What do you think?
Rate this book
I Know My Love
The story of two women - and a man; of Emmy and Rose, bound to each other irrevocably by ties of friendship and love, and still locked in a ceaseless struggle for the same man, Adam.
440 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1962
103 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Gaskin
94 books71 followersCatherine Gaskin (2 April 1929 – 6 September 2009) historical fiction and romantic suspense.
She was born in Dundalk Bay, Louth, Ireland in 1929. When she was only three months old, her parents moved to Australia, settling in Coogee, a suburb of Sydney, where she grew up. Her first novel This Other Eden, was written when she was 15 and published two years later. After her second novel, With Every Year, was published, she moved to London. Three best-sellers followed: Dust in Sunlight (1950), All Else is Folly (1951), and Daughter of the House (1952). She completed her best known work, Sara Dane, on her 25th birthday in 1954, and it was published in 1955. It sold more than 2 million copies, was translated into a number of other languages, and was made into a television series in Australia in 1982. Other novels included A Falcon for the Queen (1972) and The Summer of the Spanish Woman (1977).
Catherine Gaskin moved to Manhattan for ten years, after marrying an American. She then moved to the Virgin Islands, then in 1967 to Ireland, where she became an Irish citizen. She also lived on the Isle of Man. Her last novel was The Charmed Circle (1988). She then returned to Sydney, where she died in September 2009, aged 80, of ovarian cancer.
She was born in Dundalk Bay, Louth, Ireland in 1929. When she was only three months old, her parents moved to Australia, settling in Coogee, a suburb of Sydney, where she grew up. Her first novel This Other Eden, was written when she was 15 and published two years later. After her second novel, With Every Year, was published, she moved to London. Three best-sellers followed: Dust in Sunlight (1950), All Else is Folly (1951), and Daughter of the House (1952). She completed her best known work, Sara Dane, on her 25th birthday in 1954, and it was published in 1955. It sold more than 2 million copies, was translated into a number of other languages, and was made into a television series in Australia in 1982. Other novels included A Falcon for the Queen (1972) and The Summer of the Spanish Woman (1977).
Catherine Gaskin moved to Manhattan for ten years, after marrying an American. She then moved to the Virgin Islands, then in 1967 to Ireland, where she became an Irish citizen. She also lived on the Isle of Man. Her last novel was The Charmed Circle (1988). She then returned to Sydney, where she died in September 2009, aged 80, of ovarian cancer.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 28, 2024
This is an historical fiction and romance set on the goldfields of Ballarat in the 1850s by Irish Australian author Catherine Gaskin. I found this a moving read as a teenager and decided to reread it to see how it fared through an older lens. At the heart this is a story about friendship, love, rivalry and betrayal.
Emma Brown, or Emmy, has newly arrived in Australia, lost her only parent, and managed to escape the clutches of the abusive tavern owner and finds herself flung on the mercies of an Irish immigrant family, the Maguires. She travels with them to the goldfields; the Maguires keen to make their fortune and escape the political troubles of Ireland Pat had been embroiled in, Emmy determined to make herself indispensable to them.
From the outset there is a firm friendship between the rather plain but hardworking and practical Emmy and the beautiful vivacious Rose. The turbulent Rose is a high-spirited, rather spoilt girl who is used to getting her own way, and commanding the attention of all the men around her. The difficulty arises when sea captain Adam arrives on the goldfields and both women fall in love with him. When Adam marries Emmy, Rose is furious, devastated, but determined to win him over regardless. Emmy is tortured by the undeniable chemistry between Adam and Rose, and uncertain whether his proposal was out of regard for her or a feeling of obligation.
I enjoyed the historical setting and description of the events of the Eureka Stockade in 1854, life during the gold rush, and in early Melbourne. I also found the Maguire family lovable, and felt the difficulties for the Irish due to the anti-Irish sentiment in colonial Australia. The tensions between Emmy, Rose and Adam were both heart-breaking and frustrating. The emotions were raw and pulled you into the story. Rose was rather reminiscent of Scarlet O’Hara in Gone with the Wind, and Emmy was her counterpoint. This story was frequently sad, and despite being decades older since my last reading, and wanting Emmy to stand up for herself, it still moved me. 4.5 stars
Emma Brown, or Emmy, has newly arrived in Australia, lost her only parent, and managed to escape the clutches of the abusive tavern owner and finds herself flung on the mercies of an Irish immigrant family, the Maguires. She travels with them to the goldfields; the Maguires keen to make their fortune and escape the political troubles of Ireland Pat had been embroiled in, Emmy determined to make herself indispensable to them.
From the outset there is a firm friendship between the rather plain but hardworking and practical Emmy and the beautiful vivacious Rose. The turbulent Rose is a high-spirited, rather spoilt girl who is used to getting her own way, and commanding the attention of all the men around her. The difficulty arises when sea captain Adam arrives on the goldfields and both women fall in love with him. When Adam marries Emmy, Rose is furious, devastated, but determined to win him over regardless. Emmy is tortured by the undeniable chemistry between Adam and Rose, and uncertain whether his proposal was out of regard for her or a feeling of obligation.
I enjoyed the historical setting and description of the events of the Eureka Stockade in 1854, life during the gold rush, and in early Melbourne. I also found the Maguire family lovable, and felt the difficulties for the Irish due to the anti-Irish sentiment in colonial Australia. The tensions between Emmy, Rose and Adam were both heart-breaking and frustrating. The emotions were raw and pulled you into the story. Rose was rather reminiscent of Scarlet O’Hara in Gone with the Wind, and Emmy was her counterpoint. This story was frequently sad, and despite being decades older since my last reading, and wanting Emmy to stand up for herself, it still moved me. 4.5 stars
February 12, 2014
Overall, this was a rather depressing read, somewhat similar in theme to Adam Bede
In a nutshell:
A young woman escapes the clutches of a lecherous tavern owner after the death of her father by joining a passing Irish family on their way to the gold fields. She becomes one of the family and its a story just as much about them as it is her.
Emmy (the heroine) is plain, while Rose (the Irish daughter) is beautiful. Everyone falls in love with Rose and no one notices Emmy except as a friend.
Anyway,there comes a time when Emmy saves the life of the man both her and Rose have fallen in love with. Adam (who is a sea captain) marries Emmy because he kind of feels he owes it to her, although Rose is the one who stirs his soul. Well its not the recipe for a happy life for any of them and the story takes off there.
Remember the old song "Brandy (you're a fine girl) "? Well that sums this story up pretty well. Even if it wasn't for the beautiful girl in the background whose trying to steal the heroine's husband away from her there's still the call of the sea...either way its all a bit miserable.
I can only think of one character in this book who really 'got what he set out for '. Apart from that it was more of a study in bad choices.
But it did hold my interest. Thus the three stars.
CONTENT:
SEX : Fade to black
PROFANITY : Mild
VIOLENCE : Mild
PG (For NA and A readers)
In a nutshell:
A young woman escapes the clutches of a lecherous tavern owner after the death of her father by joining a passing Irish family on their way to the gold fields. She becomes one of the family and its a story just as much about them as it is her.
Emmy (the heroine) is plain, while Rose (the Irish daughter) is beautiful. Everyone falls in love with Rose and no one notices Emmy except as a friend.
Anyway,there comes a time when Emmy saves the life of the man both her and Rose have fallen in love with. Adam (who is a sea captain) marries Emmy because he kind of feels he owes it to her, although Rose is the one who stirs his soul. Well its not the recipe for a happy life for any of them and the story takes off there.
Remember the old song "Brandy (you're a fine girl) "? Well that sums this story up pretty well. Even if it wasn't for the beautiful girl in the background whose trying to steal the heroine's husband away from her there's still the call of the sea...either way its all a bit miserable.
I can only think of one character in this book who really 'got what he set out for '. Apart from that it was more of a study in bad choices.
But it did hold my interest. Thus the three stars.
CONTENT:
SEX : Fade to black
PROFANITY : Mild
VIOLENCE : Mild
PG (For NA and A readers)
May 25, 2013
I read this novel during my teen years, and was very moved by the raw emotions. Emmy the wife of Adam, was not very physically attractive but she possessed a beautiful soul and keen intellect. Rose her rival and sister by adoption, was beautiful and shallow. Adam was caught between his passion for rosé, and devotion to Emmy. I was surprised by the ending, but very much captivated throughout this unforgettable story of passion and duty.
February 21, 2023
Encompassing, emotionally captivating
A well written novel that draws you so deeply into the characters that you feel their every emotion that makes up their personalities. So well written that you enter into the very being of each of their existences. You feel every emotion that each character experiences. Fear, love, hate, desire and the grasping for power and control.
A well written novel that draws you so deeply into the characters that you feel their every emotion that makes up their personalities. So well written that you enter into the very being of each of their existences. You feel every emotion that each character experiences. Fear, love, hate, desire and the grasping for power and control.
January 4, 2023
emmy deserved better
gal pal literally put her ass on the line for a man and he really said lemme hook up with the prettier one
huh..?
the fact rose got everything in the end and she only got adam..?? trash lil cheater adam? nah
gal pal literally put her ass on the line for a man and he really said lemme hook up with the prettier one
huh..?
the fact rose got everything in the end and she only got adam..?? trash lil cheater adam? nah
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2021
Fantastic, everything you’d want in a book.
March 3, 2022
I read this book when I was a little girl, I fell in love with the book and its characters and I also relished every page of the book as I read on
February 25, 2023
Emmy the wife of Adam, was not very physically attractive but she possessed a beautiful soul and intelligence. Rose her rival and sister by adoption, was a captivating beauty but very shallow. Adam was caught between his passion for Rose and devotion to Emmy. I was very much drawn into the book but I must say I was surprised by the unexpected ending.
Read
January 30, 2024Очень интересно
December 31, 2024
Read the book in German, it’s called “ Die grünäugige Lady“. Would have given the book 5 stars, if not the horrible ending.
Why isn’t this book more popular? Beautifully written, exciting story.
Why isn’t this book more popular? Beautifully written, exciting story.
October 11, 2023
A story about how life is unfairly biased towards the beautiful people. Emmy is a generally nice person who gets treated like crap because she's plain. Rose is an awful daughter/ friend/ wife/ mother who gets almost everything she wants because she's pretty. The only consolation is in that almost, although she doesn't get nearly enough comeuppance for my taste. Emmy does eventually grow a spine, but not nearly soon enough.
August 31, 2010
Australia love story of one woman and two men.
August 25, 2011
The plot is a lot like Gone with the Wind except this time, this is from the point of view of the "good wife."
November 5, 2012
I love family sagas, and this takes place in an interesting setting, the gold rush in Australia and the commercial founding of Melbourne.
August 27, 2013
Liked the Australian setting
Read
April 22, 2015Uma verdadeira corrida do outro, com muito drama e paixões, excelente passatempo.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews