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30th out of 84 books
—
35 voters
All This, and Heaven Too
This number-one bestselling novel is based on the true story of one of the most notorious murder cases in French history. The heroine, Henriette Deluzy-Desportes, governess to the children of the Duc de Praslin, found herself strangely drawn to her employer; when the Duc murdered his wife in the most savage fashion, she had to plead her own case before the Chancellor of Fr...more
Paperback, 596 pages
Published
May 1st 2003
by Chicago Review Press
(first published 1938)
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This is just a good, old-fashioned historical novel similar in style and scope to works like Katherine and Gone with the Wind.
It's based on the true story of the author's French great aunt (through marriage only), Henriette Desportes. Field re-imagines Henriette's life, from the time she was a 28 year old governess travelling back to her native France in the 1840's, until her death as the wife of Henry Field in New England in the 1870's. How much of Henriette's story is actually true is up for c...more
It's based on the true story of the author's French great aunt (through marriage only), Henriette Desportes. Field re-imagines Henriette's life, from the time she was a 28 year old governess travelling back to her native France in the 1840's, until her death as the wife of Henry Field in New England in the 1870's. How much of Henriette's story is actually true is up for c...more
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I read this book four years ago, but it still lingers in my memory. I don't know if it speaks to the excellence of the writing or just my book-worm nature, but I struggled to put it down even on a road trip through Yellowstone! There was something about it - the introspective quality of Field's language - that brought self-knowledge through the unveiling of Henriette's enigmatic character. A few quotes I still remember:
“Oh, well, it might look like a patterned world, laid out in prim design, bu...more
“Oh, well, it might look like a patterned world, laid out in prim design, bu...more
I liked the idea of this book a little more than the actual book. The great part is the book has that old Hollywood "feel" to it but it also takes patience to get through the plot. The actual murder (main plot point) does not happen until a little more than 1/3 of the way through the 600 pages. There's a 1940s movie version with Bette Davis playing Henriette I cannot wait to see.
Originally published in 1939 (and subsequently made into a film starring Bette Davis) this novel tells the story of a woman who was a governess in France in the mid-19th century and got caught up in a scandal when she was accused of a murder she did not commit.
The second half of the book is very different - rather less exciting although still of interest. Our heroine emigrates to America where she has to contend with a very unfamiliar lifestyle amongst prim New Englanders: there are some very f...more
The second half of the book is very different - rather less exciting although still of interest. Our heroine emigrates to America where she has to contend with a very unfamiliar lifestyle amongst prim New Englanders: there are some very f...more
In my all time top ten. Written by her grand-daughter in the 1930's it tells the tale of a woman who is an unwilling part of a murder in Paris, then moves to New York City for a second chance. My favorite passage is the following:
"And I felt so alone, you see," Henriette ventured at last. "If there had been someone to turn to, some one for me to lean on."
"Listen to me." The sharp old eyes blinked fiercely out of their nest of wrinkles. "You'll never find that, so stop wasting your time for a sho...more
"And I felt so alone, you see," Henriette ventured at last. "If there had been someone to turn to, some one for me to lean on."
"Listen to me." The sharp old eyes blinked fiercely out of their nest of wrinkles. "You'll never find that, so stop wasting your time for a sho...more
Henriette Desportes is 28 years old when the novel opens in 1841. She is traveling from England to her homeland of France now English charge is of age and no longer in need of a governess. Henriette has secured a position teaching a prominent family’s youngest children. The Duc and Duchesse de Praslin are Catholic; the Duchesse strongly disapproves of Henriette’s Protestant faith. The children find it easy to love their governess because they are terrified of their mother.
Time and trials make He...more
Time and trials make He...more
I went through many different emotions whie I was reading this book. Several things I had read about it previously mentioned the main character's, Henriette Desportes', involvement in a famous murder in 19th century France. Said murder occurs almost halway through the book and then doesn't take much to resolve. This all annoyed me, and I kept wondering if should just give up.
But even as I kept flipping forward, trying to figure out when someone was going to die (you can see where my priorities...more
But even as I kept flipping forward, trying to figure out when someone was going to die (you can see where my priorities...more
This book has a split personality. The first half is very engrossing and interesting. The second half is very boring and I just scanned through most of it. I wonder whatever happened to the children, but it doesn't say much about that. I wonder just how very innocent she really was in life, the book is definitely written from that angle. If this were two books, I would give the first half 4 stars and the last part 1 or 2.
A sentimental favorite. I can't remember exactly how I came to own a copy of this book, but I think I picked it up in a thrift shop many years ago, and recognized it as the source material for the Bette Davis film of the same name.
Field is better known as the Newbery-winning author of Hitty: Her First Hundred Years. It's been a long time since I read All This, and Heaven Too; I didn't remember that Field was writing about her own relative (by marriage) and her own famous family in the novel. Fie...more
Field is better known as the Newbery-winning author of Hitty: Her First Hundred Years. It's been a long time since I read All This, and Heaven Too; I didn't remember that Field was writing about her own relative (by marriage) and her own famous family in the novel. Fie...more
This story is based on the true life of the author's great aunt in the 1840s. It is one of the best books that I've read in a long time. The heroine is Henriette Deluzy-Desportes, governess of the ill-fated household of the Duke and Duchess de Praslin. This was so good. I love this author. I loved that the book was written in the 1930s.
A meticulously detailed book about a demure, destitute woman who becomes a governess and engenders the wrath of her mistress, the childrens' mother. A handsome film was made of the first half of the book with Bette Davis. Fans of that will enjoy reading how the rest of the story plays out, though it is decidely not as exciting.
I loved this book! That kind of historical fiction that I adore! It had a message, things to ponder after reading the book, a really charismatic and unique female protagonist (with whom I could kind of identify myself)... so it was a nice piece of literature, yet it had a really nice, eventful plot.
I got this for 25 cents on the last day of Brandeis Book Sale. Best quarter I ever spent! Fascinating fictionalized account of one of France's great murders in the 1800s. Henriette Desportes becomes governess for the wealthy Praslin household and gets stuck in the midst of the Duc and Duchesse's marital problems. My one issue with this book is that the author wants Henriette to be completely blameless, so some of H's actions are a little vague as to motivation.
I was FASCINATED to learn that the...more
I was FASCINATED to learn that the...more
This was an amazing read. I so thoroughly enjoyed it. Then, I found out it's a true story...WOW! If you like historical books. You will love this.
Like Daphne du Maurier, Rachel Field spins a first-rate historical romance, this one based upon her great-aunt Henriette Deluzy-Desportes Field. A godd old-fashioned read.
My grandmother gave me this book when I was 10 and I loved it then, and still number it among my favourite books. Beautifully written and an inspiring story.
Very well written. I was drawn into the story as if I was there. I enjoyed every page. I would recommend this book.
Based on the true story of the author's great-aunt. It is a lovely story of integrity, humility and love :)
Aug 10, 2012
Nestor
added it
verry interesting,it ws written when English was more words and less contraction´s
May 12, 2008
H.J. Swinford
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Big time readers. mostly females
Recommended to H.J. by:
Its own pretty spine
Shelves:
read-in-2008
This was one of those books that caught my eye on a bookshelf at a local bookstore and as soon as I pulled it off the shelf I knew I couldn't leave the store without this book in hand. I don't know...it was just one of those things.
It is a narrative biography of Henriette Desportes and her story surrounding the Praslin murder scandal in France in the 1840s. Totally cool French history wrapped into the life of this amazing woman. The writing is sophisticated, but not difficult and the 600someodd...more
It is a narrative biography of Henriette Desportes and her story surrounding the Praslin murder scandal in France in the 1840s. Totally cool French history wrapped into the life of this amazing woman. The writing is sophisticated, but not difficult and the 600someodd...more
From my romantic period, I loved it at 16.
They are playing this movie for free next semester on the first floor of our library and I thought that I would read the book beforehand, just for kicks. It's about a nanny that has an affair with the guy - scandalous!
Henriette is a governess for the children of the Duc and Duchess de Praslin. The Duc falls in love with Henriette and leads to tragedy. Soon after Henriette moves to America and rebuilds her life there.
All this, and heaven too by Rachel Field (1938)
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| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Historical Fictio...: New Quiz on another old chick lit classic | 9 | 43 | Feb 01, 2012 09:44am | |
| Ladies & Lite...: New Quiz on an old chick lit classic | 4 | 11 | Jan 31, 2012 08:03am |
Rachel Lyman Field was an American novelist, poet, and author of children's fiction. She is best known for her Newbery Medal–winning novel for young adults, Hitty, Her First Hundred Years, published in 1929.
As a child Field contributed to the St. Nicholas Magazine and was educated at Radcliffe College. Her book, Prayer for a Child, was a recipient of the Caldecott Medal for its illustrations by El...more
More about Rachel Field...
As a child Field contributed to the St. Nicholas Magazine and was educated at Radcliffe College. Her book, Prayer for a Child, was a recipient of the Caldecott Medal for its illustrations by El...more
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“Affections cannot be stolen, madam. They are given freely or not at all.”
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“The more one suffered and lived, the more one had known of joy and grief, the deeper the response must be if an artist were great enough to summon it.”
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