The Imagination of the Heart

by Judith Glover

To escape her dreary life, Catherine March, a foundling raised on charity, marries a prosperous widower nearly twice her age. Selecting Catherine for her beauty and financing her education abroad to meet his standards, Oliver van der Kleve feels pride of possession rather than love for his second wife. Catherine faces the hostility of her stepdaughter and her sister-in-law when she tries to establish a place in the household. Driven to adultery in an attempt to find love, Catherine nearly loses her wifely status until Oliver's own infidelity comes to light. Glover effectively portrays the restrictions on women in mid-19th-century England. She also chronicles the growth within a marriage of convenience from tolerance to respect to love.

351 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1989

Reviews

[Grace Zhao]

I really shouldn't have liked this book but somehow I thoroughly enjoyed it. That's why I'm not going to give it a rating - I don't know what to give it! I guess 1989 was a different time because if this book was written today, I doubt it would ever be published. Let me tell you why.
For the first half of the book. The main male character, Oliver, was unbelievably cold, cruel, and possessive. Essentially, it was a tale of a subservient wife and marital rape. I didn't know how this character was going to redeem himself. The story was so bleak and miserable that I had to skip to the end and read the HEA first. If this book was written today, it would be about how the main female character, Catherine (or Kitty) learns to stand up for herself, leaves the marriage, and find happiness on her own terms. Not in this book. After the unfortunate affair, expulsion from her husband's house, and impending divorce, Kitty does eventually find her own voice. However, instead of leaving the marriage, she goes back to it when she was asked to by her husband.
The story becomes much sweeter about 2/3 into the book and when Kitty goes back to her marriage. It was starting at this point that I really started enjoying the book. Oliver becomes much more supportive and attentive. The support and trust that Oliver placed in Kitty at the climax of the story was really heart warming when comparing to the first part of the book. At the end, they affirm their love for each other and it was pure sugary sweetness. I had to suspend disbelief though as I don't think a real person could have changed so much so fast. I guess it does help that the whole story takes places over the span of 6 years.
My advice to anyone reading is to not think too deeply about the messages and meaning. Just take it at face value and enjoy the romance.

[Lottie Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

May December ( 20 age gap)
Hero’s daughter is only 6 years younger apart from heroine.
Angsty as hell.
Heroine cheats on husband.