The Lute and the Glove

by Katherine Wigmore Eyre

Back in San Francisco, Anne Carey had longed to visit the Tudor mansion in Devon that had belonged to her forbears for generations. But when she returns to her English heritage, Carey Reach, she experiences strange events that cannot be explained to a neighbor, crippled John Templeton. For Anne, raised in Tudor history by her learned father, is fascinated by the Octagon Room, a mysterious grave, and recurring glimpses of the drama between Althea and Edward Courtenay, who aspired to the throne of England.

She does not share her secrets with John or her housekeeper, and her fancies become out of control as she identifies more and more with the other, past world that beckons her. When she becomes weirdly indivisible from the happenings of other times, finishing her father's book is a ready excuse for privacy to visit the Octagon Room and its visions.

Genres: Gothic, Time Travel, Mystery, Fiction, Fantasy, Gothic Romance

313 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1955

About the author

Educated at the Marlborough School for Girls in California, Eyre wrote for children - Spurs for Antonia, Lottie's Valentine - for young adults - Another Spring: The Story of Lady Jane Gray - and gothic adult fiction - The Chinese Box and The Lute and the Glove.

Reviews

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

A haunting time slip in the tradition of Daphne DuMaurier about a young woman who travels to England and is captivated by a house - and those who once lived there. This is my favorite of Eyre's books, along with Another Spring, her heartbreaking young adult historical about Lady Jane Grey.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating Clarification: 2.5 Stars

Repetitious plotline, whining/annoying heroine and a serious lack of editing kinda spoiled what should have been a 4-5 star book for me, since I love all the elements this story brought to the table. Under the pen of writer Susanna Kearsley, this would have been an absolute winner. With Eyre, it was a "meh".

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved! The story drew me into another world. Mesmerizing.

[Nana Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting... One of my favorite books.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable and true to its genre. While not a long book, it could have been shorter.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book falls into the category of things I read because of the fun vintage cover art, and the intriguing premise of time travel. The heroine succumbs to deja vu that compels her to keep visiting a mysterious octagon room in the ancestral home she inherits. Who lies buried in the grave outside consecrated ground?

Not much actually happens over the course of the novel except she gets herself in a swoon a lot and starts being mean to the staff. It did send me investigating the history that is the basis of the time travel back story...not particularly well developed or suspenseful.

Also disappointing is that the writing has not aged well. The heroine has so little agency as a female stereotype of the 1950s. Why on earth does she want to marry the milquetoast retired military guy who talks down to her and treats her like a scatterbrained creature who has to be led and controlled? Yet that is the happy ending. (Not really a spoiler.)

Read the book to discover the answer to the mystery, then look up the historical reference—you won’t learn any real history by reading this “historical romance”.