A Dark and Splendid Passion

by Lady Eleanor Smith

Vintage paperback

Genres: Gothic, Gothic Romance, Historical Fiction, Fiction

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1941

About the author

Lady Eleanor Furneaux Smith (1902 – 1945)was an English writer. The eldest of the politician F. E. Smith's three children, she worked as a society reporter and cinema reviewer for a while, then as a publicist for circus companies. In the latter role she travelled more widely, and gained inspiration for her third career, writing popular novels and short stories which often provided the basis for the 'Gainsborough melodramas' of the period. These stories often had a romanticised historical or Gypsy setting, based on her own research into Romany culture (she believed her paternal great-grandmother to have been a gypsy).

Reviews

[Willow · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty old book. Written in 1940 and originally titled The Man in Grey , it was rereleased later as A Dark and Splendid Passion. To my surprise, it’s kind of a sordid tale, which I rather admired considering the time period. But of course like most old books, it’s got fade away sex scenes and blatant racism that made me gnash my teeth. There was a movie made from it called The Man in Grey staring one of my favorite actors, James Mason.

I think it’s a good story, and I admired the dark ending. But I think seeing the movie first spoiled this for me. I kept comparing the characters in the book to the actor’s vivid interpretation from the film, and the book characters kept coming up flat. Also I knew what was going to happen, which somewhat killed most of the suspense.

Eleanor Smith isn’t a very good writer. Huge chunks are written like a narration (telling not showing) which gets tedious to read. There was a lot of head jumping as if no thought was given to the point of view. I got tired of hearing about how beautiful Clarissa was, and every once in a while, there would be a historical info dump. Smith would write things like, this illness would be called pneumonia today. I suppose Smith can do these info dumps because someone from 1940 is supposedly writing this story down, but if that’s the case, how does this future person know what everybody is saying and thinking? It’s not well laid out.

Personally, I liked the movie better.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing displeases me more than unnecessary happy endings.

And so this book pleases me.

[Renee Kujawski · Rating 5 out of 5]

GREAT book. accidentally got rid of it in one of my many moves, probably because it fell apart. Just ordered another copy

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Separated from her husband by World War II and stuck at his country estate, newlywed Mary, Lady Rohan discovers family secrets dating back to the turn of the 19th Century. Before long, she is embroiled in the story of the romantic imbroglios of her proto-Regency forebears. Smith, one of the members of Britain's generation of Bright Young Things between the wars, writes a briskly moving tale that sketches out several doomed love affairs and, above all, a troubling friendship between two mismatched young women that starts at a ladies' academy in Bath. The historical sections are authoritatively written, the tone is mature and breezy and ultimately unsentimental, which makes it more powerful in the end. Slight supernatural elements add to the framing devices but ultimately are unnecessary, as the central historical story alone is sobering enough. The novel was repackaged and reissued in the late 1960s and early 1970s at the height of the gothic craze as "A Dark and Splendid Passion," but really isn't a true gothic at all--rather, an anti-romance.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clarissa is a gorgeous lady who everyone adores. Everything is handed to her on a silver platter. She sees the best in everyone and is fiercely loyal. Although she is heavily spoiled, she is kind and gentle.

Hesther is a hauntingly beautiful girl who everyone is weary off. She has no money and no possessions. She made do with what she was given and learns to see the worst in people.

They are wildly opposite but they are destined to meet. If they don’t let miscommunication, festering emotions, and jealousy get in the way, they can grow to be lifelong friends.

The Lord Rohan will either be their lifeline or downfall.

[Magda · Rating 3 out of 5]

In some places good reading, and other places slow and a bit tedious. The final hundred pages or so, however, read without me knowing that so much time had passed so quickly. The ending was a bit creepy, in the mystery novel / ghost story way, unexpectedly.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the book itself was the advert for World War II military USO bookdrives on the inside back cover.

[Elena K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

[Cortney Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Spooky. But fun. If you like spooky books 😂

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are fortunate enough to find a copy of this book, be sure to read it. It’s a fun curl up with a good creepy book on a cold evening.

[Karyl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mary Rohan, the bride of the most recent Lord Rohan, comes to her husband's ancestral home to live while he's away fighting in WWII. While there, she comes upon the papers and diaries of some of his ancestors that tell a story of infidelity and intrigue. Mary falls completely under the spell of history, and spends six weeks retelling the story of Clarissa, Lady Rohan, who lived during the Regency period. Clarissa's tale tends to absorb the reader, as any good historical fiction should; however, the author chose to end the tale in a very predictable and gothic manner. Really, the entire novel could have been solely focused on Clarissa, never once mentioning the later Mary Rohan, and it would have been perhaps an even stronger story.

[Sahar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taking place in the Regency era..this melodramatic novel worth reading.