What do you think?
Rate this book
St. John Strafford #1
The Secret Guests
"When you're done binge-watching The Crown, pick up this multifaceted wartime thriller."
—Kirkus Reviews
As London endures nightly German bombings, Britain’s secret service whisks the princesses Elizabeth and Margaret from England, seeking safety for the young royals on an old estate in Ireland.
Ahead of the German Blitz during World War II, English parents from every social class sent their children to the countryside for safety, displacing more than three million young offspring. In The Secret Guests, the British royal family takes this evacuation a step further, secretly moving the princesses to the estate of the Duke of Edenmore in “neutral” Ireland.
A female English secret agent, Miss Celia Nashe, and a young Irish detective, Garda Strafford, are assigned to watch over “Ellen” and “Mary” at Clonmillis Hall. But the Irish stable hand, the housemaid, the formidable housekeeper, the Duke himself, and other Irish townspeople, some of whom lost family to English gunshots during the War of Independence, go freely about their business in and around the great house. Soon suspicions about the guests’ true identities percolate, a dangerous boredom sets in for the princesses, and, within and without Clonmillis acreage, passions as well as stakes rise.
Benjamin Black, who has good information that the princesses were indeed in Ireland for a time during the Blitz, draws readers into a novel as fascinating as the nascent career of Miss Nashe, as tender as the homesickness of the sisters, as intriguing as Irish-English relations during WWII, and as suspenseful and ultimately action-packed as war itself.
—Kirkus Reviews
As London endures nightly German bombings, Britain’s secret service whisks the princesses Elizabeth and Margaret from England, seeking safety for the young royals on an old estate in Ireland.
Ahead of the German Blitz during World War II, English parents from every social class sent their children to the countryside for safety, displacing more than three million young offspring. In The Secret Guests, the British royal family takes this evacuation a step further, secretly moving the princesses to the estate of the Duke of Edenmore in “neutral” Ireland.
A female English secret agent, Miss Celia Nashe, and a young Irish detective, Garda Strafford, are assigned to watch over “Ellen” and “Mary” at Clonmillis Hall. But the Irish stable hand, the housemaid, the formidable housekeeper, the Duke himself, and other Irish townspeople, some of whom lost family to English gunshots during the War of Independence, go freely about their business in and around the great house. Soon suspicions about the guests’ true identities percolate, a dangerous boredom sets in for the princesses, and, within and without Clonmillis acreage, passions as well as stakes rise.
Benjamin Black, who has good information that the princesses were indeed in Ireland for a time during the Blitz, draws readers into a novel as fascinating as the nascent career of Miss Nashe, as tender as the homesickness of the sisters, as intriguing as Irish-English relations during WWII, and as suspenseful and ultimately action-packed as war itself.
304 pages, ebook
First published November 1, 2019
474 people are currently reading
3449 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin Black
36 books677 followersPen name for John Banville
Banville was born in Wexford, Ireland. His father worked in a garage and died when Banville was in his early thirties; his mother was a housewife. He is the youngest of three siblings; his older brother Vincent is also a novelist and has written under the name Vincent Lawrence as well as his own. His sister Vonnie Banville-Evans has written both a children's novel and a reminiscence of growing up in Wexford.
Educated at a Christian Brothers' school and at St Peter's College in Wexford. Despite having intended to be a painter and an architect he did not attend university. Banville has described this as "A great mistake. I should have gone. I regret not taking that four years of getting drunk and falling in love. But I wanted to get away from my family. I wanted to be free." After school he worked as a clerk at Aer Lingus which allowed him to travel at deeply-discounted rates. He took advantage of this to travel in Greece and Italy. He lived in the United States during 1968 and 1969. On his return to Ireland he became a sub-editor at the Irish Press, rising eventually to the position of chief sub-editor. His first book, Long Lankin, was published in 1970.
After the Irish Press collapsed in 1995, he became a sub-editor at the Irish Times. He was appointed literary editor in 1998. The Irish Times, too, suffered severe financial problems, and Banville was offered the choice of taking a redundancy package or working as a features department sub-editor. He left. Banville has been a regular contributor to The New York Review of Books since 1990. In 1984, he was elected to Aosdána, but resigned in 2001, so that some other artist might be allowed to receive the cnuas.
Banville also writes under the pen name Benjamin Black. His first novel under this pen name was Christine Falls, which was followed by The Silver Swan in 2007. Banville has two adult sons with his wife, the American textile artist Janet Dunham. They met during his visit to San Francisco in 1968 where she was a student at the University of California, Berkeley. Dunham described him during the writing process as being like "a murderer who's just come back from a particularly bloody killing". Banville has two daughters from his relationship with Patricia Quinn, former head of the Arts Council of Ireland.
Banville has a strong interest in vivisection and animal rights, and is often featured in Irish media speaking out against vivisection in Irish university research.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/benjam...
Banville was born in Wexford, Ireland. His father worked in a garage and died when Banville was in his early thirties; his mother was a housewife. He is the youngest of three siblings; his older brother Vincent is also a novelist and has written under the name Vincent Lawrence as well as his own. His sister Vonnie Banville-Evans has written both a children's novel and a reminiscence of growing up in Wexford.
Educated at a Christian Brothers' school and at St Peter's College in Wexford. Despite having intended to be a painter and an architect he did not attend university. Banville has described this as "A great mistake. I should have gone. I regret not taking that four years of getting drunk and falling in love. But I wanted to get away from my family. I wanted to be free." After school he worked as a clerk at Aer Lingus which allowed him to travel at deeply-discounted rates. He took advantage of this to travel in Greece and Italy. He lived in the United States during 1968 and 1969. On his return to Ireland he became a sub-editor at the Irish Press, rising eventually to the position of chief sub-editor. His first book, Long Lankin, was published in 1970.
After the Irish Press collapsed in 1995, he became a sub-editor at the Irish Times. He was appointed literary editor in 1998. The Irish Times, too, suffered severe financial problems, and Banville was offered the choice of taking a redundancy package or working as a features department sub-editor. He left. Banville has been a regular contributor to The New York Review of Books since 1990. In 1984, he was elected to Aosdána, but resigned in 2001, so that some other artist might be allowed to receive the cnuas.
Banville also writes under the pen name Benjamin Black. His first novel under this pen name was Christine Falls, which was followed by The Silver Swan in 2007. Banville has two adult sons with his wife, the American textile artist Janet Dunham. They met during his visit to San Francisco in 1968 where she was a student at the University of California, Berkeley. Dunham described him during the writing process as being like "a murderer who's just come back from a particularly bloody killing". Banville has two daughters from his relationship with Patricia Quinn, former head of the Arts Council of Ireland.
Banville has a strong interest in vivisection and animal rights, and is often featured in Irish media speaking out against vivisection in Irish university research.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/benjam...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 454 reviews
January 14, 2020
4 stars for an entertaining historical fiction book.
The premise of this book is that, at the start of the German bombing blitz of England, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret are whisked off to Ireland for their safety. Actually according to her Wikipedia biography, they spent this time at Windsor Castle. Windsor Castle is a formidable Castle. I took a visitor tour in 2016.
In any case there are richly drawn characters:
Strafford, the only Protestant Garda detective in the Irish Garda(police) in 1940.
Celia Nashe, one of a few females accepted into the Secret Service
Thomas Clancy, hardware store owner in Clonmillis and IRA wannabe
Lascelles, an arrogant Diplomat from the Dublin British Embassy
Sir William Ormonde, the Duke of Edenmore, owner of Clonmillis Hall, where the princesses stay.
These characters and others interact in a story more of a historical fiction/character study than a mystery, since you know that the princesses survive.
I enjoy the author's evocative use of language to describe both the characters and the settings.
Some quotes:
Arrogance: "Lascelles had noticed that the detective had hardly bothered to look at the house, probably knew a dozen places like it--Strafford was a bona fide descendant of sixteenth century Protestant settlers. But if so, what the hell was he doing in Paddyland's pretend police force, which was hardly more than a gang of pensioned-off gunmen pressed into blue serge uniforms and told to behave themselves?"
Conversation between Nashe and Strafford:
"Yes, I mustn't let my imagination run away with me,' she said. "Who would want to harm two young girls?"
To this, again, he made no reply; if he were to respond with what he really thought, it would be no comfort to her. Ireland had been held in British overlordship for eight hundred years, more or less, depending on who was doing the counting, and although the larger part of the country was independent now,the fact that it had been occupied for so long had a potent, abiding and visceral significance for a considerable portion of the population."
Clonmillis Hall: "For years this house had drifted along contentedly enough, like a giant anchorless hulk in a torpid sea."
Thank You Henry Holt and Co. for sending this eARC through NetGalley.
#TheSecretGuests #NetGalley
Update November 24,2019. My wife agrees with me on the 4 stars, but found the author was too verbose. She said that he used obscure words to impress the reader, i.e. comestibles, instead of food.
We both believe that one should write to express not impress.
The premise of this book is that, at the start of the German bombing blitz of England, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret are whisked off to Ireland for their safety. Actually according to her Wikipedia biography, they spent this time at Windsor Castle. Windsor Castle is a formidable Castle. I took a visitor tour in 2016.
In any case there are richly drawn characters:
Strafford, the only Protestant Garda detective in the Irish Garda(police) in 1940.
Celia Nashe, one of a few females accepted into the Secret Service
Thomas Clancy, hardware store owner in Clonmillis and IRA wannabe
Lascelles, an arrogant Diplomat from the Dublin British Embassy
Sir William Ormonde, the Duke of Edenmore, owner of Clonmillis Hall, where the princesses stay.
These characters and others interact in a story more of a historical fiction/character study than a mystery, since you know that the princesses survive.
I enjoy the author's evocative use of language to describe both the characters and the settings.
Some quotes:
Arrogance: "Lascelles had noticed that the detective had hardly bothered to look at the house, probably knew a dozen places like it--Strafford was a bona fide descendant of sixteenth century Protestant settlers. But if so, what the hell was he doing in Paddyland's pretend police force, which was hardly more than a gang of pensioned-off gunmen pressed into blue serge uniforms and told to behave themselves?"
Conversation between Nashe and Strafford:
"Yes, I mustn't let my imagination run away with me,' she said. "Who would want to harm two young girls?"
To this, again, he made no reply; if he were to respond with what he really thought, it would be no comfort to her. Ireland had been held in British overlordship for eight hundred years, more or less, depending on who was doing the counting, and although the larger part of the country was independent now,the fact that it had been occupied for so long had a potent, abiding and visceral significance for a considerable portion of the population."
Clonmillis Hall: "For years this house had drifted along contentedly enough, like a giant anchorless hulk in a torpid sea."
Thank You Henry Holt and Co. for sending this eARC through NetGalley.
#TheSecretGuests #NetGalley
Update November 24,2019. My wife agrees with me on the 4 stars, but found the author was too verbose. She said that he used obscure words to impress the reader, i.e. comestibles, instead of food.
We both believe that one should write to express not impress.
September 9, 2022
RIP, Queen Elizabeth! I think this may be the ONLY book that I have ever read that pertains to her, embodying--in a fictional way--a "theory" that during the Nazi "blitz" on London during WWII that the King and Queen sent their two daughters--one, the future Queen of England, Elizabeth--to Ireland for safekeeping. See below, as Black (pseudonym for John Banville) asserts this as his personal belief.
I read The Special Guests mainly because I am a kind of series completist and I had read the other two (so far) books written by John Banville about Detective St. John Strafford. I had read the second one, Snow, first, then read the third one, April in Spain, and so had to circle back to read the first one. This is a very unusual thing for me to do. But I might not have read it at all based on the unusually low Goodreads rating--something like 3.06--and because it looks like a WWII historical fiction text featuring two girls on the cover. And that title indicates a period piece, nothing like any other title in Black or Banville. Not my bag, I sniffed, as I looked at the cover.
But that’s kinda the point, I found out, somewhere like ⅓ of the way into the book. I am quite sure it is historical fiction with a suspect or possibly clever premise, and one highly influenced by Graham Greene in satirical work such as Our Man in Havana. The story takes place, as a few Greene stories do, during the Blitz in WWII. The book opens in the home of the very King of England, the (stuttering) King George (who served as King until his death in 1952) and his wife, Queen Elizabeth; their two daughters were Princesses Margaret and Elizabeth (the current Queen).
Though history (okay, Wikipedia) tells me that King George very pointedly did not send his family away to greater safety in Canada (where they had traveled, and had been been proposed) but kept them in England (Windsor Castle) through the war, author Banville wrote an article (see below) to say that he wrote this book based on stories he heard that the girls actually were sheltered for a time in Ireland. He thought that was fascinating and the basis of a good tv film, which he proposed, and then--when that fell apart--a book.
So this is one of those alt-historical fictions where we ask the question, what if the princesses lived in Ireland during the Blitz as some kind of (improbable) “favor” to the King by a sympathetic Irish leader? What ensues is kind of an amusing satire where the Brits and Irish seem to enact a kind of droll farce, though people do--as in Greene’s Havana--die as things get serious near the end.
Strafford (not Stafford, as everyone is reminded throughout, a kind of odd joke in all three of the books) is a Protestant Anglo-Irish garda assigned to protect the girls. We learn that he looks much like Stan Laurel, as another copper looks like Oliver Hardy, and another looks like Buster Keaton. These are the little hints dropped to let you know this is supposed to be drolly amusing, and I needed the hints!
The action depends on the idea that the IRA finds out that the Royal Londoner girls are being hidden in Ireland, and they plan to kidnap them, as they are no friends of the long-colonizing English. Ireland, having a weak army, had taken a neutral position in WWII, though some of the IRA purportedly favored Nazi Germany as an opponent of their English enemy, but I don’t have a dog in this race, as they say. I wasn't all that into the story as many in Great Britain may well be. So it is probably better than my assigned three stars, as the dry satirical tone is good as Greene, but I just wasn’t that engaged in it all that much.
I like:
*The parts focusing on the bored and sorta comical princesses--they actually liked the bombing in the blitz a lot, very exciting!-- echoes some of the Blitz-based stories of children in Greene’s stories, pretty entertaining. While sheltered they read books such as The Swiss Family Robinson and other adventures, because they are having an adventure!
*The rather stuffy British tone of the narrative, fitting the stuffy Strafford and the Brits in the story, unique in the Banville/Black books I have read.
*I like how characters in Benjamin Black’s (Banville’s pseudonym) Dr. Quirke series such as actress Isabella (Quirke's girlfriend for a time) and Inspector Hackett show up, fifteen years younger than we meet them in the Quirke series.
Banville article on the "rumour" that was the basis for his book:
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/bo...
I read The Special Guests mainly because I am a kind of series completist and I had read the other two (so far) books written by John Banville about Detective St. John Strafford. I had read the second one, Snow, first, then read the third one, April in Spain, and so had to circle back to read the first one. This is a very unusual thing for me to do. But I might not have read it at all based on the unusually low Goodreads rating--something like 3.06--and because it looks like a WWII historical fiction text featuring two girls on the cover. And that title indicates a period piece, nothing like any other title in Black or Banville. Not my bag, I sniffed, as I looked at the cover.
But that’s kinda the point, I found out, somewhere like ⅓ of the way into the book. I am quite sure it is historical fiction with a suspect or possibly clever premise, and one highly influenced by Graham Greene in satirical work such as Our Man in Havana. The story takes place, as a few Greene stories do, during the Blitz in WWII. The book opens in the home of the very King of England, the (stuttering) King George (who served as King until his death in 1952) and his wife, Queen Elizabeth; their two daughters were Princesses Margaret and Elizabeth (the current Queen).
Though history (okay, Wikipedia) tells me that King George very pointedly did not send his family away to greater safety in Canada (where they had traveled, and had been been proposed) but kept them in England (Windsor Castle) through the war, author Banville wrote an article (see below) to say that he wrote this book based on stories he heard that the girls actually were sheltered for a time in Ireland. He thought that was fascinating and the basis of a good tv film, which he proposed, and then--when that fell apart--a book.
So this is one of those alt-historical fictions where we ask the question, what if the princesses lived in Ireland during the Blitz as some kind of (improbable) “favor” to the King by a sympathetic Irish leader? What ensues is kind of an amusing satire where the Brits and Irish seem to enact a kind of droll farce, though people do--as in Greene’s Havana--die as things get serious near the end.
Strafford (not Stafford, as everyone is reminded throughout, a kind of odd joke in all three of the books) is a Protestant Anglo-Irish garda assigned to protect the girls. We learn that he looks much like Stan Laurel, as another copper looks like Oliver Hardy, and another looks like Buster Keaton. These are the little hints dropped to let you know this is supposed to be drolly amusing, and I needed the hints!
The action depends on the idea that the IRA finds out that the Royal Londoner girls are being hidden in Ireland, and they plan to kidnap them, as they are no friends of the long-colonizing English. Ireland, having a weak army, had taken a neutral position in WWII, though some of the IRA purportedly favored Nazi Germany as an opponent of their English enemy, but I don’t have a dog in this race, as they say. I wasn't all that into the story as many in Great Britain may well be. So it is probably better than my assigned three stars, as the dry satirical tone is good as Greene, but I just wasn’t that engaged in it all that much.
I like:
*The parts focusing on the bored and sorta comical princesses--they actually liked the bombing in the blitz a lot, very exciting!-- echoes some of the Blitz-based stories of children in Greene’s stories, pretty entertaining. While sheltered they read books such as The Swiss Family Robinson and other adventures, because they are having an adventure!
*The rather stuffy British tone of the narrative, fitting the stuffy Strafford and the Brits in the story, unique in the Banville/Black books I have read.
*I like how characters in Benjamin Black’s (Banville’s pseudonym) Dr. Quirke series such as actress Isabella (Quirke's girlfriend for a time) and Inspector Hackett show up, fifteen years younger than we meet them in the Quirke series.
Banville article on the "rumour" that was the basis for his book:
https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/bo...
December 19, 2019
I was drawn to this novel by the intriguing premise of an alternative history. While it is a well-known fact that the British Royal Family, including the young Elizabeth and Margaret, remained in London during the blitz, this novel proposes a “what if” scenario. Elizabeth and Margaret are secreted away to a rundown estate in Ireland belonging to a distant cousin. They are given the aliases of Ellen and Mary, and are accompanied by Celia Nashe, an MI5 agent, posing as their governess. Also charged with the protection of the two princesses is Detective Garda Strattford, an Anglo-Irish police officer. It does not take long for the real identities of the famous royals to be uncovered by the servants and townspeople and soon a kidnapping plot is developed by local members of the Irish rebellion. While the history and intrigue surrounding the relations between Great Britain and Ireland are interesting, the rest of the plot, including an unrealistic romance involving Celia, seem contrived and far-fetched. While the atmospheric descriptions of a crumbly Anglo-Irish estate and some of the historical elements may be enough for some readers, the anti-climactic ending and plot contrivances made this one a miss for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co. for the e-ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co. for the e-ARC.
June 7, 2020
This was a cute historical novel set in the Irish countryside during the bombing of London in 1940. OK, so cute seems like an ill-advised description for any story happening against the backdrop of World War II, but the author's tone definitely leaned toward sweet and precious, with some campy scenes.
The plot is based on the idea that the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were sent to an Irish castle to shield them from the bomb attacks. An MI5 officer named Celia is assigned to protect the girls and also to try and keep their identities a secret, which was an impossible task. The villagers can't stop talking about the two mysterious girls, including some Irishmen with anti-Royalist sentiments.
I listened to this book on audio, and it was a mostly enjoyable read. As a fan of the show "The Crown," and having read a few books about the British royals, I thought this would be a pleasant listen, and it was fun to imagine the mischief that young Margaret got into while Elizabeth stayed serious. However, the story did drag in parts and the plot kept marching toward a violent confrontation, even though we know from history that the girls obviously survived the war.
So yeah, it was cute. Recommended if you like that sort of thing.
The plot is based on the idea that the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were sent to an Irish castle to shield them from the bomb attacks. An MI5 officer named Celia is assigned to protect the girls and also to try and keep their identities a secret, which was an impossible task. The villagers can't stop talking about the two mysterious girls, including some Irishmen with anti-Royalist sentiments.
I listened to this book on audio, and it was a mostly enjoyable read. As a fan of the show "The Crown," and having read a few books about the British royals, I thought this would be a pleasant listen, and it was fun to imagine the mischief that young Margaret got into while Elizabeth stayed serious. However, the story did drag in parts and the plot kept marching toward a violent confrontation, even though we know from history that the girls obviously survived the war.
So yeah, it was cute. Recommended if you like that sort of thing.
January 19, 2020
In this entertaining work of historical fiction, Benjamin Black (pseudonym of writer John Banville) speculates on a possible event involving the British royal family during the blitz. While history has it that the royal daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret, remained in London with their parents during that time, The Secret Guests posits a different course. Here, the two princesses, with their names changed for their safety, are transported to neutral Ireland and Clonmillis Hall. A young MI5 agent, Celia Nashe, accompanies them as guardian and sort of supervisor.
The plot is rolled out in Black/Banville’s wonderful prose and style and reflects the ongoing struggle among many factions in Ireland: the free Irish, the IRA working to unite the 6 counties of the North, connected to Britain, with the free counties of the South, and the often-in-decline Anglo-Irish who remain in Ireland. Some of the struggle is almost humorous—except that there are those who see it as a matter of life and death.
There are many selections I really liked:
In those days of bibliophilic bliss he saw little of the girls...
It occurred to Strafford that in the same way that Hegarty looked
the spit of Ollie Hardy, perhaps he himself...resembled a young
Stan Laurel.
He found it slightly uncanny to be in their presence; they still seemed to him figures from some famous old painting who had come magically alive.
Eventually lunch came to an end, provoking an almost audible sigh of relief from all at the table.
Additionally, there are so many examples of descriptive passages of people and places that range from amusing to inspiring.
I do recommend this book to those who enjoy well written historical fiction. And I plan to check out more from Banville and his work as Benjamin Black.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
The plot is rolled out in Black/Banville’s wonderful prose and style and reflects the ongoing struggle among many factions in Ireland: the free Irish, the IRA working to unite the 6 counties of the North, connected to Britain, with the free counties of the South, and the often-in-decline Anglo-Irish who remain in Ireland. Some of the struggle is almost humorous—except that there are those who see it as a matter of life and death.
There are many selections I really liked:
In those days of bibliophilic bliss he saw little of the girls...
It occurred to Strafford that in the same way that Hegarty looked
the spit of Ollie Hardy, perhaps he himself...resembled a young
Stan Laurel.
He found it slightly uncanny to be in their presence; they still seemed to him figures from some famous old painting who had come magically alive.
Eventually lunch came to an end, provoking an almost audible sigh of relief from all at the table.
Additionally, there are so many examples of descriptive passages of people and places that range from amusing to inspiring.
I do recommend this book to those who enjoy well written historical fiction. And I plan to check out more from Banville and his work as Benjamin Black.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
January 17, 2020
"The secret guests" was such a let down for me. It's described as an "enthralling historical mystery" and the only thruth in that is that is set in an historical moment. Period. No mystery. No enthralling at all. With such an interesting premise I was expecting so much more. The "secrets guests" of the title are merely secondary characters, the story being centered around the people trying to protect them. The first couple of chapters got me intrigued but then nothing happened till the last 15%, and when it did it was a plot so out of the blue and so rushed in its resolution that I couldn't help but keep my eyes rolling back.
2/5 because in spite of being a bit boring it was beautifully written and it gave some interesting historical context I wasn't aware of.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
2/5 because in spite of being a bit boring it was beautifully written and it gave some interesting historical context I wasn't aware of.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2025
- رواية مبنية على عنصر خيالي أو عنصر "ماذا لو"، أي أحداث الرواية لم تحدث في الواقع، وهو في الحرب العالمية الثانية من المعروف بأن العائلة البريطانية تحت حكم "الملك جورج" ظلوا في بريطانيا والأميرتان "اليزابيث ومارجريت" كانتا ص��يرتان عند اندلاع الحرب، الرواية أتت بشكل مُغاير وهو إرسال الطفلتان إلى إيرلندا المُحايدة مع تغيير اسميهما مع المرافقة وهي الآنسة سيليا وبالتالي يتم التخطيط لخطف الفتاتين.
- الكاتب إيرلندي، وهنا كان لابد للكاتب بأن يُشير إلى الصراع الإيرلندي-البريطاني حيث أقتبس " لقد بقيت ايرلندا تحت سيطرة بريطانيا لثمانمائة عام تقريبا." "لا أعلم بماذا كان أناسك في لندن يفكرون ليرسلوا هاتين الفتاتين إلى هنا من بين جميع الأماكن." وبالتالي المسؤولون الإرلنديون مُستنكرين من تصرف العائلة الملكية، وكأنهم يقولون "الآن بقيت ايرلندا دولة مُسالمة وشعبها ناس طيبون؟"
- غياب عنصرا التشويق والرعب، الرواية تُصنف بالرعب بسبب الاختطاف وما شابه، لكن لم أجد هذا الشيء، وكان هناك تكرار للأحداث مالها داعي، على الرغم لشغفي تجاه معرفة شخصيات العائلة الملكية إلا أنني لم أجده تحديداً مع الطفلتين.
- أعتب كثييييراً على دار النشر لم تُوفّق في اختيار الغلاف!!!! الغلاف الأصلي عليه الفتاتين الصغيرتين، كان ممكن وضع صورهم الأصلية "اليزابيث ومارجريت" أو وضع طفلتين صغيرتين كما جاءت بالنسخة الأصلية، أما الغلاف على هذه النسخة ليس له أي علااااقة أبداً أبداً!!!!
- الكاتب إيرلندي، وهنا كان لابد للكاتب بأن يُشير إلى الصراع الإيرلندي-البريطاني حيث أقتبس " لقد بقيت ايرلندا تحت سيطرة بريطانيا لثمانمائة عام تقريبا." "لا أعلم بماذا كان أناسك في لندن يفكرون ليرسلوا هاتين الفتاتين إلى هنا من بين جميع الأماكن." وبالتالي المسؤولون الإرلنديون مُستنكرين من تصرف العائلة الملكية، وكأنهم يقولون "الآن بقيت ايرلندا دولة مُسالمة وشعبها ناس طيبون؟"
- غياب عنصرا التشويق والرعب، الرواية تُصنف بالرعب بسبب الاختطاف وما شابه، لكن لم أجد هذا الشيء، وكان هناك تكرار للأحداث مالها داعي، على الرغم لشغفي تجاه معرفة شخصيات العائلة الملكية إلا أنني لم أجده تحديداً مع الطفلتين.
- أعتب كثييييراً على دار النشر لم تُوفّق في اختيار الغلاف!!!! الغلاف الأصلي عليه الفتاتين الصغيرتين، كان ممكن وضع صورهم الأصلية "اليزابيث ومارجريت" أو وضع طفلتين صغيرتين كما جاءت بالنسخة الأصلية، أما الغلاف على هذه النسخة ليس له أي علااااقة أبداً أبداً!!!!
July 10, 2019
I found this book by Man Booker Prize-winning novelist John Banville writing under a nom de plume a compelling twist on the rash of WWII novels out today. It focuses on young British princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, sent for safety during the Blitz to Ireland, neutral during the war but not entirely supportive of England due to the long oppression of the Emerald Isle. The author has a wry poetic style which I loved and his “take” on English-Irish politics played out against the backdrop of the war was illuminating. Highly recommend for history buffs and for those who love good yarns spun by fine Irish writers. 5/5
Pub Date 14 Jan 2020.
Thanks to Benjamin Black, Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.
#TheSecretGuests #NetGalley
Pub Date 14 Jan 2020.
Thanks to Benjamin Black, Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.
#TheSecretGuests #NetGalley
May 21, 2020
Once again, readers are given yet another misleading description. From the premise THE SECRET GUESTS sounded intriguing...where the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret are sent to Ireland into neutral territory during the Blitz of WW2. And I had such high hopes for this book. But honestly...it was boring. It was so boring - a snore fest, even - I don't think I can even attempt to write my usual informative review regaling the lead-up to what had promised to be an exciting read.
It touched a little of the young princesses under their assumed identities as Ellen and Mary, but mostly it was about MI5 and those protecting them. Most of whom turned out to be pompous, arrogant or I just had so little regard for their presence I didn't much care what happened to them.
The story was meant to be an imaginative "what if" scenario had the Princesses been evacuated to the neutral territory of Ireland, when in actual fact they spent most of the war hidden away in the formidable Windsor Castle.
The Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, now known as Ellen and Mary, are secreted away in the night during the Blitz to board a naval ship that will take them to Ireland. Their charge, female MI5 agent, Celia Nashe, awakes to find Ellen asleep in her bunk with the distinct stench of vomit and Mary missing. She searches the ship until she finds young Mary on the deck watching the distant bombs falling on their retreating country. Celia pulls her away from the edge so suddenly for fear she may fall in that the precocious young Mary defiantly states that her father has a much bigger boat than this and she's allowed to stand on deck whenever she likes. That she knows what to do on boats.
When they arrive in Ireland, they are met by a diplomat from the Dublin Embassy and a Garda detective who then accompany them to their new home, a rundown estate belonging to a distant cousin of the former Queen. Despite their attempts at keeping the identities of their secret guests hidden, it isn't long before servants and locals reveal that they are in fact the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. Then a kidnap plot is hatched by those of the Irish rebellion and the plot just gets a little ridiculous. In the end I gave up.
THE SECRET GUESTS was a disappointing let down for me as I had such high hopes for it. It promised to be an exciting read when instead it was a snore fest.
I don't like to leave bad reviews but sadly this was such a disappointment it leaves me no alternative. I wish "Ellen and Mary" had featured far more than they did...after all, they were the drawcard in both the premise and the title.
I would like to thank #BenjaminBlack, #NetGalley and #PenguinUK for an ARC of #TheSecretGuests in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
It touched a little of the young princesses under their assumed identities as Ellen and Mary, but mostly it was about MI5 and those protecting them. Most of whom turned out to be pompous, arrogant or I just had so little regard for their presence I didn't much care what happened to them.
The story was meant to be an imaginative "what if" scenario had the Princesses been evacuated to the neutral territory of Ireland, when in actual fact they spent most of the war hidden away in the formidable Windsor Castle.
The Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, now known as Ellen and Mary, are secreted away in the night during the Blitz to board a naval ship that will take them to Ireland. Their charge, female MI5 agent, Celia Nashe, awakes to find Ellen asleep in her bunk with the distinct stench of vomit and Mary missing. She searches the ship until she finds young Mary on the deck watching the distant bombs falling on their retreating country. Celia pulls her away from the edge so suddenly for fear she may fall in that the precocious young Mary defiantly states that her father has a much bigger boat than this and she's allowed to stand on deck whenever she likes. That she knows what to do on boats.
When they arrive in Ireland, they are met by a diplomat from the Dublin Embassy and a Garda detective who then accompany them to their new home, a rundown estate belonging to a distant cousin of the former Queen. Despite their attempts at keeping the identities of their secret guests hidden, it isn't long before servants and locals reveal that they are in fact the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. Then a kidnap plot is hatched by those of the Irish rebellion and the plot just gets a little ridiculous. In the end I gave up.
THE SECRET GUESTS was a disappointing let down for me as I had such high hopes for it. It promised to be an exciting read when instead it was a snore fest.
I don't like to leave bad reviews but sadly this was such a disappointment it leaves me no alternative. I wish "Ellen and Mary" had featured far more than they did...after all, they were the drawcard in both the premise and the title.
I would like to thank #BenjaminBlack, #NetGalley and #PenguinUK for an ARC of #TheSecretGuests in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
July 14, 2020
There is so much babble in between the dialogue it becomes tiresome. I don’t care that the fish the man is eating is dry and I don’t care that his peas are not as green as they should be. I do not need to know every single detail of every single mundane thing. It’s BORING!
The premise of the book was clever, but the book did not deliver.
There is more written about the Secret Service woman and the Embassy man who are sent along to Ireland to look out for the Princesses. We are offered a bit of Irish history and their “Troubles” in case you are interested.
The Princesses are not the focus of this book. If you expect an action-packed suspense story this is not it.
The premise of the book was clever, but the book did not deliver.
There is more written about the Secret Service woman and the Embassy man who are sent along to Ireland to look out for the Princesses. We are offered a bit of Irish history and their “Troubles” in case you are interested.
The Princesses are not the focus of this book. If you expect an action-packed suspense story this is not it.
March 5, 2020
Reading the description of this novel, I thought it would be something I really enjoyed. A fictional take on what happened to the future Queen Elizabeth II, then just a fourteen year old princess, and her sister, ten year old Margaret, during the war. The idea behind this book is that the two princesses are whisked off to Clonmilis Hall in Ireland, home of Sir William Ormonde, to be kept safe until after the war.
It is 1940 and London is under attack, when this novel opens. With the Blitz literally outside their doorstop, it seems prudent to take the precautionary measure of moving the girls away from London. With a mix of crime and historical fiction, this considers how safe the girls really were. With Ireland unsettled, we have locals who are IRA supporters, and so it is essential that their identity is kept secret.
I enjoyed the setting, and characters. I particularly enjoyed Celia Nashe, the female member of MI5, tasked with keeping the two princesses safe. An enjoyable alternate history, with a good cast of characters. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
It is 1940 and London is under attack, when this novel opens. With the Blitz literally outside their doorstop, it seems prudent to take the precautionary measure of moving the girls away from London. With a mix of crime and historical fiction, this considers how safe the girls really were. With Ireland unsettled, we have locals who are IRA supporters, and so it is essential that their identity is kept secret.
I enjoyed the setting, and characters. I particularly enjoyed Celia Nashe, the female member of MI5, tasked with keeping the two princesses safe. An enjoyable alternate history, with a good cast of characters. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
January 14, 2020
Wasn't a fan. Definitely was expecting more from this novel. The synopsis *sounded* interesting, but it failed to keep my attention. I wish Ellen and Mary had been featured more (they basically were the title, after all).
Rec'd arc from Netgalley
Rec'd arc from Netgalley
October 7, 2020
Although never confirmed, there has been a longstanding rumor that British princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were shipped/dispatched out of England during the blitz of 1940 and shipped off to Ireland for their own protection. That is the basic premise of this book - the security detail; a sequestered stay at a relation's run-down estate; the IRA's attempt to mess with the crown's control, etc.
This all sounded like it could be a fabulous read, yet sadly, in my opinion, it was not. Of all the characters in the book, the only one which tugged on any of my emotions was the young Princess Margaret. She was sweet, brave, frightened at times, precocious, and occasionally irksome. I had hoped that each of the characters would work their charm on me as the book developed, which unfortunately, never happened.
I will grant author Benjamin Black one thing and that is his deft ability to write well. Much of his descriptive writing was exquisitely atmospheric, at times painterly and rather poetic. For that alone the book drew me as a moth to the flame. The story could have been so much more but it all left me rather flat. Those hours of reading can never be recaptured...sigh...
Synopsis (from publisher's website):
As London endures nightly German bombings, Britain’s secret service whisks the princesses Elizabeth and Margaret from England, seeking safety for the young royals on an old estate in Ireland.
Ahead of the German Blitz during World War II, English parents from every social class sent their children to the countryside for safety, displacing more than three million young offspring. In The Secret Guests, the British royal family takes this evacuation a step further, secretly moving the princesses to the estate of the Duke of Edenmore in “neutral” Ireland.
A female English secret agent, Miss Celia Nashe, and a young Irish detective, Garda Strafford, are assigned to watch over “Ellen” and “Mary” at Clonmillis Hall. But the Irish stable hand, the housemaid, the formidable housekeeper, the Duke himself, and other Irish townspeople, some of whom lost family to English gunshots during the War of Independence, go freely about their business in and around the great house. Soon suspicions about the guests’ true identities percolate, a dangerous boredom sets in for the princesses, and, within and without Clonmillis acreage, passions as well as stakes rise.
Benjamin Black, who has good information that the princesses were indeed in Ireland for a time during the Blitz, draws readers into a novel as fascinating as the nascent career of Miss Nashe, as tender as the homesickness of the sisters, as intriguing as Irish-English relations during WWII, and as suspenseful and ultimately action-packed as war itself.
This all sounded like it could be a fabulous read, yet sadly, in my opinion, it was not. Of all the characters in the book, the only one which tugged on any of my emotions was the young Princess Margaret. She was sweet, brave, frightened at times, precocious, and occasionally irksome. I had hoped that each of the characters would work their charm on me as the book developed, which unfortunately, never happened.
I will grant author Benjamin Black one thing and that is his deft ability to write well. Much of his descriptive writing was exquisitely atmospheric, at times painterly and rather poetic. For that alone the book drew me as a moth to the flame. The story could have been so much more but it all left me rather flat. Those hours of reading can never be recaptured...sigh...
Synopsis (from publisher's website):
As London endures nightly German bombings, Britain’s secret service whisks the princesses Elizabeth and Margaret from England, seeking safety for the young royals on an old estate in Ireland.
Ahead of the German Blitz during World War II, English parents from every social class sent their children to the countryside for safety, displacing more than three million young offspring. In The Secret Guests, the British royal family takes this evacuation a step further, secretly moving the princesses to the estate of the Duke of Edenmore in “neutral” Ireland.
A female English secret agent, Miss Celia Nashe, and a young Irish detective, Garda Strafford, are assigned to watch over “Ellen” and “Mary” at Clonmillis Hall. But the Irish stable hand, the housemaid, the formidable housekeeper, the Duke himself, and other Irish townspeople, some of whom lost family to English gunshots during the War of Independence, go freely about their business in and around the great house. Soon suspicions about the guests’ true identities percolate, a dangerous boredom sets in for the princesses, and, within and without Clonmillis acreage, passions as well as stakes rise.
Benjamin Black, who has good information that the princesses were indeed in Ireland for a time during the Blitz, draws readers into a novel as fascinating as the nascent career of Miss Nashe, as tender as the homesickness of the sisters, as intriguing as Irish-English relations during WWII, and as suspenseful and ultimately action-packed as war itself.
January 15, 2020
It’s World War II, and the Blitz has begun. The Royals are torn, wanting to remain with their subjects and share their misery, but not wanting the risk the well beings of their daughters. It’s decided that the girls must be moved, but with the shipping lanes and skies fraught with peril, where can they go and be safe? Ah, a fine idea: they’ll send them to a cousin in Ireland.
My thanks go to Net Galley and Henry Holt for the review copy. This book is for sale now.
As historical fiction goes, this is lightweight material, based on almost no historical event other than the war itself. However, as general fiction goes it’s terrific, immensely entertaining and droll as heck. I figure it’s 3.5 stars for historical fiction, 4.5 stars as general fiction; thus my 4 star rating.
Our protagonist is Garda Strafford-With-An-R, a marginally competent Irish detective who resembles Stan Laurel, tasked with the security the estate where the girls will be housed. Secondary characters are Celia Nashe, a British cop equivalent to a Secret Service agent, who is assigned to serve as personal security for the princesses; an arrogant, sleazy ambassador named Laschelles; and Strafford’s boss Hegarty, who resembles Oliver Hardy. We also have clueless but entitled Sir William, the girls’ host; two bored princesses that get up to things when nobody’s looking; some household servants that know more than they are supposed to; and a few local people that also know too much.
The fact is that I’m entirely burned out on World War II fiction, and that fact nearly prevents me from requesting this galley. But the spin—Ireland, which remained neutral and flirted with taking the side of Germany, what with its enmity toward the British—proves irresistible. The greatest surprise is how much wit is employed and how fast the story moves. I have never read Black’s work before, and this guy is hilarious. He shifts the point of view often, always from the third person omniscient but varying several times within a single chapter, so we get snippets of the person that’s bored, the person that’s nosy, the person that’s confused and so forth. The word smithery is so original and clever that I cannot put my highlighter down. Highlighting is pointless when I highlight close to half of the text, but I can’t help myself. And best of all, the cliched ending that I think I can see a mile away isn’t happening.
Those of us in the States have a three day weekend right around the corner, and the weather will be too miserable to want to go anywhere. This novel might be just the ticket. If you’re lucky enough to be planning a vacation soon, this would also be a fine beach read. But the humor will be a terrific pick-me-up for those stranded indoors with a case of the grumps. I recommend this book to you, and I would read this author’s work again in a heartbeat.
My thanks go to Net Galley and Henry Holt for the review copy. This book is for sale now.
As historical fiction goes, this is lightweight material, based on almost no historical event other than the war itself. However, as general fiction goes it’s terrific, immensely entertaining and droll as heck. I figure it’s 3.5 stars for historical fiction, 4.5 stars as general fiction; thus my 4 star rating.
Our protagonist is Garda Strafford-With-An-R, a marginally competent Irish detective who resembles Stan Laurel, tasked with the security the estate where the girls will be housed. Secondary characters are Celia Nashe, a British cop equivalent to a Secret Service agent, who is assigned to serve as personal security for the princesses; an arrogant, sleazy ambassador named Laschelles; and Strafford’s boss Hegarty, who resembles Oliver Hardy. We also have clueless but entitled Sir William, the girls’ host; two bored princesses that get up to things when nobody’s looking; some household servants that know more than they are supposed to; and a few local people that also know too much.
The fact is that I’m entirely burned out on World War II fiction, and that fact nearly prevents me from requesting this galley. But the spin—Ireland, which remained neutral and flirted with taking the side of Germany, what with its enmity toward the British—proves irresistible. The greatest surprise is how much wit is employed and how fast the story moves. I have never read Black’s work before, and this guy is hilarious. He shifts the point of view often, always from the third person omniscient but varying several times within a single chapter, so we get snippets of the person that’s bored, the person that’s nosy, the person that’s confused and so forth. The word smithery is so original and clever that I cannot put my highlighter down. Highlighting is pointless when I highlight close to half of the text, but I can’t help myself. And best of all, the cliched ending that I think I can see a mile away isn’t happening.
Those of us in the States have a three day weekend right around the corner, and the weather will be too miserable to want to go anywhere. This novel might be just the ticket. If you’re lucky enough to be planning a vacation soon, this would also be a fine beach read. But the humor will be a terrific pick-me-up for those stranded indoors with a case of the grumps. I recommend this book to you, and I would read this author’s work again in a heartbeat.
January 26, 2020
I didn't finish this book. It was supposed to be about Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret being sent to Ireland during the war. The girls were hardly even in the first half of the book, which might have been ok if something interesting had been going on with the other characters. I quit about halfway. Dry and boring with hard to keep track of characters.
March 29, 2020
An intriguing work of historical fiction, all centered around the efforts to protect Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret-Rose from the Blitz in WWII. I especially enjoyed being allowed inside “Mary’s” head; she was one feisty little girl at ten! Wish the author had allowed me to read more of “Ellen’s” thoughts, also.
If you got into the series “The Crown”, then you will definitely enjoy this!
Memorable Quotes:
(Pg. 161)-“This was the third cigarette she had smoked since she’d been at Clonmillis Hall. Already she was getting the hang of it, though the first draw or two after lighting up still made her cough every time. When Billy Denton had appeared she had dropped the cigarette into the straw and nearly set fire to herself, but after he had gone she had retrieved it, and was lying back now and puffing happily away at the last half of it,thinking how much she must look like Marlene Dietrich, who was her favorite film star of the moment.”
(Pg. 169)-“What if a bomb did fall on the palace? She wished she could be there now, even if there was a raid going on. If her parents were to be killed, she would want to die with them. At least, she couldn’t imagine wanting to go on living if they were dead. She shuddered. But they wouldn’t die; they couldn’t. And someday the war would be over.”
If you got into the series “The Crown”, then you will definitely enjoy this!
Memorable Quotes:
(Pg. 161)-“This was the third cigarette she had smoked since she’d been at Clonmillis Hall. Already she was getting the hang of it, though the first draw or two after lighting up still made her cough every time. When Billy Denton had appeared she had dropped the cigarette into the straw and nearly set fire to herself, but after he had gone she had retrieved it, and was lying back now and puffing happily away at the last half of it,thinking how much she must look like Marlene Dietrich, who was her favorite film star of the moment.”
(Pg. 169)-“What if a bomb did fall on the palace? She wished she could be there now, even if there was a raid going on. If her parents were to be killed, she would want to die with them. At least, she couldn’t imagine wanting to go on living if they were dead. She shuddered. But they wouldn’t die; they couldn’t. And someday the war would be over.”
February 22, 2020
From BBC Radio 4:
Episode 1 of 10
In 1940, at the height of Blitz, the two young princesses Elizabeth and Margaret are secretly evacuated from Buckingham Palace for their own safety and sent to an isolated rural estate in neutral Ireland. However Clonmillis Hall may prove to be even more dangerous than wartime London…
Irish police detective Strafford has been assigned to watch over the girls during their stay and so must form an uneasy alliance with their governess Miss Celia Nashe, an undercover MI5 officer charged with the princesses’ safety. However, with a contingent of soldiers patrolling the woods and rumours of IRA terrorists in the vicinity, they soon find their task even more treacherous than expected. But is the real threat from outside, or from within Clonmillis Hall itself?
An imagined historical adventure and enthralling mystery, as read by Sorcha Cusack (BBC’s Father Brown).
Episode 2 of 10
MI5 agent Miss Celia Nashe escorts “Ellen” and “Mary” to Ireland.
Episode 3 of 10
Strafford and Celia explore the Duke of Edenmore’s estate.
Episode 4 of 10
Celia and Strafford reach an understanding.
Episode 5 of 10
An intruder is apprehended at Clonmillis Hall.
Episode 6 of 10
Billy Denton discovers an injured Ellen.
Episode 7 of 10
Death comes to Clonmillis Hall.
Episode 8 of 10
Strafford and Celia investigate Billy Denton.
Episode 9 of 10
Clancy’s dangerous guests decide to visit Clonmillis Hall.
Episode 10 of 10
Clonmillis Hall is under attack.
Writer
B.W. Black is the pen name of acclaimed Irish author John Banville. He is the author of several novels, including The Sea, which won the 2005 Man Booker Prize. In 2013 he was awarded the Irish PEN Award for Outstanding Achievement in Irish Literature. He has published a number of crime novels, most featuring Quirke (an Irish pathologist based in Dublin) which were adapted into a TV series starring Gabriel Byrne.
Author, B.W. Black
Abridger, Neville Teller
Reader, Sorcha Cusack
Producer, Michael Shannon
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000...
Episode 1 of 10
In 1940, at the height of Blitz, the two young princesses Elizabeth and Margaret are secretly evacuated from Buckingham Palace for their own safety and sent to an isolated rural estate in neutral Ireland. However Clonmillis Hall may prove to be even more dangerous than wartime London…
Irish police detective Strafford has been assigned to watch over the girls during their stay and so must form an uneasy alliance with their governess Miss Celia Nashe, an undercover MI5 officer charged with the princesses’ safety. However, with a contingent of soldiers patrolling the woods and rumours of IRA terrorists in the vicinity, they soon find their task even more treacherous than expected. But is the real threat from outside, or from within Clonmillis Hall itself?
An imagined historical adventure and enthralling mystery, as read by Sorcha Cusack (BBC’s Father Brown).
Episode 2 of 10
MI5 agent Miss Celia Nashe escorts “Ellen” and “Mary” to Ireland.
Episode 3 of 10
Strafford and Celia explore the Duke of Edenmore’s estate.
Episode 4 of 10
Celia and Strafford reach an understanding.
Episode 5 of 10
An intruder is apprehended at Clonmillis Hall.
Episode 6 of 10
Billy Denton discovers an injured Ellen.
Episode 7 of 10
Death comes to Clonmillis Hall.
Episode 8 of 10
Strafford and Celia investigate Billy Denton.
Episode 9 of 10
Clancy’s dangerous guests decide to visit Clonmillis Hall.
Episode 10 of 10
Clonmillis Hall is under attack.
Writer
B.W. Black is the pen name of acclaimed Irish author John Banville. He is the author of several novels, including The Sea, which won the 2005 Man Booker Prize. In 2013 he was awarded the Irish PEN Award for Outstanding Achievement in Irish Literature. He has published a number of crime novels, most featuring Quirke (an Irish pathologist based in Dublin) which were adapted into a TV series starring Gabriel Byrne.
Author, B.W. Black
Abridger, Neville Teller
Reader, Sorcha Cusack
Producer, Michael Shannon
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000...
December 24, 2019
I was so looking forward to this book based upon the description but unfortunately, it did not live up to the hype of multifaceted wartime thriller. For my review, I will make this short and sweet and lightly express my disappointment by listing bullet points.
1. The descriptions went way overboard, I don’t ever remember reading a book that went into the depth of describing every scene in detail as this one. Way to wordy on the scenes.
2. I wish we would have dwelt more on the children with their feelings and thoughts instead of spending so much time on Celia and Mr. Strafford (with an R). Of which I never really came to like either one of them.
3. The last of the story went way downhill, there was no need for several of the scenes that took place toward the end.
4. The story really never talks about the war, other than alluding to it, we never leave the Hall.
I don’t like to give bad reviews but sadly this was a disappointment.
I was given an advanced copy from Henry Holt & Company through Net Galley for my honest review, this one gets 2 stars.
1. The descriptions went way overboard, I don’t ever remember reading a book that went into the depth of describing every scene in detail as this one. Way to wordy on the scenes.
2. I wish we would have dwelt more on the children with their feelings and thoughts instead of spending so much time on Celia and Mr. Strafford (with an R). Of which I never really came to like either one of them.
3. The last of the story went way downhill, there was no need for several of the scenes that took place toward the end.
4. The story really never talks about the war, other than alluding to it, we never leave the Hall.
I don’t like to give bad reviews but sadly this was a disappointment.
I was given an advanced copy from Henry Holt & Company through Net Galley for my honest review, this one gets 2 stars.
July 18, 2019
The Secret Guests by Benjamin Black is a creative novel about Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret and their time in Ireland after being sent there “under the radar” for their safety during the Blitz that occurred in London during WWII.
What I found most fascinating was a behind the scenes, closer look at relations between Ireland and England at this time, and as close as the two countries were geographically, that they were far apart in regards to inter government and political differences and healing wounds that are still fresh in minds at that time.
I had not read a novel that had brought that angle to life as of yet. Very interesting and the author definitely sets himself a part in this market with this angle.
5/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
What I found most fascinating was a behind the scenes, closer look at relations between Ireland and England at this time, and as close as the two countries were geographically, that they were far apart in regards to inter government and political differences and healing wounds that are still fresh in minds at that time.
I had not read a novel that had brought that angle to life as of yet. Very interesting and the author definitely sets himself a part in this market with this angle.
5/5 stars
Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
January 10, 2020
During WWII, the King and Queen of England stayed put in Buckingham Palace amidst the Blitz, to show solidarity with their people in the chaos, terror, and uncertainty. But, were they willing to put the lives of their young daughters at risk? Particularly when they're in direct line for the throne? Mr. Black (pen name of the award-winning author John Banville) has heard a story that they did not. And he's here imagined what might have happened.
"Ellen" and "Mary" are spirited West to Ireland in the care of secret agent Celia Nashe, to the crumbling manor house of a Duke, a relative of the Queen Mother's. An Irish detective, Strafford, is also in attendance to watch over the girls. Ireland is neutral in WWII, and Canada is too far away given U-Boat accuracy (Australia much worse) and even though Irish-English relations are still quite raw from the Irish War for Independence just 20 years earlier, it seems like the best of several bad options. So off they go. Mary gets into scrapes and is nosy and secretive, while Ellen tries to maintain a stoic outlook, riding her horse and behaving herself. Celia is bored and hoping the handsome diplomat will return. Strafford is busy reading everything he can get his hands on. The Duke and his household staff both try to get on with everyday life and yet also can't help but gossip. And gossip could well be the downfall of everything. Can you imagine if the IRA managed to kidnap the future Queen? Well, they can! It's better than Hitler, but not by much. Celia and Strafford have more on their plates than they initially bargained for and this sleepy country estate harbors more than dust motes and boredom.
The book is very atmospheric and creepy for a large part of it, and towards the end it quickly turns thrilling (with the added fun detail that our narrator through those scenes is also deathly ill with the flu while all the shit is hitting the fan). I enjoyed the book thoroughly and wish it were twice as long! Zipped through it in just a couple of days. I will be looking for more of Mr. Black/Banville's books.
"Ellen" and "Mary" are spirited West to Ireland in the care of secret agent Celia Nashe, to the crumbling manor house of a Duke, a relative of the Queen Mother's. An Irish detective, Strafford, is also in attendance to watch over the girls. Ireland is neutral in WWII, and Canada is too far away given U-Boat accuracy (Australia much worse) and even though Irish-English relations are still quite raw from the Irish War for Independence just 20 years earlier, it seems like the best of several bad options. So off they go. Mary gets into scrapes and is nosy and secretive, while Ellen tries to maintain a stoic outlook, riding her horse and behaving herself. Celia is bored and hoping the handsome diplomat will return. Strafford is busy reading everything he can get his hands on. The Duke and his household staff both try to get on with everyday life and yet also can't help but gossip. And gossip could well be the downfall of everything. Can you imagine if the IRA managed to kidnap the future Queen? Well, they can! It's better than Hitler, but not by much. Celia and Strafford have more on their plates than they initially bargained for and this sleepy country estate harbors more than dust motes and boredom.
The book is very atmospheric and creepy for a large part of it, and towards the end it quickly turns thrilling (with the added fun detail that our narrator through those scenes is also deathly ill with the flu while all the shit is hitting the fan). I enjoyed the book thoroughly and wish it were twice as long! Zipped through it in just a couple of days. I will be looking for more of Mr. Black/Banville's books.
November 13, 2025
I liked this first in the St. John Strafford series by John Banville, writing as Benjamin Black. During World War II, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret are evacuated from London to keep them safe from German bombing. The choice is made to take them to Ireland, to Clonmilis Hall, the home of the Duke of Endmore. (They were really evacuated, but to Windsor Castle.) Their identities are to be kept secret for their safety. They are accompanied by Celia Nashe of the Security Services and St. John Strafford of the Dublin Garda, whose presence is explained as the Duke's great nieces and their governess and her cousin, coming to the countryside for his health.
Can their identities be kept secret from local IRA supporters? Will someone be killed? And who are the local IRA supporters?
Well written and greatly descriptive of the time and the place.
Can their identities be kept secret from local IRA supporters? Will someone be killed? And who are the local IRA supporters?
Well written and greatly descriptive of the time and the place.
November 27, 2019
3.5 * rounded up to 4
When the bombing in London began during WWII, many Londoners looked for a safe haven for their children. The King and Queen of England were no different. Although they were determined to remain in London for the morale of the country, they did choose to remove their daughters from the threat of the London Blitz.
In this story, it was decided neutral Ireland was the safest place to send them. They were spirited out of London in the night to a distant relative’s estate in the Irish countryside. It was a top-secret endeavor and included a detective and a secret agent as the chaperones. What began as a dull and uneventful stay, soon became one of chaos and peril.
I enjoyed the unique characters portrayed in the story and the descriptive nature of Ireland and their conflicting views of the English during that time period. At times, the story lagged a bit, but overall I found it very entertaining. Black writes about some dark times, but does so in a way that doesn’t overwhelm readers with gloom.
Readers looking for a new perspective during World War II that illustrates the relationship between England and Ireland during those years will enjoy this new historical fiction by Benjamin Black.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.
When the bombing in London began during WWII, many Londoners looked for a safe haven for their children. The King and Queen of England were no different. Although they were determined to remain in London for the morale of the country, they did choose to remove their daughters from the threat of the London Blitz.
In this story, it was decided neutral Ireland was the safest place to send them. They were spirited out of London in the night to a distant relative’s estate in the Irish countryside. It was a top-secret endeavor and included a detective and a secret agent as the chaperones. What began as a dull and uneventful stay, soon became one of chaos and peril.
I enjoyed the unique characters portrayed in the story and the descriptive nature of Ireland and their conflicting views of the English during that time period. At times, the story lagged a bit, but overall I found it very entertaining. Black writes about some dark times, but does so in a way that doesn’t overwhelm readers with gloom.
Readers looking for a new perspective during World War II that illustrates the relationship between England and Ireland during those years will enjoy this new historical fiction by Benjamin Black.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.
February 8, 2020
Shocker for me as a fan of everything written by this author, this book was a miss. There are enough descriptions on this site so I won't add to it.
Was it meant to be funny? I really don't know.
2.5 stars
Library Loan
Was it meant to be funny? I really don't know.
2.5 stars
Library Loan
February 5, 2024
A nice conceit, the princesses Elizabeth and Margaret sent for safety in 1942 to a remote, dilapidated castle in Ireland. The characters are brilliantly drawn, often with an irreverent dash of humour, poking at stereotypes.
November 13, 2024
There have been so many mixed reviews on Banville’s The Secret Guests that I thought I’d better start this review with three warnings:
1. This is not a thriller. Don’t expect much action
2. There is not that much about the Princesses but I do love his take on Margaret
3. There are a lot of descriptions
The third is no surprise to fans of John Banville. I mean I read him for his descriptions and the way he sets each scene. We are on that dilapidated estate in Ireland and I was not disappointed with his character sketching. I really enjoyed Celia Nashe, Billy Dention and the Englishman Richard Lascelles. But the main reason I read this book is to see how Banville started with Strafford.
This is the first Strafford book, set when he’s in his twenties, I’m guessing and not long a detective. I am about to embark on his fourth The Lock-up.
The strength of this book is its depiction of Irish/English hostilities, still apparent even though it’s been 18 years since the uprising.
Strafford, even in his twenties, is a cool customer who doesn’t say much to anyone but of course observes, as any good detective does.
Here he is wondering about the plan to evacuate the girls:
“Strafford thought the whole business distinctly irregular, given the tensions with Britain over neutrality and the British government’s bullishness on the question of the Royal Navy’s demand for access to Irish ports, which the Irish government had resolutely refused to grant. And why the Kildare Street Club of all places? But then most things were irregular, these days, with England’s cities under nightly attack by German bombers and the United Kingdom braced for an invasion.”
I was a little disappointed how events unfolded towards the end of the book but then suddenly, almost at the end, there are two incidents which really underline how some Irish feel about the people they consider traitors and for me shows what an accomplished writer Banville is, even when writing historical crime fiction.
1. This is not a thriller. Don’t expect much action
2. There is not that much about the Princesses but I do love his take on Margaret
3. There are a lot of descriptions
The third is no surprise to fans of John Banville. I mean I read him for his descriptions and the way he sets each scene. We are on that dilapidated estate in Ireland and I was not disappointed with his character sketching. I really enjoyed Celia Nashe, Billy Dention and the Englishman Richard Lascelles. But the main reason I read this book is to see how Banville started with Strafford.
This is the first Strafford book, set when he’s in his twenties, I’m guessing and not long a detective. I am about to embark on his fourth The Lock-up.
The strength of this book is its depiction of Irish/English hostilities, still apparent even though it’s been 18 years since the uprising.
Strafford, even in his twenties, is a cool customer who doesn’t say much to anyone but of course observes, as any good detective does.
Here he is wondering about the plan to evacuate the girls:
“Strafford thought the whole business distinctly irregular, given the tensions with Britain over neutrality and the British government’s bullishness on the question of the Royal Navy’s demand for access to Irish ports, which the Irish government had resolutely refused to grant. And why the Kildare Street Club of all places? But then most things were irregular, these days, with England’s cities under nightly attack by German bombers and the United Kingdom braced for an invasion.”
I was a little disappointed how events unfolded towards the end of the book but then suddenly, almost at the end, there are two incidents which really underline how some Irish feel about the people they consider traitors and for me shows what an accomplished writer Banville is, even when writing historical crime fiction.
March 18, 2020
This could be labeled historical fiction, but the plot of the novel is not based on historical facts. Black imagines the two English princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret, have been sent to Ireland for the duration of the London blitz. They arrive at the rundown "big house" of a minor Anglo Irish aristocrat. It is an odd choice for their evacuation, but has the advantage of being in the middle of nowhere, and a couple of miles from a small village. However, in Ireland, especially in the 1940's, there were few places that were totally cut off, even in the countryside. Small towns have big eyes and ears, and the British security services who planned this location failed to consider this when sending the princesses here.
The house and its surroundings are bleak, and existence is very boring. Black succeeds in conveying this, but as a result, as a reader, I was bored for the first third or so of the book. I considered DNFing the book, but persevered. The pace and plot picked up, and it became more interesting, with, of course, a climactic ending.
I am rating this three stars which reflects a book that is perfectly fine, but not a compelling read.
The house and its surroundings are bleak, and existence is very boring. Black succeeds in conveying this, but as a result, as a reader, I was bored for the first third or so of the book. I considered DNFing the book, but persevered. The pace and plot picked up, and it became more interesting, with, of course, a climactic ending.
I am rating this three stars which reflects a book that is perfectly fine, but not a compelling read.
August 18, 2020
Due stelle e mezzo
Letto perchè pensavo si parlasse dell'infanzia di Elisabetta II. Se ne parla per 10 righe, il resto è tutto molto piatto.
Letto perchè pensavo si parlasse dell'infanzia di Elisabetta II. Se ne parla per 10 righe, il resto è tutto molto piatto.
February 10, 2020
The Secret Guests, by Benjamin Black, purports to be historical fiction. It is not. The basic premise of the story is that during the bombing of London by the Germans in WWII, the Royal Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were spirited away to Ireland for safety while their parents remained in London. While not unreasonable in theory, it never happened. As far as I could tell the only facts that had anything to do with the story was a World War, the bombing of London, and the ongoing fighting between the IRA and the British. Only the last issue moved the plot to its ultimate conclusion.
Second, not a single character was likable. The characters of both Princesses, 14 and 9 years-old, were assaulted with the future Queen described as haughty, dismissive, and aloof while her younger sister comes off as dangerous, spiteful, and perhaps sociopathic. Their protectors appear to be untrained, uncaring, and negligent. Even the Queen Mother is portrayed as more interested in her evening cocktails than anything else.
Finally, the plotting was terribly uneven and very slow until the last twenty percent which moves so quickly that a few plot lines seemed unfinished. Please read other reviews as others did seem to enjoy the book much more than I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Company for giving me the opportunity to read an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Second, not a single character was likable. The characters of both Princesses, 14 and 9 years-old, were assaulted with the future Queen described as haughty, dismissive, and aloof while her younger sister comes off as dangerous, spiteful, and perhaps sociopathic. Their protectors appear to be untrained, uncaring, and negligent. Even the Queen Mother is portrayed as more interested in her evening cocktails than anything else.
Finally, the plotting was terribly uneven and very slow until the last twenty percent which moves so quickly that a few plot lines seemed unfinished. Please read other reviews as others did seem to enjoy the book much more than I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Company for giving me the opportunity to read an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2020
So, I was more than a bit disappointed in The Secret Guests by Benjamin Black. This is another historical fiction that makes big promises about being fascinating, intriguing, and suspenseful, and action-packed. When in fact it reads fairly prosaic and without the bang, I thought it would offer.
The story is set in WW11 and in an attempt to protect the princesses, the royal family sends the girls to Ireland. While it is true that England sent many children into the countryside to keep them safe from the German bombers, and the princesses could have been sent, it just missed the mark of the promised actual action. The MI 5 agent, Celia Nashe is sent to protect the girls and she has some light romantic tension. The only tension there is the fear of the girls being identified and of course, the tension raised over the fractions in Ireland and the ongoing struggle of Ireland with England.
It wasn’t a terrible read, just not as good as I had hoped for.
3 stars
Happy Reading!
The story is set in WW11 and in an attempt to protect the princesses, the royal family sends the girls to Ireland. While it is true that England sent many children into the countryside to keep them safe from the German bombers, and the princesses could have been sent, it just missed the mark of the promised actual action. The MI 5 agent, Celia Nashe is sent to protect the girls and she has some light romantic tension. The only tension there is the fear of the girls being identified and of course, the tension raised over the fractions in Ireland and the ongoing struggle of Ireland with England.
It wasn’t a terrible read, just not as good as I had hoped for.
3 stars
Happy Reading!
February 3, 2020
Thank you to the publisher for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
The Secret Guests is a difficult one to review because it wasn’t at all what I expected. I generally like going into books blind, and I didn’t realize this was an alternative history until I started reading it. It is a well-known fact that the princesses stayed in England at Windsor Castle during the war.
Once I realized this wasn’t real history I attempted to read it for the story—which fell flat for me. It didn’t hold my attention, it lacked emotion and I didn’t care for any of the characters.
The writing style reminded me of an older detective novel. I do think that this will be interest a certain audience. The author won the Man Booker Prize in 2005, so if you are interested it may be worth reading or at least checking out at the library.
The Secret Guests is a difficult one to review because it wasn’t at all what I expected. I generally like going into books blind, and I didn’t realize this was an alternative history until I started reading it. It is a well-known fact that the princesses stayed in England at Windsor Castle during the war.
Once I realized this wasn’t real history I attempted to read it for the story—which fell flat for me. It didn’t hold my attention, it lacked emotion and I didn’t care for any of the characters.
The writing style reminded me of an older detective novel. I do think that this will be interest a certain audience. The author won the Man Booker Prize in 2005, so if you are interested it may be worth reading or at least checking out at the library.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 454 reviews