Angelique's Descent, Part 1: Innocence

Dark Shadows Dramatic Readings, Audiobooks #1

by Lara Parker

The Dark Shadows legend continues in this two-part audio book, featuring dramatised sections performed by Lara Parker and Andrew Collins. Includes a bonus interview with author, Lara Parker. The first passions of Angelique and Barnabas are revealed at last... On the run after escaping her father's clutches, Angelique fears her supernatural powers and the mysterious demon that haunts her dreams. Beginning her new life as a servant for the wealthy du Prés family, she finds herself tempted by forbidden love and dark desires when Barnabas Collins returns to Martinique. Written Lara Parker (abridged by Stuart Manning) Directed Darren Gross Cast Lara Parker with Andrew Collins.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Vampires, Historical Fiction, Fantasy

Audio CD

First published August 31, 2007

About the author

Lara Parker was born Mary Lamar Rickey in Knoxville, Tennessee, and grew up in Memphis. She attended Central High School in Memphis, and won a scholarship to Vassar College. At Vassar, Lara began a major in philosophy, which she completed at Southwestern at Memphis (now Rhodes College), receiving her BA. She attended graduate school at the University of Iowa and completed all course work on a Masters in speech and drama. During the summer when Lara was supposed to write her thesis, she acted at the Millbrook Playhouse, in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, playing 5 leading roles in 6 weeks. Rather than returning to Iowa, she decided to try her luck in New York. During only her second week in the city, she was cast as Angelique, the witch, in the daytime horror serial, Dark Shadows (1966). It was a role she held for 5 years. It culminated with the film, Night of Dark Shadows (1971). While still in New York, Lara appeared on Broadway in "Woman is My Idea", as well as in two off-Broadway plays: "Lulu" and "A Gun Play".

In 1972, she moved to Los Angeles, and began working in film and prime-time television, performing many guest starring roles, and occasionally returning to daytime television. After retiring from acting, she changed her focus back to what her original interests were. She became a high school and college English teacher, and obtained her MFA in creative writing (from Antioch University). Parker authored four novels based on "Dark Shadows" (see book section, below).

Parker lived in California with her husband, Jim Hawkins and their daughter, Caitlin Hawkins. She died at age 84 from cancer in October 2023.

Reviews

[Evanston Public Library]

If you loved the Dark Shadows daytime soap opera (1966-1971), you’ll remember two of the show’s most popular characters: Barnabas Collins and Angelique Bourchard, who appear in the 1795 storyline. The television drama revealed that Angelique—maidservant to the lovely Josette Du Pres—was also secretly a voodoo-practicing witch, who hailed from the island of Martinique. Intimated was Angelique’s once-romantic involvement with the dashing Barnabas Collins, heir of a Maine shipping magnate. But Barnabas, betrothed now to Josette, left Angelique’s love unrequited. So she sent a bat after him, infecting him with a “Vampire Curse.” But the series left many questions unanswered: how did Angelique become a witch? What was the depth of her mysterious affair with Barnabas? How did Barnabas first meet the French-speaking Josette? And how did Angelique, a secret witch, become Josette’s maidservant? Lara Parker, the actress who played 'Angelique' on the show, convincingly answers those mysteries in this gripping, gothic horror series tie-in prequel! (Russ K.,Ref.)

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lara Parker is quite the writer, but the sadomasochistic sex that permeated throughout the mumbo jumbo voodoo world did not resonate well with me. Just did not adhere to the "Dark Shadows" genre and was just plain convoluted in points. I will stick to the tormented vampire Barnabas stories any day...

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure, I adore Dark Shadows Universe. Yes, it's cheesy and messy and all yet, I can't help and love it. yes, I own the whole set of DVDs, the 131 ones, with all the 1225 episodes. And I saw them all. Twice *facepalm*

So, of course, I would eventually arrive at the Big Finish's take on them!

I liked this one, we get to know Angelique's background, her childhood and all those things that went unsaid on the show. And no, Angelique is not a good person, but Barnabas doesn't comes of this unspoiled :P

And having the story happening during the Haitian revolt was a brilliant touch! On the second part!

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a must for any Dark Shadows fan as it gives the early history of the witch Angelique. Barnabas, now living in the 1970's, finds Angelique's journal and begins to read. Chapter by chapter, the plot switches from the present to Angelique's past as recorded in the journal. Her personality slowly darkens as she ages and is preyed upon by power-hungry men. One can almost feel sorry for her at the end. Almost.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I LOVE the old tv show Dark Shadows. I thought I would give this a try since it gives you a background story of Angelique, that you don't hear in the show. Angelique's Decent was well written and at parts interesting. However, there was a lot of sexual content and child abuse, so not a book for the weak-hearted.

[Linds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set during the Haitian Revolt, better and more interesting than a "extended adventures from a tv show" should be.

[Charlotte Wildflower · Rating 2 out of 5]

The start was rather jumbled, it got a little better in the middle and was sort of mah at the end.

[WhatShouldIRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Dark Shadows so any story associated, no matter how bad, has to be good. However, that wasn't the case here. I loved this story. It traces Angelique's life from childhood up till her living in Collinsport as Josette's maid.

Lara Parker added so much detail to Angelique's life that reading gave me a completely different perspective on who she is. If I had had this back story while watching the series, I don't think I would have disliked her so much!

I completely enjoyed this story from beginning to end!

[Reeny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always loved Angelique she was my favorite character on the Dark Shadows television series as a child. I had always believed she was misunderstood and after reading this book I found I was correct.


It's a shame this book could not have been written when the television show was in progress forty five years ago, this book gave us inside depth to Angelique and who else better to do this than Lara Parker a great actress, I wish we could have got to see more of her upon the screen.

[Cindi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Dark shadows. This book, while similar to the series, was not what I expected. Overall, I didn't care for the story, but maybe because it just isn't my usual type of book.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow moving. Fans of DS will like it.