The French Bride

I put this one in the category of good "beach read." Fast moving plot with some romance. Awarded three stars on Goodreads.

The setting is Versailles in the later years of the rule of French King Louis XV and his mistress, Madame du Barry. The son of Scottish emigres living off the largesse of the lavish court, Charles is a wastrel. Young and handsome, he is also self-absorbed, cruel, a womanizer and a gambler. But when he approaches his parents, again, to pay off his latest debts, this time they insist that they will help ONLY if he marries his wealthy cousin Anne and reclaims their lost ancestral holdings in Scotland. Charles agrees, resentfully, much to the distress of his current mistress Louise.

I chose this book because I have read show more and enjoyed many of the historical novels by Evelyn Anthony (Victoria and Albert, Anne Boleyn, the Romanov Trilogy). This one however disappointed. Written in 1964, it's difficult to read in an era of #MeToo. It's one of those stories where women like being treated badly. Multiple women fall madly in love with a man who abuses them, insults them publicly, and tramples on their feelings -- ostensibly because he's good in bed. It just does not sit well with this feminist. show less

I put this one in the category of good "beach read." Fast moving plot with some romance. Awarded three stars on Goodreads.

The setting is Versailles in the later years of the rule of French King Louis XV and his mistress, Madame du Barry. The son of Scottish emigres living off the largesse of the lavish court, Charles is a wastrel. Young and handsome, he is also self-absorbed, cruel, a womanizer and a gambler. But when he approaches his parents, again, to pay off his latest debts, this time they insist that they will help ONLY if he marries his wealthy cousin Anne and reclaims their lost ancestral holdings in Scotland. Charles agrees, resentfully, much to the distress of his current mistress Louise.

I chose this book because I have read show more and enjoyed many of the historical novels by Evelyn Anthony (Victoria and Albert, Anne Boleyn, the Romanov Trilogy). This one however disappointed. Written in 1964, it's difficult to read in an era of #MeToo. It's one of those stories where women like being treated badly. Multiple women fall madly in love with a man who abuses them, insults them publicly, and tramples on their feelings -- ostensibly because he's good in bed. It just does not sit well with this feminist. show less

How tastes differ! Like the other reviewer, I was an Evelyn Anthony fan back around 1970. Unlike the other reviewer, I loathed this one even then. Except for the terribly put upon heroine, most of the characters (including the heroine's beloved) are really, really nasty people. Ms. Anthony isn't usually Little Ms. Sunshine, but this one has no redeeming glints of suspense, interest, etc.

Incredibly moving book. I decided to not keep this book because I knew I would never be able to reread it - one of the most sad books I have ever read. Evelyn Anthony was a favorite author of mine in the late 1960s and into the '70s. A very fine author.