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孝褗泄 蟹邪胁褗褉褕懈 薪邪褕邪褌邪 薪芯褖
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368 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1946
329 people are currently reading
8336 people want to read
About the author
Daphne du Maurier
395听books9,568听followersDaphne du Maurier was born on 13 May 1907 at 24 Cumberland Terrace, Regent's Park, London, the middle of three daughters of prominent actor-manager Sir Gerald du Maurier and actress Muriel, n茅e Beaumont. In many ways her life resembles a fairy tale. Born into a family with a rich artistic and historical background, her paternal grandfather was author and Punch cartoonist George du Maurier, who created the character of Svengali in the 1894 novel Trilby, and her mother was a maternal niece of journalist, author, and lecturer Comyns Beaumont. She and her sisters were indulged as a children and grew up enjoying enormous freedom from financial and parental restraint. Her elder sister, Angela du Maurier, also became a writer, and her younger sister Jeanne was a painter.
She spent her youth sailing boats, travelling on the Continent with friends, and writing stories. Her family connections helped her establish her literary career, and she published some of her early work in Beaumont's Bystander magazine. A prestigious publishing house accepted her first novel when she was in her early twenties, and its publication brought her not only fame but the attentions of a handsome soldier, Major (later Lieutenant-General Sir) Frederick Browning, whom she married.
She continued writing under her maiden name, and her subsequent novels became bestsellers, earning her enormous wealth and fame. Many have been successfully adapted into films, including the novels Rebecca, Frenchman's Creek, My Cousin Rachel, and Jamaica Inn, and the short stories The Birds and Don't Look Now/Not After Midnight. While Alfred Hitchcock's films based upon her novels proceeded to make her one of the best-known authors in the world, she enjoyed the life of a fairy princess in a mansion in Cornwall called Menabilly, which served as the model for Manderley in Rebecca.
Daphne du Maurier was obsessed with the past. She intensively researched the lives of Francis and Anthony Bacon, the history of Cornwall, the Regency period, and nineteenth-century France and England. Above all, however, she was obsessed with her own family history, which she chronicled in Gerald: A Portrait, a biography of her father; The du Mauriers, a study of her family which focused on her grandfather, George du Maurier, the novelist and illustrator for Punch; The Glassblowers, a novel based upon the lives of her du Maurier ancestors; and Growing Pains, an autobiography that ignores nearly 50 years of her life in favour of the joyful and more romantic period of her youth. Daphne du Maurier can best be understood in terms of her remarkable and paradoxical family, the ghosts which haunted her life and fiction.
While contemporary writers were dealing critically with such subjects as the war, alienation, religion, poverty, Marxism, psychology and art, and experimenting with new techniques such as the stream of consciousness, du Maurier produced 'old-fashioned' novels with straightforward narratives that appealed to a popular audience's love of fantasy, adventure, sexuality and mystery. At an early age, she recognised that her readership was comprised principally of women, and she cultivated their loyal following through several decades by embodying their desires and dreams in her novels and short stories.
In some of her novels, however, she went beyond the technique of the formulaic romance to achieve a powerful psychological realism reflecting her intense feelings about her father, and to a lesser degree, her mother. This vision, which underlies Julius, Rebecca and The Parasites, is that of an author overwhelmed by the memory of her father's commanding presence. In Julius and The Parasites, for example, she introduces the image of a domineering but deadly father and the daring subject of incest.
In Rebecca, on the other hand, du Maurier fuses psychological realism with a sophisticated version of the Cinderella story.
She spent her youth sailing boats, travelling on the Continent with friends, and writing stories. Her family connections helped her establish her literary career, and she published some of her early work in Beaumont's Bystander magazine. A prestigious publishing house accepted her first novel when she was in her early twenties, and its publication brought her not only fame but the attentions of a handsome soldier, Major (later Lieutenant-General Sir) Frederick Browning, whom she married.
She continued writing under her maiden name, and her subsequent novels became bestsellers, earning her enormous wealth and fame. Many have been successfully adapted into films, including the novels Rebecca, Frenchman's Creek, My Cousin Rachel, and Jamaica Inn, and the short stories The Birds and Don't Look Now/Not After Midnight. While Alfred Hitchcock's films based upon her novels proceeded to make her one of the best-known authors in the world, she enjoyed the life of a fairy princess in a mansion in Cornwall called Menabilly, which served as the model for Manderley in Rebecca.
Daphne du Maurier was obsessed with the past. She intensively researched the lives of Francis and Anthony Bacon, the history of Cornwall, the Regency period, and nineteenth-century France and England. Above all, however, she was obsessed with her own family history, which she chronicled in Gerald: A Portrait, a biography of her father; The du Mauriers, a study of her family which focused on her grandfather, George du Maurier, the novelist and illustrator for Punch; The Glassblowers, a novel based upon the lives of her du Maurier ancestors; and Growing Pains, an autobiography that ignores nearly 50 years of her life in favour of the joyful and more romantic period of her youth. Daphne du Maurier can best be understood in terms of her remarkable and paradoxical family, the ghosts which haunted her life and fiction.
While contemporary writers were dealing critically with such subjects as the war, alienation, religion, poverty, Marxism, psychology and art, and experimenting with new techniques such as the stream of consciousness, du Maurier produced 'old-fashioned' novels with straightforward narratives that appealed to a popular audience's love of fantasy, adventure, sexuality and mystery. At an early age, she recognised that her readership was comprised principally of women, and she cultivated their loyal following through several decades by embodying their desires and dreams in her novels and short stories.
In some of her novels, however, she went beyond the technique of the formulaic romance to achieve a powerful psychological realism reflecting her intense feelings about her father, and to a lesser degree, her mother. This vision, which underlies Julius, Rebecca and The Parasites, is that of an author overwhelmed by the memory of her father's commanding presence. In Julius and The Parasites, for example, she introduces the image of a domineering but deadly father and the daring subject of incest.
In Rebecca, on the other hand, du Maurier fuses psychological realism with a sophisticated version of the Cinderella story.
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May 2, 2020
鈥淲hen the water drains from the marshes, and little by little the yellow sands appear, rippling and hard and firm, it seems to my foolish fancy, as I lie here, that I too go seaward with the tide, and all my old hidden dreams that I thought buried for all time are bare and naked to the day, just as the shells and the stones are on the sands.鈥�
It seems to me that Daphne du Maurier can do no wrong. As of today, I have read nine of her works, including seven novels and two collections of short stories. Five of these I鈥檝e awarded the illustrious five stars, and the rest a notable four stars. I love her writing to pieces. Like a schoolgirl being asked to prom, I become unreasonably giddy just at the thought of picking up one of her books!
Confession: For a brief moment, I was skeptical about picking up The King鈥檚 General. At first glance, it seemed to be classified more heavily towards historical fiction, rather than the Gothic mystery which I find so alluring in du Maurier鈥檚 hands. All those fears were wiped out when I read the very first page. Yes, this is historical fiction; it takes place during the English Civil War with the supporters of Charles I, the Royalists, pit against the Parliamentarians. However, it鈥檚 much more than that 鈥� it鈥檚 a mystery, a tragedy and a romance. The Gothic element is clearly there, complete with a sprawling mansion, secret passages, and the whisperings of a ghost. And the icing on an already scrumptious cake 鈥� the setting is Cornwall!
Honor Harris and Richard Grenville meet when Honor is eighteen and Richard ten years her senior. Both are passionate and headstrong and there is an instant chemistry between the two. But this is du Maurier, and romance in her hands is not of the sweet, saccharine variety. Their love is cursed from the start, although never truly extinguished. Honor Harris tells us their story, looking back after a period of years.
鈥淚 will say for Richard what he never said for himself, and I will show how, despite his bitter faults and failings, it was possible for a woman to love him with all her heart, and mind, and body and I that woman.鈥�
Richard is indeed a flawed hero, if we can in fact call him a hero. He鈥檚 courageous, brazen, and loyal to those that have earned his admiration and trust. He is also bitter and vengeful, and his morals slide into that slippery gray area. Honor is most certainly the heroine of the novel, and du Maurier鈥檚 use of the first person narration here is extremely effective. The reader can understand her very intimately 鈥� what drives her devotion to Richard and how her pride has affected the lives of others. She鈥檚 intelligent and perceptive and many of her kinfolk look to her for advice and security. Her faithful servant Matty is her constant ally and I would go so far as to call her something of a heroine in her own right.
A drama like this one naturally has to have a villain as well. Who is this villain, you wonder? Well, du Maurier doesn鈥檛 necessarily make this completely evident either. This seems to be a trademark of her work 鈥� the ambiguous nature of some of the characters that leave the reader with many questions long after finishing the last page (think My Cousin Rachel.) On the surface, she鈥檚 written Gartred, Richard鈥檚 bewitching sister, as what should be the obvious villainess. You鈥檒l have to decide for yourself if she fits neatly into this label or not. When Honor describes Gartred to the reader, she does so with the perfect analogy. I couldn鈥檛 help but think of those blood-red rhododendrons that greet the second Mrs. de Winter upon her arrival to Manderley!
鈥淭here was one flower, an orchid, that grew alone; it was the color of pale ivory, with one little vein of crimson running through the petals. The scent filled the house, honeyed, and sickly sweet. It was the loveliest flower I had ever seen. I stretched out my hand to stroke the soft velvet sheen, and swiftly my uncle pulled me by the shoulder. 鈥楧on鈥檛 touch it, child. The stem is poisonous.鈥欌€�
I could go on talking for ages about the excellent characterization, the breathtaking scenery, the trademark mysterious atmosphere, the clever foreshadowing, and the remarkable writing that I have found in this and all of du Maurier鈥檚 work. I should also mention that I learned so much more than I could have imagined about the English Civil War and in particular, the battles that were fought on Cornish ground. When I finished, however, I realized that I hadn鈥檛 been put through some grueling history lesson, but rather an enthralling account of what it would have been like for both the soldiers and the civilians during this time. It鈥檚 as if du Maurier wielded her inventive pen and waved her magical wand 鈥� by the end not only had I been swept away by the people and their hopes and dreams, their fears and insecurities, and their passions, but I had also been enlightened on a period of history that I knew little about. This is another clear favorite!
鈥淭ime heals all wounds, say the complacent, but I think it is not so much time that does it as determination of the spirit. And the spirit can often turn to devil in the darkness.鈥�
It seems to me that Daphne du Maurier can do no wrong. As of today, I have read nine of her works, including seven novels and two collections of short stories. Five of these I鈥檝e awarded the illustrious five stars, and the rest a notable four stars. I love her writing to pieces. Like a schoolgirl being asked to prom, I become unreasonably giddy just at the thought of picking up one of her books!
Confession: For a brief moment, I was skeptical about picking up The King鈥檚 General. At first glance, it seemed to be classified more heavily towards historical fiction, rather than the Gothic mystery which I find so alluring in du Maurier鈥檚 hands. All those fears were wiped out when I read the very first page. Yes, this is historical fiction; it takes place during the English Civil War with the supporters of Charles I, the Royalists, pit against the Parliamentarians. However, it鈥檚 much more than that 鈥� it鈥檚 a mystery, a tragedy and a romance. The Gothic element is clearly there, complete with a sprawling mansion, secret passages, and the whisperings of a ghost. And the icing on an already scrumptious cake 鈥� the setting is Cornwall!
Honor Harris and Richard Grenville meet when Honor is eighteen and Richard ten years her senior. Both are passionate and headstrong and there is an instant chemistry between the two. But this is du Maurier, and romance in her hands is not of the sweet, saccharine variety. Their love is cursed from the start, although never truly extinguished. Honor Harris tells us their story, looking back after a period of years.
鈥淚 will say for Richard what he never said for himself, and I will show how, despite his bitter faults and failings, it was possible for a woman to love him with all her heart, and mind, and body and I that woman.鈥�
Richard is indeed a flawed hero, if we can in fact call him a hero. He鈥檚 courageous, brazen, and loyal to those that have earned his admiration and trust. He is also bitter and vengeful, and his morals slide into that slippery gray area. Honor is most certainly the heroine of the novel, and du Maurier鈥檚 use of the first person narration here is extremely effective. The reader can understand her very intimately 鈥� what drives her devotion to Richard and how her pride has affected the lives of others. She鈥檚 intelligent and perceptive and many of her kinfolk look to her for advice and security. Her faithful servant Matty is her constant ally and I would go so far as to call her something of a heroine in her own right.
A drama like this one naturally has to have a villain as well. Who is this villain, you wonder? Well, du Maurier doesn鈥檛 necessarily make this completely evident either. This seems to be a trademark of her work 鈥� the ambiguous nature of some of the characters that leave the reader with many questions long after finishing the last page (think My Cousin Rachel.) On the surface, she鈥檚 written Gartred, Richard鈥檚 bewitching sister, as what should be the obvious villainess. You鈥檒l have to decide for yourself if she fits neatly into this label or not. When Honor describes Gartred to the reader, she does so with the perfect analogy. I couldn鈥檛 help but think of those blood-red rhododendrons that greet the second Mrs. de Winter upon her arrival to Manderley!
鈥淭here was one flower, an orchid, that grew alone; it was the color of pale ivory, with one little vein of crimson running through the petals. The scent filled the house, honeyed, and sickly sweet. It was the loveliest flower I had ever seen. I stretched out my hand to stroke the soft velvet sheen, and swiftly my uncle pulled me by the shoulder. 鈥楧on鈥檛 touch it, child. The stem is poisonous.鈥欌€�
I could go on talking for ages about the excellent characterization, the breathtaking scenery, the trademark mysterious atmosphere, the clever foreshadowing, and the remarkable writing that I have found in this and all of du Maurier鈥檚 work. I should also mention that I learned so much more than I could have imagined about the English Civil War and in particular, the battles that were fought on Cornish ground. When I finished, however, I realized that I hadn鈥檛 been put through some grueling history lesson, but rather an enthralling account of what it would have been like for both the soldiers and the civilians during this time. It鈥檚 as if du Maurier wielded her inventive pen and waved her magical wand 鈥� by the end not only had I been swept away by the people and their hopes and dreams, their fears and insecurities, and their passions, but I had also been enlightened on a period of history that I knew little about. This is another clear favorite!
鈥淭ime heals all wounds, say the complacent, but I think it is not so much time that does it as determination of the spirit. And the spirit can often turn to devil in the darkness.鈥�
February 11, 2021
READ THIS BOOK! Another du Maurier gem! Set in Cornwall, mostly in the real life Manderly, which was called Menabilly, where du Maurier was residing at the time. The book starts off with privileged young Honor Harris and arrogant, assured and proud Richard Grenville destined to elope, when she is involved in a preventable accident that leaves her crippled for life! Years on with Richard a leading Royalist military leader and Honor, a chair bound spinster, their lives become entwined again with each other, and with the politics and battles of the English Civil War in Cornwall!
I ask myself, if someone asked me why they should read this book, what would I say:
"This book starts as a very interesting historical romance, then takes a swerve using some of the most oft use tropes in Gothic dramas (Gothic mansion, a bad boy romance, secret room, distorted physicality) and then takes this constructed historical reality, to tell an absorbing story of the English Civil War, aristocratic masculinity and familial love that had me exclaiming aloud as I ate up chapters towards the end, which probably had my neighbours worried."
I can't even begin to go over all the greatness of this work. but here's some of my highlights; the meticulously researched (with the help of historian A.L Rose) historical details; the use of a primary disabled female character, and a secondary gay character for a book written in the 1940s!; the heart rending captures of the highs and lows of war, war politics and how it impacted on the people of Cornwall; the creation of a believable and explainable 'bad-boy' in the General, that makes sense and is not just a trope; the story build up as a whole, and how it slowly transitions from a Gothic romance to something a lot darker, and more encompassing.
I try not to write long reviews, for fear of them not being read, but I couldn't sum up this book in my normal two paragraph format. I should also mention that this is the best English historical story I have consumed in any media, be it written or audio-visual Excellence! 10 out of 12, Five Star Read!!!
Just to give you one more piece of bookish greatness - du Maurier was inspired to write this book when she heard that during Menabilly restorations in 1824 a Cavalier's skeleton was found in a secret room at the base of a supporting buttress! Oh. Em. Gee.
I ask myself, if someone asked me why they should read this book, what would I say:
"This book starts as a very interesting historical romance, then takes a swerve using some of the most oft use tropes in Gothic dramas (Gothic mansion, a bad boy romance, secret room, distorted physicality) and then takes this constructed historical reality, to tell an absorbing story of the English Civil War, aristocratic masculinity and familial love that had me exclaiming aloud as I ate up chapters towards the end, which probably had my neighbours worried."
I can't even begin to go over all the greatness of this work. but here's some of my highlights; the meticulously researched (with the help of historian A.L Rose) historical details; the use of a primary disabled female character, and a secondary gay character for a book written in the 1940s!; the heart rending captures of the highs and lows of war, war politics and how it impacted on the people of Cornwall; the creation of a believable and explainable 'bad-boy' in the General, that makes sense and is not just a trope; the story build up as a whole, and how it slowly transitions from a Gothic romance to something a lot darker, and more encompassing.
I try not to write long reviews, for fear of them not being read, but I couldn't sum up this book in my normal two paragraph format. I should also mention that this is the best English historical story I have consumed in any media, be it written or audio-visual Excellence! 10 out of 12, Five Star Read!!!
Just to give you one more piece of bookish greatness - du Maurier was inspired to write this book when she heard that during Menabilly restorations in 1824 a Cavalier's skeleton was found in a secret room at the base of a supporting buttress! Oh. Em. Gee.
January 11, 2023
"It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light."
鈥擜谤颈蝉迟辞迟濒别鈥�
The King鈥檚 General is a sweeping English historical fiction novel covering a period during the 1640s and 1650s when civil war breaks out over who should hold ultimate power in England; the King, or parliament?
This story follows several families as a conflict rages that will change our new friends' lives and the face of the county of Cornwall forever.
In fine du Maurier fashion, the saga is told in the first person, and I became fast friends with the fierce narrator, Honor Harris. Miss Harris is in full bloom at eighteen, and her fiery, outspoken ways utterly enthrall the dashing Richard Grenville. Richard has a wicked reputation as a womanizer and gambler, and Honor's family is confident that he is not the man for her. She pays no mind to what they say and dives headlong into a torrid love affair with Master Grenville. Honor Harris is a strong female character who will not go down no matter what life throws at her, but karma certainly seems to hold a particular grudge against our heroine and those around her.
"Time heals all wounds, say the complacent, but I think it is not so much time that does it as determination of spirit. And the spirit can often turn to devil in the darkness."
If you are hoping for a happily ever after, this will not be your cup of tea. That said, this tale is filled with such delectable twists that I was left gasping for air! Daphne du Maurier is the consummate spinner of yarns. It was as if I had gone on holiday and met a stranger who shared with me their heart-rending story over the course of a week, weaving a web so darkly delicious that I was captivated from the first word to the last.
鈥擜谤颈蝉迟辞迟濒别鈥�
The King鈥檚 General is a sweeping English historical fiction novel covering a period during the 1640s and 1650s when civil war breaks out over who should hold ultimate power in England; the King, or parliament?
This story follows several families as a conflict rages that will change our new friends' lives and the face of the county of Cornwall forever.
In fine du Maurier fashion, the saga is told in the first person, and I became fast friends with the fierce narrator, Honor Harris. Miss Harris is in full bloom at eighteen, and her fiery, outspoken ways utterly enthrall the dashing Richard Grenville. Richard has a wicked reputation as a womanizer and gambler, and Honor's family is confident that he is not the man for her. She pays no mind to what they say and dives headlong into a torrid love affair with Master Grenville. Honor Harris is a strong female character who will not go down no matter what life throws at her, but karma certainly seems to hold a particular grudge against our heroine and those around her.
"Time heals all wounds, say the complacent, but I think it is not so much time that does it as determination of spirit. And the spirit can often turn to devil in the darkness."
If you are hoping for a happily ever after, this will not be your cup of tea. That said, this tale is filled with such delectable twists that I was left gasping for air! Daphne du Maurier is the consummate spinner of yarns. It was as if I had gone on holiday and met a stranger who shared with me their heart-rending story over the course of a week, weaving a web so darkly delicious that I was captivated from the first word to the last.
May 20, 2025
When thinking of the author Daphne du Maurier, most readers鈥� thoughts will quickly fly to her most famous novel, 鈥凌别产别肠肠补鈥�, and thence to 鈥淢补苍诲别谤濒别测鈥�, the house which played such a great part in the novel that it was almost a character in itself. And many know that Manderley really exists, but is known by another name: 鈥淢别苍补产颈濒濒测鈥�. It is situated just outside the tiny fishing village of Fowey, in Cornwall.
Menabilly held a fascination for Daphne du Maurier. She never actually owned it, but became besotted with it, when she lived in a nearby house, 鈥淔别谤谤测蝉颈诲别鈥�. Menabilly was almost inaccessible, lying as it does in a valley surrounded by extensive lands reaching down to the sea. It was empty and neglected, yet she still felt drawn to it, and explored the area for seventeen years, even though it was private land. Eventually, in 1943, the owner Dr. Rashleigh agreed to lease the house to her for twenty years.
Daphne du Maurier moved into Menabilly just before Christmas 1943, and never left Cornwall again if she could help it. Her obsession with the house never faltered. She called Menabilly her 鈥淗ouse of Secrets鈥� with good reason. And the first novel she published while living there in 1946, came about because of this. It was called The King鈥檚 General.
She set The King鈥檚 General partly in Menabilly, during the time of the English Civil War between 1642 and 1646, and chose for her characters the Rashleigh family, an old family who had lived in Menabilly for many generations. She had been inspired by events and in particular, one mystery, which it is crucial not to reveal until after reading the book.
The novel is narrated by a middle-aged woman, Honor Harris, who lives with her brother Robin, in a house in Tywardreath. She tells how when she is ten years old her oldest brother Kit brings his new bride, Gartred, back to the family home of Lanrest. Honor loves her brother dearly, but she never takes to the haughty Gartred, and her flirtatious ways. After only 3 years, Kit dies of smallpox, and Gartred moves away.
Honor meets Gartred鈥檚 brother Richard Grenvile for the first time when she is eighteen. He pays her a visit a few weeks later and they subsequently continue to meet in secret and fall in love. However Richard is ten years older than her, and has a reputation for being a harsh and ruthless man, used to riding roughshod over people and getting his own way. Honor鈥檚 family want her to marry a young man called Edward Champernowne instead. Honor runs away to Richard鈥檚 house in the middle of the night, and afterwards plans go ahead for their wedding to take place at the Grenvile family home at Stowe.
It is difficult to classify this complex, plot-driven novel. Daphne du Maurier did a great deal of research before writing the book, assisted by Oenone Rashleigh and the historian A.L. Rowse, to ensure historical accuracy. All the background of the Civil war: how it affected Devon, Cornwall, and particularly Menabilly, is based on fact. The characters too did live in the area at that time, but the story is invented. The accurate historical detail meant that it was popular among local people, but Daphne du Maurier was disappointed that the novel did not receive more critical accolades.
As well as an historical novel, The King鈥檚 General can been classed as a gothic novel, because of the archetypal gothic tropes. There is a distorted body, a secret room, and a secret passage, all of which are central to the plot. However, the language is contemporary at the time of writing, not of the setting, and this modern use of language, modern attitudes and manners rather belies the historical authenticity. Judged as an historical romance novel with gothic elements, though, I think it succeeds splendidly.
Menabilly held a fascination for Daphne du Maurier. She never actually owned it, but became besotted with it, when she lived in a nearby house, 鈥淔别谤谤测蝉颈诲别鈥�. Menabilly was almost inaccessible, lying as it does in a valley surrounded by extensive lands reaching down to the sea. It was empty and neglected, yet she still felt drawn to it, and explored the area for seventeen years, even though it was private land. Eventually, in 1943, the owner Dr. Rashleigh agreed to lease the house to her for twenty years.
Daphne du Maurier moved into Menabilly just before Christmas 1943, and never left Cornwall again if she could help it. Her obsession with the house never faltered. She called Menabilly her 鈥淗ouse of Secrets鈥� with good reason. And the first novel she published while living there in 1946, came about because of this. It was called The King鈥檚 General.
She set The King鈥檚 General partly in Menabilly, during the time of the English Civil War between 1642 and 1646, and chose for her characters the Rashleigh family, an old family who had lived in Menabilly for many generations. She had been inspired by events and in particular, one mystery, which it is crucial not to reveal until after reading the book.
The novel is narrated by a middle-aged woman, Honor Harris, who lives with her brother Robin, in a house in Tywardreath. She tells how when she is ten years old her oldest brother Kit brings his new bride, Gartred, back to the family home of Lanrest. Honor loves her brother dearly, but she never takes to the haughty Gartred, and her flirtatious ways. After only 3 years, Kit dies of smallpox, and Gartred moves away.
Honor meets Gartred鈥檚 brother Richard Grenvile for the first time when she is eighteen. He pays her a visit a few weeks later and they subsequently continue to meet in secret and fall in love. However Richard is ten years older than her, and has a reputation for being a harsh and ruthless man, used to riding roughshod over people and getting his own way. Honor鈥檚 family want her to marry a young man called Edward Champernowne instead. Honor runs away to Richard鈥檚 house in the middle of the night, and afterwards plans go ahead for their wedding to take place at the Grenvile family home at Stowe.
It is difficult to classify this complex, plot-driven novel. Daphne du Maurier did a great deal of research before writing the book, assisted by Oenone Rashleigh and the historian A.L. Rowse, to ensure historical accuracy. All the background of the Civil war: how it affected Devon, Cornwall, and particularly Menabilly, is based on fact. The characters too did live in the area at that time, but the story is invented. The accurate historical detail meant that it was popular among local people, but Daphne du Maurier was disappointed that the novel did not receive more critical accolades.
As well as an historical novel, The King鈥檚 General can been classed as a gothic novel, because of the archetypal gothic tropes. There is a distorted body, a secret room, and a secret passage, all of which are central to the plot. However, the language is contemporary at the time of writing, not of the setting, and this modern use of language, modern attitudes and manners rather belies the historical authenticity. Judged as an historical romance novel with gothic elements, though, I think it succeeds splendidly.
April 25, 2020
In England, I imagine there are months devoted in history classes to the reign of Charles I and the rise of Oliver Cromwell, Parliament and Puritan rule--The English Civil War. In the States, it is almost a passing mention in an attempt to cram all of World History into a single year of study. I love the way a historical novel such as this one can help to painlessly fill the gaps in a wanting education.
Then, there is Cornwall. My ancestry is almost exclusively English, I have found through my genealogical research, and if asked I would swear that there is something planted in my DNA that links me to Cornwall. I love it that much. Of course, it might just be my choice of authors, among them Daphne du Maurier, who manage to take you there and make you feel it is home.
I have seen the shadows creep on an autumn afternoon from the deep Pridmouth Valley to the summit of the hill, and there stay a moment, waiting on the sun. I have seen, too, the white sea mists of early summer turn the hill to fantasy, so that it becomes, in a single second, a ghost land of enchantment, with no sound coming but the wash of breakers on the hidden beach, where at high noon, the children gather cowrie shells. Dark moods too, of bleak November, when the rain sweeps in a curtain from the southwest. But quietest of all, the evenings of late summer, when the sun has set, and the moon has not yet risen, but the dew is heavy in the long grass.
The magic of Daphne du Maurier is that she can take what would be a romance in the hands of another author and turn it into such a deeper, more meaningful tale, without losing one bit of the fire, passion or mystery. The King鈥檚 General is nothing if not romantic. On its surface, it is the story of two star-crossed lovers who lose their chance at happiness but are never willing or able to lose one another. I think it is no mistake that Richard Grenvile鈥檚 love should be named Honor Harris, however, for the importance of truth and honor is at an understanding of his heart and the heart of the novel.
Where I am from we despise the memory of Tucumseh Sherman, but he did say something very wise and true, 鈥淲ar is hell鈥�. He probably wasn鈥檛 the first to say it. Many men who have watched the unnecessary loss of life and property in many a war must have said it, if only to themselves. It takes a particular kind of man to make a good soldier and only a very select group make great generals. The King鈥檚 General, Richard Grenvile, was such a man, and those kinds of men operate on honor, duty, and a willingness to do whatever must be done to win. Sherman burned Atlanta to the ground, Richard destroyed everything he should have held dear; both did it in the earnest belief that the cause they championed was the right one, the only one.
There are so many serious questions one encounters during the course of this novel. There are questions of love, what it should or can overlook in the beloved, what causes it to bloom and what keeps it alive, and if it is true, can it ever die? And what of bonds between fathers and sons? What does one owe the other? What is honor and can any act of contrition clear a dishonored man? What is strength? Physical prowess, mental sharpness, the willingness to die for something you believe in, the willingness to put everything you love at risk?
Daphne du Maurier answers some of these questions and leaves us pondering the others. In the process, she creates a host of characters that are unforgettable and gives us a glimpse of a war and a time that is all but forgotten. History is never so real as when you can put an individual experience to it, when the man hanging on the noose has a name and a smile, when the tomb that is sealed has a person inside and not just a name and dates on its stony surface.
Then, there is Cornwall. My ancestry is almost exclusively English, I have found through my genealogical research, and if asked I would swear that there is something planted in my DNA that links me to Cornwall. I love it that much. Of course, it might just be my choice of authors, among them Daphne du Maurier, who manage to take you there and make you feel it is home.
I have seen the shadows creep on an autumn afternoon from the deep Pridmouth Valley to the summit of the hill, and there stay a moment, waiting on the sun. I have seen, too, the white sea mists of early summer turn the hill to fantasy, so that it becomes, in a single second, a ghost land of enchantment, with no sound coming but the wash of breakers on the hidden beach, where at high noon, the children gather cowrie shells. Dark moods too, of bleak November, when the rain sweeps in a curtain from the southwest. But quietest of all, the evenings of late summer, when the sun has set, and the moon has not yet risen, but the dew is heavy in the long grass.
The magic of Daphne du Maurier is that she can take what would be a romance in the hands of another author and turn it into such a deeper, more meaningful tale, without losing one bit of the fire, passion or mystery. The King鈥檚 General is nothing if not romantic. On its surface, it is the story of two star-crossed lovers who lose their chance at happiness but are never willing or able to lose one another. I think it is no mistake that Richard Grenvile鈥檚 love should be named Honor Harris, however, for the importance of truth and honor is at an understanding of his heart and the heart of the novel.
Where I am from we despise the memory of Tucumseh Sherman, but he did say something very wise and true, 鈥淲ar is hell鈥�. He probably wasn鈥檛 the first to say it. Many men who have watched the unnecessary loss of life and property in many a war must have said it, if only to themselves. It takes a particular kind of man to make a good soldier and only a very select group make great generals. The King鈥檚 General, Richard Grenvile, was such a man, and those kinds of men operate on honor, duty, and a willingness to do whatever must be done to win. Sherman burned Atlanta to the ground, Richard destroyed everything he should have held dear; both did it in the earnest belief that the cause they championed was the right one, the only one.
There are so many serious questions one encounters during the course of this novel. There are questions of love, what it should or can overlook in the beloved, what causes it to bloom and what keeps it alive, and if it is true, can it ever die? And what of bonds between fathers and sons? What does one owe the other? What is honor and can any act of contrition clear a dishonored man? What is strength? Physical prowess, mental sharpness, the willingness to die for something you believe in, the willingness to put everything you love at risk?
Daphne du Maurier answers some of these questions and leaves us pondering the others. In the process, she creates a host of characters that are unforgettable and gives us a glimpse of a war and a time that is all but forgotten. History is never so real as when you can put an individual experience to it, when the man hanging on the noose has a name and a smile, when the tomb that is sealed has a person inside and not just a name and dates on its stony surface.
February 9, 2009
Set during the English Civil War of the 1640's, du Maurier retells a lesser known bit of Cornish history as an elderly Honor Harris reflects back on her life and love. Wooed by the charming, irascible but extremely flawed Richard Grenvile, eighteen year old Honor loses her heart and prepares to marry Richard until an accident permanently cripples her from the waist down. Richard and Honor separate, but meet years later during the Civil War as he is now the King's General in the West as they fight the Parliamentarian rebels - although not all the Royalists think too highly of Richard's high-handed approach to prisoners and discipline. While Honor refuses to marry Richard, her feelings for him are as strong as before and they begin a most unusual relationship as the tides of war ebb and flow around them.
Honor takes up residence at Menabilly, the family home of Honor's brother-in-law Jonathan Rashleigh and things soon begin to go bump in the night in typical du Maurier fashion - mysterious comings and goings, a secret door, a mystery floorboard in the summerhouse and..... well more than that, I'm not telling - read it for yourself. du Maurier once again weaves a magical tale, albeit this time with real-life characters. The dialogue between Richard and Honor sizzles off the pages, as does the enmity between Honor and Richard's sister - and boy can those two swap some memorable barbs. The scene where those two sat and played at cards and witty repartee as the rebels sacked Menabilly to its bare walls was just brilliant, as was the bit when Richard over indulged in dinner and wine and called the troops back after retiring - simply priceless.
All in all a very unusual love story and an interesting glimpse at a footnote in Cornish history. I'd love to see this one on film - the actors would have a field day. As for Menabilly, du Maurier rented the home from the Rashleigh family and lived in it for some time and was the setting for her most famous novel, Rebecca. Five stars and now I'm off to find more of these almost long lost gems to put on the reading pile.
Honor takes up residence at Menabilly, the family home of Honor's brother-in-law Jonathan Rashleigh and things soon begin to go bump in the night in typical du Maurier fashion - mysterious comings and goings, a secret door, a mystery floorboard in the summerhouse and..... well more than that, I'm not telling - read it for yourself. du Maurier once again weaves a magical tale, albeit this time with real-life characters. The dialogue between Richard and Honor sizzles off the pages, as does the enmity between Honor and Richard's sister - and boy can those two swap some memorable barbs. The scene where those two sat and played at cards and witty repartee as the rebels sacked Menabilly to its bare walls was just brilliant, as was the bit when Richard over indulged in dinner and wine and called the troops back after retiring - simply priceless.
All in all a very unusual love story and an interesting glimpse at a footnote in Cornish history. I'd love to see this one on film - the actors would have a field day. As for Menabilly, du Maurier rented the home from the Rashleigh family and lived in it for some time and was the setting for her most famous novel, Rebecca. Five stars and now I'm off to find more of these almost long lost gems to put on the reading pile.
January 21, 2016
This book started so compulsive and enticing and delicious. But somewhere it bogged down into a relatively plodding glimpse of the English Civil War. The sexy thrill of the early chapters was never recaptured, and the promise of drama and derring-do never really fulfilled. du Maurier is great at creating a world, but this time she didn't quite seem to have the dramatic plot twist to go with her build up.
February 7, 2019
The King's General, Daphne du Maurier
The King's General is a novel, published in 1946, by English author and playwright Daphne du Maurier.
The novel is set at the time of the English Civil War. A middle-aged Honor Harris narrates the story of her youth, from the age of ten, when living with her brother Robin. The narrative begins when Kit, Honor's oldest brother, brings home his new bride, Gartred. After only three years, Kit dies of smallpox and Gartred moves away. At age eighteen, Honor meets Richard Grenvile, Gartred's brother. They fall in love and, despite a former arrangement for Honor to marry another, they decide to be married. Honor is injured and loses the use of her legs in a riding accident, when out with Richard and Gartred. Subsequently, Honor refuses to marry 鈥� or even see 鈥� Richard. By the time the Civil War breaks out, fifteen years have passed; Honor has grown in independence, and Richard has had three children, Joe, born illegitimately from an affair with a dairymaid; Dick, from a failed marriage; and Dick's sister, who lives in Holland and is not really part of the story. Following some nearby violence, Honor moves to Menabilly, the home of her sister and brother-in-law, where she again meets Richard, who is posted in Plymouth as a leader of the King's army in the west of England. During the war, Richard is wounded, and Honor tends to him in his weakness. The Parliamentarians take Cornwall, and Richard flees the country. He is part of a Royalist rebellion, though, some years later. He is betrayed: it is suggested that the betrayer is his son Dick. An escape plan is made to remove Richard and Dick safely from the Parliamentarians to Holland to be with Richard's daughter and Dick's sister, after the revolt fails. Rumours of their escape which are told to Honor suggest that only Richard is able to escape, which brings the reader back to the prompt for Du Maurier's tale 鈥� the skeleton discovered in the excavations of Menabilly.
鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮: 乇賵夭 亘蹖爻鬲 賵 賳賴賲 賲丕賴 丌賵乇蹖賱 爻丕賱 1976 賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳: 毓卮賯 跇賳乇丕賱貨 丿丕賮賳賴 丿賵 賲賵乇蹖賴貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 丕賮爻乇 亘賴丕乇賵賳丿貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 責貙 責貙 丿乇 400 氐貨 趩丕倬 丿蹖诏乇: 丕乇睾賵丕賳貙 1383貨
丕乇賲丕賳 丿乇 夭賲丕賳 噩賳诏 丿丕禺賱蹖 丕賳诏賱蹖爻蹖 賳诏丕乇卮 卮丿賴 丕爻鬲. 賴丕賳乇蹖 賴乇蹖爻 賲蹖丕賳爻丕賱貙 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賳賵噩賵丕賳蹖 禺賵丿 乇丕貙 丕夭 爻賳 丿賴 爻丕賱诏蹖貙 夭賲丕賳蹖讴賴 亘丕 亘乇丕丿乇卮 乇丕亘蹖賳 夭賳丿诏蹖 賲蹖讴乇丿貙 乇賵丕蹖鬲 賲蹖讴賳丿. 乇賵丕蹖鬲 賴賳诏丕賲蹖 丌睾丕夭 賲蹖卮賵丿 讴賴 讴蹖鬲貙 賯丿蹖賲蹖鬲乇蹖賳 亘乇丕丿乇 賴賵賳賵乇貙 毓乇賵爻 噩丿蹖丿 禺賵丿貙 诏丕乇鬲賳丿貙 乇丕 亘賴 禺丕賳賴 賲蹖丌賵乇丿. ... 賴丕賳賵乇 丿乇 爻賳 賴噩丿賴 爻丕賱诏蹖 亘丕 乇蹖趩丕乇丿 诏乇賳賵蹖賱貙 亘乇丕丿乇 诏丕乇鬲丿貙 賲賱丕賯丕鬲 賲蹖讴賳丿. 丌賳賴丕 毓丕卮賯 賲蹖卮賵賳丿 賵貙 ...貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
The King's General is a novel, published in 1946, by English author and playwright Daphne du Maurier.
The novel is set at the time of the English Civil War. A middle-aged Honor Harris narrates the story of her youth, from the age of ten, when living with her brother Robin. The narrative begins when Kit, Honor's oldest brother, brings home his new bride, Gartred. After only three years, Kit dies of smallpox and Gartred moves away. At age eighteen, Honor meets Richard Grenvile, Gartred's brother. They fall in love and, despite a former arrangement for Honor to marry another, they decide to be married. Honor is injured and loses the use of her legs in a riding accident, when out with Richard and Gartred. Subsequently, Honor refuses to marry 鈥� or even see 鈥� Richard. By the time the Civil War breaks out, fifteen years have passed; Honor has grown in independence, and Richard has had three children, Joe, born illegitimately from an affair with a dairymaid; Dick, from a failed marriage; and Dick's sister, who lives in Holland and is not really part of the story. Following some nearby violence, Honor moves to Menabilly, the home of her sister and brother-in-law, where she again meets Richard, who is posted in Plymouth as a leader of the King's army in the west of England. During the war, Richard is wounded, and Honor tends to him in his weakness. The Parliamentarians take Cornwall, and Richard flees the country. He is part of a Royalist rebellion, though, some years later. He is betrayed: it is suggested that the betrayer is his son Dick. An escape plan is made to remove Richard and Dick safely from the Parliamentarians to Holland to be with Richard's daughter and Dick's sister, after the revolt fails. Rumours of their escape which are told to Honor suggest that only Richard is able to escape, which brings the reader back to the prompt for Du Maurier's tale 鈥� the skeleton discovered in the excavations of Menabilly.
鬲丕乇蹖禺 賳禺爻鬲蹖賳 禺賵丕賳卮: 乇賵夭 亘蹖爻鬲 賵 賳賴賲 賲丕賴 丌賵乇蹖賱 爻丕賱 1976 賲蹖賱丕丿蹖
毓賳賵丕賳: 毓卮賯 跇賳乇丕賱貨 丿丕賮賳賴 丿賵 賲賵乇蹖賴貨 賲鬲乇噩賲: 丕賮爻乇 亘賴丕乇賵賳丿貨 鬲賴乇丕賳貙 責貙 責貙 丿乇 400 氐貨 趩丕倬 丿蹖诏乇: 丕乇睾賵丕賳貙 1383貨
丕乇賲丕賳 丿乇 夭賲丕賳 噩賳诏 丿丕禺賱蹖 丕賳诏賱蹖爻蹖 賳诏丕乇卮 卮丿賴 丕爻鬲. 賴丕賳乇蹖 賴乇蹖爻 賲蹖丕賳爻丕賱貙 丿丕爻鬲丕賳 賳賵噩賵丕賳蹖 禺賵丿 乇丕貙 丕夭 爻賳 丿賴 爻丕賱诏蹖貙 夭賲丕賳蹖讴賴 亘丕 亘乇丕丿乇卮 乇丕亘蹖賳 夭賳丿诏蹖 賲蹖讴乇丿貙 乇賵丕蹖鬲 賲蹖讴賳丿. 乇賵丕蹖鬲 賴賳诏丕賲蹖 丌睾丕夭 賲蹖卮賵丿 讴賴 讴蹖鬲貙 賯丿蹖賲蹖鬲乇蹖賳 亘乇丕丿乇 賴賵賳賵乇貙 毓乇賵爻 噩丿蹖丿 禺賵丿貙 诏丕乇鬲賳丿貙 乇丕 亘賴 禺丕賳賴 賲蹖丌賵乇丿. ... 賴丕賳賵乇 丿乇 爻賳 賴噩丿賴 爻丕賱诏蹖 亘丕 乇蹖趩丕乇丿 诏乇賳賵蹖賱貙 亘乇丕丿乇 诏丕乇鬲丿貙 賲賱丕賯丕鬲 賲蹖讴賳丿. 丌賳賴丕 毓丕卮賯 賲蹖卮賵賳丿 賵貙 ...貨 丕. 卮乇亘蹖丕賳蹖
September 4, 2022
Rereading this I'm struck by how little I remembered the extent to which the Civil Wars shape most of the plot, and that I'd somehow wiped out the memory of Gartred, the sister of Richard Grenvile, and a far more interesting character than Honor, our narrator.
As is the case with , there is another story lurking between the lines that is obscured by the narrator and her love for the eponymous King's general - a change in narrator would have resulted, I think, in an intriguingly different story.
There are lots of places where the seventeenth century fades: Honor's courting in the orchard where she spends hours kissing Richard; her following him around like a camp woman - though, admittedly, there is a reference to how she has lost her reputation as a result though this isn't really spelt out till a rather melodramatic quarrel. Language, mindset, manners all reflect the early twentieth century rather than the seventeenth.
Despite this, Du Maurier pays close attention to the battles in Cornwall and the politics of the war, and gives a very good account of a complicated period. Not all the characters in the extended families are defined so that a few stand out against their background.
This is especially interesting for the fact that it was published in 1946 and was therefore reflecting how another war had impacted on social lives and especially those of women, though the book rather leaves women as bystanders - not true of either WW2 or the Civil Wars period when women frequently stepped up to manage vast households and estates, sometimes under attack or siege, while the men were away fighting. I wonder, though, if this wasn't widely known at the time at which DdM was writing and is perhaps the fruit of feminist historians of the 1980s forward recuperating women's lives?
Overall, an engrossing read - and a reminder at what a good storyteller du Maurier was.
----------------------------------------------
Set during the Civil War, this tells the story of the Cornish families caught up in the conflict and their tangled personal loyalties. The narrative is told by Honor Harris, who has been in love with Richard Grenvile, the eponymous `hero', since she was eighteen. As this is du Maurier, we have good characterisation and atmosphere together with excellent plotting that doesn't descend into the silly or unbelievable.
However this is a book which is far weaker than DM's classics such as Rebecca. There is very little attempt to recreate historical atmosphere and though this is supposedly set in the 1640s, it reads as a modern book in terms of dialogue and thought-world: at once stage, for example, Honor talks of 'gerrymandering', definitely not in use in the seventeenth century, and is shocked when her mother and brother arrange a marriage for her as would have been the custom.
However the shortfalls are redeemed by the strength of the central portrait of Grenvile and his relationship to Honor (in both senses). Both ruthless and charming, cold and passionate, bitter and vengeful while unremittingly loyal to the king and the monarchy, Grenvile towers over this book as a huge creation. We might not like him (and `like' is far too weak a word to use for him) but then neither does Honor, although she does love him to the end. And it is this ambiguity and complexity which gives the novel its strength.
So don't read this if you want dashing, romantic sentimentalism: du Maurier is far too astute a writer than that. But for something much more akin to Heathcliffe in a political setting this is highly recommended.
As is the case with , there is another story lurking between the lines that is obscured by the narrator and her love for the eponymous King's general - a change in narrator would have resulted, I think, in an intriguingly different story.
There are lots of places where the seventeenth century fades: Honor's courting in the orchard where she spends hours kissing Richard; her following him around like a camp woman - though, admittedly, there is a reference to how she has lost her reputation as a result though this isn't really spelt out till a rather melodramatic quarrel. Language, mindset, manners all reflect the early twentieth century rather than the seventeenth.
Despite this, Du Maurier pays close attention to the battles in Cornwall and the politics of the war, and gives a very good account of a complicated period. Not all the characters in the extended families are defined so that a few stand out against their background.
This is especially interesting for the fact that it was published in 1946 and was therefore reflecting how another war had impacted on social lives and especially those of women, though the book rather leaves women as bystanders - not true of either WW2 or the Civil Wars period when women frequently stepped up to manage vast households and estates, sometimes under attack or siege, while the men were away fighting. I wonder, though, if this wasn't widely known at the time at which DdM was writing and is perhaps the fruit of feminist historians of the 1980s forward recuperating women's lives?
Overall, an engrossing read - and a reminder at what a good storyteller du Maurier was.
----------------------------------------------
Set during the Civil War, this tells the story of the Cornish families caught up in the conflict and their tangled personal loyalties. The narrative is told by Honor Harris, who has been in love with Richard Grenvile, the eponymous `hero', since she was eighteen. As this is du Maurier, we have good characterisation and atmosphere together with excellent plotting that doesn't descend into the silly or unbelievable.
However this is a book which is far weaker than DM's classics such as Rebecca. There is very little attempt to recreate historical atmosphere and though this is supposedly set in the 1640s, it reads as a modern book in terms of dialogue and thought-world: at once stage, for example, Honor talks of 'gerrymandering', definitely not in use in the seventeenth century, and is shocked when her mother and brother arrange a marriage for her as would have been the custom.
However the shortfalls are redeemed by the strength of the central portrait of Grenvile and his relationship to Honor (in both senses). Both ruthless and charming, cold and passionate, bitter and vengeful while unremittingly loyal to the king and the monarchy, Grenvile towers over this book as a huge creation. We might not like him (and `like' is far too weak a word to use for him) but then neither does Honor, although she does love him to the end. And it is this ambiguity and complexity which gives the novel its strength.
So don't read this if you want dashing, romantic sentimentalism: du Maurier is far too astute a writer than that. But for something much more akin to Heathcliffe in a political setting this is highly recommended.
April 3, 2019
Fantastic historical novel set during the English civil war in the 15th century. No one writes a story quite like du Maurier!
August 28, 2022
....and I knew then, watching his eyes, how loss of freedom can so blight the human soul that a man cares no longer if he lives or dies.
This is my second read of 'The King's General' and I loved it just as much the second time around.
Young Honor Harris is full of life and quite forward with her words. Being the youngest in the family, she is very spoiled by her brothers and sisters. Her parents wish to marry her off to a wealthy gentleman to secure her place in life, yet all is thrown to the wind when she meets a soldier named, Richard Greenville.
Greenville is loud, cunning, and falls just as hard in love with Honor. On the eve of their wedding night, Honor falls from her horse onto the Moors and becomes a cripple. Their love story has seemingly come to an end, yet neither of them know how their lives will intertwine for decades to come.
This story is set in time of war and is one of hardship, love, sacrifice, and tragedy. It remains one of my favorite novels and will continue to be a source of comfort for me. 鉂�
This is my second read of 'The King's General' and I loved it just as much the second time around.
Young Honor Harris is full of life and quite forward with her words. Being the youngest in the family, she is very spoiled by her brothers and sisters. Her parents wish to marry her off to a wealthy gentleman to secure her place in life, yet all is thrown to the wind when she meets a soldier named, Richard Greenville.
Greenville is loud, cunning, and falls just as hard in love with Honor. On the eve of their wedding night, Honor falls from her horse onto the Moors and becomes a cripple. Their love story has seemingly come to an end, yet neither of them know how their lives will intertwine for decades to come.
This story is set in time of war and is one of hardship, love, sacrifice, and tragedy. It remains one of my favorite novels and will continue to be a source of comfort for me. 鉂�
April 30, 2020
Daphne du Maurier is one of those authors who can sweep you away from the concerns of our troubled times, and leave you enthralled in her writing. "The King's General" takes the reader to Cornwall during the English Civil War during the reign of Charles I.
Honor Harris was a spirited eighteen-year-old when she first met Richard Grenvile. Richard was a fine soldier who had the confidence of his men. A tragic accident prevented Honor and Richard from a lifetime together, but their love remained strong. While Richard was tender and loving toward Honor, he was a man of many flaws when dealing with others. His strong beliefs in what he considered right often obscured his vision as a father or a friend.
"The King's General" has lots of historical detail, Gothic elements, and colorful characters. Life was precarious in 17th Century Cornwall with the English Civil War that tore countrymen apart, along with coping with disease and food deprivation. The activity in a secret passage added to the atmosphere and adventure.
Honor Harris was a spirited eighteen-year-old when she first met Richard Grenvile. Richard was a fine soldier who had the confidence of his men. A tragic accident prevented Honor and Richard from a lifetime together, but their love remained strong. While Richard was tender and loving toward Honor, he was a man of many flaws when dealing with others. His strong beliefs in what he considered right often obscured his vision as a father or a friend.
"The King's General" has lots of historical detail, Gothic elements, and colorful characters. Life was precarious in 17th Century Cornwall with the English Civil War that tore countrymen apart, along with coping with disease and food deprivation. The activity in a secret passage added to the atmosphere and adventure.
September 10, 2022
I came to (1946) as a confirmed fan. No one spins a yarn quite as well as DDM.
is an absorbing and unusual slice of historical fiction set in Cornwall during the era of the English Civil War and is based on real people and actual events. Like all great historical fiction, this novel inspires me to dig deeper into the history of the era. There's an interesting romance at the core of the novel along with some wonderful subplots. builds up a compelling atmosphere to augment her trademark suspense, mystery and intrigue.
As with , it was Daphne du Maurier's beloved mansion Menabilly which again inspired her. This time it was the discovery of a skeleton and pair of Cavalier shoes in a bricked-up compartment of the cellar. concludes with a plausible possible explanation of how the body came to be there.
This novel was written just after the end of WW2 and highlights how all war effects domestic and family life. Honor, the disabled protagonist, may represent the curtailed freedom for women during wartime. Then again, during WW2, many women were actively employed in factories, farms etc., so perhaps not.
4/5
Honor is a beautiful, brave and kind protagonist, a true embodiment of the name by which she goes. Her journey proves challenging as her hopes for marrying the man she loves are dashed when she is left incapacitated. Unwilling to let life pass her by, Honor decides to educate herself in order to gain a true understanding of England's political climate and the devastating impact it would come to have.
Steadfast, caring and intelligent, this heroine embodies female empowerment and resilience in a war-torn England. Having finished the story during the Second World War, parallels are often drawn between Honor and du Maurier herself. Not only was the author describing the frustration of having to stay at home while men fought, through first-hand experience, but much like Honor's love interest, Daphne's husband was a general in the military.
An artful and escapist tale, The King's General reveals a gothic side to Daphne du Maurier's writing which constantly leaves the reader wanting more.
is an absorbing and unusual slice of historical fiction set in Cornwall during the era of the English Civil War and is based on real people and actual events. Like all great historical fiction, this novel inspires me to dig deeper into the history of the era. There's an interesting romance at the core of the novel along with some wonderful subplots. builds up a compelling atmosphere to augment her trademark suspense, mystery and intrigue.
As with , it was Daphne du Maurier's beloved mansion Menabilly which again inspired her. This time it was the discovery of a skeleton and pair of Cavalier shoes in a bricked-up compartment of the cellar. concludes with a plausible possible explanation of how the body came to be there.
This novel was written just after the end of WW2 and highlights how all war effects domestic and family life. Honor, the disabled protagonist, may represent the curtailed freedom for women during wartime. Then again, during WW2, many women were actively employed in factories, farms etc., so perhaps not.
4/5
Honor is a beautiful, brave and kind protagonist, a true embodiment of the name by which she goes. Her journey proves challenging as her hopes for marrying the man she loves are dashed when she is left incapacitated. Unwilling to let life pass her by, Honor decides to educate herself in order to gain a true understanding of England's political climate and the devastating impact it would come to have.
Steadfast, caring and intelligent, this heroine embodies female empowerment and resilience in a war-torn England. Having finished the story during the Second World War, parallels are often drawn between Honor and du Maurier herself. Not only was the author describing the frustration of having to stay at home while men fought, through first-hand experience, but much like Honor's love interest, Daphne's husband was a general in the military.
An artful and escapist tale, The King's General reveals a gothic side to Daphne du Maurier's writing which constantly leaves the reader wanting more.
June 16, 2024
趩賴 倬丕蹖丕賳蹖 趩賴 倬丕蹖丕賳蹖 馃樀
丿丕賮賳賴 丿賵 賲賵乇蹖賴 賴賲蹖卮賴 亘丕 倬丕蹖丕賳 讴鬲丕亘丕卮 丌丿賲賵 卮賵讴賴 賲蹖讴賳賴!
蹖賴 讴鬲丕亘 诏賵鬲蹖讴 鬲丕乇蹖禺蹖 禺賮賳 馃馃徏
丿丕賮賳賴 丿賵 賲賵乇蹖賴 賴賲蹖卮賴 亘丕 倬丕蹖丕賳 讴鬲丕亘丕卮 丌丿賲賵 卮賵讴賴 賲蹖讴賳賴!
蹖賴 讴鬲丕亘 诏賵鬲蹖讴 鬲丕乇蹖禺蹖 禺賮賳 馃馃徏
October 25, 2020
Being English, I admit to feeling a little ashamed of not knowing more about the English Civil War.....
I didn鈥檛 find Cromwell to be one of the most enthralling historical figures, and I suppose his various attempts to ban the celebration of Christmas wouldn鈥檛 have encouraged me to hold him in high esteem, plus, the Roundheads have certainly never seemed to me the most dashing of soldiers, so perhaps I didn鈥檛 listen as closely at school to lessons about this period of history as to others, such as the Tudors, for example, that seemed so much more interesting.
So, I found this book to be an excellent history lesson.....perhaps if Daphne du Maurier had written a few text books things would have seemed different, as her writing does seem to bring the events she writes about alive, injecting mystery, excitement and suspense into her fictional interpretations of momentous times, not to mention a little, but not too much, romance, but nothing soppy....du Maurier has a penchant for making her heroines suffer a little....sometimes a lot, often having them fall for the sort of men who probably aren鈥檛 ideal husband material.
Apparently Daphne du Maurier did very extensive research for this book, and sought the help of an historian to make sure of the accuracy of her writing when she wrote of the course of the Civil War in Devon and Cornwall.
The idea for one of the themes in this story came from the discovery of a skeleton.....thought to be that of a cavalier.....whilst renovations were being carried out at her Cornish home, Menabilly.
In this book, the heroine Honour Harris meets one such man, Richard Grenville , but a cruel twist of fate robs her of the happy ever after she鈥檇 dreamed of, and eventually, a Civil War condemns her to a kind of alternative relationship with him....a relationship fraught with danger and heartache, but which she finds compulsive.
There鈥檚 so much good stuff in this book.....good characters, complicated relationships, an insight into the fear, tension and deprivations of ordinary people living alongside the battles of a civil war, some mystery, and, of course the history.
I鈥檓 so happy that the enthusiasm of NI friends inspired me to read this book....it鈥檚 just so good.
I didn鈥檛 find Cromwell to be one of the most enthralling historical figures, and I suppose his various attempts to ban the celebration of Christmas wouldn鈥檛 have encouraged me to hold him in high esteem, plus, the Roundheads have certainly never seemed to me the most dashing of soldiers, so perhaps I didn鈥檛 listen as closely at school to lessons about this period of history as to others, such as the Tudors, for example, that seemed so much more interesting.
So, I found this book to be an excellent history lesson.....perhaps if Daphne du Maurier had written a few text books things would have seemed different, as her writing does seem to bring the events she writes about alive, injecting mystery, excitement and suspense into her fictional interpretations of momentous times, not to mention a little, but not too much, romance, but nothing soppy....du Maurier has a penchant for making her heroines suffer a little....sometimes a lot, often having them fall for the sort of men who probably aren鈥檛 ideal husband material.
Apparently Daphne du Maurier did very extensive research for this book, and sought the help of an historian to make sure of the accuracy of her writing when she wrote of the course of the Civil War in Devon and Cornwall.
The idea for one of the themes in this story came from the discovery of a skeleton.....thought to be that of a cavalier.....whilst renovations were being carried out at her Cornish home, Menabilly.
In this book, the heroine Honour Harris meets one such man, Richard Grenville , but a cruel twist of fate robs her of the happy ever after she鈥檇 dreamed of, and eventually, a Civil War condemns her to a kind of alternative relationship with him....a relationship fraught with danger and heartache, but which she finds compulsive.
There鈥檚 so much good stuff in this book.....good characters, complicated relationships, an insight into the fear, tension and deprivations of ordinary people living alongside the battles of a civil war, some mystery, and, of course the history.
I鈥檓 so happy that the enthusiasm of NI friends inspired me to read this book....it鈥檚 just so good.
August 11, 2019
Rating Clarification: 4.5 Stars
I knew I was going to love this book even before I picked it up. For one thing, it's by Daphne duMaurier, which means it's going to be top notch fiction. Secondly, it's set during a time period I really enjoy. Thirdly, my GR friends all rated it 4 or 5 stars (between them, these ladies know their historical fiction, so for all of them to rate it high was confirmation that this was going to be a winner).
I wasn't disappointed. DuMaurier's tale set in Cornwall during the English Civil War had everything I love about sweeping historical fiction: fascinating characters, a historically detailed storyline, characters that aren't perfect (in fact are often unlikable), and a love story that wasn't conventional in the least. The King's General is a story so engrossing that after I finished it I referred to some of my personal reference books and googled the net to learn more about some of the real life people in the novel like Richard Grenville and Honor Harris. The most intriguing part of this story for me was the fact that duMaurier wrote it while she was living in Menabilly (the house of this story and the prototype of "Manderley" from her most famous novel, Rebecca). In fact, it was a true and eerie sidenote to this house's history that formed a chilling ending to this tale of love and war, and makes this one the best and most Romantic (with a capital R) of duMaurier's books that I have read.
I knew I was going to love this book even before I picked it up. For one thing, it's by Daphne duMaurier, which means it's going to be top notch fiction. Secondly, it's set during a time period I really enjoy. Thirdly, my GR friends all rated it 4 or 5 stars (between them, these ladies know their historical fiction, so for all of them to rate it high was confirmation that this was going to be a winner).
I wasn't disappointed. DuMaurier's tale set in Cornwall during the English Civil War had everything I love about sweeping historical fiction: fascinating characters, a historically detailed storyline, characters that aren't perfect (in fact are often unlikable), and a love story that wasn't conventional in the least. The King's General is a story so engrossing that after I finished it I referred to some of my personal reference books and googled the net to learn more about some of the real life people in the novel like Richard Grenville and Honor Harris. The most intriguing part of this story for me was the fact that duMaurier wrote it while she was living in Menabilly (the house of this story and the prototype of "Manderley" from her most famous novel, Rebecca). In fact, it was a true and eerie sidenote to this house's history that formed a chilling ending to this tale of love and war, and makes this one the best and most Romantic (with a capital R) of duMaurier's books that I have read.
February 7, 2024
Set in Cornwall during the civil war, Honor Harris meets Richard Grenville, a charismatic soldier fighting on the side of the Cavaliers. The two form a strong attachment, but of course, things don't go smoothly for them. Honour has a terrible accident leaving her unable to walk and the two part.
Later, when fighting breaks out nearby, Honor goes to Menabilly to stay with her sister, and soon Richard is back in her life. From here the story becomes engrossing, the story of the West struggles during in civil war are well told and captivating. Of course we all know how it ends, but I felt like I had learnt a lot about the details of what took place. Apparently, she did a lot of research to make sure she got the details right, and at the end their is a note that the story is based on a legend about Menabilly.
She's a consummate story-teller. Now I want to find out more about the real life characters.
Later, when fighting breaks out nearby, Honor goes to Menabilly to stay with her sister, and soon Richard is back in her life. From here the story becomes engrossing, the story of the West struggles during in civil war are well told and captivating. Of course we all know how it ends, but I felt like I had learnt a lot about the details of what took place. Apparently, she did a lot of research to make sure she got the details right, and at the end their is a note that the story is based on a legend about Menabilly.
She's a consummate story-teller. Now I want to find out more about the real life characters.
November 19, 2018
Once I pick up a Daphne du Maurier novel, I tend to find I can't stop reading until I either fall asleep or reach the end. Sometimes, I begin to get a headache from eye strain or simply must stop to take care of my own life in the here and now. She could really tell a story! Auntie Daphne would have been the best person in the world to sit around the hearth with, on a cold winter's night. And, of course, she wrote with such eloquence. Even when I don't love the particular characters or themes, for whatever reason (such as the last one I read, The Loving Spirit), I still find her writing utterly engrossing.
What I especially like about The King's General is that it's a tale richly told by an unlikely heroine, not only for the times but even for today: Honor Harris, in her own words, is a "cripple", bound to a "wheeled chair" her brother has made for her. But Honor is not a figure of pity. She is the smartest person in the book, and does not try to hide her light under a bushel. The other smartest person in the book is also a woman: Honor's nemesis, Gartred Grenvile-Harris-Denys, who is a good match for Honor in brilliance, but who could be the lost twin of Maleficent. Honor is not only smart, she is compassionate and wise, but in no way insipid or prone to easy sentiment. Neither is Daphne du Maurier insipid or prone to easy sentiment, so the book does not allow us an easy or tidy ending, in which everyone waltzes off into the sunset. It was a tough time, the 17th century, and even people who were comparatively wealthy and well-bred had to cope with plagues and wars, illnesses and accidents for which there were no cures, and extremely high levels of mother and child mortality. As for Honor, though, she lives up to her name very well indeed.
I liked learning about the Cornish resistance (from du Maurier's perspective) during the English Civil War (1642-1651). The plot of the book centres upon this series of battles and how Honor and her beloved Richard Grenville, the King's General in the West, do their best to look after their homes and families and fellow countrymen, whilst taking a courageous stand against the rebels under the most trying of circumstances. (They were Royalists themselves, known as Cavaliers, loyal to the Crown.) The story was fascinating and thrilling to read, not least because the bold Sir Richard continues to shower love and romance on Honor, despite her being left paraplegic due to a horse-riding accident on the day they were meant to be married, and therefore refusing to marry him. She does not want him to feel bound to her since she is unable to function fully and can never bear children. Also, she feels that he would, over time, grow to resent her for being a burden to him. But, as Richard well knows, there's only one Honor, and it is she whom he loves best.
This romance is made more intriguing by the fact that Richard is loathed by nearly everyone in the book except Honor; for, while he is a cunning and fearless military leader who's considered indispensable to defending the Crown, he is a hard and often cruel man who lacks pity and shows no mercy to the rebels, or to any who crosses him, or even to his own son. Only Honor ever sees the tenderness in him, for she alone seems to provoke it. It is not that she is blind to his faults, nor does she ever pretend to be; it is that she loves him all the same.
The King's General is well-paced, beautifully atmospheric, wonderfully mysterious, and capable of taking your breath away at times. I can think of only a handful of writers who evoke a setting as well as Daphne du Maurier鈥晅he Bronte sisters among them, who come to mind because there are many comparisons one could make between Richard Grenvile, Rochester, and Heathcliff.
With du Maurier's talent for description, I find that reading even a simple graceful passage in a rather calm few pages can give me goosebumps.
What I especially like about The King's General is that it's a tale richly told by an unlikely heroine, not only for the times but even for today: Honor Harris, in her own words, is a "cripple", bound to a "wheeled chair" her brother has made for her. But Honor is not a figure of pity. She is the smartest person in the book, and does not try to hide her light under a bushel. The other smartest person in the book is also a woman: Honor's nemesis, Gartred Grenvile-Harris-Denys, who is a good match for Honor in brilliance, but who could be the lost twin of Maleficent. Honor is not only smart, she is compassionate and wise, but in no way insipid or prone to easy sentiment. Neither is Daphne du Maurier insipid or prone to easy sentiment, so the book does not allow us an easy or tidy ending, in which everyone waltzes off into the sunset. It was a tough time, the 17th century, and even people who were comparatively wealthy and well-bred had to cope with plagues and wars, illnesses and accidents for which there were no cures, and extremely high levels of mother and child mortality. As for Honor, though, she lives up to her name very well indeed.
I liked learning about the Cornish resistance (from du Maurier's perspective) during the English Civil War (1642-1651). The plot of the book centres upon this series of battles and how Honor and her beloved Richard Grenville, the King's General in the West, do their best to look after their homes and families and fellow countrymen, whilst taking a courageous stand against the rebels under the most trying of circumstances. (They were Royalists themselves, known as Cavaliers, loyal to the Crown.) The story was fascinating and thrilling to read, not least because the bold Sir Richard continues to shower love and romance on Honor, despite her being left paraplegic due to a horse-riding accident on the day they were meant to be married, and therefore refusing to marry him. She does not want him to feel bound to her since she is unable to function fully and can never bear children. Also, she feels that he would, over time, grow to resent her for being a burden to him. But, as Richard well knows, there's only one Honor, and it is she whom he loves best.
This romance is made more intriguing by the fact that Richard is loathed by nearly everyone in the book except Honor; for, while he is a cunning and fearless military leader who's considered indispensable to defending the Crown, he is a hard and often cruel man who lacks pity and shows no mercy to the rebels, or to any who crosses him, or even to his own son. Only Honor ever sees the tenderness in him, for she alone seems to provoke it. It is not that she is blind to his faults, nor does she ever pretend to be; it is that she loves him all the same.
The King's General is well-paced, beautifully atmospheric, wonderfully mysterious, and capable of taking your breath away at times. I can think of only a handful of writers who evoke a setting as well as Daphne du Maurier鈥晅he Bronte sisters among them, who come to mind because there are many comparisons one could make between Richard Grenvile, Rochester, and Heathcliff.
With du Maurier's talent for description, I find that reading even a simple graceful passage in a rather calm few pages can give me goosebumps.
I have seen too the sea-mists of early summer turn the hill to fantasy, so that it becomes, in a single second, a ghost land of enchantment, with no sounds coming but the wash of breakers on the hidden beach, where, at high noon, the children gather cowrie shells. Dark moods too of bleak November, when the rain sweeps in a curtain from the south-west. But, quietest of all, the evenings of late summer, when the sun has set, and the moon has not yet risen, but the dew is heavy in the long grass.
The sea is very white and still, without a breath upon it, and only a single thread of wash upon the covered Cannis rock. The jackdaws fly homeward to their nests in the warren. The sheep crop the short turf, before they too rub together beneath the stone wall by the winnowing place. Dusk comes slowly to the Gribben hill, the woods turn black, and suddenly, with stealthy pad, a fox creeps from the trees in the thistle park, and stands watching me, his ears pricked. . . ."(p.227)
April 16, 2022
"袣邪泻胁芯 斜懈 屑芯谐谢芯 写邪 斜褗写械, 泻邪泻胁芯 斜懈 屑芯谐谢芯 写邪 褋褌邪薪械. 孝芯胁邪 褋邪 薪邪泄-褌褗卸薪懈褌械 懈蟹褉械褔械薪懈褟 胁 薪邪褕懈褟 械蟹懈泻."
袩褉懈蟹薪邪胁邪屑, 褔械 薪械 斜褟褏 褔褍胁邪谢邪 蟹邪 褌邪蟹懈 泻薪懈谐邪 薪邪 袛邪褎薪懈, 薪芯 芯褋褌邪薪邪褏 锌褉懈褟褌薪芯 懈蟹薪械薪邪写邪薪邪 (锌褗泻 懈 褋械 "薪邪屑械褉懈褏屑械" 胁 锌芯写褏芯写褟褖 屑芯屑械薪褌 泻邪褌芯 褔械 谢懈). 袩芯锌邪写薪邪褏 褋谢褍褔邪泄薪芯 薪邪 褉芯屑邪薪邪, 褌褗褉褋械泄泻懈 褋懈 薪芯胁懈 泻薪懈谐懈 胁 斜懈斜谢懈芯褌械泻邪褌邪 鈥� 谢褞斜芯锌懈褌薪芯 械, 褔械 芯褉懈谐懈薪邪谢薪芯褌芯 蟹邪谐谢邪胁懈械 械 鈥濼he King's General" (薪邪写褟胁邪屑 褋械 胁 薪褟泻邪泻褗胁 屑芯屑械薪褌 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪 写邪 懈蟹谢械蟹械 胁 薪芯胁芯 懈蟹写邪薪懈械, 泻芯褉懈褑邪褌邪 褲 械 锌褉芯褋褌芯 薪械谢械锌邪, 邪 薪邪懈屑械薪芯胁邪薪懈械褌芯 锌芯-褋泻芯褉芯 褋褌褉邪薪薪芯, 邪泻芯 薪械 锌芯蟹薪邪胁邪褏 邪胁褌芯褉泻邪褌邪 懈 写褉褍谐懈褌械 褲 褌胁芯褉斜懈, 械写胁邪 谢懈 褖褟褏 写邪 锌芯褋械谐薪邪 泻褗屑 薪械褟).
袙薪械蟹邪锌薪邪, 懈薪褌械褉械褋薪邪, 薪芯 锌褉械胁褗褉薪邪谢邪 褋械 胁 薪械胁褗蟹屑芯卸薪邪 谢褞斜芯胁, 谢懈褔薪邪 褌褉邪谐械写懈褟, 谐褉邪卸写邪薪褋泻邪 胁芯泄薪邪 胁 袗薪谐谢懈褟, 屑邪谢泻芯 屑懈褋褌械褉懈褟, 褉邪蟹斜懈褉邪 褋械 (褌褟 褋懈 械 蟹邪锌邪蟹械薪邪 屑邪褉泻邪 薪邪 袦芯褉懈械), 写褉邪屑邪褌懈褔薪邪 薪芯褌泻邪 懈 褟褉泻懈 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸懈 鈥� 屑薪芯谐芯 屑懈 写芯锌邪写薪邪褏邪 谐谢邪胁薪懈褌械 谐械褉芯懈 袨薪芯褉 懈 袪懈褔邪褉写, 屑邪泄褋褌芯褉褋泻懈 懈蟹谐褉邪写械薪懈, 褉邪蟹谢懈褔薪懈, 褋 屑薪芯谐芯 褋懈谢薪芯 锌褉懈褋褗褋褌胁懈械 懈 懈薪写懈胁懈写褍邪谢薪芯褋褌.
啸邪褉械褋邪 屑懈 锌褉械锌谢懈褌邪薪械褌芯 薪邪 褋褗斜懈褌懈褟, 邪褌屑芯褋褎械褉邪褌邪, 泻芯褟褌芯 褉芯屑邪薪褗褌 薪芯褋懈, 谢懈锌褋胁邪 懈蟹谢懈褕薪邪 褋谢邪写薪懈泻邪胁芯褋褌, 泻褉邪褟褌 薪械 械 芯斜懈褔邪泄薪芯 褖邪褋褌谢懈胁, 泻芯械褌芯 褋褗褖芯 屑薪芯谐芯 屑懈 写芯锌邪写薪邪 懈 胁褋懈褔泻芯 褌芯胁邪 锌芯写薪械褋械薪芯 褋褗褋 褋锌械褑懈褎懈褔薪懈褟, 锌褉械泻褉邪褋械薪 褋褌懈谢 薪邪 邪胁褌芯褉泻邪褌邪.
袨斜懈褔邪屑 褌邪泻懈胁邪 薪械芯褔邪泻胁邪薪懈 泻薪懈卸薪懈 褋褉械褖懈, 泻芯谐邪褌芯 薪褟屑邪褕 锌褉械写褋褌邪胁邪 泻邪泻胁芯 锌褉械写褋褌芯懈, 邪 褔械褌械薪械褌芯 褋械 芯泻邪蟹胁邪 懈褋褌懈薪褋泻芯 褍写芯胁芯谢褋褌胁懈械.
"袙褉械屑械褌芯 谢械泻褍胁邪 胁褋懈褔泻懈 褉邪薪懈, 薪芯 邪蟹 斜懈褏 泻邪蟹邪谢邪, 褔械 薪械 胁褉械屑械褌芯 胁褗褉褕懈 褌芯胁邪, 邪 锌芯-褋泻芯褉芯 褌胁褗褉写芯褌芯 锌芯褋褌芯褟薪褋褌胁芯 薪邪 写褍褏邪."
袩褉懈蟹薪邪胁邪屑, 褔械 薪械 斜褟褏 褔褍胁邪谢邪 蟹邪 褌邪蟹懈 泻薪懈谐邪 薪邪 袛邪褎薪懈, 薪芯 芯褋褌邪薪邪褏 锌褉懈褟褌薪芯 懈蟹薪械薪邪写邪薪邪 (锌褗泻 懈 褋械 "薪邪屑械褉懈褏屑械" 胁 锌芯写褏芯写褟褖 屑芯屑械薪褌 泻邪褌芯 褔械 谢懈). 袩芯锌邪写薪邪褏 褋谢褍褔邪泄薪芯 薪邪 褉芯屑邪薪邪, 褌褗褉褋械泄泻懈 褋懈 薪芯胁懈 泻薪懈谐懈 胁 斜懈斜谢懈芯褌械泻邪褌邪 鈥� 谢褞斜芯锌懈褌薪芯 械, 褔械 芯褉懈谐懈薪邪谢薪芯褌芯 蟹邪谐谢邪胁懈械 械 鈥濼he King's General" (薪邪写褟胁邪屑 褋械 胁 薪褟泻邪泻褗胁 屑芯屑械薪褌 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪 写邪 懈蟹谢械蟹械 胁 薪芯胁芯 懈蟹写邪薪懈械, 泻芯褉懈褑邪褌邪 褲 械 锌褉芯褋褌芯 薪械谢械锌邪, 邪 薪邪懈屑械薪芯胁邪薪懈械褌芯 锌芯-褋泻芯褉芯 褋褌褉邪薪薪芯, 邪泻芯 薪械 锌芯蟹薪邪胁邪褏 邪胁褌芯褉泻邪褌邪 懈 写褉褍谐懈褌械 褲 褌胁芯褉斜懈, 械写胁邪 谢懈 褖褟褏 写邪 锌芯褋械谐薪邪 泻褗屑 薪械褟).
袙薪械蟹邪锌薪邪, 懈薪褌械褉械褋薪邪, 薪芯 锌褉械胁褗褉薪邪谢邪 褋械 胁 薪械胁褗蟹屑芯卸薪邪 谢褞斜芯胁, 谢懈褔薪邪 褌褉邪谐械写懈褟, 谐褉邪卸写邪薪褋泻邪 胁芯泄薪邪 胁 袗薪谐谢懈褟, 屑邪谢泻芯 屑懈褋褌械褉懈褟, 褉邪蟹斜懈褉邪 褋械 (褌褟 褋懈 械 蟹邪锌邪蟹械薪邪 屑邪褉泻邪 薪邪 袦芯褉懈械), 写褉邪屑邪褌懈褔薪邪 薪芯褌泻邪 懈 褟褉泻懈 锌械褉褋芯薪邪卸懈 鈥� 屑薪芯谐芯 屑懈 写芯锌邪写薪邪褏邪 谐谢邪胁薪懈褌械 谐械褉芯懈 袨薪芯褉 懈 袪懈褔邪褉写, 屑邪泄褋褌芯褉褋泻懈 懈蟹谐褉邪写械薪懈, 褉邪蟹谢懈褔薪懈, 褋 屑薪芯谐芯 褋懈谢薪芯 锌褉懈褋褗褋褌胁懈械 懈 懈薪写懈胁懈写褍邪谢薪芯褋褌.
啸邪褉械褋邪 屑懈 锌褉械锌谢懈褌邪薪械褌芯 薪邪 褋褗斜懈褌懈褟, 邪褌屑芯褋褎械褉邪褌邪, 泻芯褟褌芯 褉芯屑邪薪褗褌 薪芯褋懈, 谢懈锌褋胁邪 懈蟹谢懈褕薪邪 褋谢邪写薪懈泻邪胁芯褋褌, 泻褉邪褟褌 薪械 械 芯斜懈褔邪泄薪芯 褖邪褋褌谢懈胁, 泻芯械褌芯 褋褗褖芯 屑薪芯谐芯 屑懈 写芯锌邪写薪邪 懈 胁褋懈褔泻芯 褌芯胁邪 锌芯写薪械褋械薪芯 褋褗褋 褋锌械褑懈褎懈褔薪懈褟, 锌褉械泻褉邪褋械薪 褋褌懈谢 薪邪 邪胁褌芯褉泻邪褌邪.
袨斜懈褔邪屑 褌邪泻懈胁邪 薪械芯褔邪泻胁邪薪懈 泻薪懈卸薪懈 褋褉械褖懈, 泻芯谐邪褌芯 薪褟屑邪褕 锌褉械写褋褌邪胁邪 泻邪泻胁芯 锌褉械写褋褌芯懈, 邪 褔械褌械薪械褌芯 褋械 芯泻邪蟹胁邪 懈褋褌懈薪褋泻芯 褍写芯胁芯谢褋褌胁懈械.
"袙褉械屑械褌芯 谢械泻褍胁邪 胁褋懈褔泻懈 褉邪薪懈, 薪芯 邪蟹 斜懈褏 泻邪蟹邪谢邪, 褔械 薪械 胁褉械屑械褌芯 胁褗褉褕懈 褌芯胁邪, 邪 锌芯-褋泻芯褉芯 褌胁褗褉写芯褌芯 锌芯褋褌芯褟薪褋褌胁芯 薪邪 写褍褏邪."
April 11, 2024
No ale gdzie ten pi臋kny romans?! 馃ズ
March 27, 2024
Powie艣ci Daphne du Maurier z Serii Butikowej zbieram niczym drogocenne klejnoty i dok艂adam do mojej kolekcji, a najnowsz膮 jej pere艂k膮 jest wznowione wydanie 鈥濭enera艂a i panny鈥� z wielk膮 mi艂o艣ci膮 i wojn膮 w tle. Warto wspomnie膰, 偶e inspiracj膮 do napisania tej romantycznej, ale te偶 tajemniczej i melancholijnej opowie艣ci by艂o makabryczne odkrycie w jednej z kornwalijskiej posiad艂o艣ci i historia uczucia autentycznie 偶yj膮cych postaci - panny Honor Harris i genera艂a Richarda Grenville鈥檃.
Autorka po mistrzowsku odtwarza atmosfer臋 targanej wojn膮 domow膮 XVII-wiecznej Anglii maluj膮c obraz codziennego 偶ycia, obyczaj贸w i warto艣ci 贸wczesnej spo艂eczno艣ci. Barwnym strojom, balom i polowaniom przeciwstawia brutalno艣膰 wojny i jej szeroko zakrojone konsekwencje. W ten klimat politycznego napi臋cia wplata histori臋 nami臋tnego romansu, kt贸ry za spraw膮 tragicznego zrz膮dzenia losu zostaje przerwany, by po latach zn贸w rozpali膰 serca dwojga bohater贸w.
G艂贸wna bohaterka i narratorka powie艣ci, Honor Harris, opowiada nam o wydarzeniach, jakich by艂a 艣wiadkiem w tych burzliwych czasach, o tajemnicy, kt贸ra okaza艂a si臋 zar贸wno ratunkiem, jak i zgub膮, o tym, jak musia艂a nauczy膰 si臋 偶y膰 na nowo, ale przede wszystkim o m臋偶czy藕nie, kt贸rego kocha艂a. Po艣wi臋ci艂a temu uczuciu ca艂e 偶ycie, trwaj膮c przy Richardzie mimo jego s艂abo艣ci i okrucie艅stwa. Ich zwi膮zek okaza艂 si臋 szczeg贸ln膮, intymn膮 podr贸偶膮 spajaj膮c膮 dwa serca i umys艂y i rzucaj膮c膮 艣wiat艂o na z艂o偶ono艣膰 ludzkich charakter贸w i relacji mi臋dzyludzkich.
Akcji nie mo偶na nazwa膰 porywaj膮c膮, ale jej tajemniczy, czasem melancholijny innym razem mroczny klimat potrafi zaintrygowa膰 podobnie jak autentyczni i na wskro艣 wyrazi艣ci bohaterowie z ich s艂abo艣ciami, pragnieniami i sekretami. Rozstania i powroty, walki i zdrady, intrygi i akty honoru nadaj膮 rytm tej powie艣ci prowadz膮c czytelnika przez niespokojny i niebezpieczny czas.
I cho膰 ta powie艣膰 Autorki nie stanie si臋 moj膮 ulubion膮 鈥� tu niezmiennie kr贸luje 鈥濺ebeka鈥� 鈥� to jej gotycki klimat, rys historyczny Kornwalii i romans tak inny od tych, o kt贸rych dotychczas czyta艂am, przekona艂 mnie do niej w zupe艂no艣ci.
Autorka po mistrzowsku odtwarza atmosfer臋 targanej wojn膮 domow膮 XVII-wiecznej Anglii maluj膮c obraz codziennego 偶ycia, obyczaj贸w i warto艣ci 贸wczesnej spo艂eczno艣ci. Barwnym strojom, balom i polowaniom przeciwstawia brutalno艣膰 wojny i jej szeroko zakrojone konsekwencje. W ten klimat politycznego napi臋cia wplata histori臋 nami臋tnego romansu, kt贸ry za spraw膮 tragicznego zrz膮dzenia losu zostaje przerwany, by po latach zn贸w rozpali膰 serca dwojga bohater贸w.
G艂贸wna bohaterka i narratorka powie艣ci, Honor Harris, opowiada nam o wydarzeniach, jakich by艂a 艣wiadkiem w tych burzliwych czasach, o tajemnicy, kt贸ra okaza艂a si臋 zar贸wno ratunkiem, jak i zgub膮, o tym, jak musia艂a nauczy膰 si臋 偶y膰 na nowo, ale przede wszystkim o m臋偶czy藕nie, kt贸rego kocha艂a. Po艣wi臋ci艂a temu uczuciu ca艂e 偶ycie, trwaj膮c przy Richardzie mimo jego s艂abo艣ci i okrucie艅stwa. Ich zwi膮zek okaza艂 si臋 szczeg贸ln膮, intymn膮 podr贸偶膮 spajaj膮c膮 dwa serca i umys艂y i rzucaj膮c膮 艣wiat艂o na z艂o偶ono艣膰 ludzkich charakter贸w i relacji mi臋dzyludzkich.
Akcji nie mo偶na nazwa膰 porywaj膮c膮, ale jej tajemniczy, czasem melancholijny innym razem mroczny klimat potrafi zaintrygowa膰 podobnie jak autentyczni i na wskro艣 wyrazi艣ci bohaterowie z ich s艂abo艣ciami, pragnieniami i sekretami. Rozstania i powroty, walki i zdrady, intrygi i akty honoru nadaj膮 rytm tej powie艣ci prowadz膮c czytelnika przez niespokojny i niebezpieczny czas.
I cho膰 ta powie艣膰 Autorki nie stanie si臋 moj膮 ulubion膮 鈥� tu niezmiennie kr贸luje 鈥濺ebeka鈥� 鈥� to jej gotycki klimat, rys historyczny Kornwalii i romans tak inny od tych, o kt贸rych dotychczas czyta艂am, przekona艂 mnie do niej w zupe艂no艣ci.
November 14, 2022
Wow.
It was really moving. A true story of Richard Grenville and Honor Harris.
There is all what should have a good historical fiction and a brilliant love story. The characters (especially Richard and Honor) are complex and great described. Hero and heroine are independent but whatever is going on in their life, wherever they are, they simply love each other. Whether they are together or not, it is not so important for their love. I don't want to spoil you, if you haven't read this book yet. I would add that this love story is extraordinary and original. And it isn't important that you will know how all end, already at the beginning of the book.
Second great side of this book are historical facts. I will never see people struggles (especially around the wars) in the same way. Every day life has many obstacles, hard decisions, difficult emotions. When you add to that political fights, wars, civil wars, your life become almost unbearable. But still, people have to live, have to fight and they are doing this. True to be told, I don't know where they find strenght to that.
Obligatory book for every fan of historical fiction and remarkable romances.
My favorite quotes:
It was really moving. A true story of Richard Grenville and Honor Harris.
There is all what should have a good historical fiction and a brilliant love story. The characters (especially Richard and Honor) are complex and great described. Hero and heroine are independent but whatever is going on in their life, wherever they are, they simply love each other. Whether they are together or not, it is not so important for their love. I don't want to spoil you, if you haven't read this book yet. I would add that this love story is extraordinary and original. And it isn't important that you will know how all end, already at the beginning of the book.
Second great side of this book are historical facts. I will never see people struggles (especially around the wars) in the same way. Every day life has many obstacles, hard decisions, difficult emotions. When you add to that political fights, wars, civil wars, your life become almost unbearable. But still, people have to live, have to fight and they are doing this. True to be told, I don't know where they find strenght to that.
Obligatory book for every fan of historical fiction and remarkable romances.
My favorite quotes:
"my old hidden dreams that I thought buried for all time lie bare and naked to the day, just as the shells and the stones do on the sands"
"Resignation brings its own reward"
"We change from the awakening questing creatures we were once, afire with wonder, and expectancy, and doubt, to persons of opinion and authority, our habits formed, our characters moulded in a pattern"
"we only become aware of hot discomfort when others are made awkward for our sakes."
"Richard turned and saw me. And as he looked at me it was as if my whole heart moved over in my body and was mine no longer"
"Did you never try," I asked, "to make some life of happiness?"
"Happiness was not in question," he said; "that went with you, a factor you refused to recognise."
"but fate and circumstance had made me no more than a shadow in his life, a phantom of what might have been"
May 16, 2022
Wow, so enjoyed rereading this wonderful novel.
Set in my beloved Cornwall.
Daphne just draws one into the story.
Richard is the guy you hate to love.
Read for the Daphne Du Maurier reading week.
Set in my beloved Cornwall.
Daphne just draws one into the story.
Richard is the guy you hate to love.
Read for the Daphne Du Maurier reading week.
February 6, 2018
As a fan of Rebecca and someone who is very interested in the English Civil War and the huge social upheavals it caused, I wanted to love this book, but sadly could not in the end. It has some interesting elements, and the author does manage to make the disability of her viewpoint character, Honor Harris, work, but the first part at least could have been set in Victorian times. Only when we reach the section where does the story come alive.
The focus is mainly on the lingering love affair between Honor and Richard Grenville, a brilliant soldier but poor anything else, especially diplomat, and how his frustration with the incompetence of the other Royalist leaders drives him to alienate more and more of those who, ultimately, he needs in order to accomplish anything. Despite the damage to her reputation and his hotheaded actions, Honor steadfastly sticks by Richard even though his character has poisoned the relationship between him and his son, Dick.
Many of the characters in the story - Grenville, for example, and Honor herself, are based on real historical characters, and some of the events at the house called Menabily are also based on what was found there as an afterword makes clear. The other character in this book is the Cornish countryside and the sea which hugs its coasts, and that provides a great setting for the early hopes and later disappointments of Honor's life. But too much of the book flags in pace and despite the various grumbles about the vicissitudes of life under Parliament and the Roundhead troops, there is not even a mention of the religious and political causes of the war; instead, to Honor, those people were all money grasping etc and that was their motivation. Her one concession is that the King was too arrogant and unbending. But the treatment of the causes are simplistic to say the least. So I could only rate this at 3 stars.
The focus is mainly on the lingering love affair between Honor and Richard Grenville, a brilliant soldier but poor anything else, especially diplomat, and how his frustration with the incompetence of the other Royalist leaders drives him to alienate more and more of those who, ultimately, he needs in order to accomplish anything. Despite the damage to her reputation and his hotheaded actions, Honor steadfastly sticks by Richard even though his character has poisoned the relationship between him and his son, Dick.
Many of the characters in the story - Grenville, for example, and Honor herself, are based on real historical characters, and some of the events at the house called Menabily are also based on what was found there as an afterword makes clear. The other character in this book is the Cornish countryside and the sea which hugs its coasts, and that provides a great setting for the early hopes and later disappointments of Honor's life. But too much of the book flags in pace and despite the various grumbles about the vicissitudes of life under Parliament and the Roundhead troops, there is not even a mention of the religious and political causes of the war; instead, to Honor, those people were all money grasping etc and that was their motivation. Her one concession is that the King was too arrogant and unbending. But the treatment of the causes are simplistic to say the least. So I could only rate this at 3 stars.
September 5, 2024
4,5
Dla mnie jedna z lepszych powie艣ci du Maurier.
Co prawda spora cz臋艣膰 w ksi膮偶ce zosta艂a po艣wi臋cona na opisanie przebiegu wydarze艅 podczas wojny domowej w Anglii oraz jej nast臋pstw, g艂贸wnie jednak z perspektywy zwyk艂ych ludzi oraz mieszka艅c贸w dwor贸w.
Na szcz臋艣cie to, co mnie tu najbardziej urzek艂o, to kreacja bohater贸w. Mamy ich ca艂kiem sporo, co mo偶e powodowa膰 zamieszanie, jednak na najwi臋kszy podziw wzbudzi艂y we mnie g艂贸wna bohaterka, Honor, jej lojalna pomocnica - Matty, oraz ta cholerna sekutnica, Gartred.
Z ca艂膮 pewno艣ci膮 mo偶na do nich mie膰 wiele zastrze偶e艅, g艂贸wnie do lojalno艣ci, z jak膮 Honor trwa przy Richardzie, a tak偶e do bezwzgl臋dno艣ci i dba艂o艣ci o w艂asne interesy, kt贸re cechuj膮 Gartred, ale nie mo偶na im odm贸wi膰 stalowych charakter贸w, stanowczo艣ci, inteligencji i szybkich ripost. Naprawd臋 czapki z g艂贸w.
Richarda mo偶na nienawidzi膰 lub nie, ale trzeba jednak doceni膰, jak zosta艂 przez autork臋 napisany. Na pewno nie jest to 偶adna md艂a posta膰, papierowa wydmuszka.
Tak偶e nawet je艣li mia艂am ju偶 troch臋 do艣膰 przed艂u偶aj膮cego si臋 w膮tku wojny domowej, to nie mog臋 tej pozycji oceni膰 ni偶ej.
Dla mnie jedna z lepszych powie艣ci du Maurier.
Co prawda spora cz臋艣膰 w ksi膮偶ce zosta艂a po艣wi臋cona na opisanie przebiegu wydarze艅 podczas wojny domowej w Anglii oraz jej nast臋pstw, g艂贸wnie jednak z perspektywy zwyk艂ych ludzi oraz mieszka艅c贸w dwor贸w.
Na szcz臋艣cie to, co mnie tu najbardziej urzek艂o, to kreacja bohater贸w. Mamy ich ca艂kiem sporo, co mo偶e powodowa膰 zamieszanie, jednak na najwi臋kszy podziw wzbudzi艂y we mnie g艂贸wna bohaterka, Honor, jej lojalna pomocnica - Matty, oraz ta cholerna sekutnica, Gartred.
Z ca艂膮 pewno艣ci膮 mo偶na do nich mie膰 wiele zastrze偶e艅, g艂贸wnie do lojalno艣ci, z jak膮 Honor trwa przy Richardzie, a tak偶e do bezwzgl臋dno艣ci i dba艂o艣ci o w艂asne interesy, kt贸re cechuj膮 Gartred, ale nie mo偶na im odm贸wi膰 stalowych charakter贸w, stanowczo艣ci, inteligencji i szybkich ripost. Naprawd臋 czapki z g艂贸w.
Richarda mo偶na nienawidzi膰 lub nie, ale trzeba jednak doceni膰, jak zosta艂 przez autork臋 napisany. Na pewno nie jest to 偶adna md艂a posta膰, papierowa wydmuszka.
Tak偶e nawet je艣li mia艂am ju偶 troch臋 do艣膰 przed艂u偶aj膮cego si臋 w膮tku wojny domowej, to nie mog臋 tej pozycji oceni膰 ni偶ej.
May 2, 2020
袦薪芯谐芯 卸邪谢泻芯, 褔械 褌邪蟹懈 锌褉械泻褉邪褋薪邪 泻薪懈谐邪 薪邪 写褞 袦芯褉懈械 褌邪泻邪 懈 薪械 械 锌褉械懈蟹写邪写械薪邪 芯褌 薪邪褔邪谢芯褌芯 薪邪 90-褌械, 泻芯谐邪褌芯 褋械 锌芯褟胁懈 褋 写芯褋褌邪 薪械邪写械泻胁邪褌薪邪 泻芯褉懈褑邪 懈 蟹邪谐谢邪胁懈械褌芯 鈥溞⒀娦� 蟹邪胁褗褉褕懈 薪邪褕邪褌邪 薪芯褖鈥�.
袙 薪邪褔邪谢芯褌芯 薪邪 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪, 锌褉懈 锌褗褉胁邪褌邪 褋褉械褖邪 褋 袨薪芯褉 懈 薪械泄薪懈褟 谢褞斜懈屑, 胁褋懈褔泻芯 褌械褔械 泻邪褌芯 胁 锌褉懈泻邪蟹泻邪.
袛芯泻邪褌芯 写芯斜褉邪褌邪 褋褌邪褉邪 袛邪褎薪懈 薪械 芯斜褉褗褖邪 胁褋懈褔泻芯 薪邪谐芯褉械 褋 泻褉邪泻邪褌邪, 胁 写褍褏邪 薪邪 斜懈褌泻邪褌邪 薪邪 褉芯褟谢懈褋褌懈褌械 懈 褉械锌褍斜谢懈泻邪薪褑懈褌械 薪邪 袣褉芯屑褍械谢, 锌褉芯写褗谢卸懈谢邪 写械褋械褌懈谢械褌懈褟 - 械写懈薪褋褌胁械薪懈褟褌 屑芯屑械薪褌, 胁 泻芯泄褌芯 袗薪谐谢懈褟 械 斜懈谢邪 褉械锌褍斜谢懈泻邪. 袩芯写薪邪褋褟 薪懈 胁褋懈褔泻懈 褌械卸泻懈 屑芯屑械薪褌懈 褋 谢械泻 懈 褉芯屑邪薪褌懈褔械薪 褌芯薪, 懈 写芯泻邪褌芯 褔械褌褟褏 胁褋械 芯褖械 褋械 褔褍写械褏 写邪 薪械 械 褋褌邪薪邪谢邪 谐褉械褕泻邪, 懈 泻褗写械 屑懈 械 蟹邪褏邪褉薪邪褌邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟, 泻褗写械褌芯 谢褞斜芯胁褌邪, 褋屑械谢芯褋褌褌邪 懈 写芯斜褉芯褌芯 胁懈薪邪谐懈 锌芯斜械卸写邪胁邪褌!
袙褋械泻懈 械写懈薪 褏邪褉邪泻褌械褉 械 斜芯谐邪褌芯 薪褞邪薪褋懈褉邪薪 懈 褌褗褉锌械谢懈胁芯 芯锌懈褋邪薪, 写械泄褋褌胁懈械褌芯 褌械褔械 斜械蟹 屑懈谐 锌芯泻芯泄, 锌芯泻芯泄 薪褟屑邪 懈 蟹邪 薪懈泻芯泄 芯褌 谐械褉芯懈褌械.
袛邪薪芯 薪褟泻芯泄 褋械 褋械褌懈 写邪 褟 锌褉械懈蟹写邪写械!
袙 薪邪褔邪谢芯褌芯 薪邪 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪, 锌褉懈 锌褗褉胁邪褌邪 褋褉械褖邪 褋 袨薪芯褉 懈 薪械泄薪懈褟 谢褞斜懈屑, 胁褋懈褔泻芯 褌械褔械 泻邪褌芯 胁 锌褉懈泻邪蟹泻邪.
袛芯泻邪褌芯 写芯斜褉邪褌邪 褋褌邪褉邪 袛邪褎薪懈 薪械 芯斜褉褗褖邪 胁褋懈褔泻芯 薪邪谐芯褉械 褋 泻褉邪泻邪褌邪, 胁 写褍褏邪 薪邪 斜懈褌泻邪褌邪 薪邪 褉芯褟谢懈褋褌懈褌械 懈 褉械锌褍斜谢懈泻邪薪褑懈褌械 薪邪 袣褉芯屑褍械谢, 锌褉芯写褗谢卸懈谢邪 写械褋械褌懈谢械褌懈褟 - 械写懈薪褋褌胁械薪懈褟褌 屑芯屑械薪褌, 胁 泻芯泄褌芯 袗薪谐谢懈褟 械 斜懈谢邪 褉械锌褍斜谢懈泻邪. 袩芯写薪邪褋褟 薪懈 胁褋懈褔泻懈 褌械卸泻懈 屑芯屑械薪褌懈 褋 谢械泻 懈 褉芯屑邪薪褌懈褔械薪 褌芯薪, 懈 写芯泻邪褌芯 褔械褌褟褏 胁褋械 芯褖械 褋械 褔褍写械褏 写邪 薪械 械 褋褌邪薪邪谢邪 谐褉械褕泻邪, 懈 泻褗写械 屑懈 械 蟹邪褏邪褉薪邪褌邪 懈褋褌芯褉懈褟, 泻褗写械褌芯 谢褞斜芯胁褌邪, 褋屑械谢芯褋褌褌邪 懈 写芯斜褉芯褌芯 胁懈薪邪谐懈 锌芯斜械卸写邪胁邪褌!
袙褋械泻懈 械写懈薪 褏邪褉邪泻褌械褉 械 斜芯谐邪褌芯 薪褞邪薪褋懈褉邪薪 懈 褌褗褉锌械谢懈胁芯 芯锌懈褋邪薪, 写械泄褋褌胁懈械褌芯 褌械褔械 斜械蟹 屑懈谐 锌芯泻芯泄, 锌芯泻芯泄 薪褟屑邪 懈 蟹邪 薪懈泻芯泄 芯褌 谐械褉芯懈褌械.
袛邪薪芯 薪褟泻芯泄 褋械 褋械褌懈 写邪 褟 锌褉械懈蟹写邪写械!
March 14, 2023
I discovered Daphne du Maurier a few years ago when I read Jamaica Inn (2015). Since then, counting King鈥檚 General, I have now read seven with three more on my bookshelf. As much as I enjoy her writing it has been two or three years since I have read one. Thanks to a group challenge/recommendation I went to my shelf dusted this one off and have been reintroduced to du Maurier鈥檚 excellent writing and storytelling.
The King鈥檚 General was a pleasure to read. Rich full characters, especially Honor Harris and Richard Grenvile. The story, intriguing and entertaining, holds one鈥檚 interest from beginning to end. This is an easy recommendation, thanks Sue.
The King鈥檚 General was a pleasure to read. Rich full characters, especially Honor Harris and Richard Grenvile. The story, intriguing and entertaining, holds one鈥檚 interest from beginning to end. This is an easy recommendation, thanks Sue.
September 22, 2024
I have read at least a handful of Daphne's books & plan on reading all at some point. She was has you wondering where she is going with the story & I was quite surprised as usuasl. A great historical read.
Many times I go into a book without knowing anything about the story but knowing that the author is a favorite of mine, such is The King's General by Daphne du Maurier. I rarely even read a foreword before reading a book but generally read it after. I am glad I continue this practice because even though the person writing the foreword said she did not want to spoil the story, if I read her comments I would know something that would take away the surprise for me. As I was reading I do as I generally do look up everything I am unfamiliar with including people & places. What I noticed soon on that many of the characters are real & once again while reading a book I had a history lesson, and in this case the English Civil War. Having read Mary Elizabeth Braddon's London Pride years ago which was also during this era in English history but Daphne's story which she had assistance by two historians, one having the same name Rasheigh as the family in her book. Some of battles & people during this time in history are fictionalized without truly departing from history. She was disappointed that the historical battle aspect did not receive the praise it desired. Not to worry Daphne, I was very much impressed! My reading friend Julie told me that Daphne's husband was a general & after hearing that you can so see it in her story. They say write what you know & she was privy to being a close partner to a warrior. This is classified as Gothic & historical romance but it is a different kind of romance a la Daphne. If you are not one who even likes one ounce of fighting & war planning in a book, you would probably not be too happy because this book has much more of that than romance but there is plenty of drama & the romantic parts are quite touching. I do like a book that includes fighting that has more than just war but all aspects of human characters & feelings that are brought about & this book has both that intertwined together to make for a wonderful read. I find this period in English history quite interesting, as they oust the king & behead him but yet after austere command of the parliament reign under Crommel, they welcome a king back. I have heard how brutal war was during those times & Daphne gives a taste of how war effects not just the warriors but the people at home. In Rebecca Manderley is based on the Rashleigh's Menabilly (an historic estate in Cornwall, England) which Daphne was granted a lease to restore in 1943 & she lived there until 1969 which after she returned to the Rashleighs.The main characters are the Harris & the Grenville families in Cornwall, England. Marriage unites this family & romances ties them together to the very end. Honor Harris, the young girl who grows up quite spoiled & diffident but yet loved by all her siblings is an older woman letting us know her secret that has been buried inside her for years. She writes about her kinsman & other families before & during the English Civil War & the love of her life. The estate has a gothic structure with some eerie discoveries.
Excerpts--
"I knew then, as I peered forth from the curtains of my litter, that war can make beasts of every one of us, and that the men and women of my own breed could act even worse in warfare than the men and women of the eastern countries. We had, each one of us, because of the civil war, streaked back two centuries in time, and were become like those half savages of the fourteen hundreds who, during the Wars of the Roses, slit each other's throats without compunction."
"Yet none of them, gazing at the King's portrait, dreamed of blaming him for the trouble that had come upon them. God knows I had no sympathy for the rebels, who each one of them was out feathering his own nest and building up a fortune, caring nothing for the common people whose lot they pretended would be bettered by their victory, but nor could I, in my heart, recognize the King as the fountain of all truth, but thought of him always as a stiff, proud man, small in intelligence as he was in stature, yet commanding, by his grace of manner, his dignity, and his moral virtue, a wild devotion in his followers that sprang from their warm hearts and not their reason."
"I thought then of all the things that I would want to bring before him. How he was not infallible, and never had been, and that this stroke of Fate was a grim reminder of the fact. His own harsh measures to the enemy had been repaid, measure for measure. Cruelty begat cruelty, betrayal gave birth to treachery, the qualities that he had fostered in himself these past years were now recoiled upon him."
"A year has come and gone, and though we are defeated we live, we still survive. I am lonely, yes, but that has been my portion since I turned eighteen. And loneliness has compensations. Better to live inwardly alone than together in constant fear."
Many times I go into a book without knowing anything about the story but knowing that the author is a favorite of mine, such is The King's General by Daphne du Maurier. I rarely even read a foreword before reading a book but generally read it after. I am glad I continue this practice because even though the person writing the foreword said she did not want to spoil the story, if I read her comments I would know something that would take away the surprise for me. As I was reading I do as I generally do look up everything I am unfamiliar with including people & places. What I noticed soon on that many of the characters are real & once again while reading a book I had a history lesson, and in this case the English Civil War. Having read Mary Elizabeth Braddon's London Pride years ago which was also during this era in English history but Daphne's story which she had assistance by two historians, one having the same name Rasheigh as the family in her book. Some of battles & people during this time in history are fictionalized without truly departing from history. She was disappointed that the historical battle aspect did not receive the praise it desired. Not to worry Daphne, I was very much impressed! My reading friend Julie told me that Daphne's husband was a general & after hearing that you can so see it in her story. They say write what you know & she was privy to being a close partner to a warrior. This is classified as Gothic & historical romance but it is a different kind of romance a la Daphne. If you are not one who even likes one ounce of fighting & war planning in a book, you would probably not be too happy because this book has much more of that than romance but there is plenty of drama & the romantic parts are quite touching. I do like a book that includes fighting that has more than just war but all aspects of human characters & feelings that are brought about & this book has both that intertwined together to make for a wonderful read. I find this period in English history quite interesting, as they oust the king & behead him but yet after austere command of the parliament reign under Crommel, they welcome a king back. I have heard how brutal war was during those times & Daphne gives a taste of how war effects not just the warriors but the people at home. In Rebecca Manderley is based on the Rashleigh's Menabilly (an historic estate in Cornwall, England) which Daphne was granted a lease to restore in 1943 & she lived there until 1969 which after she returned to the Rashleighs.The main characters are the Harris & the Grenville families in Cornwall, England. Marriage unites this family & romances ties them together to the very end. Honor Harris, the young girl who grows up quite spoiled & diffident but yet loved by all her siblings is an older woman letting us know her secret that has been buried inside her for years. She writes about her kinsman & other families before & during the English Civil War & the love of her life. The estate has a gothic structure with some eerie discoveries.
Excerpts--
"I knew then, as I peered forth from the curtains of my litter, that war can make beasts of every one of us, and that the men and women of my own breed could act even worse in warfare than the men and women of the eastern countries. We had, each one of us, because of the civil war, streaked back two centuries in time, and were become like those half savages of the fourteen hundreds who, during the Wars of the Roses, slit each other's throats without compunction."
"Yet none of them, gazing at the King's portrait, dreamed of blaming him for the trouble that had come upon them. God knows I had no sympathy for the rebels, who each one of them was out feathering his own nest and building up a fortune, caring nothing for the common people whose lot they pretended would be bettered by their victory, but nor could I, in my heart, recognize the King as the fountain of all truth, but thought of him always as a stiff, proud man, small in intelligence as he was in stature, yet commanding, by his grace of manner, his dignity, and his moral virtue, a wild devotion in his followers that sprang from their warm hearts and not their reason."
"I thought then of all the things that I would want to bring before him. How he was not infallible, and never had been, and that this stroke of Fate was a grim reminder of the fact. His own harsh measures to the enemy had been repaid, measure for measure. Cruelty begat cruelty, betrayal gave birth to treachery, the qualities that he had fostered in himself these past years were now recoiled upon him."
"A year has come and gone, and though we are defeated we live, we still survive. I am lonely, yes, but that has been my portion since I turned eighteen. And loneliness has compensations. Better to live inwardly alone than together in constant fear."
May 10, 2024
窜补濒别驳艂辞艣肠颈.
艢wietna bohaterka i obrzydliwy bohater.
艢wietna bohaterka i obrzydliwy bohater.
July 23, 2024
3猸愶笍= Average.
Paperback.
This was one of DDM鈥檚 slower books but still, the writing was captivating. She certainly knows how to set a scene and bring a story to life.
The subject matter was not really to my taste. I preferred Rebecca, My Cousin Rachel and The Scapegoat.
Paperback.
This was one of DDM鈥檚 slower books but still, the writing was captivating. She certainly knows how to set a scene and bring a story to life.
The subject matter was not really to my taste. I preferred Rebecca, My Cousin Rachel and The Scapegoat.
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