The Silver Nightingale

by Sylvia Thorpe

SARAH WAS THE QUIET ONE...

When Lord Chayle proposed marriage to Sarah Lorymer, no one was more surprised than Sarah herself. It was a brilliant match. None of her family had ever expected her to achieve more than a respectable marriage, if that. Why had Justin Chayle proposed? Was it, as Sarah's mother suggested, because he wanted a grateful, submissive wife who would make no demand upon him? Or was it some secret known only to Justin?

As for Sarah, she had already fallen completely and hopelessly in love with him. But she knew better than to let him suspect it. She was prepared to play her role--until Justin made her so angry she lost her temper and plunged them both into a strange adventure among even stranger companions.

Genres: Romance, Regency, Historical Romance, Regency Romance

291 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

June Sylvia Thimblethorpe was born in 1926 in London, England. Educated in London at a school in Brondesbury, Kilburn High School for Girls, Slade School of Fine Arts, and University College. She worked as secretary from 1949 to 1952 and later she worked as school teacher.

As Sylvia Thorpe, she wrote over 25 historical romance novels from 1950 to 1983. Her novel "The Scapegrace" (1971) won the Elizabeth Goudge Historical Award. She was the third elected Chairman (1965-1967) of the Romantic Novelists' Association, and was named a Honor Life Member of the organization.

Sylvia is now a trustee for the Goodrich Village Hall Trust. Goodrich is a village, in south Herefordshire which is very close to Gloucestershire and the Forest of Dean situated near the River Wye and is famous for its old red sandstone Norman and medieval castle.

Reviews

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my third time reading this book. It is charming, filled with wonderful Regency dialog, and combines light romance with a light mystery and a bit of adventure. Quiet Sarah is not so quiet when she loses her temper and her wealthy fiance has to chase after her when she runs to her grandmother's home to escape their engagement. Snowbound at a small inn with a small group of stranded travelers, the two are stuck together and finally get to know each other.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts out with a shy, quiet bride who agrees to marry the man who chooses the only girl who doesn't throw herself at him. Halfway through, we find ourselves in the middle of a murder mystery in a snowbound inn.

[Noelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books was a surprise. It had a fun plot that didn't seem too short - even though it was only a little over 209 pages. Sarah was also not the weak and submissive heroine I anticipated, being that this was written in the early 1970s.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Engaging regency romance that had a surprising murder mystery sub-plot.

Not Thorpe's best; a little uneven in places, but overall ok.

[Diletta Nicastro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bello, bello, bello!
L’ho finito il 3 gennaio e L’usignolo d’argento già si candida ed essere uno dei libri più belli letti nel 2022!
Avevo già letto di questa autrice altri tre libri: 'L’erede di Tarrington', 'Quadriglia' e 'Scambio di dame', tutti tradotti in italiano tra il 1977 e il 1978 da Mondadori e quando ho visto questo piccolo gioiello su eBay me lo sono fatto regalare per Natale, scoprendo che questa traduzione proposta da Cino del Duca è precedente a quello della Zazo per Mondadori. Ahimé, però, è sicuramente una versione molto ridotta.
Sebbene la traduzione sia comunque scorrevole e fatta con garbo, è evidente, infatti, che molte pagine sono state tagliate (in italiano sono 135 pagine – tra l’altro in formato ridotto – contro le oltre 250 della versione in inglese) e questo mi dispiace moltissimo, perché si tratta di un vero e proprio gioiello.

Da sempre considerata una sorta di Georgette Heyer, ma un pochino più avventurosa (i suoi romanzi sono sulla scia di 'Talismano d’amore' o di 'Una vedova riluttante'), ne 'L’usignolo d’argento' Sylvia Thorpe si supera e presenta una storia che ha tracce di Agatha Christie. Questa locanda resa inaccessibile dalla neve, con tutti i personaggi che non si possono allontanare e che iniziano a conoscersi (e a rivelare poco a poco i loro segreti), non può non ricordare due opere celeberrime della giallista inglese: 'Dieci piccoli indiani' e 'Trappola per topi'.
Il delitto compiuto è piuttosto violento ed è raro trovare trame del genere in romanzi regency.

Complessivamente si tratta di libro avvincente ed emozionante, che ho avuto la fortuna di leggere, tra l’altro, mentre mi trovavo in montagna d’inverno senza riscaldamento, quindi ho potuto immergermi nell’atmosfera della locanda in maniera completa.
Un libro prezioso e assolutamente da riscoprire.
MOZZAFIATO

Per la recensione completa visita il mio blog:
https://dilettanicastro.blogspot.com/...

[Carla Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it so much

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the way the story progressed as the two main characters fell in love.

[Laura Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice traditional regency romance; titled Lord proposes to a gently bred young lady who accepts to help her family. She harbors a love for said Lord but hides it,has a quick temper ,loses it with finance runs to grandmothers. Storm strands her at an inn, he shows up and the story takes off, charming.

[玉梅 石 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of Sylvia Thorpe's more light-hearted stories--almost silly. A good, fun read, though. There were no supernatural elements in it, and it seems appropriate even for pretty young readers.