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Paget Family Saga #3
Das Mädchen aus Paris
Das Mädchen aus Paris - bk72; BGD; Joan Aiken; Paperback; 1985
Hardcover
First published June 1, 1982
About the author
Joan Aiken
344 books612 followersJoan Aiken was a much loved English writer who received the MBE for services to Children's Literature. She was known as a writer of wild fantasy, Gothic novels and short stories.
She was born in Rye, East Sussex, into a family of writers, including her father, Conrad Aiken (who won a Pulitzer Prize for his poetry), and her sister, Jane Aiken Hodge. She worked for the United Nations Information Office during the second world war, and then as an editor and freelance on Argosy magazine before she started writing full time, mainly children's books and thrillers. For her books she received the Guardian Award (1969) and the Edgar Allan Poe Award (1972).
Her most popular series, the "Wolves Chronicles" which began with The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, was set in an elaborate alternate period of history in a Britain in which James II was never deposed in the Glorious Revolution,and so supporters of the House of Hanover continually plot to overthrow the Stuart Kings. These books also feature cockney urchin heroine Dido Twite and her adventures and travels all over the world.
Another series of children's books about Arabel and her raven Mortimer are illustrated by Quentin Blake, and have been shown on the BBC as Jackanory and drama series. Others including the much loved Necklace of Raindrops and award winning Kingdom Under the Sea are illustrated by Jan Pieńkowski.
Her many novels for adults include several that continue or complement novels by Jane Austen. These include Mansfield Revisited and Jane Fairfax.
Aiken was a lifelong fan of ghost stories. She set her adult supernatural novel The Haunting of Lamb House at Lamb House in Rye (now a National Trust property). This ghost story recounts in fictional form an alleged haunting experienced by two former residents of the house, Henry James and E. F. Benson, both of whom also wrote ghost stories. Aiken's father, Conrad Aiken, also authored a small number of notable ghost stories.
She was born in Rye, East Sussex, into a family of writers, including her father, Conrad Aiken (who won a Pulitzer Prize for his poetry), and her sister, Jane Aiken Hodge. She worked for the United Nations Information Office during the second world war, and then as an editor and freelance on Argosy magazine before she started writing full time, mainly children's books and thrillers. For her books she received the Guardian Award (1969) and the Edgar Allan Poe Award (1972).
Her most popular series, the "Wolves Chronicles" which began with The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, was set in an elaborate alternate period of history in a Britain in which James II was never deposed in the Glorious Revolution,and so supporters of the House of Hanover continually plot to overthrow the Stuart Kings. These books also feature cockney urchin heroine Dido Twite and her adventures and travels all over the world.
Another series of children's books about Arabel and her raven Mortimer are illustrated by Quentin Blake, and have been shown on the BBC as Jackanory and drama series. Others including the much loved Necklace of Raindrops and award winning Kingdom Under the Sea are illustrated by Jan Pieńkowski.
Her many novels for adults include several that continue or complement novels by Jane Austen. These include Mansfield Revisited and Jane Fairfax.
Aiken was a lifelong fan of ghost stories. She set her adult supernatural novel The Haunting of Lamb House at Lamb House in Rye (now a National Trust property). This ghost story recounts in fictional form an alleged haunting experienced by two former residents of the house, Henry James and E. F. Benson, both of whom also wrote ghost stories. Aiken's father, Conrad Aiken, also authored a small number of notable ghost stories.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 29, 2017
Under my bed there is a box of broken paperbacks - tea-stained books that I've read, re-read, lent out, grabbed back, read again until (literally) they have been loved to bits. I can't throw them out. They're my childhood.
Amongst the battered remains, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase & Black Hearts in Battersea (possibly the greatest book title EVAH). Joan Aiken once came to a book festival near us during term-time, and my mother (my upright, honest, presbyterian mother) lied to my headmistress, told her I was ill, and sneaked me off to shake JA's gifted hand.
So I am gutted that The Girl from Paris is pretty awful. Not awful in the can't-write-for-toffee sense, or a cringeworthy doesn't-know-how-to-address-the-son-of-a-marquis way. But because it's boring. Joan Aiken? Boring? Sadly - yes.
To be fair, this was written in 1983, and the expected style of HR writing has changed dramatically over the last 30 odd years. The (extremely) leisurely pace probably wasn't out of place in 1983 - now, it's feels a little ponderous. Although here and there are touches of humour, which lighten the tone a little. A matron "departed at a stately pace; in her massive crinoline, with parasol, gauze-and-ribbon-trimmed cap, shawl, lace gloves, and chatelaine, all in severe mourning hue, she resembled some baroque, smoke-blackened cathedral which had been set in motion and was gliding over the grass." For every ironic observation, though, there's a yokel - “Ah, I reckon as ’twas... Since owd Doc Bendigo died, he do spend a deal of time down thurr.”
Was I a very undemanding audience as a child? Did I simply accept then that a story that started off in one genre (say Jane-Eyre-lite) could morph into a suspense-drama for a bit, before dotting back into Eyreland and returning into something closer to a Victorian morality story? Or is it that Joan Aiken's natural milieu is children's story-telling, not adult fiction? There are two casualties of the muddled plot, unfortunately. One is a sense of pace: the multiple plot twists come with copious & deliberate exposition (Aiken always"tells" rather than "shows") soI grew impatient (perhaps I've read so much HR since that I could predict what was coming).
The other is any sort of meaningful relationship between the H &h. And I only give them those roles from convention, because they occupy page space. There's no sense of any real connection between them, far less any suggestion that either might develop during the book because of the plot, or each other. Is this just another thing that I've come to take for granted over the last few years? But then I think of Edith Layton and the nuanced stories she was writing at much the same time. So, no, JA just isn't cutting it in this genre for me.
I have her autograph, you know. I may go and read that again.
I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.
Amongst the battered remains, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase & Black Hearts in Battersea (possibly the greatest book title EVAH). Joan Aiken once came to a book festival near us during term-time, and my mother (my upright, honest, presbyterian mother) lied to my headmistress, told her I was ill, and sneaked me off to shake JA's gifted hand.
So I am gutted that The Girl from Paris is pretty awful. Not awful in the can't-write-for-toffee sense, or a cringeworthy doesn't-know-how-to-address-the-son-of-a-marquis way. But because it's boring. Joan Aiken? Boring? Sadly - yes.
To be fair, this was written in 1983, and the expected style of HR writing has changed dramatically over the last 30 odd years. The (extremely) leisurely pace probably wasn't out of place in 1983 - now, it's feels a little ponderous. Although here and there are touches of humour, which lighten the tone a little. A matron "departed at a stately pace; in her massive crinoline, with parasol, gauze-and-ribbon-trimmed cap, shawl, lace gloves, and chatelaine, all in severe mourning hue, she resembled some baroque, smoke-blackened cathedral which had been set in motion and was gliding over the grass." For every ironic observation, though, there's a yokel - “Ah, I reckon as ’twas... Since owd Doc Bendigo died, he do spend a deal of time down thurr.”
Was I a very undemanding audience as a child? Did I simply accept then that a story that started off in one genre (say Jane-Eyre-lite) could morph into a suspense-drama for a bit, before dotting back into Eyreland and returning into something closer to a Victorian morality story? Or is it that Joan Aiken's natural milieu is children's story-telling, not adult fiction? There are two casualties of the muddled plot, unfortunately. One is a sense of pace: the multiple plot twists come with copious & deliberate exposition (Aiken always"tells" rather than "shows") soI grew impatient (perhaps I've read so much HR since that I could predict what was coming).
The other is any sort of meaningful relationship between the H &h. And I only give them those roles from convention, because they occupy page space. There's no sense of any real connection between them, far less any suggestion that either might develop during the book because of the plot, or each other. Is this just another thing that I've come to take for granted over the last few years? But then I think of Edith Layton and the nuanced stories she was writing at much the same time. So, no, JA just isn't cutting it in this genre for me.
I have her autograph, you know. I may go and read that again.
I received a free, advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.
October 24, 2023
This read reminded me of stage plays of the past with the actors giving their performances, the stage sets depicting bygone eras, the mechanics of these types of plays surreal and…….. I think it's the method of delivery by the author giving a beautiful account of the snooty upper classes of the time and their belittling attitudes to those less fortunate.
The setting of this book is just after the Franco Prussian war, England where Ellen Paget was born, stilted, extremely paternalistic, bigoted and snobbish. The aristocracy and gentry rule and women have no place other than to produce a male heir. Ellen had a twin brother that died at birth. Her father is a cold hearted man, frustrated with his misfortune of not having succeeded in a manner that he had wished and for which he levels his grievance toward Ellen, the female who had survived over the male brother who would have followed in the father's footsteps, or greater. His second wife made her dislike for Ellen obvious and like her sisters is sent to school in Brussels where Ellen has stayed and is now a teacher.
Ellen's father Luke Paget is faring even worse than usual, his second wife is now dead, caused by her insistence of using horses unsuitable for carriage work, an accident for which leaves him with a broken leg is now convalescing at his sister in law's, Lady Blanche and her Bishop of Chichester husband. The problem now is the need for someone to take on the overseeing of the Hermitage household for when Luke returns for which would normally be fulfilled by the wife. Lady Blanche has hired a Mrs Pike who seemingly comes with a good reference. However, Mrs Pike is not what she seems and nobody likes her. Luke's youngest daughter voices her opinion when visiting her father with her older brother and for which she is swiftly remonstrated by him.
Ellen enjoys her school teaching and the financial reward gives her independence, however suddenly all this changes when her Godmother Lady Morningquest visits the school hoping to hire a sensible young teacher for a royal Parisian household. She is rather taken aback when the Directress suggests Ellen who is now an experienced teacher and much loved by her pupils. She insists that she goes to Paris with her Godmother to take up the required position as companion and governess to the only child, a four year old daughter. The real reason for this insistence is not revealed until much later in the book.
Ellen is introduced to a life of glamour and luxury, her apartment as governess is in complete contrast to that of the Brussel's school. The Comtesse de la Ferté is self indulgent and spends her time with her female friend and lover, for which Ellen takes a little time absorbing this type of relationship, (approximately the first wave of feminism), the Countess's friend Germaine a published author of little repute follows two patterns of life interchanging her appearance from female to male dressing. The Count on the other hand spends most of his time gambling at the gaming tables that he has established within the household of Hôtel Caudebec.
Ellen slowly makes progress with the spoiled child by being inventive in order to hold the child's attention, earning her approval from the father, the Count. Ellen admires the new philosophers that are in Paris at this time and for which the Countess holds many soirees to invite such notables and to entertain her friends and for which Ellen attends in her free time.
Like all good stories, it all comes hurtling down, a murder suicide takes place at the Hôtel Caudebec for which the Count is taken into custody. Ellen's sister arrives in time to arrange for her return to England and to fill her in on the family’s grievances regarding Mrs Pike, eventually discovering her lies and opportunistic actions and finally her dismissal. Luke Paget finally realises all his mistakes and for Ellen a marriage proposal.
The setting of this book is just after the Franco Prussian war, England where Ellen Paget was born, stilted, extremely paternalistic, bigoted and snobbish. The aristocracy and gentry rule and women have no place other than to produce a male heir. Ellen had a twin brother that died at birth. Her father is a cold hearted man, frustrated with his misfortune of not having succeeded in a manner that he had wished and for which he levels his grievance toward Ellen, the female who had survived over the male brother who would have followed in the father's footsteps, or greater. His second wife made her dislike for Ellen obvious and like her sisters is sent to school in Brussels where Ellen has stayed and is now a teacher.
Ellen's father Luke Paget is faring even worse than usual, his second wife is now dead, caused by her insistence of using horses unsuitable for carriage work, an accident for which leaves him with a broken leg is now convalescing at his sister in law's, Lady Blanche and her Bishop of Chichester husband. The problem now is the need for someone to take on the overseeing of the Hermitage household for when Luke returns for which would normally be fulfilled by the wife. Lady Blanche has hired a Mrs Pike who seemingly comes with a good reference. However, Mrs Pike is not what she seems and nobody likes her. Luke's youngest daughter voices her opinion when visiting her father with her older brother and for which she is swiftly remonstrated by him.
Ellen enjoys her school teaching and the financial reward gives her independence, however suddenly all this changes when her Godmother Lady Morningquest visits the school hoping to hire a sensible young teacher for a royal Parisian household. She is rather taken aback when the Directress suggests Ellen who is now an experienced teacher and much loved by her pupils. She insists that she goes to Paris with her Godmother to take up the required position as companion and governess to the only child, a four year old daughter. The real reason for this insistence is not revealed until much later in the book.
Ellen is introduced to a life of glamour and luxury, her apartment as governess is in complete contrast to that of the Brussel's school. The Comtesse de la Ferté is self indulgent and spends her time with her female friend and lover, for which Ellen takes a little time absorbing this type of relationship, (approximately the first wave of feminism), the Countess's friend Germaine a published author of little repute follows two patterns of life interchanging her appearance from female to male dressing. The Count on the other hand spends most of his time gambling at the gaming tables that he has established within the household of Hôtel Caudebec.
Ellen slowly makes progress with the spoiled child by being inventive in order to hold the child's attention, earning her approval from the father, the Count. Ellen admires the new philosophers that are in Paris at this time and for which the Countess holds many soirees to invite such notables and to entertain her friends and for which Ellen attends in her free time.
Like all good stories, it all comes hurtling down, a murder suicide takes place at the Hôtel Caudebec for which the Count is taken into custody. Ellen's sister arrives in time to arrange for her return to England and to fill her in on the family’s grievances regarding Mrs Pike, eventually discovering her lies and opportunistic actions and finally her dismissal. Luke Paget finally realises all his mistakes and for Ellen a marriage proposal.
October 11, 2011
Joan Aiken's website lists this book as a "period novel", however, I do not know what genre I would actually put it in as it just didn't seem to know exactly what it wanted to be...part historical romance, (with little to no romance) part gothic suspense (without a culmination or resolution to any of the events that are a mystery) The end was so weak that I actually looked beyond the last page of my copy to see whether someone had possibly ripped pages out of the book but no, that really was the ending...disappointing because Aiken is such a good story teller. This book just didn't do it for me.
January 28, 2019
i should have stopped reading at the first dead kid instead of waiting for the second one to come around
February 17, 2019
This is the last book in the Paget Family Saga and tells a complete story. It could stand alone. I haven't read the second book, but I doubt there is much need for that to enjoy this one. There is nothing from the first book except the family name.
Some have shelved this a Romance, but that is an exaggeration. There are so few pages spent on the romance. This is a story about Ellen and any other characters, including her opposite, are really secondary.
What's worse than a boring book? How about a gloomy boring romance that isn't a romance. There are really no redeeming qualities to this book. I didn't find much at all funny. Admittedly it gets a bit active and even confusing in the last 5 or 10%, but that doesn't save it. Gloomy is the best description. There are some mildly interesting perils here and there, but they don't rise to any level of excitement. For much of the book, the most dangerous thing Ellen faces is potential scandal, and not the romantic ruination kind you usually expect in this kind of book.
It is sad to read because many of the children in the book are abused, not physically but psychologically through abusive language and neglect. That goes for Ellen as well.
Ellen is the main character, but she is not much of a heroine. He main qualities are perseverance, kindness and she keeps her head. But she is often timid and a little whiny. Not that she doesn't have things to complain about, but it isn't pretty in a heroine or hero.
The climax is disgusting as regards how one group of people treats another thinking they are justified to do so.
The ending is way too abrupt. This is one story that could use an epilogue or the equivalent.
Mature themes: there is no sex. There is murder/suicide and finding the bodies is described. I mentioned verbal abuse and neglect.
Why did I finish this book? I should have put it down after about the third chapter.
Some have shelved this a Romance, but that is an exaggeration. There are so few pages spent on the romance. This is a story about Ellen and any other characters, including her opposite, are really secondary.
What's worse than a boring book? How about a gloomy boring romance that isn't a romance. There are really no redeeming qualities to this book. I didn't find much at all funny. Admittedly it gets a bit active and even confusing in the last 5 or 10%, but that doesn't save it. Gloomy is the best description. There are some mildly interesting perils here and there, but they don't rise to any level of excitement. For much of the book, the most dangerous thing Ellen faces is potential scandal, and not the romantic ruination kind you usually expect in this kind of book.
It is sad to read because many of the children in the book are abused, not physically but psychologically through abusive language and neglect. That goes for Ellen as well.
Ellen is the main character, but she is not much of a heroine. He main qualities are perseverance, kindness and she keeps her head. But she is often timid and a little whiny. Not that she doesn't have things to complain about, but it isn't pretty in a heroine or hero.
The climax is disgusting as regards how one group of people treats another thinking they are justified to do so.
The ending is way too abrupt. This is one story that could use an epilogue or the equivalent.
Mature themes: there is no sex. There is murder/suicide and finding the bodies is described. I mentioned verbal abuse and neglect.
Why did I finish this book? I should have put it down after about the third chapter.
October 30, 2009
This is definitely the weakest of Aiken's three historical novels about the Paget family (the other two being The Smile of the Stranger and The Weeping Ash). Ellen Paget leaves her Brussels boarding school, where she's become involved with an attractive schoolmaster, to become a governess in a noble French family.
The plot is derivative in places (the beginning bears a distinct resemblance to Villette, for instance) and oddly disjointed, taking Ellen in the middle of the book back to her family in England and into a different story and setting which never feels very related to the Parisian part of the book (which I did enjoy). Also, the romance is barely there, with practically no development of it onstage; it's mostly developed offstage and in the backstory, which makes it feel sudden and not very engaging once it does become part of the onstage story.
The plot is derivative in places (the beginning bears a distinct resemblance to Villette, for instance) and oddly disjointed, taking Ellen in the middle of the book back to her family in England and into a different story and setting which never feels very related to the Parisian part of the book (which I did enjoy). Also, the romance is barely there, with practically no development of it onstage; it's mostly developed offstage and in the backstory, which makes it feel sudden and not very engaging once it does become part of the onstage story.
September 13, 2016
I loved this book. I had this marked as read, but before now I don't think I'd ever read it. I didn't remember a single thing.
Aiken does such a great job developing realistic characters who are flawed, but also have their good points and the story is about their growth and change -- within reasonable bounds of their character.
It's so interesting to me how Aiken leaves the most dramatic bits off-stage and even at her most gothik she never gets out of hand, it fits the story, it's believable and it's a friendly nod to the type of novels her characters would have read.
There's also some lovely feminist bits and women characters you can admire and respect and who are fully developed and have something worth saying. So refreshing. I can't recommend this book enough.
Aiken does such a great job developing realistic characters who are flawed, but also have their good points and the story is about their growth and change -- within reasonable bounds of their character.
It's so interesting to me how Aiken leaves the most dramatic bits off-stage and even at her most gothik she never gets out of hand, it fits the story, it's believable and it's a friendly nod to the type of novels her characters would have read.
There's also some lovely feminist bits and women characters you can admire and respect and who are fully developed and have something worth saying. So refreshing. I can't recommend this book enough.
July 30, 2018
Not so much a plot as a meander punctuated by shocking events; this reads like a first draft. If you are looking for a love story, the love interest is present in about 5% of the book, if that. It’s not a totally unpleasant meander, but it really doesn’t make any sense.
Characters and settings come and go, sometimes quite abruptly. I love Joan Aiken, but I can’t quite imagine how this was published. All sense of continuity or story is repeatedly shoved aside to make a plot point or transition fit in the most ham-handed way, usually by means of a surprisingly violent event. I wouldn’t recommend this book; it is deeply unsatisfying.
Characters and settings come and go, sometimes quite abruptly. I love Joan Aiken, but I can’t quite imagine how this was published. All sense of continuity or story is repeatedly shoved aside to make a plot point or transition fit in the most ham-handed way, usually by means of a surprisingly violent event. I wouldn’t recommend this book; it is deeply unsatisfying.
January 31, 2026
"The Girl from Paris" is the third and final volume in the Paget Family Saga, Joan Aiken's loosely connected tale of a Sussex family spanning the late eighteenth to mid-nineteenth century. In this case, the connections are even looser than in "The Weeping Ash," the second volume. Jumping ahead sixty-some years to 1861, we find Ellen Paget, youngest daughter of tyrannical, selfish Luke Paget, making her way in the world as a teacher at the finishing school in Brussels where she's been a pupil (shades of Villette by Charlotte Brontë). Within a short time, Ellen finds herself a governess to an impossible pupil in an aristocratic family in Paris, where she will come into the orbit of the era's literary and artistic stars before abruptly winding up back in Sussex, where she will try to knit together the remnants of her family. Less a romance than a bildungsroman, Ellen is a likable heroine, but the novel is marked by Aiken's characteristic authorial insistence that her readers never forget she is in control and can throw them a curveball if she chooses...and she chooses. As in "The Weeping Ash," the novel meanders along until it seems as if Aiken is tired of writing it; then, with a few vigorous shakes, she turns it back into a romance but is unable to prevent herself from several spiteful disposals of several characters. If she weren't a good writer, it would be an unpleasant ride, but Aiken's prickliness is part of her charm.
May 11, 2023
Don’t be deceived by the covers of Joan Aiken’s “Paget Family Saga”. These are not your usual fluffy Regency novels. There is the saturnine hero, and an occasional exhaustive description of toilette, and the young innocent but spunky girl cast as the lead figure. But there is an undercurret of darkness which belies the genre – women are brutally raped, or driven to suicide, or murdered by neglect and harassment. Aiken’s books for children are well known for their Gothic elements, with the child protagonists in real danger from real evil. These are the grownup version of that danger and evil. Be warned.
May 1, 2023
Did the father died before changing his will ? did the wretched housekeeper get what she wanted ?
I don't mind that there was not much of a romance, or that everyone in the family was awful, even the friends were selfish. But that the bad guy (or gal) gets rewarded it's a bit too much
I don't mind that there was not much of a romance, or that everyone in the family was awful, even the friends were selfish. But that the bad guy (or gal) gets rewarded it's a bit too much
July 5, 2019
1840 Brussels, Paris, Somerset
January 17, 2023
I really enjoy Aiken's style, her strong, intelligent women and well written interesting stories. If you don't know her, this authors many books are worth finding and enjoying. Highly recommended.
June 30, 2024
Depressing but well written.
April 15, 2025
stunning
Unexpected relationships and adventures. A family in turmoil. And just enough romance as a golden thread to pull you through to the last page.
Unexpected relationships and adventures. A family in turmoil. And just enough romance as a golden thread to pull you through to the last page.
February 5, 2017
Previously reviewed on The Good, The Bad, and The Unread:
I’ve been enjoying this reissued trilogy very much and was looking forward to seeing how the series would conclude, whether we would get to revisit any of the characters from previous instalments. This book takes place somewhat later than the others, in 1859 – so the Victorian rather than the Regency era – but we do see Fanny from the middle book once again. Now widowed for a second time, Fanny is able to offer help and advice to this book’s heroine on her return to England, but the beginning of this book finds us once more overseas, this time initially in Belgium.
Ellen Paget teaches at the school for young ladies in Brussels where she herself was educated. A great favourite with her pupils, she is less popular with the headmistress due to the interest shown to her by an older male teacher. When scandal threatens, Ellen is whisked away to Paris by the headmistress’ friend in order to be a steadying influence to the friend’s niece and governess to the alternately spoiled and neglected daughter of the household. On arriving in Paris, Ellen finds her new home in disarray; her charge wants nothing to do with her and is ignored by her own mother, who wants only to entertain her artistic friends, while the little girl’s father is a degenerate gambler, who throws wild parties – when he actually comes home – and who keeps his daughter up late to entertain him and his equally wild friends.
Ellen does her best to rectify the situation and manages to befriend the impoverished writer who is closest to her charge’s mother. Unfortunately Ellen is unable to avert the oncoming tragedy resulting from the turbulent marriage of her employers and is forced to return to England and the Hermitage – the setting for the previous books in this series. Once there, she discovers her own family to be in disarray – as well as under threat from the machinations of her father’s new housekeeper. Ellen’s two married sisters are keen to enlist her help in ensuring that the housekeeper does not deprive them of the inheritance from their mother to which they believe themselves entitled; although they are not particularly likable, the reader has to have some sympathy for them, since the housekeeper is quite clearly a wrong-un too.
Fortunately Ellen does have some true allies amongst the various people keen to enlist her support for their various schemes and plans. As well as Great Aunt Fanny, there is Benedict Masham – a far more eligible potential suitor than any of the men Ellen is pursued by in Brussels and Paris. This book is complex with a whole series of plots to follow, as well as a vast cast of characters. On the whole, however, it holds together well, and provides a fitting conclusion to the series.
I’ve been enjoying this reissued trilogy very much and was looking forward to seeing how the series would conclude, whether we would get to revisit any of the characters from previous instalments. This book takes place somewhat later than the others, in 1859 – so the Victorian rather than the Regency era – but we do see Fanny from the middle book once again. Now widowed for a second time, Fanny is able to offer help and advice to this book’s heroine on her return to England, but the beginning of this book finds us once more overseas, this time initially in Belgium.
Ellen Paget teaches at the school for young ladies in Brussels where she herself was educated. A great favourite with her pupils, she is less popular with the headmistress due to the interest shown to her by an older male teacher. When scandal threatens, Ellen is whisked away to Paris by the headmistress’ friend in order to be a steadying influence to the friend’s niece and governess to the alternately spoiled and neglected daughter of the household. On arriving in Paris, Ellen finds her new home in disarray; her charge wants nothing to do with her and is ignored by her own mother, who wants only to entertain her artistic friends, while the little girl’s father is a degenerate gambler, who throws wild parties – when he actually comes home – and who keeps his daughter up late to entertain him and his equally wild friends.
Ellen does her best to rectify the situation and manages to befriend the impoverished writer who is closest to her charge’s mother. Unfortunately Ellen is unable to avert the oncoming tragedy resulting from the turbulent marriage of her employers and is forced to return to England and the Hermitage – the setting for the previous books in this series. Once there, she discovers her own family to be in disarray – as well as under threat from the machinations of her father’s new housekeeper. Ellen’s two married sisters are keen to enlist her help in ensuring that the housekeeper does not deprive them of the inheritance from their mother to which they believe themselves entitled; although they are not particularly likable, the reader has to have some sympathy for them, since the housekeeper is quite clearly a wrong-un too.
Fortunately Ellen does have some true allies amongst the various people keen to enlist her support for their various schemes and plans. As well as Great Aunt Fanny, there is Benedict Masham – a far more eligible potential suitor than any of the men Ellen is pursued by in Brussels and Paris. This book is complex with a whole series of plots to follow, as well as a vast cast of characters. On the whole, however, it holds together well, and provides a fitting conclusion to the series.
January 24, 2014
Passion - secret, forbidden, rejected - murder, suicide - unspoken is made boring. Not a titillating touch. Meant to be historical methinks? Moral that country ways are honest, best? When meanest person (of many) ends up happy-ever-after marrying? Realistic no-point narrative like true life?
1800s Petworth near Chichester Cathedral, innocent released convict Matthew Bilbo heads home to herd sheep, fearful for cellmate "Simmie" p 11, forgives judge Luke Paget. Beginning connects later when Simon Pike flees jail and hides with Bilbo, befriended by Luke's son.
Ellen Paget 22 is whisked by godmother from Brussels girls' boarding school from too-willing Directrice. The young teacher's heart beats faster when her older Professor blatantly glances, compliments "angel' "muse", and students predict proposal. Her new charge Menispe 4 will not sit still and throws tantrums willy nilly. Ellen's half-brother/ cousin/ something Benedict follows and chivvies her everywhere; from their quick tempered retorts the two are lifelong childhood sweethearts.
Raoul still loves his wife; his ancient fine family insist on a male heir. Cold Louise ignores her daughter, hosts literary salons with her lesbian lover Germaine in male attire. Germaine insults "self-centred English prig" p 258 Ellen, yet makes passes at her. Boring name-dropping - George Sands, Baudelaire - blah blah - attempt to be historical?
Luke's heir Gerard befriends Bilbo, alienates political ambitions of father with musical bent. Sneaky housekeeper Mrs Pike gets Luke's will in her favor. Her son Simon soon connects overly convoluted roundabout plot.
A fortune-teller p 164 and Luke's nightmares both predict a fatal stone crush. Author's pre-note says 21 Feb 1861 "spire of Chichester Cathedral did fall straight down". Luke sees his first wife Matilda in visions. Yawn. Supernatural spirits do not improve story. Also library hold on Aiken's most popular Wolves of Willoughby Chase means author gets one more chance.
1800s Petworth near Chichester Cathedral, innocent released convict Matthew Bilbo heads home to herd sheep, fearful for cellmate "Simmie" p 11, forgives judge Luke Paget. Beginning connects later when Simon Pike flees jail and hides with Bilbo, befriended by Luke's son.
Ellen Paget 22 is whisked by godmother from Brussels girls' boarding school from too-willing Directrice. The young teacher's heart beats faster when her older Professor blatantly glances, compliments "angel' "muse", and students predict proposal. Her new charge Menispe 4 will not sit still and throws tantrums willy nilly. Ellen's half-brother/ cousin/ something Benedict follows and chivvies her everywhere; from their quick tempered retorts the two are lifelong childhood sweethearts.
Raoul still loves his wife; his ancient fine family insist on a male heir. Cold Louise ignores her daughter, hosts literary salons with her lesbian lover Germaine in male attire. Germaine insults "self-centred English prig" p 258 Ellen, yet makes passes at her. Boring name-dropping - George Sands, Baudelaire - blah blah - attempt to be historical?
Luke's heir Gerard befriends Bilbo, alienates political ambitions of father with musical bent. Sneaky housekeeper Mrs Pike gets Luke's will in her favor. Her son Simon soon connects overly convoluted roundabout plot.
A fortune-teller p 164 and Luke's nightmares both predict a fatal stone crush. Author's pre-note says 21 Feb 1861 "spire of Chichester Cathedral did fall straight down". Luke sees his first wife Matilda in visions. Yawn. Supernatural spirits do not improve story. Also library hold on Aiken's most popular Wolves of Willoughby Chase means author gets one more chance.
August 25, 2016
This was a very interesting book. Not much of a romance, though there is a bit. More a bit of this and a bit of that. But taken all together, really quite good. I still have Aiken's other two to read. Then I will review them all.
My Review:
This book doesn't seem to know what it wants to grow up to become. It probably doesn't want to be a romance novel, since it only has a tiny bit of romance in it. It could be a historical novel, but it's not about any really famous historical figures. I guess we'll have to go with its being a period piece since that's what people seem to be categorizing it as. No one really seems sure, though. Even the book doesn't seem sure. It's a timid piece and the weakest of the three pieces in this series. It's a nice enough little story, but it really didn't excite me very much.
I think that sometime I will have to go back and reread these three books in the correct order and see if doing so makes a difference in how I view them.
I received this eARC from Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I am not being compensated in any way. All opinions are fully my own.
~ Judi E. Easley
My Review:
This book doesn't seem to know what it wants to grow up to become. It probably doesn't want to be a romance novel, since it only has a tiny bit of romance in it. It could be a historical novel, but it's not about any really famous historical figures. I guess we'll have to go with its being a period piece since that's what people seem to be categorizing it as. No one really seems sure, though. Even the book doesn't seem sure. It's a timid piece and the weakest of the three pieces in this series. It's a nice enough little story, but it really didn't excite me very much.
I think that sometime I will have to go back and reread these three books in the correct order and see if doing so makes a difference in how I view them.
I received this eARC from Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I am not being compensated in any way. All opinions are fully my own.
~ Judi E. Easley
September 1, 2016
I didn't realize that this was a new edition of a much older title, but once I did, the book made much more sense to me. It definitely has an old-fashioned tone to it. The first 80 pages were someone disjointed-the reader is introduced to several characters, and I had to keep rereading the blurb to see which one was the main character. After that the story did start coming together, but I still wasn't sure what the book was aiming for: it seemed like a mash up of a historical fiction and romance, but with hardly any romance in it. Still, I couldn't seem to put it down, and I'm tempted to look into the first two books in the trilogy to see if they are the same.
May 19, 2013
I love her books. This one was great!! I did get lost in it (I mean that in a good way)...a young girl having some intelligence but having to submit to the male dominate rules of that time.
March 7, 2025
This is more a gothic romance than a romance. Call me old fashioned but I need the happy couple to spend more than 2% of the book together to believe they are desperately in love at the finale
July 28, 2018
Another book in the series. It could also be read as a stand alone. Some characters from the other books are in this one. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read this one because of my disappointment in the last book of the series, but I promised to read it so I did. Again was a dit disappointed with some of the extra characters in the book. Storyline was okay but nothing super great.
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