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An Insubstantial Pageant
Baroness Charlotte Raimund - "Lottie" - is entrusted with taking the young Crown Princess Sophia to Vienna to introduce her to society. While there, Sophia and Lottie attract many admirers, from Czar Alexander downwards, but they also draw towards them those who see Sophia as a pawn in a political game and who harbour designs upon the throne she stands to inherit. Men who are prepared to resort to murder in order to gain power. Baroness Lottie's forebodings come true when danger threatens Sophia and the future of their homeland is put at risk.
320 pages, Paperback
First published September 3, 1985
About the author
Sheila Walsh
28 books11 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Born Sheila O'Nions in 1928 in Birmingham, England, UK. During the Second World War, her family moved to Southport, Lancashire, where she met Des Walsh, son of the Thomas Walsh, who had a jewelry store at 39 Chapel Street since 1926. In 1950, Sheila married with Des Walsh, and they had two daughters, Fran Walsh and Tess Walsh. Sheila worked during years in her husband's familiar jewelry store, with her husband, her husband elder brother Gerard and his wife Dorothy[2].
In 1971, Sheila joined the Southport Writers' Circle, and years later, in 1986 was elected life president. In 1980 she became the vice-president of the Romantic Novelists' Association, and later elected Chairman (1985-1987).
Her debut novel, The Golden Songbird, won the Netta Muskett award for new writers from the Romantic Novelists' Association, and in 1984, her novel, A Highly Respectable Marriage won the Elizabeth Goudge award.
Sheila Walsh died on 20 January 2009, at 80.
Born Sheila O'Nions in 1928 in Birmingham, England, UK. During the Second World War, her family moved to Southport, Lancashire, where she met Des Walsh, son of the Thomas Walsh, who had a jewelry store at 39 Chapel Street since 1926. In 1950, Sheila married with Des Walsh, and they had two daughters, Fran Walsh and Tess Walsh. Sheila worked during years in her husband's familiar jewelry store, with her husband, her husband elder brother Gerard and his wife Dorothy[2].
In 1971, Sheila joined the Southport Writers' Circle, and years later, in 1986 was elected life president. In 1980 she became the vice-president of the Romantic Novelists' Association, and later elected Chairman (1985-1987).
Her debut novel, The Golden Songbird, won the Netta Muskett award for new writers from the Romantic Novelists' Association, and in 1984, her novel, A Highly Respectable Marriage won the Elizabeth Goudge award.
Sheila Walsh died on 20 January 2009, at 80.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 29, 2025
One of my favorite recency authors
I am only sorry recency stories like this are not as popular as they once were. Sheila Walsh and Joan Wolf were two of the best.
Their
books had substance and interesting characters. They told stories ! And they didn't rely on only sex scenes to fill the pages.
I am only sorry recency stories like this are not as popular as they once were. Sheila Walsh and Joan Wolf were two of the best.
Their
books had substance and interesting characters. They told stories ! And they didn't rely on only sex scenes to fill the pages.
Read
April 20, 2021DNF at 25%. I struggled with the first two chapters hoping that it would get better, but that didn't happen. Unfortunately, it's boring.
June 17, 2022
I give this book 3 stars for the story and one more star for the historical accuracy which is so rare in the regency novels being written now.
April 1, 2010
As for this book.
Well, I forced myself to read through it once.
I couldn't get past the second chapter this time.
It is a good book for a one time read, if you have nothing else to read.
I think the problem is with the way the author wrote it. She seemed to go on, when she could have left it, and that would have made you wonder, while keeping interested in the characters.
But as I was told this is an older book, and writing styles change with times. So it may just be me.
Well, I forced myself to read through it once.
I couldn't get past the second chapter this time.
It is a good book for a one time read, if you have nothing else to read.
I think the problem is with the way the author wrote it. She seemed to go on, when she could have left it, and that would have made you wonder, while keeping interested in the characters.
But as I was told this is an older book, and writing styles change with times. So it may just be me.
July 8, 2012
It was a good read. Better than I thought it would be.
March 29, 2013
Pretty good story, read this in november 2012.
November 5, 2019
A traditional regency romance
Very glad Walsh books are being released again but don't like the titles changed, originally The Wary Widow,a favorite one.
Very glad Walsh books are being released again but don't like the titles changed, originally The Wary Widow,a favorite one.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews