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The Lost Prince
“The Lost Prince can stand independently of The Little Book … but why deprive yourself of the pleasures of reading both?” —Booklist
Recently returned from fin de siècle Vienna, where she tragically lost the first great love of her life, Eleanor Burden settles into her expected place in Boston society, marries a suitable husband, and waits for life to come to her. Eleanor’s story is not unlike that of the other young women she grew up with in 1890’s Boston, except for one difference: Eleanor believes herself to have advance knowledge of every major historical event to come in her lifetime. But soon Eleanor’s script of events begins to unravel, and she must find the courage of her deepest convictions, discover the difference between predetermination and free will, find faith in her own sanity, and decide whether she will allow history to unfold come what may — or use her extraordinary gifts to bend history and deliver the life she is meant to have.
Recently returned from fin de siècle Vienna, where she tragically lost the first great love of her life, Eleanor Burden settles into her expected place in Boston society, marries a suitable husband, and waits for life to come to her. Eleanor’s story is not unlike that of the other young women she grew up with in 1890’s Boston, except for one difference: Eleanor believes herself to have advance knowledge of every major historical event to come in her lifetime. But soon Eleanor’s script of events begins to unravel, and she must find the courage of her deepest convictions, discover the difference between predetermination and free will, find faith in her own sanity, and decide whether she will allow history to unfold come what may — or use her extraordinary gifts to bend history and deliver the life she is meant to have.
436 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
34 people are currently reading
1336 people want to read
About the author
Selden Edwards
6 books72 followersSelden Edwards began writing The Little Book as a young English teacher in 1974, and continued to layer and refine the manuscript until its completion in 2007. It is his first novel. He spent his career as headmaster at several independent schools across the country, and for over forty years has been secretary of his Princeton class, where he also played basketball. He lives in Santa Barbara, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
September 6, 2012
So now I have to go read The Little Book. It would have been nice if the flyleaf had mentioned that this was the second part of an on-going story so I could have read them in order. Instead I spent a good portion of this book feeling more confused than I needed to be. Having said that though, I truly did enjoy this book. It reminded me of the old authors like Dickens but easier to access. The premise: a young woman, Eleanor returns from Vienna in the late 1800s in possession of a broken heart, a mysterious ring, and an even more mysterious journal, along with foreknowledge of every major historical event to occur within her lifetime. It is up to her to determine her role in causing the events outlined in this journal to come to pass. She knows who will be necessary to this unfolding but not necessarily where to find them or what, specifically, they must do. With strong determination and serene aplomb, Eleanor sets her life on the journal's proscribed course with surprising and satisfying results. Famous historical figures such as Freud, Jung, and Mahler, and an "insider's" look at how ordinary lives were affected by events both large and small lend appeal to anyone with a bent toward historical fiction. A nice blend of fantasy, romance, and history for the reader looking for something a little bit different.
February 6, 2015
First off, a disclaimer: I tend to be generous in my ratings of books merely out of respect for the time and dedication it takes simply to write them. Having said that, I almost feel as if I should take a star away from other books to which I've awarded five. Almost. What stops me is the matter of fairness. Each author should be evaluated on a comparative basis with others writing in the same genre. So, having eliminated the option of reducing star numbers, my other impulse would be to award six or seven or ten stars to Mr. Edwards' "The Lost Prince".
"The Lost Prince" successfully weaves romance, historical fiction, psychology, philosophy, and music into a beautiful tapestry which, at once, both arrests one's attention and demands minute inspection. For readers able and willing to submit to its requirements, this book will captivate and enthrall and leave you upon finishing it with a desperate yearning for more, just as a six or seven or ten star book should. Go on: read it.
"The Lost Prince" successfully weaves romance, historical fiction, psychology, philosophy, and music into a beautiful tapestry which, at once, both arrests one's attention and demands minute inspection. For readers able and willing to submit to its requirements, this book will captivate and enthrall and leave you upon finishing it with a desperate yearning for more, just as a six or seven or ten star book should. Go on: read it.
December 29, 2012
I received this as a free download from Audiojukebox. I say that not only in the interest of fairness but also to explain that this is the only reason why I finished the book.
A couple of years ago I listened to the audio version of Edwards' first book, The Little Book. While I felt there were a few flaws in the story, it was also strangely compelling. It was one of those books that stay with you long after you've finished. In fact, it has stuck with me ever since, especially the superb narration. So I was very interested in the continuation of that story and jumped at the chance to listen to the book.
The Lost Prince tells the story of what happens to Eleanor Putnam Burden after she returns to Boston from Vienna in 1897, the end of "The Little Book." She brings back the journal that describes many of the things that will happen over the course of her life--including the sinking of the Titanic and World War I--and sets about planning for each event. Eleanor in many ways is captive to the book because she feels that doing everything she is supposed to will complete a circle in time bringing her back to fin de siecle Vienna and the love of her life.
Unfortunately, through most of the book, there are only allusions to what happened in the first book. I can't understand why Edwards wouldn't choose to lay the story out more clearly. Even those of us who read the first book have likely forgotten a fair amount of it.
But the biggest problem with the book is the narration. Angela Brazil reads like a college professor standing at a lectern speaking to a very large class. Her voice, more often than not, is strident, like she's trying to wake up the student in the back row. She has a truly annoying habit of over-emphasizing the last word in the sentence, whether it needs it or not. "The two men were standing next to the TABLE." She also mispronounces numerous words, including "fin de siecle"--or as she puts it, "fin du sicklah." She certainly has the ability to soften her voice. When she does, it becomes quite pleasant; it makes me think of Blair Brown, a superb narrator. She also does a particularly good German accent. But most of the time, the narration just plain grated on me.
It also doesn't help the Edwards writes incredibly stilted dialogue. Even allowing for his attempt to have people speak in the more formal way of the times, it comes across as leaden. For some reason, Eleanor's husband is almost always referred to as "Frank Burden" never just Frank. Also, as with the first book, you've got to check your expectations of reality at the first page. Truly improbable things happen. Frank Burden is a stiff-as-a-board Boston Brahmin banker who doesn't like any kind of change. Yet he hasn't got a clue that his wife is running around the country making stock deals worth millions of dollars. He doesn't seem to bat an eye when she decides to go running around war-ravaged Europe immediately after World War I. It's obvious to almost everyone she comes in contact with that Eleanor has special insight into the future, and yet hardly anyone questions her about it. Even Sigmund Freud, who was skeptical of the time traveler in the first book, refuses to accept the obvious in the second.
Finally, there are two somewhat meaningless twists in the plot. The first is Eleanor's relationship with Williams James. The second is the basis for this book's title. While I won't give it away here, I will say that it doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Since we already know what's going to happen from the first book, adding this twist seems like a road that goes nowhere.
I got a copy of the hardbook version of the book from the library to compare the two. There's no doubt I would have enjoyed the printed version more.
A couple of years ago I listened to the audio version of Edwards' first book, The Little Book. While I felt there were a few flaws in the story, it was also strangely compelling. It was one of those books that stay with you long after you've finished. In fact, it has stuck with me ever since, especially the superb narration. So I was very interested in the continuation of that story and jumped at the chance to listen to the book.
The Lost Prince tells the story of what happens to Eleanor Putnam Burden after she returns to Boston from Vienna in 1897, the end of "The Little Book." She brings back the journal that describes many of the things that will happen over the course of her life--including the sinking of the Titanic and World War I--and sets about planning for each event. Eleanor in many ways is captive to the book because she feels that doing everything she is supposed to will complete a circle in time bringing her back to fin de siecle Vienna and the love of her life.
Unfortunately, through most of the book, there are only allusions to what happened in the first book. I can't understand why Edwards wouldn't choose to lay the story out more clearly. Even those of us who read the first book have likely forgotten a fair amount of it.
But the biggest problem with the book is the narration. Angela Brazil reads like a college professor standing at a lectern speaking to a very large class. Her voice, more often than not, is strident, like she's trying to wake up the student in the back row. She has a truly annoying habit of over-emphasizing the last word in the sentence, whether it needs it or not. "The two men were standing next to the TABLE." She also mispronounces numerous words, including "fin de siecle"--or as she puts it, "fin du sicklah." She certainly has the ability to soften her voice. When she does, it becomes quite pleasant; it makes me think of Blair Brown, a superb narrator. She also does a particularly good German accent. But most of the time, the narration just plain grated on me.
It also doesn't help the Edwards writes incredibly stilted dialogue. Even allowing for his attempt to have people speak in the more formal way of the times, it comes across as leaden. For some reason, Eleanor's husband is almost always referred to as "Frank Burden" never just Frank. Also, as with the first book, you've got to check your expectations of reality at the first page. Truly improbable things happen. Frank Burden is a stiff-as-a-board Boston Brahmin banker who doesn't like any kind of change. Yet he hasn't got a clue that his wife is running around the country making stock deals worth millions of dollars. He doesn't seem to bat an eye when she decides to go running around war-ravaged Europe immediately after World War I. It's obvious to almost everyone she comes in contact with that Eleanor has special insight into the future, and yet hardly anyone questions her about it. Even Sigmund Freud, who was skeptical of the time traveler in the first book, refuses to accept the obvious in the second.
Finally, there are two somewhat meaningless twists in the plot. The first is Eleanor's relationship with Williams James. The second is the basis for this book's title. While I won't give it away here, I will say that it doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Since we already know what's going to happen from the first book, adding this twist seems like a road that goes nowhere.
I got a copy of the hardbook version of the book from the library to compare the two. There's no doubt I would have enjoyed the printed version more.
June 11, 2012
I was overjoyed to receive an Advanced Reading Copy of this, as I so loved his first book (The Little Book), and I wish I could gush about it now that I've read it, but it didn't quite live up to my (admittedly high) expectations. The Lost Prince is a companion to The Little Book; whereas that was the story of Wheeler Burden in fin de siecle Vienna, this is the story of Eleanor Burden after her return from Vienna, up through the end of World War I.
The Little Book was a compelling tale, and it provides the background necessary to make sense of The Lost Prince. I honestly do not know how this will read for people who haven't read The Little Book; it may prove confusing or disjointed, or it may simply lack the intended significance and resonance without the backstory to which the author so frequently alludes.
The premise of this continuation of the story held so much promise, but I don't feel that it delivered with the same impact as its predecessor. Eleanor is admirable - certainly all the other characters admire her - but I did not have the same emotional connection to her as I did to Wheeler. Her interactions with her family (her husband Frank, described repeatedly as the "conservative Boston banker," her daughters Susan and Jane, and her young son Standish) seem wooden and mechanical, perhaps because dialogue is not one of Edwards' great gifts. Rather, much seems to be expressed and understood wordlessly, through body language and people looking deeply into each others' eyes. At some point all this wordless communication begins to seem improbable.
Repetition, both of description and of dialogue, is also an issue. I began to get impatient during long conversations between Eleanor and whomever she was speaking with (Arnauld, Will Honeycutt, William James, Herr Jodl, Carl Jung), as both characters seemed to be repeating the same ideas in slightly different words.
The central emotional component to the story is, or should be, I think, Eleanor wrestling with the ideas of fate, destiny, free will, and predestination. (Will sums it up neatly late in the book, when she finally tells him the whole story: one must act to bring about one's destiny, he says.) She has returned from Vienna with Wheeler's journal, which contains many details of future events, which she must act to bring about; this creates both certainty (this must happen because it does happen) and uncertainty (am I taking the right action to bring this about?).
However, this component seemed to be a little lacking, nor were the conversations with historical figures such as James and Jung sufficient to compensate for Eleanor's thin character. The plot did not have enough momentum, and events that were supposed to be revelatory fell flat. Overall, I very much wanted to like this book, but I feel that it fell short of its promise. Still, readers who loved The Little Book may be interested in reading more of the story; likewise, it is also an interesting window onto early 1900s history and the growth of psychology as a field.
The Little Book was a compelling tale, and it provides the background necessary to make sense of The Lost Prince. I honestly do not know how this will read for people who haven't read The Little Book; it may prove confusing or disjointed, or it may simply lack the intended significance and resonance without the backstory to which the author so frequently alludes.
The premise of this continuation of the story held so much promise, but I don't feel that it delivered with the same impact as its predecessor. Eleanor is admirable - certainly all the other characters admire her - but I did not have the same emotional connection to her as I did to Wheeler. Her interactions with her family (her husband Frank, described repeatedly as the "conservative Boston banker," her daughters Susan and Jane, and her young son Standish) seem wooden and mechanical, perhaps because dialogue is not one of Edwards' great gifts. Rather, much seems to be expressed and understood wordlessly, through body language and people looking deeply into each others' eyes. At some point all this wordless communication begins to seem improbable.
Repetition, both of description and of dialogue, is also an issue. I began to get impatient during long conversations between Eleanor and whomever she was speaking with (Arnauld, Will Honeycutt, William James, Herr Jodl, Carl Jung), as both characters seemed to be repeating the same ideas in slightly different words.
The central emotional component to the story is, or should be, I think, Eleanor wrestling with the ideas of fate, destiny, free will, and predestination. (Will sums it up neatly late in the book, when she finally tells him the whole story: one must act to bring about one's destiny, he says.) She has returned from Vienna with Wheeler's journal, which contains many details of future events, which she must act to bring about; this creates both certainty (this must happen because it does happen) and uncertainty (am I taking the right action to bring this about?).
However, this component seemed to be a little lacking, nor were the conversations with historical figures such as James and Jung sufficient to compensate for Eleanor's thin character. The plot did not have enough momentum, and events that were supposed to be revelatory fell flat. Overall, I very much wanted to like this book, but I feel that it fell short of its promise. Still, readers who loved The Little Book may be interested in reading more of the story; likewise, it is also an interesting window onto early 1900s history and the growth of psychology as a field.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2013
I had a hard time connecting with this story, or the characters (especially Eleanor). She knows her own future because it is all written down in a notebook from someone in the future, including who she marries, what she invests in, whom she befriends, etc. What bothered me most, is that her actions seem motivated only by the fact that they are supposedly in her future. (Ex: "Oh, it says here on page 6 that I have an affair with _____ and then have a child. Better get to work orchestrating this affair.")
This started to seem incredibly contrived. I could not imagine someone beginning an affair just because it says on paper that it is her destiny, without any deeper emotional pull, or any self-driven motivation.
It started to seem like Eleanor was living her life according to a recipe card.
Which leads me now to think: even if we knew "The Plan" in advance, could we really go about our lives antiseptically, without the mess of desires, selfish and unselfish motivations, whims, mistaken ideas, etc, all getting in the way?
I found it impossible to believe that Eleanor could follow the list of things on her list without being affected in any way by the pulls of the present - feelings, momentary inclinations, etc. Even when I follow a recipe, and try my hardest to do everything it says to the letter, there are unseen factors that influence the end result: my oven is different than that of the person who created the card, I accidentally put too much flour in the batter, I get a phone call that distracts me and I put almond flavoring intead of vanilla.
I couldn't believe Seldon's story because it removed the motivations of the present time from the equation. Eleanor, motivated only by a future result, lacked the depth of a character uncertain of its future. Our own uncertainty about the future itself is a motivating factor which leads us into our future actions.
This started to seem incredibly contrived. I could not imagine someone beginning an affair just because it says on paper that it is her destiny, without any deeper emotional pull, or any self-driven motivation.
It started to seem like Eleanor was living her life according to a recipe card.
Which leads me now to think: even if we knew "The Plan" in advance, could we really go about our lives antiseptically, without the mess of desires, selfish and unselfish motivations, whims, mistaken ideas, etc, all getting in the way?
I found it impossible to believe that Eleanor could follow the list of things on her list without being affected in any way by the pulls of the present - feelings, momentary inclinations, etc. Even when I follow a recipe, and try my hardest to do everything it says to the letter, there are unseen factors that influence the end result: my oven is different than that of the person who created the card, I accidentally put too much flour in the batter, I get a phone call that distracts me and I put almond flavoring intead of vanilla.
I couldn't believe Seldon's story because it removed the motivations of the present time from the equation. Eleanor, motivated only by a future result, lacked the depth of a character uncertain of its future. Our own uncertainty about the future itself is a motivating factor which leads us into our future actions.
January 23, 2013
This was actually one of the worst books i've ever read. Sheer will power alone drove me to finish. There are dictionaries with better character development; inter-office memos with more compelling dialogue; and opium fueled dreams with that require fewer leaps of faith to buy into the plot. So she has a book that tells her about some critical events of the future. This now becomes a crutch on which every act, every motivation, every event that follows is based on. No, I don't have to make my readers believe that she wants something bad enough to do something about it. I'll just hook it on to this dead, rotted, and rank cockroach of a premise.
February 29, 2016
The Lost Prince – Seldon Edwards
3 stars
………spoilers……….
This is a sequel to Seldon Edwards’ convoluted time travel novel, The Little Book]. The first book takes place mostly in fin de siècle Vienna, where five of the principal characters converge in time. As the complex first book ends, the two time traveling characters are dead. Eleanor Putnam has been left with The Little Book which contains irrefutable, formidable knowledge of the future.
This book is entirely Eleanor’s story as she struggles to bring about those events that she knows must happen. Over the years, she develops (historically unlikely) relationships with Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, J.P. Morgan, and other well known personalities. There are a few interesting new characters, but for the most part everything that takes place in this book is thoroughly foreshadowed in the first book. Eleanor must struggle through her own peculiar battle with the ideas of free will and determinism. The most gripping part of the story deals with the devastation of World War I and Arnold Esterhazy’s treatment for profound shell shock.
I liked the first book in this series very much. The Little Book was a challenging, complex book, filled with wonderful historical detail. It required the suspension of disbelief that any reader must take into a time travel novel, but the end result was worth the effort. The Lost Prince is a shorter book with an uncomplicated linear timeline, but I struggled to finish it. It is necessary to read the first book to understand anything in The Lost Prince. However, knowledge of the first book removes any suspense regarding the ending of book two. Foreknowledge of the ending made it difficult to meander through philosophical and psychological sidebars that did little to move the plot. This book lacks much of the detailed descriptions of setting that Seldon lavished on Vienna in the first book. I also found myself losing patience with the convenient ‘secret’ relationships that, in both books, resulted in several characters having surprising bloodlines.
I understand there is to be a third book. Publishers do like trilogies. I will probably read it, but I think it is unfortunate. The Little Book worked very well as a single book.
3 stars
………spoilers……….
This is a sequel to Seldon Edwards’ convoluted time travel novel, The Little Book]. The first book takes place mostly in fin de siècle Vienna, where five of the principal characters converge in time. As the complex first book ends, the two time traveling characters are dead. Eleanor Putnam has been left with The Little Book which contains irrefutable, formidable knowledge of the future.
This book is entirely Eleanor’s story as she struggles to bring about those events that she knows must happen. Over the years, she develops (historically unlikely) relationships with Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, J.P. Morgan, and other well known personalities. There are a few interesting new characters, but for the most part everything that takes place in this book is thoroughly foreshadowed in the first book. Eleanor must struggle through her own peculiar battle with the ideas of free will and determinism. The most gripping part of the story deals with the devastation of World War I and Arnold Esterhazy’s treatment for profound shell shock.
I liked the first book in this series very much. The Little Book was a challenging, complex book, filled with wonderful historical detail. It required the suspension of disbelief that any reader must take into a time travel novel, but the end result was worth the effort. The Lost Prince is a shorter book with an uncomplicated linear timeline, but I struggled to finish it. It is necessary to read the first book to understand anything in The Lost Prince. However, knowledge of the first book removes any suspense regarding the ending of book two. Foreknowledge of the ending made it difficult to meander through philosophical and psychological sidebars that did little to move the plot. This book lacks much of the detailed descriptions of setting that Seldon lavished on Vienna in the first book. I also found myself losing patience with the convenient ‘secret’ relationships that, in both books, resulted in several characters having surprising bloodlines.
I understand there is to be a third book. Publishers do like trilogies. I will probably read it, but I think it is unfortunate. The Little Book worked very well as a single book.
May 31, 2018
Selden Edwards' new novel, "The Lost Prince", follows his novel, "The Little Book", published in 2008. Evidently, Edwards, a teacher at a private school, began work on "The Little Book" back in 1974. He produced an interesting, if slightly overwritten, novel, set in fin-de-sicle Vienna. I can't even begin to explain the plot of "Little", but you probably should read that book before beginning "Lost Prince". "Lost Prince" is actually a better book than it's predecessor; Edwards writes with a surer hand after having one hit under his belt. I think this is the second in a proposed trilogy.
"The Lost Prince", set basically in Boston in the pre-WW1 years, extends through the war years and the Spanish flu. Characters go back and forth in time and place, though less so than in "Little". The second book is less confusing than the first; basically Edwards has a firmer control over time, place, and characters. Bostonian Eleanor Putnam returns from her journey to Vienna in 1897 with a small book that foretells the future. Eleanor knows about both world wars and the horrors attached to both. She has notes - not visions - of the sinking of the Titanic and several stock market crashes, including the major one in 1929. She knows that she will marry Frank Burden, a Boston banker, and have three children with him. She knows that what she does will affect the future in ways that have been preordained. If this sounds a bit odd, it is, but Edwards carries off his plot quite well. He adds Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud and JP Morgan to his mix of fictional characters and produces a book that cannot be attributed to any particular writing genre. Is it fiction? Science fiction? A bit of both is probably closest to the truth.
This second book is an interesting follow-up to "The Little Book". Better written - maybe writing a book in four years is easier than forty! - than the first, it's a tour-de-force for anyone looking for a book with both a fascinating plot and characters.
"The Lost Prince", set basically in Boston in the pre-WW1 years, extends through the war years and the Spanish flu. Characters go back and forth in time and place, though less so than in "Little". The second book is less confusing than the first; basically Edwards has a firmer control over time, place, and characters. Bostonian Eleanor Putnam returns from her journey to Vienna in 1897 with a small book that foretells the future. Eleanor knows about both world wars and the horrors attached to both. She has notes - not visions - of the sinking of the Titanic and several stock market crashes, including the major one in 1929. She knows that she will marry Frank Burden, a Boston banker, and have three children with him. She knows that what she does will affect the future in ways that have been preordained. If this sounds a bit odd, it is, but Edwards carries off his plot quite well. He adds Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud and JP Morgan to his mix of fictional characters and produces a book that cannot be attributed to any particular writing genre. Is it fiction? Science fiction? A bit of both is probably closest to the truth.
This second book is an interesting follow-up to "The Little Book". Better written - maybe writing a book in four years is easier than forty! - than the first, it's a tour-de-force for anyone looking for a book with both a fascinating plot and characters.
August 2, 2012
Eleanor Burden returns from Vienna in 1898 with three priceless treasures, “a manuscript, an exquisite piece of jewelry, and a hand-written journal. Each would change her life, she knew, and each would play a part in determining her destiny.” The latter part of this quote is surely an understatement, to say the least, for thousands and thousands of people will be affected by this woman who has been granted some invaluable factual information.
The manuscript will make Gustave Mahler, composer and musician, famous. The jewelry will be used to finance an investment that she “knows” will reap millions of dollars in profit through the forthcoming years.
The journal is a gift from a mysterious but tragically lost love who had traveled through time to the past and left this account of hugely significant events to come, like the formation of car companies, the sinking of the Titanic, WW I and WWII. But it also contains evidence of certain people who will nurture the world through their money, culture, or teaching. It involves J. P. Morgan, Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Arnaud Esterhazy, Frank Burden, and many more notable, fascinating characters.
Just what is the role of Elizabeth and others and what is she to do when the plan begins to unravel with a seeming disastrous outcome?
This is one of the most intriguing, riveting, educational, inspiring….stories this writer has read in years. I couldn’t put it down and was totally engrossed in its amazing successes, failures, strengths, weaknesses, and more. It is well-written, well-researched, and stunning in its presentation. Are we the powerless recipients or dynamic creators of destiny? The Lost Prince is a must read and sure to be a number one bestseller.
The manuscript will make Gustave Mahler, composer and musician, famous. The jewelry will be used to finance an investment that she “knows” will reap millions of dollars in profit through the forthcoming years.
The journal is a gift from a mysterious but tragically lost love who had traveled through time to the past and left this account of hugely significant events to come, like the formation of car companies, the sinking of the Titanic, WW I and WWII. But it also contains evidence of certain people who will nurture the world through their money, culture, or teaching. It involves J. P. Morgan, Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Arnaud Esterhazy, Frank Burden, and many more notable, fascinating characters.
Just what is the role of Elizabeth and others and what is she to do when the plan begins to unravel with a seeming disastrous outcome?
This is one of the most intriguing, riveting, educational, inspiring….stories this writer has read in years. I couldn’t put it down and was totally engrossed in its amazing successes, failures, strengths, weaknesses, and more. It is well-written, well-researched, and stunning in its presentation. Are we the powerless recipients or dynamic creators of destiny? The Lost Prince is a must read and sure to be a number one bestseller.
October 27, 2012
2.5/5
I started this book, then put it down for a while as I just couldn't get into it. I decided to pick it up again to give it another try. It's a long book, partially due to the repetition and partially due to the long, drawn out discussions that take place. If you are like me, and haven't read the first book in this series, The Little Book, you will probably be lost for the first hundred pages or so. It became a bit more clear after some necessary background was revealed. Still, I found the characters to be rather wooden, and I didn't feel like I really knew them. A lot is told to us about who they are, but there's no emotion around it. Eleanor, in particular, is drawn as this super woman, controlling the future and amassing great wealth along the way - all without her husband's knowledge. She is able to travel to different states and different countries with apparent ease. Considering the timeframe, this just seems too unrealistic. There are some aspects that were interesting, but I'm not sure I'll be recommending this one.
I started this book, then put it down for a while as I just couldn't get into it. I decided to pick it up again to give it another try. It's a long book, partially due to the repetition and partially due to the long, drawn out discussions that take place. If you are like me, and haven't read the first book in this series, The Little Book, you will probably be lost for the first hundred pages or so. It became a bit more clear after some necessary background was revealed. Still, I found the characters to be rather wooden, and I didn't feel like I really knew them. A lot is told to us about who they are, but there's no emotion around it. Eleanor, in particular, is drawn as this super woman, controlling the future and amassing great wealth along the way - all without her husband's knowledge. She is able to travel to different states and different countries with apparent ease. Considering the timeframe, this just seems too unrealistic. There are some aspects that were interesting, but I'm not sure I'll be recommending this one.
November 3, 2012
You probably really have to have read Edwards' "The Little Book" for this book to make any sense at all; it springs from the same basic story but from an alternate character's point of view. I LOVED "The Little Book", and was mesmerized all over again at the beginning of this one. But then it started to bog down -- yeah, yeah, uh-huh... I guess what it came down to for me was, there is no way for the magic of the first book to be re-lived with the same sense of wonder and awe, just like you can't lose your virginity a second time! Some of the historical-based stuff was very interesting; I'm sure I learned quite a few things from that. But the writing wasn't as crisp and there were a few sloppy cracks in the way the story was moved along. Considering how many years it took him to write the first one, and this one coming so soon afterwards -- there just can't have been the same attention to detail. So as much as I wanted to love this, I'll have to leave it at 3 stars...
Read
August 5, 2017I was excited to learn Edwards had a new book out because I loved Little Book so very very much, but I waxed doubtful as soon as I realized that it continues the story of, or at least is connected to, the earlier book. I am skeptical about sequels. Not so much with children's books, because I sympathize with kids' need for reassurance with the familiar, but with YA books that milk characters past credibility and especially with adult books because grown-ups should have less tolerance for milking and less need for reassurance.
In 1912, about the end of a romance and return to reality, someone says her coach has turned back into a pumpkin. Did someone bowdlerize the tale before Disney? Maybe Bowdler? The brothers Grimm mention neither pumpkin nor mice nor glass. Ah, not Andrew Lang in the 19th but Charles Perrault in the 17th. Okay.
Finis. As I feared, it's more of a sequel than a stand-alone-but-related work. I don't know how anyone not having read Little Book could be interested in this. For hundreds of pages, it's business transactions and exposition. The characters were supposedly artsy, musical and philosophical, but the author only tells us this. Even traveling through the ravaged Italy and Austria of 1918 wasn't interesting except for one brief bit where everyone is musical together. If you've read The Little Book, you know the Big Reveal; if you haven't, I applaud your stubbornness in reading 400 pages to get to the deus ex machina, anti-climactic reveal.
Furthermore, I now expect a third book with the same characters. Gotta have a trilogy.
Poo. I'm afraid this will tarnish my love of The Little Book, which had none of these flaws.
In 1912, about the end of a romance and return to reality, someone says her coach has turned back into a pumpkin. Did someone bowdlerize the tale before Disney? Maybe Bowdler? The brothers Grimm mention neither pumpkin nor mice nor glass. Ah, not Andrew Lang in the 19th but Charles Perrault in the 17th. Okay.
Finis. As I feared, it's more of a sequel than a stand-alone-but-related work. I don't know how anyone not having read Little Book could be interested in this. For hundreds of pages, it's business transactions and exposition. The characters were supposedly artsy, musical and philosophical, but the author only tells us this. Even traveling through the ravaged Italy and Austria of 1918 wasn't interesting except for one brief bit where everyone is musical together. If you've read The Little Book, you know the Big Reveal; if you haven't, I applaud your stubbornness in reading 400 pages to get to the deus ex machina, anti-climactic reveal.
Furthermore, I now expect a third book with the same characters. Gotta have a trilogy.
Poo. I'm afraid this will tarnish my love of The Little Book, which had none of these flaws.
April 28, 2013
This novel is a sequel to Selden Edwards��� The Little Book, a tale of a contemporary American who becomes displaced in time in 19th century Vienna. The Lost Prince opens shortly after Eleanor Burden returns from fin de si��cle Vienna and begins a personal mission to ensure a future by aligning the early 20th century according to a journal given to her by her grandson. She establishes her personal fortune with the assistance of a young physicist she hires to invest in companies that she appears to have foreknowledge of their success. She convinces a young Austrian aristocrat to come to Boston as an instructor of the local boys��� school who will play a key role in her son���s future. When the young aristocrat returns to Austria to fight for his native country in WWI, Eleanor is not concern since she knows that the will return to Boston. When Eleanor learns that he is killed in the Italian front, her world and assured future is thrown into turmoil. Now Eleanor is left with the question whether or future is predetermined or does free will prevail?
It is evident that this historical novel possesses a sense of verisimilitude as the protagonist encounters early 20th luminaries such as William James, J.P. Morgan, Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud and experiences historical events such as the sinking of the Titanic, the 1918 Influenza Epidemic and the horrors of WWI. Although one can read this book without reading its prequel, the reader���s understanding would be better if The Little Book was read first.
It is evident that this historical novel possesses a sense of verisimilitude as the protagonist encounters early 20th luminaries such as William James, J.P. Morgan, Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud and experiences historical events such as the sinking of the Titanic, the 1918 Influenza Epidemic and the horrors of WWI. Although one can read this book without reading its prequel, the reader���s understanding would be better if The Little Book was read first.
September 12, 2012
I didn't realize this was a sequel to The Little Book (which I loved) until I started reading. Nowhere on the book cover, back, or jacket does it identify itself as such, which does readers a gross disservice. With a four-year span between these detailed books, I'd be surprised if anyone remembers specifics of the story.
This one picks up where the other left off, but for most of it, I was thoroughly confused. I was also bored. Edwards has quite the penchant for unnecessary detail and repetition - how many times can he reference the "great love of Eleanor's life?"
This book essentially follows Eleanor in her efforts to ensure the future. Step by step by step, Edwards lays out a long, drawn-out history lesson. Everyone falls in love with Eleanor -- who is apparently perfect -- which got old. How she was able to manage the Hyperion Fund -- which included daily meetings -- without her husband's knowledge, is nothing short of miraculous.
This one picks up where the other left off, but for most of it, I was thoroughly confused. I was also bored. Edwards has quite the penchant for unnecessary detail and repetition - how many times can he reference the "great love of Eleanor's life?"
This book essentially follows Eleanor in her efforts to ensure the future. Step by step by step, Edwards lays out a long, drawn-out history lesson. Everyone falls in love with Eleanor -- who is apparently perfect -- which got old. How she was able to manage the Hyperion Fund -- which included daily meetings -- without her husband's knowledge, is nothing short of miraculous.
Currently reading
September 7, 2012Has anyone else listened to the audio version of this book? I loved The Little Book -- as a matter of fact read it more than once. I think I would love this one too but the narrator makes listening painful. Her German accents sound reasonably authentic, and her voice can be pleasant when she is reading text, but most character voices are clipped and abrupt and sound harsh, especially Eleanor. I may try to read it in book form, but I have such a long commute that I do most of my "reading" in the car.
September 22, 2013
The Lost Prince is a sequel to The Little Book and continues the story of Eleanor Putnam. As the book begins it is 1897 and Bostonian Eleanor returns from Vienna entrusted with a small book that foretells the future. She knows about the coming will happen but she also knows she has to act. She is in the middle of pre-destiny and free will. This book is filled with wonderful historic detail. The author is working on the third book of this trilogy and I will definitely read it.
July 27, 2019
This book is a sequel (or, since the original involved time travel, perhaps we'd call it a prequel) to The Little Book, a story which transfixed me. Please, read it first. Yes, you can understand The Lost Prince without having read the first story, but your appreciation for the much quieter, much more staid tone of this book will suffer if you lack investment in the entire storyline.
A personal note: This book has been on my wishlist since it was announced. I loved the original so much that I feared reading the follow-up, that it might disappoint, and so it sat, waiting for me. Once I was ready, I still dithered; it had been eight years since I read the original; did I need to reread it? (Yes, but not to enjoy this; as I started realizing, I realized I remembered every detail of the first, but still picked it up mere minutes after finishing this, and am reading the first all over again. And loving it)
This book is quiet. Some other reviewers (mostly those who a) didn't read the first book, and/or b) who didn't make it to the emotional payoff) didn't get it, and I don't blame them. So, rather than skipping the book, just make sure you give yourself the gift of the first part of the story. Coming in at the middle denies you all the riches.
The Lost Prince is absolutely the counterpoint to its predecessor. The first focused on a Wheeler Burden, a (fictionally) famous man in adventurous circumstances. The second focuses on Eleanor Putnam Burden (Weezie Putnum of the first book), a woman (whose life course was changed by the first book's happenings) into living what would ALREADY have been a socially-prescribed and proscribed life into living one even more limited.
Women of her era could not (publicly) be seen to do any of the things she accomplished. Instead, Eleanor must do what must be done so that what happened can happen again. Quite the bootstrap paradox, and because no actual time travel takes place in this book, such predestination can make things seem boring. But Selden Edwards is a master storyteller, dropping tiny details like Easter eggs all through the tale; some are enjoyed no matter what, but others require knowing the first book to appreciate what happens in the second.
So, the first book had an all-out masculine energy; this one's is feminine, with the animus/anima (the masculine energy of the female) as Jung would say. Which is the point. The first book was Freudian. This one is Jungian, and indeed, just as Freud was essential to the earlier book, this story cannot be told without Jung. Even while both appear, Jung takes the narrative lead. The baton has passed.
The earlier book was vibrant and youthful; it was all about emotion and music. Vienna of 1897 was magical. The world afterward, particularly from 1914-1920, was dire. Desperate. This story is about diligence, about grace as one ages, about fulfilling, if not a prophecy, then a destiny.
In the first book, even a student of history could not have known most of what would happen. In this book, the early 20th century already exists, and the protagonist (and we) must live through it, knowing what will come, but not knowing how, exactly, it will transpire behind the curtain. The first book has the soundtrack of Mahler; the second is almost devoid of music except for one short, sublime scene near the end.
Some may fault the first half of the book as plodding because of all of this, and I understand the critique. But by the time I got to the middle of the book, to where the "action" was, I was on the edge of my seat. And off of it. I read about 100 pages of the book while pacing my house -- walking while reading, gasping, leaning against a wall to remind myself of how it must end, despite my fears, and walking again. The book may not initially seem dramatic, but if you invest in it, it truly is. So, yes, a quiet book, but not a boring one at all.
From the stock market to the Titanic, from the auto industry to the Spanish flu, this book covers a panorama of history as the first did. I liked checking off each historical occurrence, and if that's not you, so be it. And I liked that each little detail eventually had a closed loop, and yes, knowing that Edwards planned a third book to cover the details from 1920 through World War II has me hungering for me. (Oh, please, Mr. Edwards!)
Finally, there are a few tiny flaws. Having already gone back to reread The Little Book, it seems that The Lost Prince may have had to retcon a few things. Or maybe because The Lost Prince doesn't tell us that we have the same narrator for this story, maybe there's some unreliability of narration. (The first book was narrated by the protagonist's 90-year-old mother. There's no statement in the second, so it appears to be a third-person semi-omniscient narrator; reference is made to Eleanor's journals, but we never know who is speaking. Is it still Wheeler's mother (Eleanor's granddaughter-in-law) Flora? I wish the editors at Dutton/Penguin had watched this more closely.
A personal note: This book has been on my wishlist since it was announced. I loved the original so much that I feared reading the follow-up, that it might disappoint, and so it sat, waiting for me. Once I was ready, I still dithered; it had been eight years since I read the original; did I need to reread it? (Yes, but not to enjoy this; as I started realizing, I realized I remembered every detail of the first, but still picked it up mere minutes after finishing this, and am reading the first all over again. And loving it)
This book is quiet. Some other reviewers (mostly those who a) didn't read the first book, and/or b) who didn't make it to the emotional payoff) didn't get it, and I don't blame them. So, rather than skipping the book, just make sure you give yourself the gift of the first part of the story. Coming in at the middle denies you all the riches.
The Lost Prince is absolutely the counterpoint to its predecessor. The first focused on a Wheeler Burden, a (fictionally) famous man in adventurous circumstances. The second focuses on Eleanor Putnam Burden (Weezie Putnum of the first book), a woman (whose life course was changed by the first book's happenings) into living what would ALREADY have been a socially-prescribed and proscribed life into living one even more limited.
Women of her era could not (publicly) be seen to do any of the things she accomplished. Instead, Eleanor must do what must be done so that what happened can happen again. Quite the bootstrap paradox, and because no actual time travel takes place in this book, such predestination can make things seem boring. But Selden Edwards is a master storyteller, dropping tiny details like Easter eggs all through the tale; some are enjoyed no matter what, but others require knowing the first book to appreciate what happens in the second.
So, the first book had an all-out masculine energy; this one's is feminine, with the animus/anima (the masculine energy of the female) as Jung would say. Which is the point. The first book was Freudian. This one is Jungian, and indeed, just as Freud was essential to the earlier book, this story cannot be told without Jung. Even while both appear, Jung takes the narrative lead. The baton has passed.
The earlier book was vibrant and youthful; it was all about emotion and music. Vienna of 1897 was magical. The world afterward, particularly from 1914-1920, was dire. Desperate. This story is about diligence, about grace as one ages, about fulfilling, if not a prophecy, then a destiny.
In the first book, even a student of history could not have known most of what would happen. In this book, the early 20th century already exists, and the protagonist (and we) must live through it, knowing what will come, but not knowing how, exactly, it will transpire behind the curtain. The first book has the soundtrack of Mahler; the second is almost devoid of music except for one short, sublime scene near the end.
Some may fault the first half of the book as plodding because of all of this, and I understand the critique. But by the time I got to the middle of the book, to where the "action" was, I was on the edge of my seat. And off of it. I read about 100 pages of the book while pacing my house -- walking while reading, gasping, leaning against a wall to remind myself of how it must end, despite my fears, and walking again. The book may not initially seem dramatic, but if you invest in it, it truly is. So, yes, a quiet book, but not a boring one at all.
From the stock market to the Titanic, from the auto industry to the Spanish flu, this book covers a panorama of history as the first did. I liked checking off each historical occurrence, and if that's not you, so be it. And I liked that each little detail eventually had a closed loop, and yes, knowing that Edwards planned a third book to cover the details from 1920 through World War II has me hungering for me. (Oh, please, Mr. Edwards!)
Finally, there are a few tiny flaws. Having already gone back to reread The Little Book, it seems that The Lost Prince may have had to retcon a few things. Or maybe because The Lost Prince doesn't tell us that we have the same narrator for this story, maybe there's some unreliability of narration. (The first book was narrated by the protagonist's 90-year-old mother. There's no statement in the second, so it appears to be a third-person semi-omniscient narrator; reference is made to Eleanor's journals, but we never know who is speaking. Is it still Wheeler's mother (Eleanor's granddaughter-in-law) Flora? I wish the editors at Dutton/Penguin had watched this more closely.
August 19, 2024
Word to the wise— This is definitely a sequel where you have to read the other book first; it is not a stand alone book! (Thankfully, I ready them in order, so no problems here.)
While this is a well written book, I can only give it two stars. It felt a bit like reading a detailed checklist of stuff we already knew about. I thought for sure with how it started that it would either change the timeline in some way, having that as a main conflict, OR weave in things that Wheeler just didn’t know about, allowing Eleanore to have new adventures. But no. Not really. It was mostly checking off what we already knew from the first book.
In my review for the first book I mentioned that the sexual assault of Weezie as a child by her father was not handled well. And here, we have a whole book that is mostly following Weezie/Eleanore, and we don’t hear about her trauma with her father at all. In fact, the only mention of her father was a dream talking about how strong he was- which is the opposite of her excuse for his behavior in the first book. Even if she’s not affected by it any longer, to assume she never thinks about it ever again is an odd choice considering the second assault. Because then we get ANOTHER sexual assault while she is attempting to find the Haze…and once again, it’s NEVER mentioned again. Not once….
…And that brings me to my biggest criticism of this book… There are mundane details repeated throughout the book unnecessarily, and we hear about how almost every man in this woman’s life is attracted to her in some way, yet we hear almost nothing about how Eleanor truly FEELS about almost anything outside of tackling her checklist of tasks. We don’t truly hear how much she misses the love of her life, who was murdered right before this book picks up. We don’t hear if she has any resentful feelings toward her husband, who killed the love of her life. Did she tell him about the attempted assault on her trip? Do they ever talk about anything deep? How will she feel when she sees Wheeler be born? Does she find it weird that he will view her as his GRANDMOTHER most of his life? Really, no thoughts about that little nugget at all?? How does she feel about the Haze idealizing and being infatuated with her? Does a part of her love the Haze romantically as well? How does she reconcile that? Does she have nightmares or trust issues because of her assaults (new or old)? How does she feel about motherhood? How does she really FEEL about having to hide the fund part of her life from a husband who thinks her incapable of financial thinking because of her biological sex? There’s pages and pages and chapters and chapters dedicated to stocks and buying and selling, but not a single page about how she FELT emotionally to be almost raped by a man in the night who she couldn’t see? Not a single page about how she felt to leave her little son in a war torn country with a woman she hadn’t seen in years. Did she worry about him? We’ll never know, but thank God we got literal CHAPTERS about all the financial moves.
I apologize if this review seems harsh. Ultimately, I gave it two stars because the premise is great and the writing itself was good. It had a lot of potential, and I could see how this would be the right book for someone else. However, to me at least, the fact that this was a woman written by a man was painfully obvious, and not getting into her head more really hurt the book. Poor Eleanor could have been such a strong and dynamic character in this 434 page novel dedicated to her point of view, but she felt like an empty vessel checking off through her list. And I found that unsatisfying. And, dear writer, *don’t write about a woman being violated unless you’re ready to write about the reality of it.*
Also, total side note and genuine question, because I may have just missed it- who was the narrator in this book? The first book had a specific narrator, and this one was written in a very similar voice/style but couldn’t be the same person.
While this is a well written book, I can only give it two stars. It felt a bit like reading a detailed checklist of stuff we already knew about. I thought for sure with how it started that it would either change the timeline in some way, having that as a main conflict, OR weave in things that Wheeler just didn’t know about, allowing Eleanore to have new adventures. But no. Not really. It was mostly checking off what we already knew from the first book.
In my review for the first book I mentioned that the sexual assault of Weezie as a child by her father was not handled well. And here, we have a whole book that is mostly following Weezie/Eleanore, and we don’t hear about her trauma with her father at all. In fact, the only mention of her father was a dream talking about how strong he was- which is the opposite of her excuse for his behavior in the first book. Even if she’s not affected by it any longer, to assume she never thinks about it ever again is an odd choice considering the second assault. Because then we get ANOTHER sexual assault while she is attempting to find the Haze…and once again, it’s NEVER mentioned again. Not once….
…And that brings me to my biggest criticism of this book… There are mundane details repeated throughout the book unnecessarily, and we hear about how almost every man in this woman’s life is attracted to her in some way, yet we hear almost nothing about how Eleanor truly FEELS about almost anything outside of tackling her checklist of tasks. We don’t truly hear how much she misses the love of her life, who was murdered right before this book picks up. We don’t hear if she has any resentful feelings toward her husband, who killed the love of her life. Did she tell him about the attempted assault on her trip? Do they ever talk about anything deep? How will she feel when she sees Wheeler be born? Does she find it weird that he will view her as his GRANDMOTHER most of his life? Really, no thoughts about that little nugget at all?? How does she feel about the Haze idealizing and being infatuated with her? Does a part of her love the Haze romantically as well? How does she reconcile that? Does she have nightmares or trust issues because of her assaults (new or old)? How does she feel about motherhood? How does she really FEEL about having to hide the fund part of her life from a husband who thinks her incapable of financial thinking because of her biological sex? There’s pages and pages and chapters and chapters dedicated to stocks and buying and selling, but not a single page about how she FELT emotionally to be almost raped by a man in the night who she couldn’t see? Not a single page about how she felt to leave her little son in a war torn country with a woman she hadn’t seen in years. Did she worry about him? We’ll never know, but thank God we got literal CHAPTERS about all the financial moves.
I apologize if this review seems harsh. Ultimately, I gave it two stars because the premise is great and the writing itself was good. It had a lot of potential, and I could see how this would be the right book for someone else. However, to me at least, the fact that this was a woman written by a man was painfully obvious, and not getting into her head more really hurt the book. Poor Eleanor could have been such a strong and dynamic character in this 434 page novel dedicated to her point of view, but she felt like an empty vessel checking off through her list. And I found that unsatisfying. And, dear writer, *don’t write about a woman being violated unless you’re ready to write about the reality of it.*
Also, total side note and genuine question, because I may have just missed it- who was the narrator in this book? The first book had a specific narrator, and this one was written in a very similar voice/style but couldn’t be the same person.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2024
Historical Fiction Time-Travel sequel to "The Little Book" circling mainly around 1800s Vienna & Boston. Very detailed, dense, layered style of lovingly well-finessed writing, detailing the mysterious life of one woman, within the larger context of turn-of-the-century European & American events (such as WWI, the 1918 pandemic & the sinking of the Titanic), also involving well-known names (ie; J P Morgan), w/a special emphasis on well-known people in the psychotherapeutic fields (such as Sigmund Freud, William James & Carl Jung). Slow-paced but Fascinating. As with many time-travel books, it becomes confusing at times. I believe the author over-complicated what was an already complicated story, especially by adding much more content than seemed necessary, perhaps to build suspense; but for me, it merely built impatience (ie; during the postwar soldier-search, there are too many accounts given of visits to various hospitals, when fewer would have sufficed). The war-stories are troubling & could disturb some readers. I found myself conflicted about the main character, Eleanor Burden, who is at once an immensely admirable, heroic figure of strong character; yet at the same time, a somewhat contradictory enigma (ie; I'm counting at least several "loves of her life," or deep involvements, that I could identify: including Wheeler, Arnaud & Jung, some of them even during her marriage). I suppose this realistically represents the intricacy of human nature; but in some sense it caused me frustration in trying to trust her fully. My favorite aspect of the book is its exploration into the psyche & its development, thru dreams & real-world challenges, including encounters w/the "abyss," in the "deep" crises of life, under the surface of ordinary everyday living (struggles "on the threshhold between 2 worlds," as Jung refers to it, within the novel). It's a long book & requires some commitment; but if you enjoy time-travel, historical fiction & forays into psychoanalytic material, then it might be worth it for you.
October 20, 2017
I've read both books in this series. If you are going to read both, I recommend reading them in reverse order. It was irritating to me to listen to the narrator agonizing about how to make events occur as written in her notebook.
Eleanor is trying to make her life fulfill what is written in her secret notebook. Some of the things are interesting and some are truly ridiculous. Her meeting with JP Morgan is one of the ridiculous ones.
The interactions with Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud are sort of silly. I found the strong personality of a woman in the early 1900s interesting if not always believable.
There was no surprise in this book because everything was already detailed in "The Little Book"
Eleanor is trying to make her life fulfill what is written in her secret notebook. Some of the things are interesting and some are truly ridiculous. Her meeting with JP Morgan is one of the ridiculous ones.
The interactions with Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud are sort of silly. I found the strong personality of a woman in the early 1900s interesting if not always believable.
There was no surprise in this book because everything was already detailed in "The Little Book"
July 26, 2018
I liked it (the three stars are a personal response), but I am chary of recommending it to anyone unless they loved the first one. There is no plot. As in, absolutely nothing about this book develops anything at all in the way of previous characters (although if you liked Bid Time Return by Matheson, this has a semi-queasy approach to time-travelin' sweet love, so fair warning). It goes nowhere, there is no tension at all, and it is basically for nerds like me who like to read complete tales. But to be honest, nearly any comic book handles this kind of storyline far better.
So if you liked The Little Book, you will probably like this. If you haven't read The Little Book, trying to crack Edwards' world with this is well-nigh impossible.
So if you liked The Little Book, you will probably like this. If you haven't read The Little Book, trying to crack Edwards' world with this is well-nigh impossible.
May 21, 2019
As in the Little Book, Selden Edwards carried his inventive story through the The Lost Prince sequel.
Having read the first book in two days I did not have the same luxury for The Lost Prince. However, reading it within a month from the The Little Book the story was still fresh enough to quickly engage the characters and experience how they flawlessly intersected.
Edwards deftly manages several characters, some true in life like Freud and Jung, and weaves a clever historical time travel tale.
These books have an intellectual flavor to the prose, often missing from current offerings. This does not make for a difficult read but for a more thoughtful one. Read them both, and savor the full story.
Having read the first book in two days I did not have the same luxury for The Lost Prince. However, reading it within a month from the The Little Book the story was still fresh enough to quickly engage the characters and experience how they flawlessly intersected.
Edwards deftly manages several characters, some true in life like Freud and Jung, and weaves a clever historical time travel tale.
These books have an intellectual flavor to the prose, often missing from current offerings. This does not make for a difficult read but for a more thoughtful one. Read them both, and savor the full story.
January 2, 2019
Truly moved by THE LITTLE BOOK by the same author, so I was delighted to find this sequel. For me, these are two of the books that prompt to me write/thank the writer. At the very least, a personal excursion into the madness of WWI and war altogether. Sustained characterization of thoughtful and some famous characters, and a total romp/fun through late 19th c.- 20c history. William James ... Prince Rudolph ... Freud AND Jung! Plus time travel and meditation on determinism/free will. I just bought copies of both to give as gifts. Which these books are.
July 19, 2019
The Lost Prince was such a let down for me. I’d had my eye on it long before I purchased it, and now it sat on my TBR shelf months before I picked it up. I had high hopes of a romantic historic fiction novel similar to others I’ve loved.
In truth, I found it completely forgettable. I’m not even sure I’ll remember the characters when I start reading my next book.
I’m usually not such a harsh critic and especially without constructing criticism. Unfortunately, I can pinpoint what I didn’t like. I also can’t pinpoint what it is I liked. 1 star.
In truth, I found it completely forgettable. I’m not even sure I’ll remember the characters when I start reading my next book.
I’m usually not such a harsh critic and especially without constructing criticism. Unfortunately, I can pinpoint what I didn’t like. I also can’t pinpoint what it is I liked. 1 star.
May 27, 2020
I can't imagine reading this book without having read the first in the series, The Little Book. The concept is fascinating and reminds me of one of my all-time favorite novels, Time and Again by Jack Finney. The story is a bit complex with the back and forth between time periods and characters' points of view but that just makes me think I will re-read both books again. I particularly enjoyed the level of detail the author includes which really helps the reader to visualize the people and the settings.
December 20, 2021
I would more specifically give this a 3 and 3/4 star rating. Part of this may be my problem as it turns out that this is book 2 in a trilogy…and I have not read book 1. Many reviews say it is important to read the first. I feel it stands on its own. The author over-develops pieces of this book. While potentially interesting, much is included that is not driving the narrative, developing characters, or establishing location and environment. The editors could have tightened this one up into a fully satisfying experience.
April 20, 2023
Oh, what a treasure of a novel. I so loved the writing, the story and all that is contained in the pages to make it for me a wonderful read.
This book has been sitting on my shelf for several years and I finally decided it was time to read through the pages and oh did I fall in love with the story.
Then I found out it was a sequel! Of course I will read The Little Book which precedes this novel but this can be read as a stand alone.
Thank you Mr. Edwards for a wonderful novel!
This book has been sitting on my shelf for several years and I finally decided it was time to read through the pages and oh did I fall in love with the story.
Then I found out it was a sequel! Of course I will read The Little Book which precedes this novel but this can be read as a stand alone.
Thank you Mr. Edwards for a wonderful novel!
October 29, 2017
This book was a fitting companion to The Little Book and I enjoyed reading it. "The Lost Prince" successfully weaves romance, historical fiction, psychology, philosophy, and music into a beautiful tapestry and also shares a perspective on WWII in Austria and Italy. As a warning to other readers, I don't think it would stand well on its own (without first reading The Little Book).
May 10, 2023
I really loved this book as a European history and historical fiction lover. I thought his characters intriguing and the themes explored about the turn of the century and war looked at with fresh eyes. I think he’s a really good writer and would read more!
I didn’t know it was a sequel until I read the goodread reviews but will be looking for The Little Book for some unanswered questions!
I didn’t know it was a sequel until I read the goodread reviews but will be looking for The Little Book for some unanswered questions!
May 23, 2017
This one is best enjoyed by people who have read "The Little Book" and are already fans of it (full transparency,'The Little Book' is the greatest novel I've ever read). Without that pretext, I think the beauty of this work would be missed.
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