The Visitor

by Anita Burgh

It is 1899. England is fighting the Boers, Queen Victoria's reign will soon be over and change is in the air. A young girl from Devon, Phoebe Drewitt, escapes her brutal father and a hard life on Dartmoor, her head full of dreams. She is rescued by the reclusive, middle-aged Kendall Bartholomew, but are his motives as innocent as they appear? For Arnold Randolph-Smythe, shopkeeper and upstanding citizen of Barlton in Devon, life is more than satisfactory. His shop is successful and his daughter adores him, though his rich wife does not. Yet appearances can be deceptive. Dulcie, his wife, meets Phoebe and invites her to their home. The arguments, hatreds, and love that follow have profound repercussions for all involved.

Genres: Fiction, Historical

512 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2003

About the author

Anita Burgh was born in Kent. She began to write in her late forties and was first published at the age of 50. She has subsequently had 23 novels published, numerous articles and short stories. Her themes are those of class, rejection and wealth. She writes books set in the modern world but also historical novels set in Victorian and Edwardian times – her latest being The Cresswell Inheritance trilogy. She has been a member of the RNA for many years, was a committee member and has been short-listed for the RNA Romantic Novel of the Year award. Now in her 70s, she enjoys teaching and mentoring others who are, as yet, unpublished. She continues to write novels, proving that authors never retire.

Reviews

[Eska · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no expectations whatsoever for this book as it just kinda fell in my lap and isn‘t something I would usually pick up. But I actually really enjoyed the characters and the story was very engaging! I shall try another book by the author!

[Susan Robinson · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was beyond boring. I kept reading it, hoping for some interest. It didn't happen. Started skipping entire pages and still did not lose the plot. It was bland. The characters one dimensional. A Good book to take to bed and put you to sleep.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read about life on the moors - I loved the character of Phoebe.

[Amanda Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author and won’t be my last. This book had me hooked from the start. The characters are well written and the plot had me gripped to the very end.

[LindyLouMac · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/5...

As a fan of Anita Burgh since 1996 I was delighted to have recently obtained a copy of The Visitor published in 2003. It is the closing year of the 19th Century and the story relates the adventures of the protagonist Phoebe Drewett as she escapes her cruel father by running away from her Dartmoor home. From September 1899 to the Spring of 1901 we follow sixteen year old Phoebe's growth into maturity as she looses her innocence. Her meetings and interactions with the Bartholemew and Randolph-Smythe families are cleverly interlinked in this compelling story of suspense, romance which will also make you laugh. Phoebe is wonderfully portrayed as the determined young girl whose head is full of daydreams, but she is going to let nothing get her down. She, certainly needed this strength to cope with her involvement with the likes of Kendall Bartholemew and Arnold and Agnes Randolph-Smythe. Complicated relationships of love and hate have serious consequences for all the characters.

I can recommend this to anyone who enjoys Anita Burghs novels, actually to anyone who enjoys a good historical story.

[Doreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novel set in 1899 in England. Phoebe runs away from an abusive father. She has some interesting adventures, Another character is Arnold Randolph-Smythe whom Phoebe finds very scary. It was an interesting read hard to put down

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

very intersting book long though

[Megan Sudnikowicz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Could not even make it through this book. I found it very confusing and boring!