escape to Spain and safety, orchestrated by her aunt, but of the shadow that Dobbs continued to cast over their lives as he forever sought vengeance. If there were more stars to give than five, I would surely give them. It was a breathtaking tale and I absolutely recommend it to any fan of historical fiction. BRILLIANT!
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This historical family saga kept me on the edge of my seat! After escaping from her abusive husband, Celia Dobbs finds a home in a foreign land. More than that, she finds true love. But her worries are far from over when her volatile husband escapes prison and the authorities can't locate him. Can Celia have the life she's always dreamed of? Or will evil find her once again and destroy her.
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I read this book and thoroughly enjoyed it, even though it is not the sort of book I usually read. I found myself rooting for the success or demise of many of the book's characters, which I take as a sign that the characters are well developed and brought to life.
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I could not put this book down. I mainly read spirituality books so it was something different for me. -
Supreme drama!
The words that come to my mind after reading this book are - strength, courage, hope, love, family, and of course - destiny.
The cinematic arrangement is really worth mentioning. The book takes you straight into the heart of Goudhurst; a humble village in England, and the Merrill Farm , which boasts of its rich green fields and apple orchards amongst other details that makes up the rich environment.
Similar poetic justice has been upheld while describing Spain. The following quote from the book drew me into a beautiful landscape:
"This was his favorite time of the day, when the scent of the orange blossom from the groves overpowered the land and the sun sank between the peaks of the White Mountains at the edge of the Mediterranean. "
And right towards the end comes the dark, gritty and anxious descriptions of war battles. This, on many occasions, was really good or maybe a tad too terrifying for me. Kudos, never-the-less.
Supreme drama is what I wrote at the beginning of this review, and that is exactly what the author - Ms. Jana Petken, has penned down in this novel. A drama that spans across different nations and generations.
The highlight of this book is clearly the 'evolution' of the protagonist - Celia Merrill. One could easily identify her, since only a woman can be THIS sensitive, loving, forgiving, enduring in the face of hostility and be strong willed at the same time. And we wonder why the world is filled with so many 'Momma's boys'. It is for this very strength of steel they provide so effortlessly.
There should be a special mention about the character of Joseph Dobb. Monsters are never made overnight. Circumstances and personal capacities are the only reasons why people become who they are . I never found the right words to describe Marie Osborne, who is simply 'STRONG'. And what about Ernesto Martinez, the man who will become the light in Celia's life? Well, he is the 'ideal' man.
You will associate with all the characters in the book, their emotions however good or evil, their habits however incurable, the immense strength in all of their intents . You will lash out against their helplessness but only to realize how destiny has plans for each and everyone on this planet.
Another integral aspect of the book is the strong undercurrent of world politics that is laced into the story. It very well describes a situation / a state of mind that occupies everyone while they try to handle it along with their personal dilemmas.
I really enjoyed the war sequences, with the author being able to capture the intensity of it all BUT that's where it felt odd. The attempt to combine two different timelines made the book really lengthy. I mean, with such strong characters in the form of Celia's four children; Miguel, Pedro, Maria and Marta, that part could have spanned into a sequel.
Yes, certain portions were disturbing and would raise heated debates but the author would have written it based on some legible facts.
In all, the author has clearly proved her great talent in 'The Guardian of Secrets & Her Deathly Pact. '.
Ms. Jana Petken, congratulations on this great book! -
When I first looked at reading this book, I wasn't sure that I'd enjoy it enough to want to review. It's not my usual genre and with it being so long, I worried I would lose interest. I am happy to say that I was wrong, so VERY wrong. This book is great! Awesome! and really easy to get into and enjoy. The story is riveting and I found myself wishing for things to hurry up and for me to read faster. I spent nights telling myself "just one more chapter" even though it was late and I had to get some sleep. A real page turner that had me desperate to get to the end.
Jana Petken is a highly talented author who knows how to tell a good story. She hooks you within the first chapter and then you are desperate to read the snippets of information in each following chapter. You will laugh, you will cry, you will be a complete slave to this book until you reach the end and then, you'll want to read another by this great author. So do not be put off by it's length, there is a reason it's so long and it is packed full of plot, information and characters that you will grow to love and hate.
Even as I reached the ending, and figured there could be no more surprises, another few popped up and I was blown away with how well the story was crafted. A great read, highly recommended for those who love historical fiction, but really for anyone who loves a damn good book! -
“The Guardian of Secrets” is an incredible epic journey and one of the best historical fiction novels I’ve read in a long time. Even though the plot embraces a pretty extensive period of time – starting with the years leading into WWI and then later into WWII – and two different generations, it flows nicely and at a fast pace, which makes this novel a real page-turner. I also highly appreciated how the author used one family as an example to demonstrate how politics and war can break even the closest ties, when one gets carried away by his fascination with certain political leaders and their own ambition (what happened to Miguel) and the ones who struggle to choose between the orders they have to follow and the principles, which can’t allow them to follow those orders anymore, like it happened to Miguel’s brother, Pedro.
I couldn’t help but sympathize with Celia, a girl who was fragile and naïve at first, but who embraced all the challenges that life put in her way with an admirable strength: the abusive husband, the loss of her father and the grief she endured watching her family who she so carefully protected, fall apart in the dawn of the civil war in Spain.
This novel arises many important and internal questions and is definitely a must-read for anyone interested in history and just beautifully written literature. Five stars! -
An Unforgettable Family Saga
Ok, I’ve been really lucky that the books I’ve been reading lately have been phenomenal. The Guardian of the Deathly Pact is no exception. Wow, where do I begin?
First of all, the story tugged at all my emotions. Numerous times, I was left sobbing, fearful, or in shock. The author really does a great job at getting the readers to “feel.”
The book is long- I thought it was going to take me forever to finish. But after really getting into the story and the characters, I was hooked! I needed to find out what was happening to all of the characters.
Oh my gosh, and it was so easy to fall in love with these characters. Martha’s story broke my heart. I loved Celia and Earnesto’s relationship. And even the brothers- Pedro and Miguel… wow, each of them had their own story to share. But the story that really got me was that of Maria and Carlos.
What a fantastic job this author does! She shows the horrible effects of the war, and the confusion of the soldiers as they’re fighting… questioning their own beliefs.
I really enjoyed this book. It is very well written, and it will make you smile and cry with the characters. Trust me, this is not a story you want to miss. -
I could practically write a novel-length review for this epic. Relax; I won’t. An overview: the novel is a family saga that begins in England and travels to Spain, spanning several generations, overarching the Spanish Civil War.
Ms. Petken handles characterisation deftly, though I’d like to have seen Joseph’s devolution into the villain he is from the get-go [FYI, his comeuppance is great, but the sneaky author tricked me a couple times! And great courtroom scene, BTW.]. With a huge cast and the rich historical backdrop, keeping these characters straight and well delineated must have been a monumental task.
Personally, I might have stripped down much of the text – there is some telling of emotions rather than showing. But contrary to popular opinion, this is not a horrific crime, and greater economy might not have served the story, whereas Ms. Petken’s style seems to aptly suit it.
While the research that went into this work must have been enormous, that’s not the impressive part. No, the impressive part is Ms. Petken’s distillation of that research into a comprehensive – and comprehendible – fictional narrative that makes the reader feel the lives of these people, whether sinner or saint, villain or hero[ine]. -
Up front: If you are a fan of Diana Gabaldon, you will also love Jana Petken. Though the stories, their locations and timelines are different, the comparisons in style are unmistakable.
Jana Petken knows Spanish history and brings it to life in such a way as to immerse the reader in the events and the characters who make the story move. Explicit detail creates a sense of verisimilitude that many authors can only dream about. This is an epic story, sweeping through two generations that includes all of life’s ups and downs. A disgusting and abusive husband (Joseph), a wife who loves him (Celia) through all the beatings and mental abuse can’t bring herself to get out until her loving family steps in and shifts the table, sending the story into another country and family situation, from England to Spain. Here, a new story intertwined with the original begins. A new start, a new love and war await Celia and the telling of this tale takes on a new dimension and scope.
Like Gabaldon, too, this story is long, but the fascinating and perfectly executed plotlines make it a page turner. There is no wonder “Guardian of Secrets” has garnered so many noteworthy awards. I loved this book and I’m looking forward to reading more tales written by Jana Petken! -
THE GUARDIAN OF SECRETS by Jana Petken
From the first paragraph I knew this saga was going to be magnificently unputdownable.
I immediately connected with the quality of the writing and the characters; the naïve young bride so loyal as to maintain even the cruellest of her husband’s beatings in silence and secrecy.
From drama to drama at a perfect pace. No letting up. No over-writing. No filler plots, just pure drama. It’s a crescendo of historic early 19th century ‘life’ at its vilest, purest and most beautiful.
My heart ripped for the young bride, Celia, and my mouth went dry each time I read the name of her debauched young husband. The poker games are priceless, and with an impeccable writing style, the tension just builds and builds…
Having visited Spain many years ago, the scenery and descriptions still excite me, and the flavours and heat tantalise me. I am transported in a moment between these pages.
Oh, the gruesome young husband, and his horrifically deformed mother. But no more…
Suffice to say that if there were a higher award than 5 stars, this novel would be the one to receive them. It is my best read to date. -
I consider The Guardian of Secrets an informative historical novel with a grand sweeping narrative of a family that is primarily affected by the evils of one man and one war. Notwithstanding its arduous length (about 700 pages), this very absorbing book is difficult to ignore. The characters are very believable, and the settings from the English farmland to the war torn country of Spain can be experienced through the author's excellent narrative. Although I noticed a few errors in the edition I read, they were few and caused little distraction in this captivating volume. Regardless of the extremely artistic way in which this book was presented, I had some concerns that stem, essentially, from the writer's style which included the use of some trite literary phrases, some repetitiveness, and the occasional delay in expressing a point. In addition, I was personally (others may disagree) displeased regarding the decision made by the granddaughter at the end of the book (you will have to read it to understand to what I am eluding). Despite those minor drawbacks, I genuinely recommend this book. You will not be sorry.
