Island of the Swans

This historical novel vividly recreates 18th-century Scotland, England, and America as it recounts the tale of a duchess separated from the man she loves and tormented by her jealous husband. Jane Maxwell is determined to marry her childhood sweetheart, Thomas Fraser, but she agrees to marry the Duke of Gordon when she receives the mistaken news that Thomas is dead in North America. When Thomas returns, Jane is tormented between her lover and her husband. The one thing I did not like about this novel is how long the love triangle went on with little progress in the story line other than the characters aging. Still, a good read overall and has peaked my interest in Jane Maxwell, a fascinating 18th-century figure.

The first part of this book was very engaging but then it just turned tedious suddenly; I only skimmed the last 150 pages and am quite sure that I missed nothing. This book was trying very hard to be historical fiction, I think it even had daydreams of being a biography, but was really just a romance novel set in the past. And badly set there. The author's need to cram in historical figures is just farcical; I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the whole Robbie Burns episode.
I'm kind of sorry I wasted my time finishing it.

Sigh... I have now fallen for another member of Clan Fraser. This was a fabulous representation of Jane Maxwell's life, including a fictional depiction of her sad and sordid love life. It would have been nice to have an epilogue at the end telling how Jane lived out the rest of her life... but it was easy enough to look up online.

If you enjoyed the story of Jane Maxwell Gordon, I recommend you read The Dukes series by Virginia Henley, which is about Jane's daughters and her crazy antics to obtain marriages for them all.

And of course this is a must read for Outlander fans.

Island of the Swans is based on the life of eighteenth-century Scottish duchess Jane Maxwell. As a young girl, Jane fell in love with fictional character, Thomas Fraser, and they promise to marry each other when they are old enough. The real Jane Maxwell married Alexander, the fourth Duke of Gordon, in 1767 after the soldier she loved was reported dead in America. Rumor is that while on her honeymoon she received a letter from the soldier, very much alive, asking her to marry him. Unfortunately she was now married to the Duke of Gordon, and spent her life torn between the man she had always loved and the man with whom she had a family.

Jane herself is a powerful woman and I really liked her. She was a figure to be reckoned with in show more politics and knew her own mind in many respects. She became a famous patroness of the arts and a political activist. The book is long but has a nice sweeping, epic feel to it. It seemed to me that some of the misunderstandings between the historical and fictional characters were too forced. I thought huge portions of the book were somewhat redundant and that, in general, there was a somewhat melodramatic feel to some parts of Jane's constant longing for Thomas.

I understand the author read Jane’s letters and tried to find the mysterious man that she references as her childhood love. She filled in the missing pieces and the fictional character of Thomas was very well formed. I also enjoyed the way the historical characters like King George III, William Pitt, and Robert Burns, the Scottish poet, added texture to the story. show less

The story of Jane Maxwell Duchess of Gordon, in the 18thc, as told by the excellent author, Ciji Ware is a masterpiece read; an epic on its own. I hadn’t really read much about this feisty Duchess who climbed to the highest rank of nobility. Fashionable, politically savvy, doting mom, business woman…but in this magnificent novel, she mostly wears her role as a love-torn woman whose soul could never find peace.

The story begins with Jane as a mischievous young girl, who defies her mother in more ways than one. Against her mother’s will, her best friend, Thomas Fraser would become her secret betrothed. Thomas’ uncle, Simon Fraser, being of the same mind as Jane’s mother, would come into a pact with the latter to make sure the two show more youngsters stayed apart forever. It was Jane’s mother’s wish that her most beautiful daughter marry in the highest ranks of nobility. For Simon Fraser, the family lands needed to be fought for and salvaged back to their rightful owners of the Highlands, the Fraser family…and so…

Thomas Fraser is sent off as a Scottish soldier to fight the American war. Although Jane begs him to stay, Thomas is excited about this adventure and promises to marry her when he gets back. Their last evening together at a beautiful ball filled with dancing and merriment, Jane, who is angry that Thomas is leaving, decides to make him jealous. She dances with the dashing Duke of Gordon. A brawl almost erupts between the two young men who don’t like eachother to begin with (a story starting way back when the three of them were all very young…and where Jane succumbs to a terrible accident..)

So, off goes Thomas and (I need to skip a spoiler here- and jump to)…Jane Maxwell marries the Duke of Gordon..huh? Yeah, you need to read the story to understand what really happens here..;
This saga is tragic to say the least. It is an emotional roller-coaster from beginning to end. First of all, the book is no menial chunkster at 565 pages- so settle in comfy cause you’re in for bouts of hopes and delusions-a real tear jerker. Although this novel is mainly about a mega love story, there is a lot of interesting history involving well-known historical figures, such as: Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire (Jane’s ultimate political and fashion rival), George III and his Queen (who love Jane), The Princes and many more. I loved to read about their interactions, the civil war happening in America, the Whigs and the Torys- but yes, of course, what stole the show was Jane Maxwell’s constant search for happiness and quench for love.

Island of The Swans is the kind of book that I can totally see being made for the Big Screen… Gone With The Wind kind of style- Absolutely. If there is one thing though that did turn me off a little, that was the too many racy love scenes. I could have done with fewer of those (they seemed to be interjected in there constantly). And although I do understand the author’s reasoning behind a few of these, some of the details, I personally found a bit too graphic for my liking.

But other than that, this was a phenomenal read! show less

ISLAND OF THE SWANS
by Ciji Ware
Sourcebooks Landmark
9781402222689
Trade Paperback, $15.99/$18.99CAN/£8.99 UK
February 2010
569 pp.
Originally published in 1988

Jane Maxwell (1749-1812) a recalcitrant and headstrong young girl developed into a politically active, powerful, charming and always fashionable woman of wit, as the 4th Duchess of Gordon. As the story opens, Jane frustrated with the role of dutiful daughter, argues with her mother Lady Maxwell as she demands that Jane finishes her sewing. Feisty, stubborn and full of mischief, Jane joins her sisters and childhood friend Thomas Fraser for an adventurous game of pig racing. The day proves disastrous for Jane when a freak accident causes an injury to her index finger leaving only a show more stub.

As Jane matures she realizes her childhood fondness for Thomas has been replaced with wonton love and desire. She hopes to marry him but is thwarted by her mother who wishes her daughter to marry someone of the aristocracy. Undeterred, Jane and Thomas vow to marry anyway. Both are desperately in love with deep searing desire. When the war in America breaks out, Thomas decides to fight for King George III against the colonists. Jane pleads with Thomas to marry her before he leaves, but fate will step in. Thomas is driven to be a soldier, to make money and gain a respectable rank to enable a better future together. One day word arrives that Thomas has been killed in a bloody massacre with Indians. Some time later it is discovered that Thomas has survived, but by this time Jane has become the 4th Duke of Gordon.

Island of the Swans is a romantic historical drama based on the turbulent life of Jane Maxwell. Ciji Ware has presented an intense story of this star crossed trio as their lives intertwine to produce a stirring sensually tantalizing read. Scenes of lust and desire are so beautifully written, they glow with sparks and simmering embers. Jane is portrayed as an amazingly strong woman of independence, with a deep commitment to her children. Jane’s life is unfolds with historically accurate scenes that show her raising recruits for the King’s army, as well as serving as his advisor. She was known to have promoted the young Robert Burns and posed for the famous painter Sir Joshua Reynolds.

The tempestuous relationship with the Duke, and her untouchable life with Thomas, abounds with lover’s secrets, misspoken words and communications gone awry. Jane Maxwell, the Duchess of Gordon, an 18th century woman considered property, had strength and a strong sense of survival. Ahead of her time, a woman you’d want to meet. Unfortunately, according to history, her waning years were sadly inauspicious.

Published originally in 1988, Island of the Swans is an emotionally enveloping story that will tug at your heart with each page turned. Phenomenal storytelling by Ciji Ware.

© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2010].

Disclosure: ARC copy sent by Sourcebooks. show less

Great, great book! If you love historical fiction in Georgian times with a strong romantic thread to it, read this!

http://ktleyed.blogspot.com/2011/02/island-of-swans-by-ciji-ware.html